Andorra (A) - the game

[Rambler1]

http://www.uefa.com/community/feedback/index.html

To all travelling & Non travelling fans. This is link to UEFA feedback on event organistaion. Let them know that 2K to 5K fans expected to travel to a ground that holds 800 and what are their plans for this in relation to match safety. We want this in Barca and so do Andorra to ensure match safety. Keep it clean make our point and hope for the best if enough fans bombard them with emails.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Only downside is heard this is 'payback' from a certain incident.
And having the temerity to complain about such cheating.

Will let you guess which...

[Hibs4Ever]

Slovaks and Russians are having a say in this apparently

[pineapple stu]

So anyone know the best place to watch the game in Barcelona?
Sports Bar on Les Rambles probably. Or there's at least six Irish (or "Irish") bars in and around Les Rambles - Ryan's, Dunne's, the Literary Bar, Cheers, Temple Bar and the one straight opposite that. Lots of choice.

But unless you've accommodation booked, go to Andorra for the game. Yes, the ground wouldn't make the top five in the League of Ireland, but we're playing Andorra, not Barcelona. There's a nightclub in Andorra where the price of drink fluctuates on the night according to how much is bought (La Borsa, it's called), there's a couple of nice pubs in Arinsal and I'm sure there's drink to be had in Andorra-la-Vella too. Stay overnight and then head to Barca for a late weekend.

[lopez]

Looking at Google maps there is a road overlooking the stadium, below the caravan site called Cami Vell. Presuming the local police don't start closing the road off, you could watch the game better hear than in parts of the Montjuich Stadium where Andorra have played before.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&cp=33&gs_id=4&xhr=t&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1152&bih=769&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=estadi+comunal+d'andorra+la+vella&fb=1&gl=uk&hq=estadi+comunal+d&hnear=0x12a5f52b4a25fb0b:0xa00947091997280,Andorra +la+Vella,+Andorra&cid=0,0,6253674770480999751&ei=tiJeTpG2Is2p8QOmoOWaAw&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=image&sqi=2&ved=0CAQQ_BI

[pineapple stu]

That caravan park is clearly visible from the ground alright - was there for a UEFA Cup game last year (it was abandoned when lightning took out the floodlights. :) ). Maybe the police would move people on from there though - the wall is about 15 feet sheer, and it could be quite dangerous for Irish fans to be drinking up there, jostling for a better view. (They didn't at the game I was at as there were only about 400 people at it)

[lopez]

That must have been a major game Stu. Question is will they have the police numbers too. I think the best think is to get some temporary seating put in...or play it at the other stadium because they're won't be more than 1000 Irish fans going up there. Irish bars in Barcelona will have the game on Sky anyway.

[pineapple stu]

That must have been a major game Stu.
Yes and no - UEFA Cup second qualifying round, Sant Julia v MyPa. So a UEFA tournament, but not exactly a major game within that.

The ground's fairly tight tbh; not sure how many extra seats they could manage. The main stand is on one side, the opposite side is an athletics track and the wall (presumably it'd damage the track to put a stand on it?), and at either end, you've a crumbling bit of a stand which I think is closed and has a hammer throwing area in the way, and at the other end, a clubhousey-type thing. You can see how tight it is from this picture, or from the satellite option on the google maps link you posted.

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/7899812.jpg

[awaythelads]

... was there for a UEFA Cup game last year ...

Don't suppose you know the best hotel to watch the action from (The President)???

[AidoP]

Im sure we can get a good view of the stadium if we go a bit up the mountains that are surrounding the stadium. Ill bring binoculars just in case :-)

[punkrocket]

What a balls up. Can't see me going now as it was going to be a quick in and out for the game in Barcelona. Glad I didn't get my ticket a few weeks ago after all. So much for the 60 day rule.

[lopez]

President definitely has a view. I'm at a nearer one (Cervol) and have asked for a view of the ground, but it might not have one (got no answer anyways). Frankly looking at the images around the grounds it doesn't surprise me why the local crowds are so low because they actually don't have to pay to watch the game, such are the gaps around the place including the road above the ground to watch most if not all of the action. Anyway, if it means, as Glentoran manager Alan McDonald so tastefully put it, :rolleyes: standing on 'Jew Hill,' then so be it.

[lopez]

Stu, one final question. That last picture you took: Was that inside or outside the ground?

[pineapple stu]

I didn't take that - I just found it on google images. I'd say it's inside the ground; possibly from on top of the dressing room area (so again, no room for temporary seats).

Edit - actually, the fencing would imply it's just outside the ground, with the teams coming out just below you.

[lopez]

Perhaps another good point to watch. BTW: I've been hearing that there seems to be a terrible rumour going around that Andorra is a bit low on bars. FFS! This is a country between France (one time World Champions at alcoholics, slightly losing its crown over the past forty years but still in the top five) and Spain (where a city the size of San Sebastian has more licensed premises than the whole of Norway, and is generally considered full of more functioning alkies than abstainers)? As someone who's been there, this can't be the case, surelY?:confused:

[pineapple stu]

There weren't pubs every corner of the street anyway. Didn't notice too many in Andorra-la-Vella. There's Quo Vadis and Derby's Irish Pub in Arinsal (the latter is closed in the summer; Arinsal is 15 minutes' taxi journey away). Random pubs listing here (http://www.andorra.ad/en-US/What_do_you_need/Leisure/Pages/clubs_pubs_and_bars.aspx).

That said, the Andorra wikitravel's "Drink (http://wikitravel.org/en/Andorra#Drink)" section isn't exactly inspiring reading!

[AidoP]

Did anybody else get an email from the FAI asking whether fans would be interested in a fanzone area in Barcelona for the match next month? What is the general feeling regarding having a fanzone? I wouldnt mind because from personal experience during the 2006 world cup here in Germany and the Euros in Austria and Switzerland if theres enough people (and beer of course :-)) and the weather is good there is usually a great atmosphere.

[brendy_éire]

Did anybody else get an email from the FAI asking whether fans would be interested in a fanzone area in Barcelona for the match next month?

Aye, I got one.

I've no interest in going to Barcelona, fan zone or not. Driving to Andorra from France just. Will go to the campsite and watch from there.

[holidaysong]

Going to Andorra too, ticket or not, as I can't see myself having any other excuse to go there any time soon. Booked a hotel with a 'view' of the ground. If that doesn't work out then hotel bar it is.

[pineapple stu]

The day after the Ireland-Slovakia (and Andorra-Armenia) game, the Irish Times gave the attendance for Andorra v Armenia as 103. We'll get 700-800 tickets I'd say. Most people who venture out of Barcelona should get a ticket, I'd say.

Edit - although soccerway (http://www.soccerway.com/matches/2011/09/02/europe/european-championships/andorra/armenia/922623/) gives 750, in which case, we're all buggered.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Official allocation <100 though...

Mate reckons locals buying tickets to sell to Irish?

[pineapple stu]

Official allocation <100 though...
But then there'd be a second allocation of returned Andorran tickets.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Assuming the locals don't buy them, to sell at a profit...

[pineapple stu]

Andorra's one of the richest countries in the world and doesn't really care about football (it's a rugby country). I don't think sufficient numbers will care to be honest.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Ok, well only passing on a message....

[AidoP]

Has anybody heard anything about the tickets for this match since it is just 2 weeks away? I know theres only a handful available but I want to know if anybody on here got any or not. Thanks.

[kevincronin2000]

flipin disaster from day one, It started with breaking the 60 day rule of announcing the match venue, then it not being in Barcelona, Fans are flying out in less than ten days not knowing if they have match tickets or not. And the latest rumour the capacity could be 480 for the game as the seats behind the goal have alledgedly dissapeared.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Heard the touts have some (currently c.€200!), but don't know how many...

[ArdeeBhoy]

Has anybody heard anything about the tickets for this match since it is just 2 weeks away? I know theres only a handful available but I want to know if anybody on here got any or not. Thanks.

Our resident 'Spaniard' got one. And our SC got 10, but think most regulars unsurprisingly missed out.

[brendy_éire]

I only know one person who got a ticket. Not at all suprising considering the numbers available.
Campsite all the way so!

[tetsujin1979]

Already in Barcelona for a short holiday, taking in the game, any tips on tickets gratefully accepted

[holidaysong]

I seen on the YBIG forum that this game isn't even on Andorran TV. I hope there are a few pubs that will have the game on satellite TV or it's going to be a disaster for any of those (like me) travelling to Andorra without tickets.

[AidoP]

Anybody planning on watching the match in one of the bars in Salou on Friday night? Is so which one? I think Murphys Sports Bar is suppose to be good. We would've booked accommodation in Barcelona had the match been there or we had got tickets for Andorra but since thats all up in the air (thanks UEFA) we just said we'll stay in Salou and make a short holiday of it. Late night planned for Friday and early morning planned for Saturday to watch the other Ireland team that plays in the Aviva :-)

[BradyIsMyHero]

I got this email and replied - but not a word of response since then

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Anyone any idea of anywhere in Andorra to watch the rugby on Saturday morning?

[ArdeeBhoy]

The local rugby club?

[pineapple stu]

Anyone any idea of anywhere in Andorra to watch the rugby on Saturday morning?
Try Quo Vadis in Arinsal; an English pub. Might be open for the rugby. Andorra is a rugby game, so you've probably got a decent chance.

That's only a suggestion mind; I've no idea if they will be open. Maybe drop them a line (http://quovadis-arinsal.com/)? Or else the Derby Irish Pub (http://www.thederbyirishbar.com/) is across the way, but it's not open all year round.

Arinsal is a 20-minute bus ride from Andorra-la-Vella. Or even just hop in a taxi.