Dai @Colemans_dream was in Split – enough said.

One flick of the arms and the ball sails through the warm Croatian air. A knocked-on header follows, and there he is. Stood alone after drifting into space. Bangor born Broadhead belts the ball into the Split net, as the Wales fans start the latest rendition of their very own new banger. Pandemonium ensues. Limbs. Scenes. Bodies scattered everywhere like human skittles. Pure guttural pleasure, fuelled by beer and sunshine. Well, KC and the sunshine.

It wasn’t always this giddy. After a rousing version of the anthem, and a few rounds of Danny Ward’s name, the away end mirrored the action on the pitch. A level of uncertainty as the new era began. A fairly quiet away section accompanied the first half, save for the occasional dig at the ref who seemed to love nothing more than waving his arms. We sang about our new captain briefly and produced a “duh duh duh duh” as Harry Wilson lined up a free kick. The Croatians scored and it felt like we had the life sucked out of us. Noise replaced by nervousness. Would this get messy?

The second half provided new life both on the pitch and off it. Wales fans rediscovered their voices as we questioned the strength of our former captains back as well as another impromptu rendition of Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau. Crucially the team looked galvanised. As the fans got louder the tempo got faster with the ball. One touch passes. Bursts of pace. And a glorious chance for Dan James created. If that 20 minute or so spell is what Rob Page is working on, this new era could well be productive.

Whilst Page had seemed to get his players going in the 15 minute break, the away end now had a tune which created a non-stop barrage of noise. The sound of Wales away, I LIKE IT hung in the air like a Connor Roberts throw. The oh oh ohs that followed getting louder and louder until the whole away end couldn’t stop singing and dancing. Shirts swirled and men who possibly shouldn’t, became shirtless. One man removed his shorts too and clambered on the fences to ensure everyone in Split knew, he liked it.

And so we return to the start. The net has bulged and a feeling which is indescribable floods your body. You’re shaking. You’re screaming. You’re hugging topless strangers. If I close my eyes, I can see it. Hear it. Feel it. The players return to halfway as bodies are peeled from the floor, mangled between plastic seats. The referee blows the whistle and now more people, me included, are shirtless. The players approach us and like Belgium away in 2015, shirts are flung across the flag covered barriers. This is a special moment. We are held back in the stands, but really no one cares. No one actually wants to leave at all. This genuinely is, the best trip I’ve ever been on. Until the next one.

As a new on field era dawns, last night demonstrated that the off field belief in this new generation is just heating up too. A scarcely believable point away against the recently crowned third best team in the world. What a start to this campaign.

Eventually released by the overly zealous Politi and there was a ripple of applause in the air. The Croatian fans clapped us out of their stadium and down the road. All the way to the heart of the old town. Hands were shaken. High fives were exchanged and scarves from the home end were swapped with those carrying all sorts of messages from Y Wal Goch. What a moment.

It was a remarkable start to the journey to Germany, in a remarkable city filled with great people. This one will live long in the memory. I dare say, about 1,700 others would agree.

So well done Rob Page who made some bold calls which paid off. Well done to whoever made the decision to play this game in Split. Well done to Nathan Broadhead who’s had a debut to remember. And well done to whoever replaced “that’s the way” to “Wales away”. I don’t simply like it however, I absolutely fucking love it.

On to Tuesday we go.

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