Ibiza Report

Unlike previous pre-season tours,a company took charge of all the arrangements for the team and supporters. Things had not gone well with the organisation for supporters, so it was with some relief that our party of 22 arrived in one piece and found that one of our two hotels in San Antonio, was actually built. There were plenty of complaints from many of the 150 City supporters on the official trip who had to attend a Sunday afternoon meeting in order to obtain their match tickets.

In a town where behaviour likely to earn you an ASBO in Britain is taken as the norm, we chilled out at the local bars including Cafe Del Mar,Mambos and the Savannah beach club, taking in a Judge Jules pre-party set as others marvelled at the talents of Coventry DJ Lisa Lashes.

Monday saw the first match day at The Municipal Stadium in San Antonia which was over-looked by my hotel. First up in this four team tournament were Queens Park Rangers who beat a local side made up of players from SC San Antonio de Portmany,CF Sant Rafael and CF Luchador,by five goals to nil despite having Tommy Docherty sent off for throwing punches.

A hot sunny Tuesday saw the first appearance of the Sky Blues. Without new signing,Clayton Ince,Adie Williams,Andy Morrell,Stern John,Jonny Tuffey, Stuart Giddings, Micky Adams fielded a team against Huddersfield Town who are caoched by City Legend Terry Yorath with trialist Chris Day in goal and new signing James Scowcroft up front.

The noisy gathering of City supporters were clearly enjoying themselves as in the 43rd minute when Gary McSheffrey broke through to score the only goal of the game and booked a place in the final. There was trouble after the game for the fourth night running and necessitated a higher than normal police presence with reports of a bar owner being stabbed.

By now,a ritual of food,beach,food,football and bars had been established due to the lack of things to do on the Island, but it was the people who were making this trip very enjoyable. After another good day o nthe beach,some of us turned up at the Municipal Stadium to see Huddersfield Town finish in third place after beating the San Antonio Select 2-1.

With each passing day, the complaints regarding Play Hard Sports grew longer and longer. We'd booked and paid for a party on the Wednesday night on the strength that it was one of our party's birthday. However, when we arrived at the destination of said party, we were told that as we did not have the right wristband and were not allowed in.

Again there was trouble in the West End with hooligans from West London being blamed. Amongst all supporters,the talk was of how there was going to be trouble at the game and so it proved.

Despite being out numbered 3-1 by QPR followers, the City fans were in fine voice and more than happy when the Sky Blues notched up a two goal lead thanks to Gary McSheffrey and Dele Adebola. The score-line prompted some QPR hooligans to get amongst some City supporters. A fight started and suddenly the heavy police presence came flying in,waving batons and hitting supporters and hooligans indiscriminately.

Both managers appealed for calm with Ian Holloway saying "If you sit down and play your part in supporting your side, we'll stop the police from twatting you." He also used the speech to gee up his players and it brought an immediate response as Dean Sturridge found the net.

Now what happened afterwards provoked much talk by those in the 1300 strong crowd who were of the opinion that the game was rigged to ensure no further trouble. Gary McSheffrey came from behind two defenders and lashed the ball into the net with eleven minutes left. However, the Spanish linesman on the Main Stand side raise his flag and London based referee Colin Plummer ruled out which was seen as a legitimate goal by both sets of supporters.

QPR then went up the other end and scored two late goals. Some City supporters not on the official tour voiced their unhappiness at this display as Micky Adams stormed off leaving fitness coach Darren Robinson to present a gift to the Mayor of San Antonio.

Although the was a heavy police presence, there was no further trouble either at the ground or in The West End. Both sets of supporters mixed very well and it was to our total astonishment to find that Micky Adams had come out slating fans for abusing youngster Liam Davis whilst QPR merely praised their support.

We heard no abuse directed at Davis whatsoever,with the youngster later admitting that he heard nothng either, having spent the second half on the far side to where the supporters were housed. Not one person,we spoke to heard any abuse directed at Davis either although some City supporters who are not regulars told Micky Adams to "sort it out" after the game had ended.

With temperatures in the nineties and the large amounts of alcohol consumed the night before,we opted to give the football tournament a miss, saying that if the players of all three clubs were not training in that heat it was not right to ask any of those who would have played to do so.

Some of the City supporters were just getting back to Coventry after a ten hour flight delay and a divertion to East Midlands as we left the beach and headed off to watch the sunset that Ibiza is famous for. Despite some cloud, it was still a spectacular sight and one enjoyed by ourselves and the City players.

Another day on the beach gave us a last chance to top up our tan before we headed to the airport and our first sighting of a tour rep who disappeared as quickly as he appeared before we caught a flight delayed by fifty minutes back to Coventry.