Schoolboy error. NEVER book CC final weekend, however utterly remote the possibility.

I missed 2005 due to holiday, although we watched it and had a great time, I was devasted



...never made that mistake since though, just in case like

Was in Marrakesh for the Bradford QF in 2008. Husband had been warned of the dates to avoid when booking my 40th birthday holiday, and duly did so, for the wrong month.

So was in Morocco with no TV access, no radio and, at that time, no smart phone. Finally found an internet cafe from which I managed to get Humberside on-line. Things are still pretty old and basic in Marrakesh, and that includes the computers and traditions. So I was the only female tucked in the back of this packed, smelly cafe with wires, sweat and peeling paint everywhere. The men, whilst perfectly polite, kept eyeing me distrustfully with eyebrows that became ever more raised at my gasps, heavy breathing and occasional screams of excitement or horror.

I managed to communicate to one of them that I was listening to my local club play and it was a very important cup match. They then all got very interested and celebrated with me each score, until by the end we were all dancing round the little room. I'm still certain they thought I was a very strange woman, though, and I'm convinced they thought I was listening to a very high-scoring football match. Nice people.

My, it's been a long long time since I was called a schoolboy



The thing was, that was the first year the final was played in late August and it never even crossed our minds when booking in January, let alone the possibility of us actually reaching it.

I'll never forget being stood at the Sts semi at the Galpharm. I was utterly ecstatic at watching us reach our first final for twenty years and at the same time was gutted at the thought of missing it. Talk about contrasting emotions at one and the same time.

As for the final itself at Cardiff, I ended up in the hotel lobby in Hiroshima at 01:30 in the morning watching BBC sports live scores page updating every two minutes, which then proceeded to freeze immediately after Cooke's try leaving us in the dark for what seemed like an eternity, unsure whether the conversion had been kicked/missed/or was still to be taken.

I aged about 10 years in 5 minutes that night. Waiting for that internet page to refresh, it made DDD's Radio Humberside commentaries seem crystal clear in their descriptive quality. I'll never make that mistake again (well at least not for the final

).

In 2005 was in New York on holiday for the semi, but had taken my laptop so could listen to Humberside online. I did that whilst the wife went shopping. She came back with lots of fifth avenue bags and said "don't be mad", I said "not a problem, were off to Cardiff!!!". Used my laptop to book the hotel for the final from my room in New York, happy days

I actually enjoyed the semi final more than the final, if that's any consolation. Probably my favourite all time FC game.
The description of how you |"watched" the final is literally the stuff of nightmares. At least you didn't have to watch Thackray feck up the restart and rely on the superhuman Swain to make the chargedown. God bless McMenemy for running the ball out.

Blimey, I Usually have to pay extra for that service

I think that's what was scaring them

I had a similar experience as we'd booked a holiday in Spain and travelled out on the day of the final. I was stood in the reception of the complex getting score updates on my mobile while Mrs Kosh booked us in. My updates froze after our final try so I had no idea if the match had finished and we'd held on for the win for what seemed like an eternity. Unbelievable scenes when the final score came through. I actually phoned StaffsFC in the crowd at the game and listened to the celebrations.

When it did finally burst back into life all of that information appeared before us in one go. Cue me and my brother dancing and shouting in front of some rather bemused Japanese night porters who just looked on at the "crazy westerners"

.

Like I said, never ever again.

All these so called fans missing our 1st final in 20 years???? I'd have cancelled the bl00dy holiday

Be happy with anyone at home, just pleased to be in the QF so I can get to another game when I am home, will also make the SF also if we get there.

Cas at home would be my prefared choice, this is my order

Cas
Rovers
Saints
Hudds
Leeds
Wigan/Warrington.

Muct be he strongest QF line up in years

I would be devestated if I missed the 2005 cup final, will be suprised if I ever have a better day at Rugby than that in my lifetime.

Not bothered who we play,you have got to beat the best to win it, just as we did in 2005

I'd heard about someone who was on holiday and booked flights so he could come back for the weekend then resumed his holiday

Agree. Mine too.

Give me the Millennium anyday compared to Wembley.

I think I remember reading that, think he came from Spain for the weekend.

It would test me if we made the final this year, but it would be too far for the weekend.

Be happy to see Hull in the Semi's.

I reckon it'll be our turn to be one of the live BBC games.

Even if

saints v's Wigan

Leeds v's warrington

Hull v's Cas

Hudds v's Rovers

What a dream draw that would be though.

To be honest I thought us and Widnes would have been on.

They usually like to show one hoping there'll be an upset and ours was the most likely after the last draw.

Anyways, hope our quarters televised.
Always nice to watch it in full the following day when ones alcohol levels have dropped.

Although instantly [iwiped[/i if beat.

I've a feeling we"ll get Wigan at home . In one way it's maybe what we need , going into it as complete underdogs . Leeds v hudds , saints v wire and cas v rovers would do then us and the winner of the cas game in the semis !

We've got more than enough to beat Wigan.
At home would be best though.

any ideas what weekend the fixture is to be played, can't find it listed on the FC, BBC or even Challenge Cup website.

ta

It took some bloody finding but:

Quarter Final 23rd & 24th July
Semi Final 6th & 7th August
Final 27th August

I reckon we'll be drawn at home to Hull KR but due to Assem Allam announcing short-notice emergency work to the pitch, we'll be forced to cede home advantage and play at his new chums' ground