Trip to Wycombe Wand-GOT LOST-erers!

LAST SATURDAY is a great day for me, at least for myself,

I had made a new friend. I wake up around 6am in the morning, miss the breakfast at the hotel because the train will depart from Norwich station at 7am. I am on time going to the station and catch the train. There are not many sightseeing around because I am just too sleepy so I start to sleep but, wait! I hear some Christmas song besides my ear and what's happen? Do Santa arrived in early November and he has a big Christmas present to me?

No! I open my sleep eyes and see a woman on my right side, one seat in front of me, she is on a headphone but singing the psalmbook very loudly! Everyone in the train just turn their attention to her, but she seems so enjoy to sing and never see us; thanksfully she stop to sing and go straight to the toilet, but I am already wake up, and cannot sleep again. I would think -- if she can start to sign 30 mintes later that will be better, because I should be arrived to the Liverpool Street station, and I will not need my alarm clock to wake myself up!

It's my first experience to the Liverpool Street station and be honest with you, I have absolutely no idea where I should go. I have to stop and ask their staff every time when I see them; finally I go to catch the London underground, and it's again with both eyes open in amazing fashion: the screen I see inside the underground is what 25 years ago I see in the KCR in Hong Kong!

The station is pretty old and the tunnel, is certainly the 70's! Nevermind because sometimes the old things would be better than the new. There are some stations interested about me, the Wembley and West Ham, also Upton Park. I recall the Cantonese football commentator, Mr. Keyman Man say you can go to Upton Park by train, because they are one of the stations at the underground. Yes he's correct enough, it's also good for their fans can travel to the football ground in more convenient way.

FINALLY I arrive at High Wycombe and sadly, my 'lost trip' begin! Hay you don't understand what I mean? Here is the story: I get out from the train station, see their map, and they don't even have mention about the football club (Adams Park)! So I ask the security in the station, about how can I go to the football club? He reply it's long way to go from here to there, it's quite complicate to say. I ask him can I walk to there? Liked nearly an hour to reach? He reply it's more than a hour.

I ask him can I take a bus? He reply yes but I need to go to the bus station, which is also far away from here, he point to the downhill road and tell me to walk and find it by myself. I follow his instructions and walk downhill, there are no street signs saying where is the bus station or the football club are. No problem I just keep walking and feel there are some shopping malls near, so I get in there because I remember some of my friends in Norwich say, Wycombe Wanderers has a clubshop in the mall, which will be a good way to ask.

I go to the shopping mall and actually they are still in work. The ground is make of wood only and you have special feeling when walk on that. I cannot find the clubshop and what's going on?  I kindly asked a young man who is working a trading card shop, he say usually they have a clubshop besides them but now they do not have anymore, and the football club is not any close the mall.

I ask him how can I get to the club? He reply I can go to the bus station and get a bus there, but he's not sure which bus I should take and I have to say. Thanks very much because at least I get an little clearer information.

I LEAVE the mall and see the signs of the bus station, finally I get to the bus station, and I kindly ask the information center, any bus I can go to the football club? He reply go to the number 9 window to get the bus, I ask him which number of the bus is that because I still need to travel back to the station to catch the train, he just say go to number 9 window! Nevermind when I arrive in a a few second, the bus close the door and want to leave! Of course I show my desire to get on the bus, the driver let me in.

After I get on the bus, I kindly ask the driver can you give me a shout when you go near the football ground? He reply the answer of the day: 'I will give you a shout if I remember where is it!' That is absolutely brilliant for a driver! I remember if you want to get a taxi license in Hong Kong, you must know take exams about all the roads and streets, how come they are at work in the public transportation but know nothing?

I am sitting on the bus who feel absolutely annoyed, but after a while, a woman ask me do I want to go to the football club? I reply yes and she tell me the next station is, and if I keep walking on the right side, then 5 minutes after I will reach the stadium! Oh specially thanks to that woman because the driver seems has none of it. He just push the button to open the door and let me out. That's terrible.

When I get off the bus, I see there is a street sign 'Adams Park parking' but pointing to the left side! But the woman say right so I must believe her. I keep walking for 5 minutes, still there are no street signs to Adams Park, and most importantly I have no feeling I am going to the stadium! There are many houses besides, no shops and no people walking around! Do all the people at home watching 'Soccer AM'?

I keep walking and reach a warehouse, and then I see a carpark and smell the taste of the burgers! Yeah, finally that's the place but I still cannot see the floodlight. I just keep walking near the 'burger lorry' and finally I see 'Welcome to Adams Park' but wait a minute -- when I look around the sign, I laugh at it! It is because besides the sign, it is just exactly liked countryside park in Hong Kong! Anyway I get to there.

OKAY YOU would think my 'lost trip' finish? I think Yes but the answer is No! It is just another start! I meet Jessica, who is a lovely lady, who work in the Commerical department because I sponsor Gary Holt shirt this season, we shake hands and she gives me the ticket and say she will let me and Gary meet after the game at the guest hospitality.

I ask her will any pubs near will show the Arsenal vs Manchester United match? She say she does not know and I may ask the lounge called 'Scores' besides, but she say she will be in the office all day. Well she say she will but will she?

Well the lounge 'Scores' is just besides the ticket office, also the clubshop too! I would not waste any seconds but pop up to the clubshop, to buy a Wycombe Wanderers away shirt (home shirt sold out of XXL and XXXL), with printing 15 and HOLT on it. They have 3XL size measure 29 inches across the chest, which is much bigger than the Norwich City 6XL shirt. Well their print machine is quite modern which I never see it before, they take the shirt up liked 'a shooting gun' when printing on it. The Arsenal - MU is a good encounter, which seems everyone in the club support the Gunners, 2-2 is a fair result.

I leave the pub at 2:40pm and go to the stadium, I find the right enterance and well, it's not a bad stadium and one of the stand has two levels.I get a seat quite close to the sidelines but I find out quickly, I can stand behind the fence and watch the game, as many people do! It is great because I can take any pictures I want in closer angle, of course my 'target', is Gary Holt!

GARY HOLT play in front of the back four and he win lots of headers, and his passing is good especially he always try to keep the ball low. He do not make a foot wrong in the first half and only has two misplace passes in whole game. Wycombe go on to score the first goal and stun the crowd because they are playing -- top of the League Two MK Dons! A well taken goal by Ipswich fans Matt Bloomfield.

It's a shame MK Dons equaliser before the end of the first half, after they have a corner of the own on the right side, MK Dons clear and former Barnsly winger Martin Bullock, give the ball away very cheaply in the center circle, he want to pass to Gary Holt who is last man, but lack of power and he play the ball too short on my angle to watch.

Leon Knight, who once play in Hong Kong for the Soccer 7's which hold in the HKFC stadium inside the Happy Valley Racecourse, scored a hat-trick in a short period of first half, intercept the ball, Gary Holt make a last ditch slidng tackle, but still cannot prevent him pass to one-time Gary Holt's teammate in the Scotland squad, Colin Cameron, to walk the ball home. 1-1 half time and it's a bad time to concede the goal.

What a crazy second half as MK Dons get two players send off after 15 minutes, but Wycombe miss a PK on their own! Paul Lambert, the Wycombe manager who make quick substitution to take their center half off and a striker in, and Gary Holt now switch to play center half as MK Dons do not want to attack. There are some great balls by Holty and he manager to find himself in the edge of the box to fire a volley goalwards, just another great save by the MK Dons keeper.

10 minutes left of the game, Holty is taken off and replaced by Stefen Oakes, another former Premiership players. Holty get his jumper on and start to warm down at the sidelines, and I start to go where he is. He is speaking to the fans and I pat his left shoulder and he notice me, we have short chat and we take picture while he is in a training kit! The final whistle go and it's 1-1, then we say goodbye because he has to return to the changing room.

WELL YOU remember I can meet Holty at the guest hospitality. I leave the stadium and try to find where is it, it's nearly 5pm. Sadly there are no signs which correct say where is the guest hospitality! I go to three different lounge, even going to the other side of the stadium, asking at least 5 staffs, they keep give me the wrong informations! I cannot even find Jessics and she disappear. I am very disappointed because it's dark now, it's 5:25pm but I still cannot find where I should go!

Finally I see a 'gingerhead' on a room's glass and well, it's Holty! I cannot enter the door because it's one way but Gary open it for me. He say where do I go and I say I am lost!!! Firstly I give my present to Holty, a beautiful Chinese plate with Dragons on, also a bottle of XO sauce because as he is a chef! I think he will love it and I tell him that's brand name is the most famous name in Hong Kong.

We start to chat about many things: Adam Drury's manner on the mobile and wow it's absolutely funny but I fully expected that; computer and PSP, hay Holty is also a fans of playing the PES 6, and we discuss how to playing the 'through ball'; Norwich City of course included the thoughts of the new signings; also about my current marrial status, which he makes a bit annoyed to tell him: 'Ask me another question please!'

There are some secret thing I do not know about him before, as he and Adam are the directors of a overseas property company! I really do not know about it! Well I also ask him will he keep on playing in next few years? Holty say yes and he would still playing, even if Wycombe do not want him, he say he may end up playing in Kings Lynn with Craig Fleming together who knows! Haha! Holty really love to play football and enjoy his job.

But I finally find that, he does not read my column ever, or he does not know, but he know about me because in the WOTB messageboard! He still looking at the messageboard for a while and follows what happen in Norwich City. Nevermind, I have his e-mail and will tell him to take a look at my column!

HOLTY SIGNED on the programme which has a question time about him. He say Adam Drury is his best friend of football, and he love to play PSP and computer, and he doesn't like to hear someone say 'the ginger head is a poor player!' What he signed on his picture is 'Dear David, My friend, Best Wishes, Gary Holt'. He point and tell me to see 'My friend'! Oh! I make a new friend in England this time!!!

I ask will Holty go to Carrow Road to see we play Ipswich? He say he won't but he will invite Matt Bloomfield, the Ipswich fans you know above to his home to watch the game together. Holty has three children and they will all wear the Norwich City shirt, and hope to celebrate a win in front of Matt! Yes we know it's a draw and I will talk about it possibly tomorrow or if not, after I come back to Hong Kong on Thursday night.

IT'S NEARLY 6:25pm and Holty ask me how do I get there? I show Holty my train time table and I tell him I go to club by bus then walk, but there are no signs on the road which always make me confused. Holty see the time table and check his watch, oh I say I need to get to the train at 7pm, so he say you may be able to miss the train, so he say he will give me a lift to the train station! Oh! I am on a player's car again!

Holty pick up his mobile and phone someone,I can't clearly listen all the sentences but he say he will something liked he will drop David off to the station before he come back home! I ask him who do you speaking too? Holty say my boss! His wife of course. A typcial family man.

Before we leave the lounge, we take a picture and the cameraman is former Norwich right-back Ian Culverhouse! He's the assistant coach of the club. Holty's car is a big one and I am very impressive about the satellite (Well sorry I forget what's the name is it!) inside his car! He just select the 'train station', and then the answering machine will tell him where to go, turn right, turn left! Honestly I never see that in Hong Kong before! It is modern and he tell me he get it after we are in the Premiership! A very rich man Holty!!!

The machine sayd the journey will take 6 minutes but due to some traffic jam, about 15 minutes we arrive the station; during the ride I ask him after MK Dond down to 9 men, Wycombe should have a great chance to win the game but, yeah he reply very honestly -- that's what they can get at the moment. Someone of the final balls from the wide players are not been great at that period. We leave the car together, pick my backpack, check the time and shake hands, say Goodbye!

BEFORE I go, Holty say 'Hay! Send me your address in Hong Kong on the e-mail, and I will send you my Wycombe Wanderers shirt and Norwich City's signed shirts!' Oh! What can I say about Gary Holt! Do I have any reasons not coming back to Norwich City next year, even we may not play in this divisions? Mind you Gary Holt signed for Wycombe Wanderers for two seasons.

It will be very busy time for myself today (Monday) and tomorrow, because I will leave Norwich in Wednesday afternoon, so it's the last time I put the blog in Norwich possibly. Let's hope I will have the last chance to see Norwich City get a win tomorrow, against top of the league Watford! Malky MacKay is coming back to Carrow Road!