logo
Football fans' 800-mile round trip in rented plane to watch non-league game in Cornwall

Football fans' 800-mile round trip in rented plane to watch non-league game in Cornwall

Daily Mirror7 hours ago
"Lots of people had heard we had flown down for the game. City fans, Truro fans and even the refueller and the handling man at the airport knew about us. It couldn't have been a better day"
Two football fans who flew 400 miles to watch their team play a non league match in Cornwall were rewarded after their beloved team scored two late goals to win.

David and Richard Bower said they had an 'absolutely fantastic' day after renting a plane to fly down from Yorkshire to Cornwall.

After the Mirror's story last week about their amazing flight, they were recognised by both home and away fans and even by airport staff! York City beat Truro 2-0. David said: 'We had an absolutely fantastic day - and a York City win with two late goals made the whole trip worthwhile.

'Everyone was great - really friendly welcome from everyone in Cornwall and Truro is a lovely city.
'Lots of people had heard we had flown down for the game. City fans, Truro fans and even the refueller and the handling man at the airport knew about us. It couldn't have been a better day everyone was so very welcoming and a really hospitable local bunch.
'It was certainly one of our most memorable games to watch York.'
At one stage the brothers feared they might be late for the game because of low cloud cover in the Yorkshire area but they were able to take off on time to make the 5.30pm kick off on Saturday.

David, 62, who has been a private pilot since 1996, paid a 'substantial sum' to hire the four seater Piper Warrior plane for two days.
'It was expensive but it was worth it,' he said. How often do you get chance to fly to Cornwall to watch your club play?' They left and returned from Sherburn in Elmet a small airfield between Leeds and York.
David said: 'I've been a York fan since 1973. My first game was against Blackburn Rovers. I never thought when I was a kid I would be flying a plane to an away match in Cornwall.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Stunning sunshine city in the heart of Europe is perfect spot for food and footie fans
Stunning sunshine city in the heart of Europe is perfect spot for food and footie fans

Scottish Sun

time6 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Stunning sunshine city in the heart of Europe is perfect spot for food and footie fans

Even in a heatwave, it's the perfect getaway PORT-U-GOAL Stunning sunshine city in the heart of Europe is perfect spot for food and footie fans Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN ice-cold beer has never tasted so good. Not only because it was a tantalising Sagres, but because I was enjoying it in the refuge of a cool bar, as temperatures outside soared to a blistering 39C. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 16 Street cafe and Arco da Rua Augusta at the Praca do Comercio, Lisbon Credit: Alamy 16 David's ice-cold beer helped him cope with heatwave 16 The Sanctuary of Christ the King overlooking Lisbon and the Tagus River Credit: Getty We'd stumbled on Pesticos, a hidden gem tucked away down a side street in Lisbon after a fabulous lunch at the iconic Praça do Comércio. My partner Lauren and I might be sweltering under the relentless heatwave that was hitting Europe, but just hours after landing for our city break in the Portuguese capital, we knew we'd picked just the right place for an unforgettable adventure. The charming city is a cool (or not so cool in our case) mix of laid back culture, an extraordinary blend of history and, much to our delight, culinary revelation. Its winding cobbled streets, vibrant neighbourhoods, and stunning architecture make it impossible to experience everything in just one visit but we gave it our best shot and what we did manage to explore was nothing short of exceptional. Praça do Comércio is undeniably a tourist hotspot but, just like our lunch, it's a feast for the eyes, framed by striking architecture and boasting views of the impressive River Tagus. We ate as we admired the imposing Sanctuary of Christ the King in all its glory, on the opposite side and decided that was definitely on our weekend wanted list. But first that beer, and also a taste of the local cherry brandy, Ginja. I'm not particularly partial to cherries, but it was rich, sweet, and utterly delicious. An hour or so of wandering, as much in the shade as possible, and we hit TimeOut Market, or Mercado da Ribeira, a bustling food hall showcasing the best of Portuguese cuisine. 16 Time Out Mercado da Ribeira in Lisbon is THE place for food Credit: Alamy 16 David and his partner Lauren feasted at Time Out From freshly shucked oysters to artisanal bread, olives, and a crisp bottle of Vinho Verde, you'll find it and much more here. It's loud and very busy, but full of atmosphere. However securing a seat in the crowds requires patience – a small price to pay for the amazing cuisines on offer. Top 5 cheapest European city breaks Our base for the weekend was the sleek and modern Czar Lisbon Hotel in Anjos, conveniently connected to the city centre via Lisbon's efficient metro system. A pal had recommended getting the Lisbon Card and it proved invaluable, granting us discounted access to attractions and easy travelling throughout the city. The hotel was very comfortable, with spacious rooms and hearty meals. 16 Spacious and comfortable rooms at the Czar Lisbon Hotel in Anjos 16 Fado is Portugal's soul music Credit: Lisbon Tourism 16 David and Lauren loved their night at Clube de Fado Credit: Lisbon Tourism A standout dish was the Porto-style steak served with chips and eggs - yes you read that right, steak chips and eggs. But this was nothing like back home, it was a truly satisfying fusion of flavours. Now everybody knows no visit to Lisbon would be complete without experiencing Fado, the soulful music that captures the spirit of Portugal. At Clube de Fado, we dined on prawns and Bacalhau, the city's beloved salt cod dish, while being serenaded by heartfelt performances. Thankfully we didn't have to sing for our supper or I might have cleared the crowded place. Next morning I embarked on a personal pilgrimage to Estádio Nacional, the historic stadium where Celtic famously triumphed in the 1967 European Cup, leaving Lauren to enjoy a leisurely long lie. Unfortunately there was an athletics event on which meant I couldn't explore all of the hallowed ground, but just being able to stand here was a poignant moment for this football enthusiast. 16 David Donaldson Lisbon travel pics Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk 16 Stunning Sintra is close to the city 16 Goegeous Quinta da Regaleira 16 The Initiation Well is a must see A 40-minute train ride from Lisbon took us to magical Sintra, a fairytale town where royalty once sought solace. It's renowned for its opulent palaces and breathtaking landscapes. After a challenging uphill walk – more arduous than we'd been led to believe – we reached the Quinta da Regaleira. Its atmosphere, intricate architecture, and lush gardens are stunning and the queue to see the famed Initiation Well, with its mystical and pagan symbols, was worth the wait. Legend says Templar Knight initiation ceremonies were once held here where they would climb down the spiral staircase, and emerge into a pitch-black labyrinth of tunnels. We didn't quite pluck up the courage to follow in their footsteps but did explore a few levels. PORTUGAL GO: LISBON GETTING THERE: EasyJet fly to Lisbon from Edinburgh from £35.99pp. See STAYING THERE: Rooms at the 4H Czar Lisbon Hotel from £150 a night, two sharing. See MORE INFO: If visiting, see and book your Lisboa Card for free transport and discounts at Seeking respite from the heat, we jumped on the train to Cascais, a coastal haven of sandy beaches and azure waters with welcoming cooling sea breezes. We paddled along the shore, before heading to a seafront restaurant to feast on locally caught fresh and very affordable seafood. 16 Praia da Ribeira de Cascais Beach Credit: Alamy 16 Jeronimos Monastery at Belem in Lisbon Credit: Getty 16 The 16th century Tower of Belem. Credit: Getty 16 Kiosks selling food and drink at Jardim do Príncipe Real It was a perfect few hours of escape but soon the calls of the bustling city enticed us back and we ended our day enjoying Lisbon's charming kiosk culture in Jardim do Príncipe Real. The outdoor kiosks offer affordable drinks and snacks to enjoy as you relax under the sun or in our case, the shade, while soaking up the atmosphere. On our final day we ventured to Belém, and headed to the Jerónimos Monastery. Although the Belém Tower was closed for renovations, the monastery's lovely cloisters and grounds more than made up for it. And I couldn't resist a visit to the Belenenses FC stadium, although Lauren wasn't quite as taken with it! As temperatures soared we ended our trip as it began, seeking solace in a bar, This time we enjoyed a couple of refreshing Caipirinhas, a Brazilian cocktail and a heavy nod to Lisbon's strong Brazilian influences…Saúde!

Football fans' 800-mile round trip in rented plane to watch non-league game in Cornwall
Football fans' 800-mile round trip in rented plane to watch non-league game in Cornwall

Daily Mirror

time7 hours ago

  • Daily Mirror

Football fans' 800-mile round trip in rented plane to watch non-league game in Cornwall

"Lots of people had heard we had flown down for the game. City fans, Truro fans and even the refueller and the handling man at the airport knew about us. It couldn't have been a better day" Two football fans who flew 400 miles to watch their team play a non league match in Cornwall were rewarded after their beloved team scored two late goals to win. ‌ David and Richard Bower said they had an 'absolutely fantastic' day after renting a plane to fly down from Yorkshire to Cornwall. ‌ After the Mirror's story last week about their amazing flight, they were recognised by both home and away fans and even by airport staff! York City beat Truro 2-0. David said: 'We had an absolutely fantastic day - and a York City win with two late goals made the whole trip worthwhile. ‌ 'Everyone was great - really friendly welcome from everyone in Cornwall and Truro is a lovely city. 'Lots of people had heard we had flown down for the game. City fans, Truro fans and even the refueller and the handling man at the airport knew about us. It couldn't have been a better day everyone was so very welcoming and a really hospitable local bunch. 'It was certainly one of our most memorable games to watch York.' At one stage the brothers feared they might be late for the game because of low cloud cover in the Yorkshire area but they were able to take off on time to make the 5.30pm kick off on Saturday. ‌ David, 62, who has been a private pilot since 1996, paid a 'substantial sum' to hire the four seater Piper Warrior plane for two days. 'It was expensive but it was worth it,' he said. How often do you get chance to fly to Cornwall to watch your club play?' They left and returned from Sherburn in Elmet a small airfield between Leeds and York. David said: 'I've been a York fan since 1973. My first game was against Blackburn Rovers. I never thought when I was a kid I would be flying a plane to an away match in Cornwall.'

Livingston 0-2 Hibernian: What Gray said
Livingston 0-2 Hibernian: What Gray said

BBC News

time9 hours ago

  • BBC News

Livingston 0-2 Hibernian: What Gray said

Hibernian head coach David Gray: "It was very much job done, a real professional performance. I have spoken a lot about needing to use the squad and they all delivered today. A clean sheet at a very difficult place to come and now our attention turns quickly towards Europe which everyone will be excited about."Thibault Klidje was excellent, delighted for him on a personal note. That will do his confidence the world of good. We've been patient with him, we'll continue to do that. He's a work in progress, he needs to settle. I credit the group because of how quickly he has settled in."We've got players that can come on and affect the game, it was a real team performance today."There is still loads to improve on but as far as we're concerned it was a very professional performance and we can look forward to Thursday."On Grant Hanley, Gray adds: "I think that might be only the second game of his career on astroturf, he's got his first blister of his career today. I said 'welcome to Livi away, that's what happens'. He was solid, really composed. The whole back five today, I don't want to single anybody out, because it was a real collective performance."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store