That was quite a trip, even though I was only gone for 24 hours.
Was sat with Lille fans just to the right of the away end, though we were pretty discreet and didn’t wear Villa colours. The locals were fine, though some got salty after the game when we were cavorting about, which is understandable. Unless you were there it’s difficult to convey how much they absolutely detest Martinez.
Their support was loud and orchestrated but to me not intimidating. Chatting to a few near us and I think the game attracted a few day trippers, as one bloke was saying it was great to chat to away fans like us and that’s why rugby is better, and another was showing me videos of Marseille ultras and saying how poor Lille fans are. A couple of blokes came over to congratulate me after and it turned out they were Lens fans, Lille’s nearest and dearest. We got quite a few fuck offs and English bastard type insults on the tube but it was never threatening, just post match pissed off ness. Those post match beers in the bar for a few hours were most lovely, the weird collection of shots we did much less so.
A late night, a short sleep, 8.35 Eurostar, which was full of Villa fans, and I was in work by 9.45. A long day, made longer by getting home and realising I’d left my backpack in the office so had to do the return journey to work to pick it up ( it had my phone charger and I need it to go home tomorrow for Bournemouth) and I’m fucked now. Happy, but fucked.
