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Inside the Canadian Sports Bar
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Our view of the game, with my infamous Deckchair banner under the TV
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Dave Atkinson and Martin Ewin
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Mark Jackson and Martin Taylor
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Unfortunately I couldn't afford to go down to the game this year, so I was reduced to experiencing my first CUFC final in a pub/bar atmosphere. After much sampling of the local hostelries in advance of the big day, we decided on the Canadian Sports Bar just off Botchergate. Although basic, there are lots of pool tables and TV screens, including two large prjection screens around which they group some comfy sofas. I got there at about 12:15, got the first round in and laid my 'Carlisle Utd Deckchair Army' banner out in front of one of the large screens. We then got ourselves a set of pool balls and played 9-ball for an hour until just before kick off. We then settled ourselves down and made our predictions. I reckoned CUFC 3-1 Swansea.
The game itself went well for us on the whole, with the teams being well matched. Certainly not a whole league of difference between them. Controversy abounded, however. Carlisle rightly had a goal disallowed from Hawley, but Akinfenwa's winner should also have been disallowed for either his handball or push.
Other than the game, there were a couple of talking points. One was Mark Jackson falling off his stool to chants of "He fell over!!", and my good self accidentally wandering into the Ladies instead of the Gents. Well, they were next to each other!! The only other point of note was when I argued with two lasses who pushed in front of Martin Ewen at the bar.
After the game, the group decided by majority vote to go for a KFC snack. Now, I've never been to a KFC in the UK that I can recall, so was completely lost for what to order, and said so. At this point a disembodied voice arose from the ether whispering "Zinger burger...... Zinger tower burger.... Zinger burger...... Zinger tower burger.... ". I decided to go with the voice's option. We then had a few more drinks, returned to the Canadian Sports Bar and played some more pool, before calling it a day. A good day, at that, despite losing.
There was further controversy the next day, as it was reported that after the game with a certain Swansea player wearing a T-shirt and waving a flag, both of which carried insults against Cardiff. Ah well, he may well pay the cost of those poor decisions. There was also comment over the fact that both Swansea goals had handballs in the build up, but as I always say, a good team will overcome these things. Oh yes, we lost 2-1.
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