Fans Photos 1999 Ciara and Christina Fly in from Boston Powered by counter.bloke.com

"Hats off to Ciara, our lovely new Toon friend" By Jonno

Stevo won all our hearts at the Everton match with his trip across from Holland to see the game. Eat your heart out Stevo! This fine effort was surpassed big time by our new friend Ciara (pronounced, I am told, Keera) who made the short trip from Bos ton USA to see the lads play at Upton Park. (I am reminded of a time I was chatting to a bloke in The Strawberry before a match and I proudly told him I had travelled up from Bournemouth for the game. I was cut down to size when he told me that he ha d flown in from Malta!)  Anyway, about Ciara. She is NOT an exiled Geordie but is actually American. She "gard into sarker" during the 94 World Cup and followed the game as a neutral I understand. She then discovered the BBS - the effect is shatteri ng. Enchanted by the wit and intelligence on here (it's nice to know somebody reads my stuff) she has developed a passion for The Toon and came over to see her first game at Upton Park. Hmmm. An inauspicious start to a Toon career but bear in mind bo nny lass (or barney laass if you will) that there's plenty more where that came from. My own Toon career began with a 0-1 defeat by a team from the 4th division come  37 years ago and it has only ever been better than that in patches! I just thought I 'd let you know what you've let yourself in for - but for further evidence of the debilitating effects of being a Toon fan you need look no futher than our dear friend Pruritis Ani who when asked whether the glass is half full or half empty is likely to reply that it doesn't matter "coz the bliddy thing's ganna faall on the floor - aa've seen it aall before". After the Upton park match Ciara told me she would be visiting the Golden City on Monday, in company with her travelling companion Christina. After such a gutless performance against the Hammers I was impressed by her resolve, so to show her some Geo rdie hostility (sorry, hospitality) I agreed to meet them off the train and show them some of the sights. We made a brief drive around the city noting the bridges, the castle the cathedral and the monument, that statue of Earl Grey who invented the s andwich (or was it the cardigan?)  Ciara and I then went on a guided tour of SJP and, ever mindful of a media opportunity, I had the matchday program editor interview Ciara after the tour. She should appear (together with yours truly who could not be held back when the camera was produced) in the next program. I then left Ciara and Christina to sample the delights of the Toon before meeting them again in The Strawberry for a drink before they left. Gibbo, Softie, Steph, Jon, and Rik were kind enough to turn up and join our Boston Magpie friend for a jar in the holy of holies.  So Ciara - it was very nice to meet you and I hope we shall see you again soon. Mind, having witnessed the 0-2 vs Hammers, putting up with me for a guided tour of the Toon, and then enduring the delights of a conversation with the hallowed BBS in-crowd, I could well understand if you decide to take up "footbarl" instead of "sarker" on returning home!  Lovely to meet you pet - Come back soon.