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Tuesday 11 August 2015

August 2015: Back to Bollaert!

Packed onto the Eurotunnel and ready for the off!
It was family holiday time and for the first time since August 2011 that the whole family would have the chance of sharing a Lens game with me. Since then, family holidays had failed to coincide with the Ligue 2 (and briefly 1) fixtures, despite my best efforts.
Unfortunately, as we set off for France, tickets still had not gone on sale. Thanks to the kindness of Pascal, who was away on a family holiday for the game, I was at least guaranteed a spot in the Marek but the rest of the girls didn't have places. Another search for places, reminiscent of the Bordeaux game in 2009, would have to take place.
Arnauld....Dude #1
My first stroke of good luck occurred the minute we began pitching our tent up near La Rochelle when Jas spotted the 62 (Lens region) number plate on the car opposite. The owner immediately came out to chat the second he spotted our Lens paraphernalia. I don't know who was more excited about meeting the other.
"....you are from Newcastle, " he said, "There are a lot of Lens fans there....?"
"Just me," I replied.
"Really? Are you the one from the Sofoot.com article? " I nodded. "It is like meeting a celebrity!" he joked.
Wot? No footie bars?
No surprise but I always have hope!
For the next few days we would take every opportunity to chat about Lens and the latest news, and some actual signings, before his family returned North. He also promised to see if he could get tickets for the rest of my family but couldn't promise anything.
The following Saturday was the first day of the season so after quickly finding a list of bars that had Beinsport I abandoned the family to look at the aquarium for some selfish dad-time. My first port of call was my best option as it was called the Sports Cafe. Unfortunately it was in the city's casino and one look at my Lens top was enough for the nice boys by the door to decide I wasn't the sort of clientelle they wanted so I set off with the help of google maps and their directions to the next bar on the list...an Irish Bar! Had to be a good sign?
With the sun beating down and a blistering 30 degree temperature proving slightly unhelpful in my frantic dash across, I ended up going from closed down bar to closed-until-6pm bar to "get away from our bar.... we don't like football here!" By the time half time arrived I had resigned myself to listening to the commentary from the club website. When will I learn about ligue 2 football + bars + me didn't work? Probably never - still I will keep trying.
The last 20 minutes of the game was spent wandering around La Rochelle, with an earplug in one ear listening to the commentary of a one-sided 0-0 draw, whilst searching with the girls for an ice cream shop of choice: slightly easier to do! Ernest le Glacier it had to be...and a fitting reward for my attempts at finding a bar. Relieved that Lens had escaped from Metz with a goalless draw, and could even have won it, my thoughts shifted to the following week's game and how Arnauld was doing with his search for tickets.
A couple of days later, a text arrived from Arnauld and he had managed to come up trumps with prized tickets for the game in the Marek. What a stroke of luck it had been meeting him! I was overjoyed even if the girls were not sure about going in with the "Mental heads". A great compliment to the Lens fans from Jasmine there, I thought!
Morning in Equihen Plage!
Match day finally arrived and when I finally stepped out of our tent in Equihen Plage near Boulogne (I had been awake since 6am) the sun was beginning to heat things up nicely...if a little too nicely.
We set off from near Boulogne at 9:30 to witness the parade and arrived without problem, finally parking in the car park in front of the steps that led to the Marek. The ground looked amazing nestling between the trees as the sun increased its temperature. It was going to be a hot one!
Heading off to the station, the family were in a good mood and were quite happy to be joining me as a surged to get everywhere quicker. I chatted briefly to Jonathan, the game's Capo as he headed to lead the parade along with a number of others who I had met at previous Worldnet tournaments. The girls had become used to this and simply carried on chatting amongst themselves as I 'networked'.

The square outside of La Loco was a sea of red and yellow and the crowd kept building as my friend Loulou and Jonathan took it in turns, hanging out of the bar window to get everyone jumping. Finally the parade set off but we remained at the bar as hunger had taken hold of the family and wouldn't let go...no contest for the parade!

A happy , well-fed,family
Holly had brought along a gluten-free baguette and the La Loco staff were kindly willing to prepare her a gluten-free tuna sandwich while Odessa (and I) were finally able to lay to bed the nightmares of the MacDonald's fillet of fish. At last we had found a place in the town where we were all happy!
Is this the
 male toilets?
After picking up the tickets from Arnauld and Pascal's friend Denis we headed into the Marek. It took a bit of getting used to the new ticket entry system but eventually we were in and it was a relief to be out of the sun that was beating down strongly now. We wandered through the newly laid-out stand and it became apparent that there was now no chance for anyone sneaking into the Marek having bought a Xerxes ticket as they now had separate sections with tall, metal walls to keep ticket holders apart. With the Marek once again all season ticket, we would have to think of a plan C or D if we were to join in the fun...
We managed to get a spot next to the barrier at the Delacourt end and so the flag was attached to the fence. It was also clear that the sun was going to be a big factor as the girls began to wilt even before the game started. They perked up as the teams entered and the Lensois was sung...


After the fervour of the players entrance and reception, the Lens team that had only four returnees from the previous year, and disgracefully no Taylor Moore, struggled to match the occasion and it was visitors Red Star who were making the running and showing great ability in falling over to earn themselves a string of undeserved (IMHO) freekicks while also getting a number of Lens players booked for their innocuous tackles. There was no such thing as a homer ref today!
Disbelief soon followed when Red Star scored a spectacular freekick from a similarly dodgy freekick. Yet the Lens crowd continued to cheer them on...as expected. However, as the sun continued to beat down, both players and fans found the going harder and it looked more unlikely that Lens would create many chances.
Out of the players on show only new boy Besle looked to have the composure and ability to deal with the situation and although Valdivia beavered about, he didn't seem to be able to create anything against a Red Star defence that now sat back and watched Lens' laboured attacks. A header that just slipped wide of the post from another new boy, Autret, seemed to be all that Lens could offer before a brief scramble in front of the goal ended up with nothing.
Jasmine and Holly were by now baking and even a pint of water each couldn't do much. The chances of this kind of weather in future matches would hardly by an issue yet the lack of shade from the sun was one my girls obviously would have to mention to any available health and safety officer...along with Lens' performance but that would probably be a different department: mental health.
Things needed to change and on came Nomanjanahary to be joined later by another newbie Scarramozino. Finally the team, and Autret in particular, woke up as both wingers began to bomb down the wing more frequently. The referee continued to be conned by the dives of the Parisians and his book began to fill up with Len players' names. To the crowds annoyance, he booked the Lens players for diving too...definitely not a homer...or even any good.

Finally the ground erupted when Autret controlled a ball before lashing a fine shot past the keeper from just inside the penalty area. with renewed vigour the home team attacked, however it was still worrying how often Red Star's tricky wingers managed to work their way into space. A late winner for either team didn't look out of the question. There was great relief from my lot as the referee blew the final whistle: more from the extreme heat rather than the thought of Red Star scoring and they headed straight for the cover of the trees outside as heat stroke and dehydration took hold. I had to cancel my post-match pub meetings as the family recovered. If only the team's performance could have been matched by the  occasion ...


After a busy, hot and tiring day...
relaxing in Les Jardins D'Arcadie
Once the girls had recovered we headed to a restaurant that we had a booking with. With Holly unable to eat gluten, meals out have to be organised in advance. This time we opted for a restaurant on the outskirts of the town that promised to offer gluten-free options. They were true to their word and more.
We felt decidedly underdressed as we entered the car park. Although we hadn't booked until 7pm we decided to spend an hour recovering in the grounds and when the owner came at to see who we were tormenting the cat that was wandering around the flowerbeds, he was straight away impressed with our battered Lens-decorated Citroen Picasso and he revealed himself to have been at the match today as well. He insisted on taking our photo with it and by the end of our meal, his photo had received over 250 likes on Facebook. The meal itself was thoroughly enjoyed by all of us, which was saying something with teenage girls. When it was time to go, the owner, Bruno announced that since I was coming back for Friday's game that me and Alex would be his VIP guests. I was so blown away by this I got caught speeding.
This trip had been another success for the generosity of Lens fans...not only had Pascal offered me his ticket, Arnaud had found me the others but to top it all, Bruno, had offered a dream chance for me to visit my Mekka as a VIP....watch this space! I can hardly wait...

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