Grecians on Tour

In 1995 Dad took me to my first football match at St James Park, I can't remember who we played and I'm pretty sure we lost, but I was hooked. Soon after that we had season tickets and until the end of uni saw them play in all sort of glamourous places across the country (as well as a few big grounds in cup ties). Although I don't go to many matches now, I still follow them and their results so I was pretty excited when we drew Liverpool in the FA Cup. I decided not to go to the match, and instead let my dad's mate use my membership to get him a ticket, I could watch on TV like I've done in the past with cup ties.

9mins Nichols scores. 1-0 Exeter. The excitement is too much to bear, I can't sit still and get my turbo trainer out. 1-1, 2-1, 2-2 15mins to hang on to get a replay. It was with 15mins to go that I decided if we were going to Anfield, I was going to be there.

A Tuesday night match would be awkward - up on Tuesday, back on Wednesday. A Wednesday night would be far better, up on Wednesday, back on Sunday. The game was confirmed as being on the Wednesday - perfect! The only time I've been to Liverpool before was to Everton on a weeknight from Exeter up and back on a coach so didn't get to see any of the city, so this would be a good chance to have a look round. I was a bit worried about where to park for the match and then where to sleep but a bit of research had that sorted fairly easily.

My last post was titled Winter Camping, but it was actually really mild over new year. In Liverpool I had to scrape the frost off after the van after the match to be able to go and park up somewhere for the night - this was winter camping! I had been a bit worried about how cold it would be and have read about people wearing onesies to keep warm so I decided I would, for the first time since I was a baby, sleep in an oversized Babygro. I'm converted! Fleece onesie, duvet, blanket and a hat are now my winter vanning essentials. Yes, I could sleep in an arctic sleeping bag but this is far more civilised!

I spent a couple of nights parked in Crosby to be able to head into the city the day after the match, went to the National Memorial Arboretum and then a couple of nights on a friends driveway on the edge of the peak district for some walking. And the vital score? Liverpool 3 Exeter 0