Well, that’s it for this season. Nine months on from my first visit to the Sangam stadium to watch a rare home defeat for Seoul at the hands of Jeonbuk, I was returning for the final game of the campaign. Sadly Jeonbuk and Lee Dong Gook didn’t feature as their season had finished in the previous play-off round away at Jeju, so for those of you reading to keep up to date with the Boro’s best ever Korean striker, I suspect that he is away on his holidays by now. This game was the second leg of the play-off final with Seoul having managed to hold Jeju to a two all draw in the first leg four days earlier.
Normally I go to these games with Jen, but as the weather has turned decidedly colder over the last couple of weeks she didn’t fancy it. She’s from the deep south of America and I don’t think it ever drops below about eighty degrees farenheit over there. For those of you who need a bit of help with your geography, I think it’s the bit of America where True Blood is meant to be set and whilst there might be a vampire or two less in Jen’s town, I understand that the climate is similar to that of the tv show. In Seoul, during the summer when I’d have the sweat dripping off me within a minute of leaving my air-conditioned apartment, she would be debating how many jumpers to put on.
Last week we walked the final part of the Bukhansan Dullegil and to be fair, I did feel the cold a bit myself that day. There was a definite chill in the air that hadn’t been present earlier in the month when we’d walked the first two sections of the 45km circuit. Whereas normally I can just smell my breath, during that walk I could see it as well. The final stretch that we did was probably the most undulating so far though with plenty of steep sections to temporarily distract us from the cold.
We picked up the trail where we’d left it a fortnight earlier, somewhere after the Dullegil Trail Information Centre and we walked through the Seongbuk-gu area around to Seodamun-gu, finishing up at the Bulgwang subway station at the top of Line 6.
A bit of town and a bit of countryside.
The route of the Dullegil follows the edge of the national park and generally gives views of the hills in one direction and Seoul to the other. We passed a few interesting sights, including a couple of temples. I’m a bit bored with temples, to be honest, they all seem very similar to me. However, one of them gave us the opportunity to look down on to some of the housing on the outskirts of the city where one of the properties had a golf course, or at least a green complete with hole and flag, in its back garden. I can’t see that fella being too popular with his neighbours. Still, it will give the monks something to watch between prayers.
Probably a seven iron to reach the green from here.
As usual there was also plenty of outdoor exercise equipment near to the trail, along with a few badminton courts. One of the courts was hundred of yards away from the housing, high up in the woods. If it seemed an effort to get there for a knock-up, that was nothing compared to the measures that someone had gone to in actually building it. The available space hadn’t been sufficient and so the rock face had been cut away.
You may have to sweep the leaves away first.
I’d like to think that in order for a couple of housewives to be able to spend an hour or so gently tapping a shuttlecock backwards and forwards, someone had lugged explosives up the mountainside and blasted away a few tonnes of granite. It reminded me of that stadium in Braga, Portugal, where similar measures had been employed. Although I suspect building that one will have needed a few more sticks of dynamite.
I like this stadium.
Overall, I’d recommend the Bukhansan Dullegil. The woodland paths make for a pleasant walk and the sections that stray on to roads and pavements took us into a few areas of the city that we probably wouldn’t have seen otherwise. The next section opens up in the New Year and I’m looking forward to having a wander around that as well.
Right, back to the football. I met up with Iain and James before the game outside the GS convenience store next to the stadium. Football tends to make me as thirsty as hiking does and so I got myself a can of Max from a woman selling them from a cart nearby. If drinking cans outside of a shop isn’t scruffy enough then drinking cans outside of a shop that you’ve bought from a street vendor probably takes it to the required level. It’s quite commonplace over here though and most of the corner shops will have a table or two outside of them just in case you don’t want to wait until you get home to drink your beer.
The crowd makes its way towards the convenience store.
We had a bit of a chat about the forthcoming match and as they both know a lot more about Korean football than I do they filled me in on the politics of the game. I already knew that Seoul weren’t popular amongst Korean football supporters, mainly as a consequence of them gaining their place in the K League by taking over an existing team, Anyang, and after changing their name, relocating to the then-empty World Cup Stadium in Seoul. We’ve seen it in the UK with Wimbledon being stolen from their fans and being re-launched as MK Dons, so I could understand the depths of feeling against the new club.
Bands, beer and bouncy castles.
It turns out though that Jeju has a similar story as well and after a few years of nomadic wandering around Seoul they relocated from Bucheon to the island of Jeju four years ago. That’s some move. I’d say we are looking at three hundred miles and either a ferry trip or a flight if you want to travel from Seoul to see them play. I’ve not been to Jeju yet, nor Bucheon for that matter, but I have seen a couple of the stadiums that Jeju had played in previously. They played at Mokdong for four years up to the turn of the century and a few months ago I found myself looking at their former ground whilst at the baseball.
That's the football stadium in the background.
Before that, they had spent four years at Dongdaemun Stadium. There’s not much left of this one these days after the ground was knocked down to make way for a park. For some unknown reason though, unknown to me anyway, a couple of the floodlights were retained.
It must be a little strange for fans to stand in the park and remember it as it was.
So, where as most games involving Seoul are seen by the neutrals as a fairly straightforward battle of good v evil, this one was more a case of northern evil against southern evil. We went into the away end, just as I’d done on my last visit and lent our support to the baddies from out of town.
There was a decent turnout, or at least there was by the time everyone got in there. People were still arriving well into the second half, but that’s not unusual over here. A lot of the schools in Seoul had been selling half price tickets and this was reflected in a crowd of what must have eventually reached somewhere near the 45,000 mark.
View from the Jeju end.
The first half was pretty eventful. The highlight for me being when Seoul set off their fireworks behind the goal in celebration of a ‘goal’ that was then disallowed a few seconds later. In terms of real goals, Jeju got the first with a long-range shot that the Seoul keeper should have done a little better with.
Jeju takes the lead.
It didn’t matter though as within a couple of minutes Seoul were awarded a dubious penalty which allowed them a second go at the fireworks.
The equaliser for FC Seoul.
The disputed spot kick infuriated the Jeju players and we got a couple of flare-ups afterwards, one of which had the referee, both linesman and one of the penalty box officials in the middle of it trying to restore calm whilst the other penalty box bloke loitered by himself on the half way line looking like a shy new kid in the school playground.
It remained level on aggregate at half time, although had it stayed that way Seoul would have won on ‘away goals’. The second half saw both sides pushing forward and Seoul got the winner from an Edilson header fifteen minutes from time. I’d been surprised to see him playing as when I’d been here a few weeks earlier it looked as though he was on his way back to Brazil with a season ending injury. There had been a centre-circle presentation to him on that occasion and the crowd had worn masks with his face on them. It was quite disconcerting leaving that game and being confronted by a crowd of ‘Edilsons’ coming the other way.
Second half pressure from FC Seoul.
And so that was that. We got the music, the fireworks and the presentation of the trophy as the season finally ended. I’ve really enjoyed it, the football might not always have been top class and the stadiums were rarely even half full, but it’s given me an excuse to travel around the country with something as near as I’m likely to get to a sense of purpose. I’ve been to thirty odd games in the nine months since that first visit to the Sangam stadium back in March and it would have been a lot more if I hadn’t caught the baseball bug during the summer. Actually it would have been more if some of the games hadn’t been switched to different stadiums at the last minute without me knowing. Still, thats the way it works over here and its all part of the sense of it being different that keeps it interesting.
I suppose they have three months to clear up the mess.
Next season starts in March and my plan is to carry on with more of the same. There are twenty odd teams that I haven’t paid a visit to yet, each hopefully with something interesting going on in their town. In the meantime, I’ll be filling the close season with a bit of hiking and some trips to the races and the basketball. Maybe even the odd game of badminton. It would be rude not to after the efforts they go to in building the courts.
Trail of the Lion King 
August 7, 2014 at 6:07 am |
Do you have a spam issue on this site; I also am a blogger, and I was curious
about your situation; we have developed some nice methods
and we are looking to trade techniques with others,
why not shoot me an e-mail if interested.
September 18, 2014 at 3:39 pm |
WOW just what I was searching for. Came here by searching for bouncy castle
hire
September 20, 2014 at 9:07 pm |
Hi there, just became alert to your blog through Google,
and found that it is really informative. I am going to watch out for brussels.
I will be grateful if you continue this in future.
Numerous people will be benefited from your writing.
Cheers!
September 21, 2014 at 9:17 am |
Download The Simpsons Tapped Out Cheat.
The Simpsons Tapped Out Cheat is the best generator for Donut and Coins.
Now you don`t have worry about your account thanks
to special anti-ban system. Download now and have a fun.
September 22, 2014 at 1:38 am |
I do agree with all the ideas you’ve introduced to your post.
They are really convincing and can definitely work. Still, the
posts are very quick for beginners. May you please lengthen them a bit from next time?
Thank you for the post.
September 23, 2014 at 4:31 am |
I really liκe ʏour blog.. verƴ nice colors & theme.
Did yοu design this website yoսrself orr ddid yօu hire
sօmeone to ɗο it for you? Plz respond as Ι’m looking to design mу own blog annd woսld like
to find out where u got this from. many thanks
September 24, 2014 at 1:55 am |
It’s great that you are getting thoughts from this article as well as from our discussion made at this time.
September 25, 2014 at 4:17 am |
If some one wants to be updated with newest technologies
therefore he must be pay a visit this web page and be up to
date every day.
September 25, 2014 at 5:12 am |
This piece of writing will help the internet people for building up new web site or even a blog from
start to end.
September 26, 2014 at 6:32 pm |
Hi, this weekend is pleasant in support of me, for
the reason that this occasion i am reading this fantastic educational piece of writing here at my house.
October 4, 2014 at 4:41 am |
Stall time and smash the sister that is out of the
mirror and when she goes back in smash the mirror.
Empowered Battle Roar heal changed to 20 + (10 x level) amplified by
a 1% per 1% of Rengar’s missing health (from 40 + (20
x level) health). You are first dragged by horse
so be prepared to do some button combos to survive.
October 4, 2014 at 12:13 pm |
Wonderful goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous
to and you are just too great. I actually like what you have acquired here,
certainly like what you’re saying and the way in which you say it.
You make it enjoyable and you still take care of to keep it sensible.
I can not wait to read far more from you. This is actually a terrific website.
October 4, 2014 at 7:54 pm |
Greetings from Carolina! I’m bored to tears at work so I
decided to check out your blog on my iphone during lunch break.
I really like the information you present here and can’t wait to take a look when I get home.
I’m surprised at how fast your blog loaded on my phone .. I’m not even using WIFI,
just 3G .. Anyways, fantastic blog!
October 4, 2014 at 9:33 pm |
I’m amazed, I must say. Rarely do I come across a blog that’s both educative and engaging, and
let me tell you, you have hit the nail on the head.
The issue is something which too few people are speaking intelligently about.
I am very happy that I stumbled across this during my search for something relating to this.
October 5, 2014 at 3:43 am |
My spouse and I stumbled over here from a different web page and thought I might check things out.
I like what I see so now i’m following you.
Look forward to looking into your web page for a second time.
October 5, 2014 at 7:35 pm |
I am regular reader, how are you everybody? This piece of writing posted at this
web page is in fact nice.
October 6, 2014 at 2:58 am |
Why viewers still use to read news papers when in this technological world all is presented on web?
October 6, 2014 at 4:26 am |
It is necessary to set a financial price range, this fashion do you know what price you want to pay and this makes it simple
to start out looking for an ideal Electrical Chainsaw Battery Powered.
October 7, 2014 at 6:43 am |
How Does it Actually Work? Itcould noot have adversely affect
those who establish a just click the following web site compliance program, McKecuen says.
48-$198 04 The goal of dropping a dress size, and CBS as well as the serial
number used for texture.
October 8, 2014 at 4:18 am |
Thanks to my father who shared with me about this blog, this webpage is actually remarkable.
October 8, 2014 at 4:33 am |
This site was… how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally I’ve found something which helped me.
Appreciate it!
October 8, 2014 at 5:01 pm |
Amazing issues here. I’m very satisfied to peer
your post. Thanks a lot and I am having a look ahead to contact you.
Will you kindly drop me a mail?
October 8, 2014 at 9:02 pm |
Thankfulness to my father who shared with me concerning this blog, this blog is truly awesome.
October 9, 2014 at 8:56 am |
It’s impressive that you are getting ideas from this post as
well as from our discussion made at this time.
October 9, 2014 at 3:08 pm |
Hmm it looks like your site ate my first comment (it was
super long) so I guess I’ll just sum it up what I wrote and
say, I’m thoroughly enjoying your blog. I as well am an aspiring blog blogger but
I’m still new to everything. Do you have any tips for rookie blog writers?
I’d definitely appreciate it.
October 10, 2014 at 2:21 am |
An interesting discussion is worth comment. I believe that you ought to
publish more on this subject, it may not be a
taboo subject but usually people do not discuss these subjects.
To the next! Many thanks!!
October 13, 2014 at 1:04 pm |
To download from FileIce, you have to fill out a short survey first.
October 16, 2014 at 5:35 pm |
Heracles then dipped his arrows in the Hydra’s blood, thus making them
deadly poisonous. What makes Shen unique is his
power system – instead of using mana or health, he has an energy bar that is much smaller than a
mana bar but regenerates much quicker. Destiny’s Atrium Once back here head
to the face in the wall that is shooting fireballs at you and use the fleece to shoot them back to open a passageway.
October 17, 2014 at 6:53 am |
How To Get Rid Of Acne Scars Home Remedies
FC Seoul v Jeju United, Sunday 5th December 2010, 2pm | Trail of the Lion King
October 22, 2014 at 6:00 pm |
I will right away take hold of your rss feed as I can’t to find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service.
Do you have any? Please let me realize so that I may subscribe.
Thanks.
October 23, 2014 at 10:44 am |
Thanks for one’s marvelous posting! I genuinely enjoyed reading it, you can be a great author.I will make sure to bookmark your
blog and will eventually come back someday. I want to encourage you to continue your great writing, have a
nice morning!
November 10, 2014 at 5:02 am |
‘Dropbox’, for anyone who doesn’t know, is a free
app that easily helps you access your documents, photos, videos, Nintendo games,
and anything else that you store on your computers, i – Phone,
i – Pad, i – Pod Touch and even the ‘Dropbox’ website’from
anywhere in the world. It has been rightly recognized by the web designers
and web-hosters that they should now deliberate on the subjective matters then going for the games and past-time activities.
To locate the key exit in World 7-4, you’ll need a mini-Mushroom (in storage, whenever possible).
November 10, 2014 at 5:04 am |
A standard Karaoke generally consists of an audio input and an audio output and act as an audio mixers.
Most parks have lovely playgrounds for your kids to explore and enjoy.
Yes it is true, Karaoke is not dead in Philadelphia PA, far from
it.
November 10, 2014 at 5:47 am |
A standard Karaoke generally consists of an audio input and an audio output and act as an audio
mixers. One key for the event is to get each player to offer a number of pledges.
This kid’s karaoke machine is inspired by popular pop star Hannah Montana.
November 22, 2014 at 2:58 am |
And a good home decorator can help yyou stay within so that you want to go in for a Beauty Salon? If you want
can happen only when you multiply that times three it equals four foot exactly.
Architects can develoop fatal arrhythmias associated with tile flooring is nowadays described
as one of pllymouth limo hire the world are the usual path of pariah-hood,
isolation and apartheid.
November 24, 2014 at 2:44 am |
Com it’sa lot of a sports & fitness exercise 3 phase diet for 90 days to get
through a kindergarten. Awesome and exhale back down at the
top of the tips and tricks that I think that you have one, bring it back on my knee.
If at all, so no worries, that’s gravy, baby. Talent you have, you know that Spring hasn’t quite
sprung yet but if you are getting better. Up andd in time
melting it back around 15 in reverse.
November 24, 2014 at 9:36 am |
Now allow me educate you this: Hay Day requires some usual elements in the video gaming business:
gems, as well as cheats.
November 26, 2014 at 12:10 pm |
If some one wants expert view on the topic of blogging afterward i advise him/her to visit this blog,
Keep up the good job.
November 27, 2014 at 1:50 am |
Butt keep this mind, though they tribal installment loans no
credit check should negotiate with their payments.
January 17, 2015 at 3:40 am |
outside wedding venues
FC Seoul v Jeju United, Sunday 5th December 2010, 2pm | Trail of the Lion King
January 17, 2015 at 5:43 am |
Hair loss treatment
FC Seoul v Jeju United, Sunday 5th December 2010, 2pm | Trail of the Lion King
March 6, 2015 at 2:58 am |
best acne scar treatment cream
FC Seoul v Jeju United, Sunday 5th December 2010, 2pm | Trail of the Lion King
March 6, 2015 at 5:01 am |
rebelmouse.com
FC Seoul v Jeju United, Sunday 5th December 2010, 2pm | Trail of the Lion King
March 26, 2016 at 9:11 am |
I don’t even understand how I stopped up right here,
but I assumed this put up was once good. I don’t understand
who you might be however definitely you are going to
a well-known blogger in the event you are not already. Cheers!
August 5, 2018 at 1:33 pm |
Hi and thank you for the actual blog post ive been recently searching about this specific advice on-line for sum
hours these days. many thanks.