Romana's TARDIS

Wembley yesterday for the Lionesses’ match with Spain. Made sure to pick up an Inside Soap at Waterloo, with its feature with Jodie Prenger talking about her Corrie alter ego, the love of my life Glenda Shuttleworth. Her saying she and the others love making the scenes with the ladies’ friendship circle came as no surprise, they’re such a joy to watch.

Arrived on Olympic Way just before two, called at the Greek food van for a late lunch. Was mooching around waiting for the Premier Inn to open when Jules and Crystal messaged to say they’d be heading to Blue Check for a quick snifter before their dinner plans. So I headed over there.

The lovely Deb from Free Lionesses was there, with a hug, a kiss and a wristband for a discount at the bar for me. Ash was there wanting to chat about QPR and Wales as normal. A quick hello with Rachel, Leanne and Lindsey. Maisie, a fellow Ipswich fan, arrived so I led her toasting the Tractor Boys’ win over the arch enemy Norwich at the weekend.

Jules and Crystal arrived and we found a table. It being the first time we’d met since last summer, we had a lot to catch up on. We talked our lives in and out of work and mutual friends, and Jules shared anecdotes on her and people she knew. They went off to the Italian restaurant they’d agreed to meet Jill, Steph and Kathy in and I wandered over to the Premier Inn to check in.

Amanda commented on my Facebook to say she’d be in Blue Check at 5 so I headed back there. Met her for a chat in the beer garden with Gary, whom we told about our upcoming Reykjavik trip. Got a message from Crystal to say they were all in a bar called Sixty Six. I walked over there and it was a lovely, quiet little place.

Jill, Steph and Kathy were all there with Jules and Crystal. Steph sprung up to meet me at the bar and bought me a cider and a packet of nuts. I joined the gang at their table. Steph told me about the travails of Leicester City’s men’s and women’s teams and she, Jules and I talked about sporting crushes. Talk turned to the Lionesses, and Jill and Steph dropped a most welcome surprise - they’re coming to Reykjavik.

We went on to the stadium, where our seats were separated so we agreed to meet in Boxpark after the game, since Rachel was going there, and said farewells with hugs. I was in a section in the middle tier with padded seats, with a great central view overlooking the pitch.

England got off to a dream start when Alessia Russo, on the ground, provided a wicked ball for Lauren Hemp to just bundle over the line, and the goal line technology showed the whole of the ball had gone over before it was cleared. Goal.

Both sides were well matched from there on. Esme Morgan and Lotte Wubben-Moy were fantastic in central defence. Hannah Hampton came to the rescue more than once with some fine saves, topped off with an incredible one in time added on to preserve the win for England.

I walked over to Boxpark where Rachel and Leanne were. Got a quick drink with them. Jules and the posse arrived, and we got a round of drinks in and found a quiet spot. When the men’s results came in Steph and I weren’t best pleased that Ipswich had lost 2-0 at Portsmouth, denting the Tractor Boys’ promotion challenge and nudging Steph and Jill’s favourites Leicester closer to relegation to League One. So we turned our attention to the Lionesses’ triumph, with acclaim for Hemp, Hampton, Morgan and Wubben-Moy. Steph and I talked prospects for getting legless in Reykjavik. While Crystal was off talking to Rachel and a couple of other friends Jules talked to us about how everyone who meets Crystal loves her. No surprise as she is a lovely, warm and friendly lady. I confessed that I’ve loved her since France.

Just after 11 the Boxpark staff told us it was time to go. We followed Rachel down to The Parish Bar, where we’d gone last time, and settled down at a corner table for another round. Keira Walsh’s mum was also in there; Crystal pointed her out to me.

At chucking-out time we all said fond farewells outside the pub. Jill, Steph and I walked on together as their hotel was on the way to mine. Heading up the last stretch to the Premier Inn I reflected how the women’s football world really is my home. This month’s being an expensive one and my card’s taking a bit of a battering, but : time with friends? Priceless.

Travelled up to Norwich yesterday for Atlético London’s last game of the season, away at Wroxham, today. Staying in the Norwich Nelson Premier Inn as it’s familiar to me and handy for the station.

Short hop on the train from Norwich to Hoveton & Wroxham. Pleasant walk to the ground. On the way along Hoveton’s main street was Charlotte’s Creamery, an ice cream stall selling a wide variety of flavours run by a friendly lady. She was talking to the couple she was serving about the hurdles she faced importing some of her goods because of Brexit. I went for a waffle cone with two scoops - Turkish delight and bubble gum flavours - very tasty.

I arrived outside the ground as a few Atlético people were pulling up in cars. We said hello and walked round to the entrance. A bit of a chat with the clubhouse’s affable barmaid and a pint of a Norfolk dark fruit cider called Black Adder.

It wasn’t long before more of our girls arrived. I got a bit of a chat at the bar with the lovely Jo. She said that compared to the M1, they’d found the M11 a breeze. Obviously they missed out on the occasional Norfolk problem of getting stuck behind a tractor on a country road.

A young chap was standing at the perimeter fence by the Atleti dugout and started to talk to me. He turned out to be the brother of one of our players, seeing us play for the first time. I got a word with a couple of our regulars as they spoke to our media man, setting up his tall camera stick.

Both teams were evenly matched. Jo had a great game throughout at centre-back and Alex in our goal made several excellent saves. Brooke rolled another goal home to give us the lead midway through the first half and Wroxham equalised with a thunderer from the edge of the box just before the break. At half time the hot food was served from the clubhouse bar, same queue as the drinks. My burger with onions was first class.

A brief hailstorm started towards the end of half-time and carried on for several minutes into the second half, resulting in the players being taken off for a few minutes. The storm soon passed and the game resumed. Wroxham thought they had a shout for a penalty, but the ref gave a corner- rightly in my view, and that of the two home fans sitting behind me. Atleti continued to make forays forward but were unable to convert; Wroxham had their share of attacks but the efforts of the defence led by Jo, and Alex, ensured the game ended as a draw.

Billy, one of the coaches, gave the team a talk at the end of the match, saying they’d done well to go unbeaten since Christmas after making a shaky start to the season. One of the girls wasn’t impressed with the officiating and said so to me and a couple of other fans. The team and staff all lined up for a group photo, then headed down the tunnel. Jo stopped by me and said “see you next season”; I asked if we could do a photo and she did a selfie with me.

I headed back into the bar, thinking the girls might stick around, and ordered another Black Adder. A Wroxham fan waiting at the bar said the officiating had been poor; I told him that if it was any consolation our girls had thought the same. As I sat drinking it became clear that the Atleti party had left straight away. When I’d drunk up I thanked the barmaid and said “see you next season”. She said “At least you stayed, not like your ladies”. Oh dear. Away teams are expected to stay, and partake in the food laid on by the home club, but I’m sure it was nothing more sinister than our lot wanting to get away because they had a long journey back to London.

Walked back to the station and found nearly an hour’s wait for the next train. Must have just missed one having that solo drink. Still made it back to the hotel for Emmerdale.