England v Scotland, Wembley Stadium

England v Scotland
FIFA WC 2018
European Qualifying Group F 
Wembley Stadium
London, England
11 November 2016

This was a key match in Gareth Southgate's short reign. A World Cup Qualifier against the Olde Enemy in only his third game in charge, no pressure then! Despite the hype, the game itself was never really that close, although Scotland did go close on two or three occasions and England did score against the run of play twice. The nice thing was that all three of the England goals were quality headed goals and we managed to keep a clean sheet; an indication that the manager is starting to get the team organised. The game finished 3:0 with headers from Sturridge, Lallana and Cahill.

The great thing about this game was that it was being played on Armistice Day, and that both the FA and SFA had stood by their decision to wear the poppy of Remembrance, despite pressure from FIFA that the respective associations would be penalised for wearing what they called 'political symbols' on sport clothing. Theresa May gave a rip roaring speech in Parliament where she said that "FIFA aught to jolly well get their own house in order before they start telling us how to run ours".

1000 train from Grantham to Kings Cross

Poppies in the Fountains of Trafalger Square

Lunchtime and the Tartan Army is gathering

I think that we'll give the Tate Gallery a miss today

Nelson's Column

A young Jock about to accept the Limbo challenge

Nelson's Column and an equestrian statue of Charles 1

St James' Park and the London Eye

The Cenotaph on the eve of Remembrance Sunday

The memorial to the Women who died in World War 2

 

After a great meal at the Two Chairman's Pub near No10 Downing Street, we head up to our local at the Green Man, over the road from Great Portland Street tube station.

Wembley Way

England's 3rd goal hits the back of the net

St George in the Home End

Tango: bottom Centre

Pretty in Pink

The Tartan Army is finally silenced

After the match we have a beer in the Moore Spice and let the crowds go down. Then we hop on tube to tCamden Town.

In the Elephant's Head with the Sunderland Boys

Sore head and the view from the B&B in Fitzrovia isn't the best.

Retracing some of our steps from the night before

The Imperial War Museum

The Spitfire dominates the museum

Great day out, until the building gets evacuated 

(never found out why)

On our way home from Kings Cross Station 

on 12 November 16