That day - Odd stories

On the anniversary of that famous day in 2008 when Sol went up to lift the FA Cup we look at a few stories told by fans from around the world about their experiences of 17th May.

First up is Fred who found himself in the Big Apple the week before the Final. The game as regular VP readers will know was only shown in the US of A on pay per view television but dotted all around the City are posters on lampposts Portsmouth v Cardiff with the clubs badges and where you can watch it. Photos have been seen as proof.

Pete Jones a Welshman (sadly no longer with us) but definitely not a Cardiff fan found himself in Tokyo on Final Day. On checking into his hotel he asked the reception staff where he could watch the game. The staff had difficulty in understanding our weary traveller but offered to find out for him. This was early morning and PJ hoped they had time to locate a suitably tuned television set before the 10pm kick off.

In his room he scoured the channels available on the hotel system but to no avail and early afternoon he passed reception and the staff beckoned him over. He was handed an itinerary to a Sports Bar in downtown Tokyo. The directions were of course in Japanese but a member of staff had diligently translated it all into English. All the necessary trains, platforms, walking distances etc were included. What fantastic service and how did they find out.

PJ sets off that evening following the instructions and eventually finds the bar. He walks inside and there leaning against the bar is a fan in a Pompey shirt!! Nigel is his name and he tells PJ that he was educated in Pompey but now works out of the City (London) and is based in Tokyo for some time.

The picture in the bar is not good and Nigel suggests the bar next door where they watch that famous victory and then it is taxi back to base for PJ. Next stop for PJ on his whistle stop tour is China.

Then in China he manages to catch glimpses of the victory parade on Chinese television with commentary such as ??? Harry Redknapp ???? etc. He tries to explain to the locals that you can see my house just over there.

Meanwhile Sue (another now departed) is in deepest Thailand on holiday and on leaving the country is given the famous gift of orchids, which are wrapped in newspaper. When she arrives home in Southsea she carefully unwraps the orchids and notices the date of the paper is 17th. Across the back page is emblazoned a photograph of Harry and Joe Jordan on the training ground. Obviously an article on the upcoming game but who can read Thai?

Just a few stories that show just what the FA Cup Final still meant around the world – Did you watch the game in an odd place??