Group B - Match 2
England v Wales
Stade Bollaert-Delelis
Lens, France
16 June 2016
After the intensity of Marseille we headed north on the TGV to the Northern French city of Arras where we would base ourselves for the next match, the mouth watering Group Game against Gareth Bales' Wales
Arguably the most sort after ticket of the Group Stages and a bargain at 55 Euro for this Cat 3 ticket for the 3pm KO
Eric Dier's superb free kick against the Russians in the melting pot of Marseille earns him a place on the front of Edition 146
The Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens was built in 1933. It is originally named after Felix Bollaert who was a director of Compagnie des Mines de Lens but was renamed after the death of the town's mayor (Andre Delellis) in 2012. It has hosted big games at the 1984 Euro Championship, 1998 FIFA WC and the Rugby World Cups in 1999 and 2007. In Euro 16 it hosted three Group Games: Albania v Switzerland, Wales v England and Czech Republic v Turkey. It also played host to the Rd of 16 game between Croatia and Portugal
Attendance: 34,033
Gareth Bale opens the scoring for Wales from a 30 yard free kick on 42 minutes. Hodgson brings on Vardy and Sturridge for Kane and Sterling. The substitution pays off as Vardy breaks free to scramble in the equaliser from close range on 56 minutes. In extra time the Welsh finally succumb as Sturridge pokes the winner in through a crowded six yard area
Despite its small capacity of 38000 this ground produced a great atmosphere with two sets of British fans belting out song after song. It was a pleasure to be at this match.
Day 1 - Arras/Lens. After booking into Hotel Balladins for one night only we head out to check out tomorrow's venue in Lens
Arras is only 16 km from Lens but you need to get the train and there just isn't many running so will factor that in!
After arriving in Arras we head for lunch at 'La Pain de la Bouche' to sample the best Burger & Frittes in France
Lens - 24 hours before the big game
Lens Fan Zone - the day before the game
The Fan Zone at Place Jaure's/devant marie was the
smallest in the Euros with a capacity of 10000
These Frittes are gorgeous too
Back in Arras
After a wee search we locate Craig and Tosh (Royal Sigs)
Bernard the Barman in Arras main square
No taxis, so we do a Forced March back to the 'Hotel Balladins', a good 2 mile from the town. Thank God we are leaving tomorrow morning
Day 2 - Wellington Quarry and Match Day in Lens. After a quick breakfast I call Craig for a lift because it is raining hard and we head to the Wellington Quarry.
The tunnel was built to affect a surprise attack by over 20,000 troops on to the German front at Arras. It was deemed a crucial deception as it was designed to to entice the German defences away from the main French offensive of Apr 17 which was just 50 miles South of Arras at Chemin des Dames.
Men of the NZTC, the New Zealand Tunnelling Company.
The Kiwis were serious tunnellers and miners by profession
No 10 exit. The Arras offensive began at 0530 on 9 April 1917 and succeeded in pushing the Germans back 11 Km, sadly it had to be called off as Troops got bogged down and the British started to lose 4000 men a day.
Entrance to the Carrie're Wellington (Wellington Quarry).
1st pint in Arras with my new found Welsh mates at the Euro Star Brasserie near the station.
England and Welsh fans
Arriving in Lens.
England and Welsh fans
Arriving in Lens.
Tosh from 'Landan'
Heading to the stadium
Park life
Arriving at the security corden by the Delacourt stand which will house the Welsh fans
Never missing an opportunity to pose
Tribune Lepagnot - all four stands are dedicated to local folk. Max Lepagnot was the former president of Artois and this stand is where the ViP and press are
Lionel Ritchie love in
Kammy is delighted to see us
North Africans at Gate D
Sue is the leader of the Band
The Trannin Stand named after Henri Trannin a native of Bully-les-Mines and a Goalkeeper for RC Lens for 18 years
Les concourse
The Red wall opposite has about 50% of the Delacourt Stand
English in the Louis Xerces Stand
The temperature is rising
We will rock you
Sporting the 2016 away
Anthems
A great day is just going to get better
The Welsh
Tamworth Emma
The Band tuning up
The English on 2 fronts
English support in the Trannin stand - I'm top left
Upper tier
The English
The Welsh
After a pulsating game, the moment Welsh hearts are broken
England win 2:1 with an injury time goal from Daniel Sturrridge and the party begins
Got, Got, Need, Need
Sir Tommy's Doppelgänger
The real Tommy Truman
Sunderland, West Ham, Spurs and Derby
.....and even the Welsh
The Battle of Lens and not a punch thrown. Now back to Arras to check out of the Hotel Ballatins and into Les Trois Luppars
Day 3 - Arras. In the morning we woke up to utter decadence in 'Les Trois Luppars (3 Leopards) on the Grand Place. The contrast with the Hotel Ballatins is off the scale
After breakfast we head up 75m to the top of the Belfry to take in the overcast views on a blustery day
The Grand Place (Main Square), we can just see our digs
Place des Heroes (Hero Square) from the Belfry
The Belfry from Place des Heroes
The rain finally comes - time for the indoor programme
The Giants of Arras. There are 4 of them: Jaqueline, Colas and their son Dede. The fourth is a bugler without a name. The giants (Jaqueline and Colas) were born in 1891 but killed off in WW1 and again in WW2 but were reborn in 1981. They had a son (Dede) in 1995
Les Boves is the underground tunnel system that was
used by traders throughout the ages - the access point is
just beneath the tourist office and Belfry.
The Arras War Memorial at Place du Mare'chel Foch
Its raining hard so we head for more sanctuary.
Day 4 - Leaving for St Etienne
Are camper vans the way forward?
The Grand Place is deserted.
Au revoir Arras et Lens.
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