Finglasqpr and Geo picked me up in the morning at around 10, and we travelled the 8km to Carton House in Maynooth, Co. Kildare for the R’s training session. It was a beautiful sunny morning and we arrived around half an hour later. I estimate that there were around 500 Rangers fans in attendance, a fantastic turnout.
The players came out from the gym shortly afterwards, followed by ‘Arry in his chauffeur driven golf car. Loic Remy was present, but didn’t take part in the full session. He was off to the side with one of the coaches. Adel Taarabt did take part in the full session as did all the first team.
Afterwards it was time for some autographs, photos, flag signing etc, and that must have gone on for about an hour and a half. I got my play-off final programme signed by most of the team but missed Clint Hill. I got Bobby Zamora to sign the front cover as the image there looked just like him. Also fair play to him, my marker had dried up and he got a proper one to do a good signing.
Then I got my photo taken with ‘Arry and I said to him: “We must go for a beer sometime,” he gave me an ‘oul wink, so I think that was a yes! Near the end, Charlie Austin jumped into ‘Arry’s golf car, apparently for an interview. ‘Arry shouted over to him: “Hey that’s my car!” Charlie hopped out, laughed, and got back in and sped off. But the car came back for ‘Arry, who was surrounded by autograph hunters.
Great day overall, I met Tom from the old iQpr, Georgio from Clonsilla, Seamus Watters, inkedupp, Michael from Monaghan, young Michael from Athlone and his mother who has organised the meet-up at the Bounty Bar before the game there.
I arrived back home about 2.30, excellent turnout which the club later confirmed as being over 800 (more than Real Madrid), good weather, and the staff and players were fantastic in the time out they took for the fans. And just in case anyone asks, Denzel Washington never turned up.
Training day!
John22