Exeter Chiefs
One Heck of a Ride
Chiefs
By ExTeddChief
December 22 2011
ExTeddChief reflects on a great ride that started on 26/05/10
26th May 2010. I think every Chiefs fan knows where they were on that date. I know I was in the bar at Sandy Park, snarking over the Bristol-biased Sky Sports analysts and then unable to believe my eyes. Let’s face it, the first leg had been messy and a three point advantage was surely not enough to survive a trip up the M5! If anyone expected the awesomeness we got that night, they’d be lying. After that match I overheard one fan comment: “all the big boys – they’re coming here!” It was slightly unreal. We had finally reached the promised land.
Rewind to the summer of 2006 when I moved to the city from Teddington (as in near Twickenham, as in ... yes). I had no previous interest in club rugby though had seen a few club games before that, including Exeter twice (once at the old County Ground) and now the team were known as the Chiefs with this awesome ground on the outskirts of town. I had nothing to lose from throwing my lot in with them and, as it turned out, quite a lot to gain.
In that first season we weren’t serious contenders for promotion, that was between Leeds and the Pirates, with Leeds winning (though we would have had to share with the Pirates had they gone up!). After that, it was only a matter of time it seemed. Constantly best of the rest until finally we made it.
And now...wow. Seeing my guys match up against familiar names from the international scene took a bit of getting used to. Watching Chiefs away games on TV and online (for the Leicester away game last season I’m pretty sure every male on my father’s side of the family was round my place, which gives you a pretty good idea of the bond between said family and this city, including its rugby club), hearing the Chop coming from far from home – that never gets old. And then there’s Sandy Park.
At the start of this Premiership season I was in Lithuania watching the European Basketball Championships. I got back a day later than scheduled but my father and I still made it to the Newcastle game. After what had been an insane couple of days it was just great to savour the buzz around the place again. We’re possibly never going to be regarded as one of the heavyweights of the game but who cares? We are stubborn, we are passionate and no matter who you are you don’t want to underestimate us. Yes, we’ve been on bad runs. Yes, we’ve raised our expectations of the team ... but that’s the point, Rob and the guys will always find a way to remind us why we do expect what we do. Being a Chiefs fan is one heck of a ride.
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22/12/2011 18:24
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the playoff final, beating Glaws in the first match of last season, beating Sarries on their own turf, beating Tigers at Welford Road, the Braves qualifying for the playoff semi final with a game to go,
anticipation as we near the peaks:
coming so close to reaching the Amlin Cup QF last season, edging close to 6th place last season, reaching 3rd place this season,
the fear of freefall:
our losing run this season when the bottom of the table started to get so close, wondering how far we would fall,
thrills of the unknown:
Our trips to new grounds last season, and our skurmishes in Europe, to Montpellier, Bourgoin, Perpignan and soon Prato,
and then there are the lows:
being hammered by Quins at the Stoop last season, doing the same this season at Franklin Gardens, being anhilalated by Sarries this season in the LV Cup,
Shut your eyes and you could miss so much.
But what is unlike any real roller coaster ride is that this isn't a five minute ride, this keeps on going, you can get off whenever you like, but more likely, you can join the experience at anytime, there is no end, and every bend brings you something different.
