When the Seagulls Follow the Trawler…

Earlier in the season you might remember us voicing some conjecture that a group of affluent Chelsea fans were planning to hire a cruise ship off the Russian coast to accommodate the hundreds of Blues fans traveling to Moscow for the Champions League final without anywhere to stay after the match. Now Manchester City is not quite as glamorous as Chelsea, so it should come as no surprise that City fans have sought a slightly more downmarket solution to a similar problem.

You see, as if anyone needs any reminding, City are playing Faroe Islands powerhouse outfit EB/Streymur tonight, and desperate to see their faithful Sky Blues, 12 fans have banded together to hire a fishing trawler to get to the game. As The Sun’s helpful map illustrates, they drove from Manchester to Aberdeen and took an overnight ferry to Lerwick on the Shetland Isles. From there they set sail on the triumphant Three Sisters vessell for the Faroe Islands, a journey of Odyssian proportions which can take up to 26 hours, depending how rough the sea is.

The 72ft boat only cost the fans £285 each though, so I guess they get the last laugh. Organiser Leighton Gobbett enthusiastically chimed: “This should be the funniest trip ever to a football match!” Another fan offered this excellent contribution: “We must be the first supporters to use a fishing trawler. Let’s hope City stick a few in the net.”

For those looking for some pointless Faroe Facts, yes, the population of the Islands is indeed less than the maximum capacity of Eastlands. Also, the local delicacy for steaks and kebabs is everyone’s third favourite bird, the humble and amusing puffin.

UPDATE: The plucky Mancunians failed in their attempt to cross the North Sea by boat, as the trawler captain declared the seas were too rough, with 8 foot waves. Luckily, a Faroe-based airline stepped in to save them, offering them free tickets to the islands. It goes to show, tiny countries with inbred populations welcome nutters, if only to increase the gene pool.