Just about sobered up . . . and my heid wishes their had been a booze ban!

But what a few days we had out in Bari.

That booze ban was a joke from start to finish - it seems the local mayor was shitting himself about any trouble and thought a ban would appease the locals worried about a repeat of England's World Cup trashing of Bari in 1990.

According to a police source I met, the chief of police called the mayor at 1.00pm on match day and said the ban was a waste of time. The mayor sat on the fence by saying he wouldn't officially lift the ban, but told the police to use their own discretion.

The police then told publicans that if they sold booze discreetly, no-one would be prosecuted. But when did the TA ever drink discreetly. By mid afternoon, there were legions of fans getting topped up.

Of course, there was no trouble before, during or after the game. At one cafe near the main station, the polis put their riot shields down and started drinking with the fans!

The match? Well, there is no disgrace in losing to the World Champions on their own patch. But on the other side, Italy didn't look like World Champions. I think they are there for the taking by a good, organised team. And Scotland, on Saturday and Wednesday's form, are still a bit short of that mark

Bizzarely, I think we would have been better off if Italy's second goal had come in the 40th rather than the 70th minute! At half time Big Eck would have known exactly where we stood and perhaps thrown on Boyd and Maloney straight away.

As it turned out, we stuck with a line-up that might have grabbed an equaliser and was capabale of hanging on to it. With 20 minutes left after Italy scored their second, it was too late.

Though the stadium and atmosphere was great, the transport back - a fleet of buses - left a lot to be desired. How can a big new stadium like that have no train station??? I was one of hundreds left stranded in the cold - while those who got on buses stood crammed like sardines for almost an hour before they moved off.

Laugh of the trip was getting a taxi after the game. The driver said he would only take five and he was unaware there were six of us.

We asked him to open the boot for Spud the Piper's bagpipes. He clicked the switch on the dash and the door opened. In went the pipes - and a reluctant Spud after them!!

The remaining five of us jumped in the cab and were congratulating ourselves on our ingenuity. But halfway down the motorway came the first chords of Flower of Scotland. Spud had started playing his pipes in the feckin' boot!!

The driver kept looking in his mirror to see where the noise was coming from - but we just shook our heads.

"Hey - your are SIX!" he finally realised - then burst out laughing. He was fine about it and Spud played him a tune when he was finally released.

A great laugh and a great trip. The Tartan Army made a lot of good friends in Bari and we all took home happy memories.

What a pity would couldn't take home at least a point as well!

Bob Shields