Nick’s glittering World Cup finale
Ipswich/South Africa: Referee Howard Webb wasn’t the only Englishman at last night’s World Cup final in Johannesburg – former Ipswich School pupil Nick Ames was another from these shores inside Soccer City.
The 27-year-old has enjoyed a trip of a lifetime in South Africa – and it came to a magical finale when he took his seat at the greatest show on earth to see Spain triumph by a goal to nil over Holland.
Nick, a member of the press team at Premier League big boys Arsenal, secured his ticket in the first Fifa ballot – and has spent months planning his adventure.
“It was the most incredible atmosphere I have ever experienced at a football match,” said Nick of last night’s dramatic World Cup climax.
The only let down for Nick was the result – he had adopted the Dutch as his team after England’s early exit.
Nick enjoyed nine World Cup matches during his three-week trip to South Africa – including Portugal’s memorable 7-0 demolition of North Korea and two of the quarter final ties.
He also managed to visit Zambia where he braved white water rafting.
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Aside from last night’s spectacular, one of the highlights of the holiday came in Johannesburg when Nick enjoyed a game of football with youngsters from a township.
“Playing football in a Johannesburg township was a really humbling experience,” he said.
“It’s been the most remarkable trip of my life and I have been very humbled by what I have seen.”
n Read Nigel Pickover’s World Cup blog online at www.eveningstar.co.uk
