The unplanned ones are the best!

Something the Matt of old always loved to do was wake up on a day with no plans, come up with an idea and roll with it…

Today was another one of those! After bacon sarnies and a cuppa, we got to 11am and it was time to play our day. Mummy was getting her nails done and as I was out working yesterday, there was no Saturday football. Never fear, Sunday is here and it duly delivered.

I checked the traffic and the M4 looked clear so off we went to Bristol. A quick Costa stop later for a babychino and we were on the way. 90 minutes later we were driving up Filton Avenue and saw the lights of the Memorial Stadium, home of Bristol Rovers FC.

My last visit to the Memorial Stadium was on a Tuesday night as Jo Kuffour grabbed the only goal for 🍒 in a 1-0 win in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, those were the days…

Roll the clock forward about 15 years and we were back! In the home end today!

We parked at the ground and walked round the stand behind the goal and to where the gates were open for the game between Bristol Rovers Women and Ascot United Women.

We got our meal deals - mine was £6 for a chicken balti pie and Pepsi, Miss was £4 for a sausage roll, fruit shoot and Freddo 😋

We went into the ground and Miss chose to sit on the steps… and then tuck into my pie 🤷‍♂️

It was another hot day, but this stand was in the shade and much cooler, a lovely spot to watch football. Rovers Women won the game 1-0 with an effort in the second-half in a very well contested game.

We couldn’t find any baby changing facilities unfortunately but had a good walk through the stand and saw toys etc for little ones and also a small bar showing Brentford v Forest.

It was a nostalgic afternoon for me - with Rovers being a ‘local derby’ back in the days with the Cherries in the lower EFL leagues, and it was nice to hear “Goodnight Irene” once again.

As I write this, we are home and I’ve said “Goodnight” to Miss… where to next weekend? It’s a Bank Holiday after all so could be several opportunities for another instalment of #cleansheetdirtynappies