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Post by walesontour16 on Jun 29, 2016 19:29:11 GMT
Ok so here is my story, I am Welsh but live in England booooo lol. From watching our boys and our amazing fans on the TV I have been totally overcome with the feeling that I have to be there in Lille. I have no match ticket but I am not to fussed about that, the FANZONE looks amazing. Being the only Welsh man in town no one wanted to come on the trip but all I want to do is get my shirt on, get the flag over my shoulders and sing my heart out with the sea of Red.
So I have booked my travel to Lille last minute, the only workable way of doing so was by coach leaving from London 8pm Thursday arriving in Lille at 3:30 am Friday morning. The coach drops me off at Boulevard de Turin 59777 which from I can see from Google maps looks very close to the FANZONE at Parc Henri Matisse. My Coach home departs from the same place at 1am, back to london 7:30am Sat
So my question is do you think this is safe? on arrival I was planning on chilling out at the coach station until around 5am, then once it gets light venture out for a croissant and coffee (breakfast of champions/quarter finalists) then pottering around Lille for a bit and wait for the boys in red to appear. I know it is a silly question to ask if this is safe but upon mentioning my plans to friends and work colleges they have all advised that this is a crazy idea ( they are all English for the record lol)
Also wanted any advice on where to go to find the Welsh army, pubs, FANZONE and your general thoughts on my plans of becoming a lone foot solider lol.
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Post by steveh on Jun 29, 2016 19:34:09 GMT
I'll be leaving Dover first thing Friday morning, have space in the car, so you're welcome to jump in if you want? Driving to outskirts of Lille to drop car then in at lunchtime for the game.
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Post by prestatyn4457 on Jun 29, 2016 19:34:12 GMT
I'm sure you will be fine mate. Loads of people will be arriving similar time so doubt you'll be alone.
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Post by daearegwr on Jun 29, 2016 19:37:33 GMT
You'll be fine! Lille will be swamped with Belgians but they're a friendly bunch. If it's similar to when the England game is on most fans will be found in the bars opposite the Lille Flanders train station and around the main square which is 5 mins from there. The fanzone is between the Lille Flanders and the Lille Europe station right in the centre. Also a massive shopping centre with cafes and a supermarket to sort yourself out for food.
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Post by readingfcwelshman on Jun 29, 2016 19:38:58 GMT
Been to all the Wales games so far and not seen any problems whatsoever. My only concern with those times would be the boredom factor and whether my phone battery would last!
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Post by daearegwr on Jun 29, 2016 19:45:12 GMT
Been to all the Wales games so far and not seen any problems whatsoever. My only concern with those times would be the boredom factor and whether my phone battery would last! To alleviate boredom Lille does have a zoo and it's free! It's near the citadel about 20 mins from the centre |
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Post by kgblue on Jun 29, 2016 19:47:03 GMT
You will be fine, I have been to all four matches, (first 3 with a mate), last one on my own, as I am with this one - loads of Welsh lads about and as long as your not Wayne Rooney in disguise then you will be fine.
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Post by daearegwr on Jun 29, 2016 19:47:23 GMT
Been to all the Wales games so far and not seen any problems whatsoever. My only concern with those times would be the boredom factor and whether my phone battery would last! To alleviate boredom Lille does have a zoo and it's free! It's near the citadel about 20 mins from the centre There's also a good free football exhibition on at Gare st sauvuer (former train station) to the south of city centre. They have a ton of old football computer games you can play |
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Post by walesontour16 on Jun 29, 2016 19:58:27 GMT
Thanks lads ^^^ All very helpful info really do appreciate it. I don't care what it takes I'm there no matter what, phone battery or not lol. Wayne Rooney in disguise heyl Im not sure he will be showing his face in France anytime soon. Thanks again boys.
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Post by walesontour16 on Jun 29, 2016 20:12:44 GMT
I'll be leaving Dover first thing Friday morning, have space in the car, so you're welcome to jump in if you want? Driving to outskirts of Lille to drop car then in at lunchtime for the game. Just sent you a DM |
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Post by gwernybwch on Jun 29, 2016 20:17:51 GMT
So I have booked my travel to Lille last minute, the only workable way of doing so was by coach leaving from London 8pm Thursday arriving in Lille at 3:30 am Friday morning. The coach drops me off at Boulevard de Turin 59777 which from I can see from Google maps looks very close to the FANZONE at Parc Henri Matisse. Totally safe. Although there is no 'coach station' to speak of, just a few parking spaces where the coaches drop off and pick up. It is opposite Lille Europe train station, which I would have though is near enough 24 hour. Come the morning, I would initially head to the Lille Flanders station as this is more likely where people will start to congregate.
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Post by walesontour16 on Jun 29, 2016 20:25:18 GMT
So I have booked my travel to Lille last minute, the only workable way of doing so was by coach leaving from London 8pm Thursday arriving in Lille at 3:30 am Friday morning. The coach drops me off at Boulevard de Turin 59777 which from I can see from Google maps looks very close to the FANZONE at Parc Henri Matisse. Totally safe. Although there is no 'coach station' to speak of, just a few parking spaces where the coaches drop off and pick up. It is opposite Lille Europe train station, which I would have though is near enough 24 hour. Come the morning, I would initially head to the Lille Flanders station as this is more likely where people will start to congregate.
Thanks mate, Do you know if this is close to the FanZone? |
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Post by gwernybwch on Jun 29, 2016 20:31:51 GMT
Totally safe. Although there is no 'coach station' to speak of, just a few parking spaces where the coaches drop off and pick up. It is opposite Lille Europe train station, which I would have though is near enough 24 hour. Come the morning, I would initially head to the Lille Flanders station as this is more likely where people will start to congregate.
Thanks mate, Do you know if this is close to the FanZone? The Fan Zone is sort of in between the Lille Europe and the Lille Flanders trains station. No more than a 10 minute walk from either station. You won't miss it if you take a walk around as it is right in the centre and there are plenty of signs to it. |
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Post by manulike on Jun 30, 2016 9:45:48 GMT
Judging by the amount of Belgian people that i am meeting that are going to the game, as long as you speak French and some Dutch, you will make loads of new friends :-)
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Post by vandenhauwe on Jun 30, 2016 10:36:43 GMT
You won't have any issues belgian fans have always been great when we play them!Been no issues with welsh fans while we've been here at all! Even the game against that lot which had potential to kick off passed with no incidents!Lille is a great city locals are really friendly fanzone is literally in between the two train station's which are less than 5 mins apart!
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Post by mikeduffy1 on Jun 30, 2016 12:00:13 GMT
Lots of trains stations cafes etc have electric sockets you can charge your phone have a coffee and a waffle then waffle to your hearts content
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Post by johnww on Jun 30, 2016 13:42:54 GMT
You'll have a great time. I've been to 3 of the 4 games and not felt threatened once or seen any sign of hassle, unless you count tough-looking stormtrooper types in uniform with machine guns! That includes 2 days alone in Toulouse for the Russia game, meeting some great folks. And 18 months ago I was in Lille for an Everton game, and had a great time. The main square in the town centre was the focus, but you'll probably see shirts & flags around every bar/cafe in town. As well as hanging around, I went to the tourist office and got maps to explore the town, & visited the citadel & zoo. There's a building near the big square where you can still see Austrian cannonballs embedded in the wall from a seige in 1792! (Obviously when I'm on a football tour I'm totally out of control!).
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