PHOTO DIARY OF A FOOTBALL SEASON : NOVEMBER

November got off to a dramatic start, as I headed to Mourneview Park to see nine man Linfield come from 2-0 down to get a late draw against Glenavon.

I was back on the road a few days later to Ballymena to see Linfield record a 4-1 in win.

Up next was a trip to Windsor Park to see Northern Ireland record a 4-0 win over Azerbaijan, before continuing Linfield’s road trip with a 4-0 over Dungannon Swifts before a midweek date at Windsor Park for Northern Ireland’s last game of 2016, a 3-0 friendly defeat against Croatia.

I was back at Windsor Park for Linfield’s only home game of the month, a 2-1 defeat to Cliftonville.

The following weekend, I went to see my first and second games at Old Trafford with Jose Mourinho as United manager, doing a double header of games against Feyenoord and West Ham United, with a trip to Bury (via Broadhurst Park) sandwiched inbetween.

As a bonus, I even got pictures of stickers left around Manchester by Feyenoord fans.

Glenavon v Linfield

Ballymena United v Linfield

Northern Ireland v Azerbaijan

Northern Ireland v Azerbaijan Photo Album

Dungannon Swifts v Linfield

Northern Ireland v Croatia

Northern Ireland v Croatia Photo Album

Linfield v Cliftonville

Manchester United v Feyenoord

Manchester United v Feyenoord Photo Album

Feyenoord Stickers

Bury v Millwall

Bury v Millwall Photo Album

Broadhurst Park

Manchester United v West Ham United

Manchester United v West Ham United Photo Album

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FEYENOORD STICKERS

Got ……. Got …….. Need.

It’s been a while since i’ve done a sticker blog, but Feyenoord fans left so many in Manchester while visiting for their UEFA Cup tie at Old Trafford, it made it impossible not to do one.

Now, has anybody got a Gaston Taument shiney?

Photo Album

2012 IN PICTURES – NOVEMBER

November began slowly, but ended with a trip to Manchester and a penalty shoot-out.

My first big photo adventure came as part of Belfast Music Week, when I got some photos of a concert in The Limelight which featured Wonder Villains.

As part of Belfast Music Week, a plaque dedicated to Terri Hooley was erected in tribute to his contribution to music in the city, so I headed out to get some photos of this.

Football wise, it was a mixed bag. My first match of the month was at Solitude. The less said about the match, the better. A mixed bag phototaking wise, it always is at Solitude.

Went to the Northern Ireland v Azerbaijan game and got one good photo and a lot of bad ones. Later in the month, I headed to Old Trafford for the match against QPR, and had mixed results, but mostly pleasing.

Got some photos of the newly erected statue of Sir Alex Ferguson, but it’s not in a great position for amateur photography.

And finally, I graced the County Antrim Shield with my presence, but it was not much help as Linfield lost to Ballymena United. Managed to get some good crowd and portrait shots of The Oval.

Enjoy

Belfast Music Week

Pretty Child Backfire Photo Album

Wonder Villains Photo Album

Cliftonville v Linfield

Hooley

Northern Ireland v Azerbaijan

Northern Ireland v Azerbaijan Photo Album

Linfield v Glenavon

Manchester Sticker Art

Manchester United v Queens Park Rangers

Manchester United v Queens Park Rangers Photo Album

Ballymena United v Linfield

County Antrim Shield Final Photo Album

MANCHESTER STICKER ART

Was in Manchester on Saturday for the first time in nine months, and took the opportunity to get some photos of football related sticker art in the city.

With Manchester now having two teams playing in European football, it means more foreign fans are coming to the city and leaving their mark.

In February, I blogged about how Ajax fans had left their mark on the city. their return visit this season saw them add some more stickers, as did Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund fans, and Young Boys Berne, who recently played in nearby Liverpool.

Enjoy

Photo Album

AJAX ON TOUR

Was in Manchester for the UEFA Cup tie between Manchester United and Ajax.

Throughout the city centre and streets surrounding Old Trafford, Ajax fans weren’t slow in decorating lamposts with their team’s stickers.

EXCELSIOR ROTTERDAM 3-1 VVV VENLO 4.2.2012

As you’ve guessed by the prevous posts, I was in Holland over the past week, doing an Amsterdam/Rotterdam double header.

When it comes to Rotterdam football, i’d already knew of the city’s two main clubs, Feyenoord and Sparta Rotterdam, but it was a pleasant surprise to discover that there is a third team in Rotterdam, and they also play in the top flight.

The fixture list was kind, as the game was taking place on the Saturday when I was in Rotterdam. Sparta Rotterdam were at home on the Sunday, but I was unable to make that game.

I booked a ticket online and did some web browsing before heading over, and I didn’t get a surprise when I arrived.

Excelsior are a very small club, punching way above their weight (think Wimbledon when they were in the Premier League) and kicked-off the game bottom of the league, but facing the team that were second bottom, VVV Venlo.

The stadium is very much like an all seater Stangmore Park, and that’s a compliment.

But the most Irish League aspect about the club is that they have their club shop in their social club.

I spent pre kick-off and half-time there purely to stay warm, it was “Wile caul” as they say in Coleraine.

The main stand behind the goal is known as the Robin Van Persie Stand, in tribute to the player who began is career at the club, before moving on to Feyenoord and then Arsenal.

Perhaps he should fly me over to all Excelsior home games as he had scored a hat-trick against Blackburn Rovers earlier that day.

That is where the clubs “Ultras” are based, and when the teams emerged, they waved flags and shot tickertape into the air.

Managed to get some OK views and shooting positions.

Excelsior deservedly won the match 3-1, a much needed win in their fight against relegation.

Photo Album

 

FC BASEL STICKERS

Was in Manchester on Saturday for United’s match against Sunderland, but while in the city, I spotted some stickers left by supporters of FC Basel while visiting Old Trafford for a Champions League tie.

Meanwhile, in the link provided, i’ve got some recent graffiti in Belfast. Nothing too special which has merited getting a blog written about it.

Photos

SCHALKE STICKERS

Having uploaded some photos of Bourissia Dortmond fan stickers in Dublin, this week, it’s the turn of Schalke fans, who have appeared to have plastered every street post in the vicinity of Old Trafford in their artwork.

Also in Manchester, managed to spot some stickers from FC Twente, FC United, and um …….. Ralphie Milne Ultras.

FANABTEILUNG

Was down in Dublin for the UEFA Cup final, and when walking around the city, spotted some stickers of various fan groups across Europe.

One I know for definate is Bourissia Dortmond. The others are Eastern European, possibly Polish or Bulgarian.

SHAMROCK STICKERS

A few weeks ago, I blogged about Slovenia fans leaving stickers out and about in Belfast when their side played a World Cup Qualifier at Windsor Park in April 2009.

When the sides met at the same venue in a European Championship Qualifier a few weeks ago, there was a Maribor sticker left in the South Stand at Windsor Park.

Unfortunately, i’m unable to get a photo for you.

I was at Ballyskeagh today for the Irish League match between Lisburn Distillery and Linfield, and noticed some stickers left by Shamrock Rovers fans from when the sides recently met in a Setanta Cup tie.

Photo Album