John Gibbons: Wheels up as Reds fans set off in search of Kiev glory

Greetings from Belgium where our “luxury” bus has overheated and so we are temporarily stuck road side.

It was all going so well…

We began our epic journey at 1am in Liverpool and have driven through the night.

I have no idea how we ended up on a bus as the decision was made in my absence, as I flew straight from Rome to Benidorm to celebrate.

But it was something to do with equipment and needing to do our jobs and that. I don’t know. I’m sure the BBC manage to fly.

Everyone’s plan on getting on and getting some sleep obviously immediately went out the window as soon as we got on and the first cans were cracked open.

Have you ever tried to sleep on a bus of giddy Liverpool fans off to the European Cup final? It doesn’t work. Especially when you are giddy yourself.

We managed to get to Watford Gap services before bladders could take no more. It is there where I realise Kiev is a long way and I might need something to do at some point that isn’t drink. So, I had look round the books in WH Smith.

I must be drunker than I thought because I ended up with Jodie Marsh’s autobiography. I don’t know if I was sold on the £1.75 price or the promise of “the hottest read of the summer”.

Although a look at the publishing date showed that summer to be 2006. But either way it was very confusing to wake up to in Dover.

But, I’ve had a little read and she’s had an orgy by chapter three so fair play.

I slept through France to be honest, then it’s Belgium and a van that needs a spare part we are picking up in Berlin. But, it is fair to say it will take more than that to dampen the spirits of the group.

The bus is made up of lads from their 20s to their 40s.

People going to their fifth European final and people going to their first, but all equally desperate for a Liverpool win.

Berlin tonight then on to Ukraine. If they don’t see us they’ll hear us – and quite possibly smell us. But it’s got to be done.

Whatever it takes I just can’t imagine not being there.