We are both 17 and he got our tickets through ticket master for £25 though he is a member of the Official England supporters club.

He booked the train tickets from Edinburgh Waverley at 2pm.
On the day i couldn't wait new England top on walking through Edinburgh to meet my mate at 1pm at his work. We bought a small carry out and a Greggs for the train and we were off.
We had just visited the Riverside a few weeks before when Boro played Arsenal (as part of our 42 and 92 club ground collecting) so we knew where to go. We arrived at Newcastle about 3:30 and bought our tickets for the Metro. There were only around 10 other England fans waiting with us on the platform and nearly as many police after what had happened with Turkey i guess.The Metro took around 45 to 50 minutes with more and more England getting on at every stop. I kept my mate and others sitting around us entertained with impressions of Peter Kay as i had just seen his live at the top of the tower gig on TV the Sunday before.

We got off at Middlesborough around 5 and went straight to the high street.It was amazing thousands of England fans all in the new top (Well i would say about 90%) it was just a sea of white. We went and checked out the bus times back up to Newcastle as we had a leaflet with our ticket saying there would be no trains after the game. And quite right after the crush we were in on the train a few weeks earlier at the Boro Vs Arsenal game.This was not good for us though and there were no buses. We couldn't care less we would worry about that after the game. So next to find the Chicago rock pub that we saw earlier i got a bit disorientated but my mate kept me right. Every pub was heaving apart from the Chicago rock. It was not busy at all and the £2 a drink till KO suited us because we were leaving before they bumped up the prices.

We watched the England video that was on and a few songs were flowing. At 7.15 we left for the game and just under the bridge near the train station 2 mounted Police and around 5 in quick march went passed us and we thought there was something was up at the Bridge pub round the corner (which we were told to stay away from if we didn't want trouble). We were walking round amongst mainly Lads singing "Keep St. George in my heart" as the Police went past but when we turned the corner nothing was happening. That drag of a walk around to the Riverside stopping at most pin badge stalls to add to the collection and to get a programme.

Shocking my first game and i never realised how late we were.To the stands and last time we were in the very back row of the mainstand and this time we were i the back row bar one of the stand to the left as the players come out. Great view. As Slovakia took the lead i couldn't believe it, but i knew we were going to win. We were both bombarded with calls and text messages from our mate back in Scotland who has Czechoslovakian grand parents. No joke. I was to fuming and just deleted his calls before answering. We sung god save the queen before the KO of the second half and it was awesome. My mate said to me "everytime we run at them i think we are going to get a pen"and we did as you know. When the second went in it was a blur. I jumped up onto the back row and started banging the back of the stand and then i was swinging from the scaffolding of the BBC camera man. Could have been the maddest i have ever gone it was that or Vassel's against Turkey.

I am desperate to go to Euro 2004 and am for definite if we qualify. At the final whistle we had moved down to the Exit and it was just a quick YES! and we were off we ran round the pain of a road to the station and a train passed us as we did so. We upped the pace punishing ourselves taking over ever other England fan who had left early.As we approached the station the copper pointed us to the North bound side of the station.

We were the last to board a half empty train and we were on our way to Darlington were we caught a GNER train up to Newcastle which was boarded ticket less like every other person that had come from the Metro train. We were not caught and got to Newcastle about 10:25 we thought this was good going and we might get a train back to Edinburgh/Dunbar where my mate stays. The last train was as we checked at 8.30 so it was back to plan A. Sleep in the station till our designated train at 7:45am arrived. This would have been a shocking nights sleep but it was only worse when the coppers said they were chucking everyone out the station and locking the gates. This had not been part of our plan and we were not about to sleep on the street.

The hunt for a Hotel in Newcastle centre at the last minute began. After touring a few trying to be polite and well represented as possible (two footie fans after a match! and beer! and Lots of running!) we settled on the first which was our only option pay £50 notes each or sleep on the street. It as the big hotel that is on you right as you leave the station. I suppose it was handy as we had to be at the station early. No time for breakfast and on the train home in the same clothes as the day before England tops and all with the business men and women left for work!. Our train tickets only designated this train we could travel back on so its as well we caught it or it would have been more expenses. Plus my mate had work to go into so his plan of action was top get off at Dunbar, get changed and washed ad than catch the next train 30 minutes later to be in for his work at 10am. He got in on time and gave the Jocks a good slagging and i continued home getting a bus out to Winchburgh 15 miles west of Edinburgh. £150 well spent.

I am now looking into going to Portugal away in February as though i would love to go to Liechtenstein at old Trafford it costs a few quid for even a home game for me as i have to stay over all the time.I would rather put that few quid to an away game experience. I have also just been to Old Trafford for the CL. If i had not been then it would have been a definite for the Liechtenstein game to take in old Trafford without having to watch Man. Utd.