First Football Match!!!

Okay everyone, are you ready for this...

I went to my first European football match and it was SO MUCH FUN!!! Here is the proof - it's my actual ticket which I scanned (oh yes, a true blogger now) for all you people to see:

I must stress that this was truly a CULTURAL experience. Never have I encountered the species of "British Football Fans" and let me tell you, they are OUT OF CONTROL! The closest thing in comparison would be Canadians at a hockey game, but even still... they do not measure up to just how INTENSE these football fans were. Whoa... a bold statement I know, but I'm Canadian so I'm allowed to make it!

The stadium was fully packed with 42,000 people in it. It was at the Chelsea football stadium so I was cheering for Chelsea (as to not get myself killed). There were some Burnley fans, but you should've seen what it was like when they came in! There was a huge crowd of them - all marching in drunk and singing some Burnley fight song with hundreds of police surrounding them, marching around the group to keep them contained and protected. There were police on horseback in front, and 5 police vans behind the crowd on top of that. IT WAS INSANE!!! There was a separate entrance entitled "Away Supporters" at the stadium, and once inside they were completely blocked off by the police all lined up in a row standing there like body guards. I was sitting on the opposite end but could see the police having to break up several fights! The rage of the fans was truly unbelievable! Never have I heard so many profanities in my life! Seriously... I'm "profaned out" for the year... haha! How would I describe the men sitting behind me... Do the words "gnashing of teeth" mean anything to you?! Umm... yes. I could literally feel the air (and envision the spit) on the top of my hair as they were SHOUTING words you wouldn't imagine hearing in the states. My oh my...

I also didn't realize that one has to be able to sing in order to be a football fan! The ENTIRE CROWD would sing, chant, and clap to all of these different cheers and it was just so entertaining (and hilarious to eventually figure out what it was they were singing). I'm still not entirely sure, but let's just say that the many F-bombs weren't difficult to decipher.

One of my favorite moments was when I heard the elderly man sitting in front of me shout at the Chelsea players "Come on girls!" in your classic British accent. Haha! I was slightly concerned for the young man who was with him though because it literally looked like a blood vessel was about to pop in his eyeball! I could see the veins pulsing in his forehead... He seriously needed to simmer down! Everyone was rightly upset though because unfortunately, Chelsea didn't play very well. We lost the game... Our second loss at home since 2004! SAD.

Well, that's a little more detail for you on the experience, but you'll have to just witness a football match for yourself. Needless to say, my ears were ringing and my voice was raspy by the end of it all, but it was well worth it!