The Last Crusade: Israel U21 v England U21, Ramaz Shengelia Stadium, UEFA Euro U21 Champs Qualifier, Georgia, 25 Jun 23

Israel U21 v England U21

UEFA Euro Under 21 Championships 2023

Group B

Ramaz Shengelia Stadium

Kutaisi, Georgia

25 Jun 23

The tournament was played in Romania and Georgia between 21 Jun and 8 Jul. The Romanian venues were Cluj-Napoca (2 stadiums) and Bucharest (2 stadiums). In Georgia the games were hosted in Batumi, Kutaisi and Tbilisi (2 stadiums). England's half of the draw was played in Georgia on the Black Sea coast in Batumi and in the cultural capital of Kutaisi

Tickets were available on the day and the ticketing office was much better organised than in Batumi. I had already purchased E-tickets online but as I wanted physical tickets went to the stadium and bought another for a massive sum of 10 GEL (£3). Extravagance!

Ramaz Shengelia Stadium is the home of FC Torpedo Kutaisi. It is a traditional Soviet style bowl that was built in 1950 but had substantial improvements prior to it being made a host venue for the UEFA U21 Championships 23. It is due to host 3 Group games and a Quarter Final. If we qualify from the Group, England would have played here

England 2 Israel 0

Attendance: 5106

Day 1: Bagrati Cathedral, Kutaisi and Ticket Collection.

After the shenanigan's at the airport resulting in me being ripped off by a rogue taxi driver who masqueraded as my pre-arranged taxi driver whilst my real taxi driver was still searching for me. The net result was a 75 GEL (26 Euro) ride then having to pay for my official taxi too (20 Euro). I finally arrived at the Green Town Hotel, down but not out

Bagrati Cathedral is only a 100 meters from the hotel and helped calm me down with its therapeutic qualities

The crucifix at Bagrati Cathedral overlooking Kutaisi

Bagrati Cathedral is an 11th century cathedral in Kutaisi in the Imereti region of Georgia. It is considered one of the four great Georgian Orthodox cathedrals

It has reconstructed over the years with the work being completed in 2012

The Rioni River runs through Kutaisi and it is fast

Rapido!

Several prominent bridges are Kutaisi landmarks. The first one that I crossed was the Chain Bridge which is the oldest of the Kutaisi bridges, the chains were added in 1850s and the supporting buttresses date back to 1770s

The Panoramic known as Kolkhida is the largest high relief sculpture in post Soviet countries. The composition reflects 4 periods of Georgian history (BC, AD, the present and future)

The next bridge I happen upon is the Red Bridge. It was constructed in 1860 after the ironwork had been completed in France. The iron was painted red, hence the name

Adjacent to the Red Bridge is the Magnolia Hotel and Restaurant. In the spring the magnolia blossoms and the whole city comes to witness the symbolic change of seasons

Perhaps the most famous bridge is the White Bridge which connects central Kutaisi with the Old town

I opted for lunch just next to the White Bridge at Kutaisi Gardenia. This is Chicken Shkmeruli with a Georgian salad washed down with local beer

This is the Golden marquee where the palace of the Imeretian Kings once stood. Not much to see as it looked abandoned

View downstream of the White Bridge

On the Marshrutka No1 to Stadium Torpedo Kutaisi

Central Kutaisi west of the Rioni River on way to the stadium

Entrance to the stadium

The ticketing staff were very friendly

The main stand at the Ramaz Shengelia Arena

Obligatory selfie

Not much around the stadium. It's gonna be a taxi from Old Kutaisi to the ground on matchday

The taxi dropped me off at a busy roundabout near the Colchis Fountain. The fountain is decorated with enlarged models of archaeological artifacts found throughout Georgia

No idea what this says but its interesting

Access to the river to wash your feet😁

Kutaisi getting in the mood for the U21 Euro Champs

The Kutaisi cable car coming into dock on the river bank side

View from the cable car station on the hill at the Besik Gabashvili Amusement Park

Old School

When in former Soviet countries jump on the Ferris Wheel. It's the law!

More advertising

I nearly booked the Magnolia Hotel but will settle for dinner in the restaurant there

View from my table to the Red Bridge

Eating dinner while the River Rioni roars passed

The Hotel Magnolia Restaurant

Rooms with a view

More advertising

Heading towards Chain Bridge

Meskhishivili Drama Theatre

Over the chain Bridge, up the hill and back to the hotel

It's going to be a quiet night in

Night sky overlooking Kutaisi

Day 2: Matchday and the Monastery

Good Morning Kutaisi

I take a Bolt to the Gelati Monastery

The centre piece of the Gelati Monastery is the Cathedral of the Virgin built by King David the Builder between 1106-25.

It is a blazing hot Sunday and the churches are full of worshippers, despite the renovations

Views of the Monastery

The Belfry

I decided to walk between the two Monasteries at Gelati and Motsameta but it didn't go fully to plan

The walk started fine but without a map and a phone signal I soon became lost in the hills. No water and 30+ degrees heat 💀

With only the wildlife for company and all hope fading, an old Mercedes Benz approached me on a dirt track. I flagged down the driver and in my best broken Russian requested a lift. The Georgian told me he would collect me on the track in an hour once he had got his mum from church