“How many of your team have played in the European Cup?” their manager asked are rather stunned looking Neil. “None!” he replied, “how many of your players have been out all night?” our team organiser furthered. Apparently none. Also, apparently seven to the first question. A little more apparently these two factors played a significant factor in the victory of the Austrian Allstar XI over the Wales Supporters team. Still, how many people can say they played against Hans Krankl?

We were in Austria, Graz to be exact. Wales had arranged the most random friendly against Trinidad and Tobago. As usual, the keen supporters (insert appropriate alternative such as nutters) travelled to support. Some had travelled randomly from the Basque and Catalan regions, via France, Germany and Andorra. How very European. Wales had played a Basque XI the previous weekend. Talking of European, most of the Welsh fans in the Irish bar in Austria were besotted with the Bosnian barmaid.

We even made the local paper! Flann O’Briens was most accomodating. International superstar DJ Brother Phil was given the Friday night to play with the jukebox!

Randomly, the Welsh fans were segregated (from the 7 TandT supporters who had made the journey!) and had to view match from behind a big net. Nice. But why? There were few people there (well done to those Austrians who turned up) and TandT aren’t exactly our greatest rivals! There was some trouble. Four local boys (can’t say lads, as they weren’t old enough) were escorted from the ground by a small security guard, much to the delight of the Welsh lads they had been “abusing” (in German, so we didn’t know anyway), who responded with lovely songs alng the lines of “does your mummy know you’re here?”, “Go to school, go to school…” etc. More on this later!

(photos taken with my phone – not bad)