Devils Diary

[Claret & Blue Army]

At about 3.45ish last Thursday I reach the Skydom after running late
A vast number of people are already impatiently seated on their respective vehicles.
To my joy I notice that my coach is mainly filled with my lot so anticipating an enjoyable time make my way to the back.

I should point out that already my voice was pretty much cream crackered due to a combination of things.

As I make my way towards my seat I am made aware that Danni and Leanne have a home made banner which I attempt to adhese to the back window.
Eventual attempts at success are muted when it is pointed out that the driver might not be able to see
At this point PW is on the phone to an elderley relative - cue his song from the massed ranks in front of us (You know the one- no need to elaborate). I'm told that this has already gone out to the local media on their initial filming.

The tv crew then come on the coach (again?) to film the fans on their way off, cur songs like "We're gonna win the cup", "Let's go Blaze" etc. PW attempts to stamp his mark on proceedings with "Thomms Barmy Army" whilst I wave a Devils shirt near him for the sheer hell of it.

The female interviewer then makes her way to the back asking PW if he will be awake in the morning (1st time a female has asked him that for a while!!), i retort that he's never awake at the best of times. The lady then mentions that she wants volunteers to speak to the following morning. As I am off work then I volunteer as do one or two others.

We then set off just after 4 o clock.

Out come the balloons

More balloons

Even more balloons

Nobodys head can be seen just a plethora of blue balloons which are swatted back and forth by the lot of us from middle to the back.
1st casualty of the night is a can of Carling which is swiped from my grip by an over exuberant PW. Fortunately for me nothing of mine gets wet. Unfortunately for PW his Biggles-esque jacket takes the full soaking.

Eventually the balloon game subsides so PW decides to fill the lucky Devils shirt (Unbeaten at the WNIR) with balloons to replicate Vezio.

Eventually the energy levels start to calm down, so both PW and myself go for wanders down to the middleish areas of the coach. PW stops mid way to impart his wisdom whilst I go to stand-squat near the toilet area on gate duty.
Now facing my fellow B2Pites the laughter can begin in earnest as I have an audience. PW acts as a great setter up with his baiting of Callum, Kelly and others usually giving me enough to work on to come up with a cracking punchline.
The Blaze songs are started up again but in more of a warm up fashion.
Then inspiration strikes
John (CovBlaze16) needs to answer a call of nature, and from nowhere an embarassing song series is born to the tune of Tom Hark "Johnny P , he's having a slash" which then gets done for every entrant to the toilet causing one femal member in particular to decide to hold on until Cardiff is reached rather than the shame of being ridiculed in song ;D
Being cruel I then start making trickling noises

Many cans later we arrive in Wales.
We go to collect our tickets and in the queue the singing begins in earnest although PW & Bins one of "If you're gonna lose 6-0 clap your hands" is not greeted too warmly.
Silly string comes out as well as blue spray for the hair which I get in the open and have it dripping down my forehead and subsequently all over my hands too.

Everyone in exitable mode as we enter he cauldron that is the WNIR

The Welsh anthem is sung with the usual vigour, and in a moment of praise, myself and PW comment on their anthem. PW mentions that there used to be a Welsh flag up on the balcony previously.
I give one of those stares/pauses that Chandler used to give to Joey on Friends.
"Like that one up there then" as I point out the XXXL sized Welsh flag hanging in the balcony


More later

[JP]

Good start, look forward to reading the rest.

[Claret & Blue Army]

When the Blaze came out there was so much confetti everywhere, in point of fact it was difficult to see a clear area of the floor.
Devils legend Echo came to his usual spot with the Blaze fans only to find it jam packed full and he had to sit further up. Still heard him throughout the game though.
Blaze fans were wild from the off as the Devils fans seemed like gatecrashers at somebody elses party.

An early fight between AP & JC got both sets of fans in the zone (even more when they went at it again shortly after serving their penalties) as did the quick goals for either side.

Devils notched their second to lead at the first interval. The mood in Gretzkys from the Devils fans was one of "We haven't a hope of winning the cup but we just want to beat you for once", to which I lent a sympathetic ear.

The second period was the real roller coaster one as Devils race into a 4-1 lead and the nerves of the Blaze fans in Block 18 were beginning to show.
More fights more penalties, then 2 quick Blaze goals yay!!
Only 1 down at the break in which I and others were starting to fear the worst. The atmosphere in the bar is pretty much as earlier but with slightly raised optimism on behalf of our hosts despite our pull back. At this point I must make mention of the fact the Cardiff has some of the best looking females I have encountered at a hockey game and also they are very intelligent too when considering their conversation. As usual I was most impressed.
Take my place back in Block 18 (Reminds me that considering all the hoohah about sitting/standing tickets that all around me stood up in the seated area for the whole game ;D) for the final 20 minutes hoping we could hold on and not collapse.

Step forward Jozef Lukac.

Ripper of a shot from outside the blue line that to this moment Jason Puck-In-Net still doesn't know quite how it happened. Having seen it in tv many times since i am still amazed by this goal

Jason P-I-N has now got his confidence in shreds and the barmy army pick up on it to ruin his night again.
Most Devils fans see the irony given that they are the main ones who attempt to get at Jody and appreciated the humour content. However there was one rather agressive woman on the balcony in her 40s who hurled down a stream of obsenities at the Blaze fans assembled below. Other Devils fans around her seemed a touch embarassed at her actions.

Bari MacKenzie scores but has no one to celebrate with! It's not that he is unliked more to do with the big brawl taking place in front of the plexi where we are. Neal Martin was flat out at this point and as we were celebrating the goal missed whatever flashpoint precipitated this all off.
A brief B2P conference as we realise we don't have a song for the goalscorer
Nevertheless with a few minutes left we are in smug mode as we know the cup is ours. Chants of "You only need 7 goals" are directed at the Devils fans.
Time ticks down and the cup is ours.
Boy did we celebrate. Somebody said that our captain even smiled
I don't think players, management or the fans really wanted to leave for a long while. This confirmed to me that to win a pot on away territory is miles better than doing ot at home. The Devils fans were now long gone so we departed.
On the way to the coaches we are passed by several in cars who beep their horns at anyone they see in a Blaze shirt. Party time in the principalitys capital.

On the coach my voice is almost gone but I grab a can and make my way to the middle of the coach and begin to select the songs/chants for the innebriated masses in front of me.
All the usual repertoire of Blaze songs get an airing in fine fettle.
After these it turns into a free for all with John (CovBlaze16) starting off the classic Bhohemian Rhapsody before I chip in with a reggae version and PW tries a thrash metal one. Other classics are done including the ever popular Build Me Up Buttercup. (Guys you will have to learn the words to the verses!!)
Due to the large quaffing of liquid refreshments eventually they take their toll on the bladder systems of the passengers. Can't remember who was bursting but they get a shock when it is discovered that the door to the toilets has been locked and we are still over an hour from home with no planned stop ;D
Football songs then get an airing when the CCFC fans give their rendition of the Eton Boating Song. I counter with a couple of Villa ones before PW launches into his Men Of Kent one for Gillingham. A semi-communal version of You'll Never Walk Alone is then done with me adding the 1 time, 2 time bits to Callums delight.
As eyelids become heavier we reach the Skydome.
Tired and weary but cup winners and ecstatic

[PW]

And now for the view from the other member of 'team W', as someone saw fit to call us after a drunken trip back from Dundee...

3:30 on a Thursday in February, and having picked up the pastie of the Gods (a Greggs sausage and bean melt) I drop into the Co-op in order to buy champagne for later on that night-also two bottles of Black Sheep ale to commemorate the trip into Wales. Sundry Blaze fans including Dave and Debz are doing similar, and there is much ribbing of those who appear to have decided that they'll only travel away when hell freezes over or Blaze have a chance of winning a trophy.
Arrive at the coach for around 3:35, and settle down at the back. My rest is, however, disturbed when a nice lady from CWR comes on the coach, and is pointed toward me by the ever-friendly Bev as someone willing to do an interview. Unsuspecting, I do so, answering questions about the trip, how I think the game will go (including my sneaking and thankfully unfounded suspicion that the Blaze will lose six-nothing, etc. However, in the background are 50 or so Blaze fans informing Coventry and Warwickshire that I'm...ahem... somewhat lacking in the trouser department...a great start to the day.
The coach sets off in a fusillade of balloons...until we reach the M5, when everyone settles down to run through the Blaze repertoire, amongst other events which have already been documented above)
Arriving in Cardiff around 5pm, we queue for tickets in party mood-although myself and Keith's attempt to balance the luck being called down with the over-confident pre-game chanting is met with smiles from the Devils and glares from those Blaze fans with no sense of humour.
Pre-game passes in something of a blur as the tension mounts-apart from the unveiling by Debz of a confetti cannon-which fires 30 foot into the air-not good when the WNIR is about half that high. 'Blowing the roof off' assumes a whole different meaning when that thing goes off-sounding like the wrath of God, to greet the Blaze onto the ice. Unfortunately, the Devils don't join them, hence the chant of 'they're too scared to play us'. Work has also rang to find out where I am-a bad omen.
And I fail to spot the large Welsh flag hanging almost above my head, which I am convinced has been removed after looking for it all through the full-throated Blaze rendition of GSTQ and the following Land of Our Fathers.
Eventually the game begins, and Payette and Craighead fight twice in nine minutes to be chucked out-Andre showing how to win Welsh friends and influence people by saluting the crowd as he goes. Then the Devils score twice, and a nagging feeling of doubt surfaces-I am the subject of much hate at this point, particularly from Ali, Davey Boy and Callum-who are convinced I've jinxed the game. This feeling gets worse as the Devils go 4-1 up.
Late in the second, I am distracted from watching the passing of a particularly fine specimen of Welsh femininity (no, not Vez-this girl was blond and taller) by the puck reamng round the boards to be collected by Neal Martin, who is promptly driven into the boards shoulder-first from behind by Romaniuk and collapses in front of us with a scream of pain which I swear I heard through the plexi. All hell breaks loose as Belak proceeds to mete out the justice of the jungle-one jackhammer left-hand (his WEAKER side) punch nearly sending the Devil's head into Echo's lap. Through the plexi. After order is restored, the Blaze begin their comeback, which is well documented elsewhere. I am trying to lead the travelling support in the Hokey Lukac, and am then given a God-given opportunity by a slap-shot which came out of the draw in Heaven marked 'no way in Hell are you stopping this' by the King of Slovakia himself, which also makes it 4--4 on the night. I then proceed to be covered in silly-string, and the celebrations after the fifth goal (also the birth of a new Blaze hero in Bari McKenzie) simply get louder and louder, until a chant 'can you hear us all at home' causes a friend of Dave's to immediately text him saying 'Hell, yes!'
Post-game is a blur-although a scary recollection of hugging Callum for at least thirty seconds surfaces-usually leaving me awake in a cold sweat at 3 a.m. Back on the coach, my bottle of champagne is passed around (I believe Kate is amongst those who had a sip) and everyone gets slowly lashed. By far the best running joke on a return trip ever is created, with everyone dropping in the phrase 'by the way...WE WON THE CHALLENGE CUP!' into conversation at quiet moments, to loud cheers every time. My death-metal versions of Unchained Melody cause Callum, Kelly, Danielle, Ali and Jenni to go into convulsions of laughter, along with the other versions pioneered by Whiskey and others, before we end the CC Mystery Tour (Cardiff-Hereford-Cardiff-Birmingham-Coventry) tired and overjoyed...

[JP]

What about the "Jasssssssssssson, Jassssssssssssssson" chant? That was pure brilliant, i believe Jason P-I-N buckled when that chant came out ;D

[Claret & Blue Army]

Covblaze16 said:

What about the "Jasssssssssssson, Jassssssssssssssson" chant? That was pure brilliant, i believe Jason P-I-N buckled when that chant came out ;D

I did make a brief mention of it in the 2nd instalment just after the Jozef goal

[JP]

Chief said:

I did make a brief mention of it in the 2nd instalment just after the Jozef goal

It was excellent, every Blaze fan in WNIR slow chanting "Jasssssssssssson" haha!

[Claret & Blue Army]

Covblaze16 said:

It was excellent, every Blaze fan in WNIR slow chanting "Jasssssssssssson" haha!

Notice how the cat calling of Jody has ceased from other teams fans too of late

[ITS_me]

Yeh, I think i have only heard it once or twice at the skydome this season.

[Claret & Blue Army]

Don't even get it away much either although I'm sure the Giants fans will ry this weekend if he plays

[Blazing Kate]

Chief said:

Due to the large quaffing of liquid refreshments eventually they take their toll on the bladder systems of the passengers. Can't remember who was bursting but they get a shock when it is discovered that the door to the toilets has been locked and we are still over an hour from home with no planned stop ;D

hmm, that wasnt funny!! I already have a phobia of coach toilets cause i was locked in one once, i now hold a grudge because of being locked OUT of one! oh well, they say theres 101 things to do before you die, anyone know if this counts as one ;D

[Claret & Blue Army]

blazingkate said:

hmm, that wasnt funny!! I already have a phobia of coach toilets cause i was locked in one once, i now hold a grudge because of being locked OUT of one! oh well, they say theres 101 things to do before you die, anyone know if this counts as one ;D

Think that would make it 102