England v Ecuador
International Friendly
Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens
Florida, USA
4 June 2014
England's pre world cup friendly series started with a 3:0 home win against Peru. The team then travelled to Miami to play more South American opposition, with fixtures at the Sun Life Stadium against Ecuador and Honduras. Despite the lucrative location, many fans did not travel due to the expense of the forthcoming world cup in Brazil. Despite this about 2000 did make the journey. The first game featured England against the Ecuadorians who were fresh from a successful South American qualification campaign. Sadly I didn't have enough leave to see the Honduras game so I sold my ticket to a Sunderland lad
Luke Shaw becomes the youngest member of the squad for Brazil in the same year that he made the PFA team of the year for Left Back and made his England debut against Denmark
The Sun Life Stadium is located in Miami Gardens which is on the wrong side of town (in many ways). The ticket collection point and FSF Fan's embassy were in South Beach
My hotel was slap bang in the middle of the Art Deco district near the FANs Embassy
Sun Life Stadium, Miami
Ecuador 2 England 2
Honduras 0 England 0
Day 1 - For the first morning of my Miami adventure I was greeted with a breakfast rain storm.
For the next 5 days I located myself in one of the most famous Art Deco hotels on Ocean Drive, the Beacon Hotel.
Ocean Drive is full of similar hotels, all in the Art Deco style.
Beach patrol HQ, SOBE which is responsible for 29 Life Guard towers and mobile patrols which are connected by radio to each other and the civilian police.
One of the remaining 29 Life Guard Towers that were mostly destroyed by Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
The Humidity meter
Day 2 - I took a trip to Downtown Miami and had a ride on the free 'Metro Mover' which is an over ground public rail system which circumnavigates the central area.
Freedom Tower was originally the printing centre of the Miami News before it became the immigration centre for Cuban immigrants fleeing Fidel Castro's regime in the 1960's.
The American Airlines Arena is located in the
downtown area and is home to the Miami Heat.
Bayside Market place
On my way to Marlins' Park to get tickets for the Baseball.
The Greater Miami Holocaust Memorial is an incredible piece of art that is dedicated to the 6 million who perished
in Nazi concentration camps during WW2.
Espanola way is a charming colonial road which is full of excellent restaurants including Havana 1957 which is an incredible Cuban restaurant that serves the
best Mojito's and great Cuban dishes.
Miami Marlins v Tampa Bay Rays at Marlins Park
The Sunderland boys (Tommy, Pete and Fred) enjoying
the match in the Clevelander's posh seats.
The Clevelander bar was much more
entertaining than the Baseball.
Day 3 - The next morning we find the real Clevelander, the Clevelander Hotel on Ocean Drive.
The spot where some local boys attempt to sell me some gear.
The girls at the Clevelander Bar get
my respect (it was bloody freezing).
Sunderland boys in the Clevelander.
After a long taxi ride we arrive at Miami Gardens which appears to be a very run down district. Not the place that you would go for a pre-match drink.
The Sun Life stadium is home to the Miami Dolphins.
There are lots of South Americans outside
The statue commemorating the brilliant Miami Dolphin's
long serving Quarter Back, Dan Marino (1983-99).
Storm clouds gather at the start of the national anthems.
Tommy flag spotting
Freddie
Freddie and me. Ken Malley (RiP) from the Free Lions team supping on a Corona at the back.
The England faithful look on.
Final scoreboard, England 2 Ecuador 2.
The final whistle blows and despite a very physical encounter we escape without any injuries.
After the game we decide to walk out of the Sun Life stadium and predictably take the wrong turn in the wrong neighbourhood. Luckily we manage to flag down a car to get us out of the 'hood' and onto our destination at the local casino. Oh the stories that were told about this little venture
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