I hadn't realised they have a fanatical support, & most games are sold out. Luckily, after I posted my itinary on the Non League Matters forum a fellow Kempsterite mentioned that I should try to get a ticket in advance. I emailed them, & luckily they agreed to keep me one, which they don't usually do, as long as i picked it up half an hour before the match. time was to otight for that, from the football, so I got there just after the ticket office opened at one. I joined the queue, & people in front started to get turned away, so I was extremely lucky I had been tipped off.
The game was a 7,200 sell out. This is clearly a hockey town, rather than a football one, & my ticket was for the terrace behind one of the goals. In truth it was difficult to follow the action properly, but just being part of such a crowd was entertainment in itself. A thoroughly cracking end to a superb 44th birthday for me, despite a very lowly 1-0 hockey scoreline. now for the three hour train journey back to Prague...
![](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOznRSdO6cI/AAAAAAAAAuY/BzylDfNzeRQ/s400/DSCF2064.jpg)
They play their games at the Rondo Hall. In yellow, at the front, Billa, is a supermarket chain.
![](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOxdt_65d6I/AAAAAAAAAmc/hAkshyffEO8/s400/DSCF1926.jpg)
This is the same view, after the game!
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOznTCT2M8I/AAAAAAAAAuc/P5yzCxJrrZE/s400/DSCF2065.jpg)
Sign illuminated on the roof.
![](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOznUlPRKtI/AAAAAAAAAug/m5LdaSi9DiM/s400/DSCF2066.jpg)
This was the team on the way to the hockey. Eight minutes before kick off.
![](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzlYgXSeII/AAAAAAAAArI/eOqSeDha6vU/s400/DSCF2011.jpg)
Waiting to get through the outer turnstiles.
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzlaO2WyEI/AAAAAAAAArM/-F1cRnjICnE/s400/DSCF2012.jpg)
Food stall the other side of the turnstiles.
![](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzlcB6bX7I/AAAAAAAAArQ/S09TLeDhXZc/s400/DSCF2013.jpg)
This is where I got through.
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzleDKafNI/AAAAAAAAArU/1B_xrRnPFio/s400/DSCF2014.jpg)
Now inside, moments before face off. This is the endof terracing I must try to squeeze into! Many of the snaps will be 'samey', with the four sides being equally packed, but if you like hockey I hope you enjoy looking through them.
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzlgkwYBeI/AAAAAAAAArY/eWDNEyBuQyo/s400/DSCF2015.jpg)
From the corner we come in we look across the rink.
![](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzljRifhZI/AAAAAAAAArc/IYkii3k5AlI/s400/DSCF2016.jpg)
Now we are at the other side of the end we just saw.
![](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzll5IkwKI/AAAAAAAAArg/A_oDuFIQWWs/s400/DSCF2017.jpg)
Here we look across the ice, with one of the banks of seats along the side in view.
![](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzlodDPMpI/AAAAAAAAArk/cahc_vFy25U/s400/DSCF2018.jpg)
Turning slightly, so we see the other end.
![](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzlq231a1I/AAAAAAAAArs/DNHeqFWV4rk/s400/DSCF2019.jpg)
And a bit more so we see down the near side.
![](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzltrEWObI/AAAAAAAAArw/s2iH3RkYew4/s400/DSCF2020.jpg)
Another angle over the ice.
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzlv6R6i9I/AAAAAAAAAr0/W_568rtdSgI/s400/DSCF2021.jpg)
Behind one of the goals.
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzly1ZmIFI/AAAAAAAAAr4/aZfVHEfqi7Y/s400/DSCF2022.jpg)
Mascot on ice.
![](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzl1BkYz5I/AAAAAAAAAr8/FLkfdVjlQEo/s400/DSCF2023.jpg)
Down the side again.
![](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzl3iTp3PI/AAAAAAAAAsA/H7IYl-WCCrI/s400/DSCF2024.jpg)
Back behind the goal.
![](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzl61jIp5I/AAAAAAAAAsE/D6zWqJkr8W8/s400/DSCF2027.jpg)
Turning left.
![](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzl89_osyI/AAAAAAAAAsI/juMJa3CsAU8/s400/DSCF2028.jpg)
Over the ice again.
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzl_Qud3YI/AAAAAAAAAsM/4MxAEWA-SAk/s400/DSCF2029.jpg)
The terrace behind 'my' goal.
![](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzmClDRlYI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/IwFDiynzFOc/s400/DSCF2030.jpg)
Game in progress.
![](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzmFIp4eCI/AAAAAAAAAsU/oRvUn40Fk-I/s400/DSCF2031.jpg)
That was the final score.
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzmHE9aAxI/AAAAAAAAAsY/GnEddiJiraI/s400/DSCF2033.jpg)
Handshakes at the end.
![](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzmJsmNUyI/AAAAAAAAAsc/lXk5TjFbAp0/s400/DSCF2035.jpg)
It must have been very hard for the visitors, as I saw no away fans at all.
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzmMLr1DiI/AAAAAAAAAsg/pix07AKgFnY/s400/DSCF2036.jpg)
Time to skate off..
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzmOqW_u3I/AAAAAAAAAsk/2MdfvCUa-1U/s400/DSCF2037.jpg)
Home fans stay, waiting to salute their team.
![](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzmRruVCkI/AAAAAAAAAso/GuzKY2xnN2U/s400/DSCF2038.jpg)
Flags aloft.
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzmTvXM29I/AAAAAAAAAsw/0xBu6EZo9ko/s400/DSCF2039.jpg)
The home team get ready to celebrate.
![](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzmWcGfNrI/AAAAAAAAAs0/rJbMPo5PK7A/s400/DSCF2040.jpg)
Celebrations starting off the ice...
![](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzmZG53XPI/AAAAAAAAAs4/SmsMJ7n00ec/s400/DSCF2041.jpg)
And on it...
![](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzma0gR4yI/AAAAAAAAAs8/aQjSwnIwjts/s400/DSCF2042.jpg)
A mutual hockey love-in!
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzmeHBWulI/AAAAAAAAAtA/AGPLmBUYrgc/s400/DSCF2043.jpg)
Appreciated by players & fans alike!
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzmg5KX4AI/AAAAAAAAAtE/Mr4za0AkfV8/s400/DSCF2044.jpg)
The entire crowd applaud...
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzmjXacCuI/AAAAAAAAAtI/J6s-YSevS9o/s400/DSCF2045.jpg)
Huge banners unfurled at the other end.
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzmme9o6vI/AAAAAAAAAtM/lIQt6ikvmco/s400/DSCF2046.jpg)
Not a protest...it's how they celebrate!
![](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzmoq0ZkrI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/Km8ofCki3Hs/s400/DSCF2047.jpg)
And up they get!
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzmrlafi1I/AAAAAAAAAtU/VVp0jKKO9xM/s400/DSCF2048.jpg)
Applauding the fans.
![](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzmt3udoAI/AAAAAAAAAtY/u6Lw0VvBO-I/s400/DSCF2049.jpg)
Shirt being waved.
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzmwt-ICdI/AAAAAAAAAtc/cIBzlIou7ZY/s400/DSCF2050.jpg)
The mascot is in a good mood too!
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzmyKhWrnI/AAAAAAAAAtg/I30FaGfr13Q/s400/DSCF2051.jpg)
Brno players leave the ice.
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzmzyebHCI/AAAAAAAAAtk/P8ixpcgsnCA/s400/DSCF2052.jpg)
The rink finally starts to clear, we see the bank of seats opposite.
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzm2DohKmI/AAAAAAAAAto/_qVb2z6zNPk/s400/DSCF2053.jpg)
And the ones down this side, far terrace down the end.
![](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzm4pCC3WI/AAAAAAAAAts/h2P44vRAu6Q/s400/DSCF2054.jpg)
And finally, back to my end.
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzm7b3RMYI/AAAAAAAAAtw/Vc8vTuOzYbI/s400/DSCF2055.jpg)
This small section in the corner is for away fans, but there were none this evening.
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOzm-EgSsnI/AAAAAAAAAt0/9rPe_nauSJY/s400/DSCF2056.jpg)
Seats empty now.
![](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOznAkS1YxI/AAAAAAAAAt8/WQ8M606hhTs/s400/DSCF2057.jpg)
I climb up to the back for a shot across the rink.
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOznC-nH1UI/AAAAAAAAAuA/3l-57TWbL3k/s400/DSCF2058.jpg)
Finally another view over the ice pad.
![](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOznHZrmcyI/AAAAAAAAAuI/tf3cGN1j5_w/s400/DSCF2060.jpg)
With another of the terrace behind the goal.
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOznJ1YGh0I/AAAAAAAAAuM/UfsoVS_6q8Q/s400/DSCF2061.jpg)
Mustn't forget the Zamboni!
![](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOznLgVp7iI/AAAAAAAAAuQ/Nxk6oCVNGgM/s400/DSCF2062.jpg)
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_1SQ4PYUuBUk/TOznN-kiHbI/AAAAAAAAAuU/bealJEhyhdg/s400/DSCF2063.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment