Andy Harrow

Decorator doesn't deal in bread and butter, it's caviar all the way for him. Seen it, done it, got the photo.

Decorator is a leg end and club ambassador, fair play to his bragging, he has done it and entitled to the bragging and long may it continue (unless we draw a team in Budapest and then he may come unstuck ;-) ). Just not enough photos though.

Shit draw, at least our best international embassador was there to witness events (but not swing a Serbia or Hungarian draw. Heyho.

Always had likings for Leeds, Cadiz and Bayern, but the only other team I 'supported' or regularly attended games was Ujpest in Hungary as I lived and worked nearby for 6 years. A cracking club and a good atmosphere. I also used to attend Saigon XT games when I lived there, but the football in Vietnam is, well shit.

It won't make any difference if you change hotels or not. No one will be particularly interested. The problem you may encounter is being detained by an official in a oblast (region) you haven't declared to be. As I mentioend before if you decalre on your visa your only going to Moscow but head down for the game and get into trouble there or vice versa yo'll be in the shit. If you have declared you'll be in both regions your fine. If your having a holiday in Moscow, aparts from needing a mortgage, head to Red Square (obviously), Gorky Park (now called Park Cultura IIRC), take a walk along the Moskva river and check out the statue to Peter the Great, head down the Arbat for all your trinkets and shit, check out the FSB building, the Lenin Library. Head up Prospekt Mira for some decent restaurants (at more sensible prices) and drink a lot of Green mark and Baltika.

A note on the visa applications. It is not always clear, but Russian visas are for Oblasts (counties). So if you state your staying in Moscow and don't mention your also staying in Krasnodar or vice versa you could end up in real trouble. It won't be a problem to travel, you won't be restricted, but if you get into trouble for example: if your detained by the police in an area you didn't decalre where you'd be you'd be in the shit. Its not clear on the applications or the visas that they only cover the areas your travelling to. Of course, don't get arrested and it won't matter.

Used to get them when I was working in Moscow. I can only ever say good things about Russia, apart from your all crazy bastards! My worst experience is being driven through moscow Oblast in a snow covered road, -18c and the driver doing 140km per hour and the forzen windscreen wipers. Kind of thought if I survive that I can survive anything.

Thats the ones, cheap and get where you need to be.

I think thats a good call. It would be a hell of a challenge. Probably an iconic trip, but with a big risk of not seeing the game. I'm sure you could fly for around the same or less.

Actually, I would assume the quickest route would be down through my old abode, Hungary and in reality the roads are excellent until you get to Ukraine. There after the travel would be a lot slower and more akin to what you describe Pie (I have not been in the Ukraine since before the Euros so maybe it has improved, but that would be a bonus for Bop). The border crossing into Ukraine would still be about 4 hours as you can't drive past the queue, unless you know someone . I would assume that they would care less about a bus than a car. Once your through Ukarine and in Russia the roads would be better (think A9). I'd say, if you done that, leave plenty of travel time, things will happen and also make sure the bus company actually know what their taking on. The last thing you want is the bus being turned around at either the Ukrainian or Russian borders. So again all the paperwork should be in order and even then a kick back might be needed. Someone should understand Cyrillic as a minimum for directions, it's not like jumping onto the motorway and heading to London, you will go through every town and city in Ukraine and Russia on the way making it easy to take a wrong turn. If you do it, good luck to you, but I'd still say fly. Everyone seems to be looking at going through Moscow, which in itself will be a nightmare. At Sheremetyevo you will need to transfer from the International terminal to the domestic termincal, which is done outside the airport. you have to get a shuttle bus, these buses are common all over Russia, they are transit vans with seats in them and go when their full. You just get into them and pass the money to the driver (if your at the back, just pass the money up via the other passenegers, Russians are honest people). Once your in the Domestic terminal everything is in Cyrillic. Also note that security comes first in Russian airports and when you check-in things are in reverse. I would believe it to be the same in the other two airports in Moscow. If you have an over night in Moscow, get the train into the city. The taxis will rip the arse out of it and the train takes 30 minutes to the outer ring of the metro and from there you can get anywhere. Looking at the Krasnodar airport webpage, it may be worth checking flying via St Petersburg (a much smaller airport with the international and domestic terminal side by side, or via Vienna which appears to be the only western destination. Hope all this shit helps you guys. One more thing, if you stick your hand out for a taxi in Russia, anyone and everyone will stop for you. Its common, if a private car stops, just tell them where your going and agree a price. They will take you.

Funnily, I'm well aware of that and was referring to the crossings into Ukraine and Russia specifically, which would be circa about 4 hours and your car paperwork would need to be perfect.

The dream would far outway the reality. The most practical route would probably be through the Ukraine which would be several excrutiating border crossings, the roads themselves are nothing like we have at home and the driving at times insane. Getting over the border with a car is near impossible. I've have been knocked back as one of the documents authorising me to drive the car had a spelling mistake on it once. The route for most stolen cars from the EU is to Russia and the Ukraine, so car hire firms won't allow it and the checks are stringent. Just fly, its simpler, easier and give you more time in Russia, which is a great country with great people. Also, most road signs will be in Cyrillc, which, although piss easy to read, if you don't understand Cyrillc, your pretty fucked.

It will make sod all difference what hotel your staying in for the visa application. You do know you've picked a hotel in the North of the city when Domodedovo is South of the city? It will be a bit of a treck from airport to the hotel.

You won't be allowed to take a hire car over, if you take your own, if any documents are not in order, you will not be allowed to cross. Even if you did manage to get your car across expect border crossings to be about 4 hours. Not sure there are many flights form Mainland Europe. I checked the airport webpage and there is a flight from Vienna if I remember, next best is St Petersbug.

Not sure what the costs are, but they can be a bit of a pain in the arse to get. I ended up always getting my Russian visas through an agent as it was a lot less hassle. That was for Business visas and issued in Budapest, so maybe the UK would be a little better, but you need all the documents done proper and clear. One thing I can say though. We always hear negative stories out of Russia about corruption and the Russian mafia etc. However, that really is at a business or higher level. As your seeing with these Russian boys coming on here. As people, there fucking great. Had many great nights with many Russian friends, usually involving a fair amount of booze. I've had an education on how to drink vodka without the following hangover and the experience of drinking a cargo in -10c in Obninsk. Anyone who goes will have a great time, but if you spend time in Moscow, you'll need a mortgage.

Trains are bloody awful in Russia. Also a different gauge so a lot of fucking around at border crossings I'd assume (only travelled internal train journeys in Russia). Also, fly with mainstream Aeroflot or S7, not any of the regional shit. Just undera grand from Manila, so doubt I'm in this time. Could be the Krasnodar 2 this time.

Would be a tall order, I'm in Asia now and the dugs pan bread. Debrecen's a pretty decent town, not too much to it though, but enough for a few days. I'll be kicking myself if we draw Debrecen as it would be a great draw if I was still living there. Hoping we draw a team from China, Vietnam, Philippines or Indonesia. If we do I'm definately in.

where was that picture taken Decorator?

Think that was the semi against rangers in the league cup.

NBC is the Madness song that should be played if any. Any decent mainstream Ska, The liquidator, skinhead moonstomp, 54-46, Pressure Drop (not the specials pish version), funky Kingston (and it's wooden huts), 007 Shanty town, long shot kick the bucket. - anything that can get the place stomping.The original Banana splits theme (not the Dickies pish). A means to an end or isolation - Joy Division. As for what to do at the end of a losing a game, sing "you'll never make the station" to the away fans, always gave me a smile/the fear.

The metro service is quite spare, sometimes 10 minutes between trains. The beachfront is mainly hotels and a few seafood restaurants, no real bars to speak of. There is a small centre, where there are a couple of tapas bars and restaurants. Valencia is quite spread out. For a city it's quite low key, compared to Barcelona and Madrid and more dedicated to local tourism than overseas. All in all it's a great city though.

For the Newco vote, how many votes do members of the Albo 10 carry? Surely the decision should be left with them anyway. Maybe we could some photos from the voting?

Head out to Prospekt Mira, Dinamo or anywhere towards the MKAD and prices get more sensible apart from hotels. Mental city, but absolutely fantatsic, especially if you get away from the City Centre and stick to carry-outs and not bother with the pubs. Would take Moscow first, Ukraine then Turkey (if its Fener, you can get a boat over to the game and pick one of many pubs on the walk up to the ground). Not sure what the prices would be like in Ukraine after the EC, but again, a fantastic and mental country and cheap as chips!

Lies, no one has been to all the games;) Photographic evidence is required! Also, why no colours of the people in Albania? They may not be Motherwell fans? Any pictures of jim Gannon?

Sorry, but that simply isn't enough pictures to prove you were there . I think they are fake! I just don't think the Albo 10 existed! There certainly seems a real lack of the Albo10 at home games, just not real fans!