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FC Den Bosch 1 Newcastle 2

Date: 15th July 1999 19:30pm

Venue: Ecco Stadium, Hertogenbosch (Between Utrecht and Eindhoven). One reasonable main stand, one partly covered terrace with bolted on seats - away enclosure uncovered. Both ends of the ground were derelict, large safety fences preventing weeds and rushes from mounting a (very slow) genetically modified pitch invasion. Fat but cheery stewards of both sexes (allegedly.)

Price: 20 Guilders = about 6 pounds.

Conditions: A perfect summers evening, with a breath of wind to soothe fevered brows.

Kit: Normal home. Perez in a maroon top that didn't go with his tousled locks.

Crowd: Approx. 1700 - around 300 United fans, although Dutch sport shops seem to have taken on the onerous task of knocking out last season's home strip mountain onto an unsuspecting youth, so number of travellers, ex-pats, hangers on difficult to distinguish. e.g. Sample of flags: Alnwick Mags, Bill Quay, NUFC Feyenoord (!)

Teams:
DBFC: God knows - no teamsheet, "public address" announcer had a bad case of laryngitis and passing trains obscured his croaks.

NUFC: Perez, Barton, Serrant, Kerr, Goma, Dumas, McClen, Charvet, Coppinger, Griffin, Glass. Subs: Andersson for Kerr 53, Lemmen for Perez 57. n/u: Beharall, Caldwell and others too far away to confirm.

Who? Erwin Lemmen - Twenty four year old Belgian goalkeeper from Bekeren, who spent a couple of days in Holland training with United. Debuts (of a sort) for Dumas, Goma and probable first and last appearance of Lemmen.

Goals: 27 mins.Within seconds of Coppinger stabbing the ball past the opposing 'keeper only to see it rebound from the upright, McClen untidily bundled the ball home from around 12 yards. 1-0.
33 mins. The author was earwigging a witty aside from someone in front of him when the home side strode into the United half unchallenged, although all eleven players were between ball and goal. The unmarked Den Bosch number 10 ended up with the ball right side of the penalty area and drove home with the minimum of fuss.1-1.
49 mins. Warren Barton in comedy falling over in box, referee points to spot, Barton grins cheesily to travelling band. Coppinger whacks in the winner, no bother. 2-1.

Waffle: A reasonably satisfying reduced pace workout, with a first chance to see Goma (impressed), Dumas (reserve judgement until fully fit) and borrowed keeper Lemmen (not really called upon but claimed a couple of high crosses competently.) Coppinger played as a lone striker and, in the same way Kitson and Tomasson struggled, he was in dire need of support. Serrant (with home perm) made some inroads down the left but to no avail and was lucky not to give away a penalty after 20 minutes. Glass came in for some rough treatment as the game progressed, the back three of Goma and Charvet with Dumas as sweeper looked to have possibilities, while Andersson was back in the underwhelming form that he blessed us with last season……

Come the final whistle and it was inevitably the lone figure of Barton who wandered across and applauded the travelling corner. One or two others made vague gestures in our direction, but the rest (including the younger players) were away down the tunnel. Symbolic of the club's attitude really - a minimum of information about the games and the inevitable domestic ticket sale (this time Spurs and Southampton) when the team and fans are out of the country.

Miserable locals refused entry to the supporters club bar, so refreshment was sought from a roadside hut near the ground. One of the locals who was having a beer ended up backing his car into the Mercedes belonging to the proprietor, causing some hilarity. While the two parties exchanged details and baleful looks, the local lad disappeared into the hut and came out with….another beer. The supporters gift shop at the ground was an empty room containing a broken chair and several planks of wood (unpriced.)

Footnote: the author spent the evening in the splendidly named Terminal Hotel, but survived to the tell the tale, having chosen not to risk breakfast…

Biffa

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