92 Clubs – Day 37 – Swansea
This was one that I thought would be simple. Just a return on a Sunday to one of the furthest clubs from London; Swansea.
But I knew there would be problems because of engineering works on both the Underground and the trains to South Wales. So I decided to start early and just took a Super Off Peak Return to Swansea, having booked a seat on the 08:00 from Paddington. I had elected to take my chances about getting a seat on the return journey. But I thought I’d have a reasonable chance, as the train started its return journey in Swansea and I knew there was an unreserved coach.
So it should have worked out well and mostly it did.
Because there was no Underground trains to Paddington, I had to take a couple of buses. Which wasn’t too much of a hardship, but the journey wasn’t as easy as it would have been on say a Monday.
When I got to Paddington, Marks and Spencer wasn’t yet open, so I couldn’t buy any sandwiches for the trip. As they are the only place to buy any gluten-free food in stations and there is nothing on the trains, I would have to wait until Swansea.
The journey was uneventful except that it took just over four hours instead of just under three. This was because it had to go via Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway, rather than straight through, because of the engineering works.
On arriving in Swansea, I walked straight to the Liberty stadium in about half-an-hour. There were no signposts for either walkers or drivers until you could see the stadium.
Swansea share the ground with the rugby club; The Ospreys, as you can see from the picture.
The Liberty Stadium, Swansea
I think I caught the remains of a car boot sale, so I thought I’d get back to the city centre and try and locate some food.
I did get a bus, but of course I had to pay for it, as English bus passes are not valid in Wales. Are we a United Kingdom or not? I don’t mind paying incidentally and feel that a UK wide scheme with perhaps a small charge outside your home are, would be the fairest way to do it.
But I couldn’t find any food. Marks & Spencer told me, that they had no gluten-free sandwiches, although they do stock them. but they are not the best of sellers! In the end I get some EatNakd bars from Holland and Barrett. They may be nice, but coffee and chocolate bars isn’t the best diet, even if it is gluten-free!
So I got back to the station and took the 14:00 train home. Paddington was in chaos because of the Underground engineering works, so it was buses to Oxford Street and then the Central line and another bus to Islington for supper in Carluccio’s.
All I say is roll on CrossRail, as this will make getting to Paddington so much easier; engineering works or not!
As an aside, I took this picture of the stadium from the train from London.
The Liberty Stadium from the London Train
It strikes me that this is a ground that could benefit from its own station.
It was a day though that showed me the problems of travelling as a coeliac unless you plan ahead and take your lunch with you!
92 Clubs – Day 19 – Leeds, Leicester, Leyton Orient
I took the early 5:50 train out of Kings Cross an got to Leeds on time. But that was the start of my problems, as i couldn’t find anybody to ask about a buss to the Leeds ground at Elland Road and then when I found out how, I couldn’t use my free bus pass until 9:30. So that is what Welcome to Yorkshire means.
So I had breakfast in Carluccio’s and finally got to the stadium at Leeds about eleven.
Outside Elland Road, Leeds
It was another bus back to the centre and then on my way to Leicester.
Leicester had little information at the station, but I as it was a nice afternoon, I was able to walk to the ground on a signposted route, that seemed to rather go missing after the Rugby stadium. But I did find it.
Leicester City's Stadium
Despite there being a match later, it was all surprisingly deserted, as the picture shows. I had hoped to get a bus back to the station, but the stop I found had virtually no route information, so I used the most reliable transport I had to hand; my legs.
I arrived at St. Pancras and after coming home it was on to Leyton Orient.
Brisbane Road Stadium
Leyton Orient must be one of the more unusual grounds, in that it has blocks of flats at the four corners of the ground.
It is not a bad place to watch football either. Friendly too!
Cheap Booze at Asda
There were reports yesterday that Asda are now selling Budweiser at fifty pence a bottle.
No wonder many peoples’idea of a good time is to get bladdered.
It means I have another reason not to shop at Asda.
In my view, there should e a minimum price for a unit of alcohol. I doubt it would affect me at all, so perhaps I’m being selfish. But on the other hand, I don’t want the psrtners, parents and friends of heavy drinkers, to go through all the heartache of the death of a loved one I’ve been through. And my wife was only a very moderate drinker and my son didn’t drink!
The Travelling Chef on First Great Western
Some First Great Western services out of and into Paddington now have a travelling chef, who prepares meals to order.
I didn’t try it on my journey to Exeter, but next time I come across one, I’ll find out if they can do anything gluten-free. From the menu it appears they might.
92 Clubs – Day 14 – Gillingham, Hartlepool
It was quite an early start to get a bus to London Bridge for a train to Gillingham. I t was almost still dark, when I arrived and I followed the signs at the station to the Priestfield Stadium. It is only a short walk.
Gillingham's Priestfield Stadium
As you can see it is rather tucked away in the houses and the away supporters have to brave the weather.
I then took one of the Class 395 or Javelin trains back to St. Pancras.
A Javelin Arrives at Gillingham
I then had a couple of hours before I took the 11:23 Grand Central service direct to Hartlepool. I used the time productively to have breakfast in Carluccio’s, buy myself some sandwiches for the journey and investigate a walking route between Euston and Kings Cross/St. Pancras.
I arrived at Hartlepool on time in a station, that was totally unexpected.
Artwork at Hartlepool Station
I know the area well from my time at ICI and visits later and have actually travelled to London from the previous station on the line, Eaglescliffe, in the 1970s. Everybody, should note how with a little artistic creativity, some common sense and not vast amounts of money a dingy station like Hartlpool, can be made totally acceptable to anyone who wants or needs to travel by train. I think too much, we concentrate on the trains, when for many journeys we spent quite a bit of time in or around the stations.
It was just another well-posted short walk to the ground.
Inside Hartlepool United's Ground
I then explored the town, of which I will post more later, before I ended up in this micropub on the station.
Rat Race Ale House, Harlepool Station
The Rat Race Ale House was well worth a visit and say if you are a supporter, who travels to the ground by rail, it is a place to at lest try for a pre-match drink. But don’t go if you drink chemical lager!
Every station should have one!
It had been a day of contrasts, a southern town and ground, that needed to be lifted up and a northern one, that had suffered a lot of unemploymemt in the 1970s and 1980s, that had pulled itself off the floor in style.
Just as I said with Exeter, I hope Ipswich draw Hartlepool, one day in a cup. The town is well worth a visit. I know it’s a long way from the south and if you don’t book early it could be expensive on the train, but give it a try!
92 Clubs – Day 10 – Cheltenham, Chesterfield, Colchester
This was a day with three stadia well away from the train stations.
I took the 7:48 out of Paddington and didn’t mess about and got a taxi to the Cheltenham‘s ground.
Outside Cheltenham's Abbey Business Stadium
Getting back was a little more difficult, as I got to drop me near the town centre and got lost. There wasn’t many signs either. When will these towns learn, that not all visitors come by car?
Chesterfield was next after a rather tedious but thankfully short direct train from Cheltenham. Cross-country trains seem to always be crowded and thery definitely need some larger trains.
By the Pitch at Chesterfield
As you can see from the picture, I got a warm welcome at Chesterfield, after a taxi ride from the ground. On match-days, it’s easier as they have a shuttle bus. The stadium was the most impressive this week so far.
But I did get a bus to the station and had plenty of time before my London train.
I then had time for a meal at Carluccio’s in St. Pancras, before going home to dump some rubbish and then take the evening train for Colchester.
Outside a Well-Lit Colchester Stadium
This was the best picture we could get.
But then I was quickly on the train and back to London, where I was reasonably early to bed. At least I was able to pick up the gluten-free sandwiches for at Marks and Spencer in the station.
92 Clubs – Day 1 – Accrington, Aldershot, Arsenal and Aston Villa
Well! Day 1 is now complete.
I stayed overnight in a guest house called Maple Lodge at Clayton-le-Moors just up the hill from Accrington Stanley‘s ground.
Maple Lodge Guest House at Five in the Morning
It was clean with a very comfortable bed and it was an only a twenty minute walk down the hill at five in the morning for an early start. It would be a nice affordable base for a weekend at the football, with a but of exploring in the area and on the moors thrown in.
I arrived at the ground early, as I needed to catch the 6:17 train out of the town to Leeds to get a train south.
Accrington Stanley's Ground
The ground is signposted off the Whalley Road and is very much tucked away in the houses. It was quiet, but then what do you expect in the dark early on a Saturday morning. I was welcomed by a friendly ginger cat though.
It took me about twenty minutes to walk down the hill to the station, which is a model for many small towns. Unfortunately, the large Tesco’s next door wasn’t fully open and all I could get to eat was a couple of EatNakd bars. The cashier was also not in the best of humour after working a probably not too busy night-shift on his own. I do wonder about the economics of opening supermarkets all night. Even the self-service tills were broken.
It was from Leeds that I got the 8:05 after the 6:17 from Accrington had got me in on time. It was then a quick route by Victoria and Bakerloo line to catch the 10:53 to Aldershot, where it was a short walk to the ground.
Aldershot Town
Although, I did take a roundabout route getting to the ground, which is actually visible from the station.
It was then back on the train and then on to the Emirates for Arsenal.
At The Emirates Stadium
This picture was taken by a Spanish tourist. If you think I looked hot and bedraggled, you’re right as it was the hottest October 1st since 1800 and God-knows-what.
The Emirates incidentally, was the only place where there was someone to take my picture. The cat at Accrington didn’t want to know.
But at least I was running early and had time for a trip home to have lunch and a shower before going on to Aston Villa.
I left Euston at 17:03 and at just after 19:00 I was outside the ground.
Villa Park - Note the Moon on the Right
I could even see the moon over the stadium. How Romantic!
It was then back to Birmingham New Street and I caught the 21:10 back to London.
I was in bed by 23:30.
I shall update this post as time goes on, as I’ve just written it hurredly as I rush off to Barnsley.
But the amazing thing in some peoples minds was that I caught eight trains yesterday and none were late, although one might have been early. There was no delays on the four Underground trains I caught either.
My only problem was that finding gluten-free food was difficult, as neither Leeds or Birmingham Marks and Spencers in the station carry gluten free sandwiches. But of course, I cooked myself a hearty lunch.
So Day 1 has the same answer to the question of what do you call 1,000 American lawyers at the bottom of the sea? – A good start!
A Silly Suggestion
Someone has just written on my JustGiving page, that I should eat a pie at each ground. For someone, whose father was a medical doctor, it is not good advice, as I’m a coeliac and the pies would do me untold damage.
Thanks to all those who’ve contributed so far!
The Elusive Genius Gluten-Free Fruit Bread
I found some at Waitrose in Eastfield last week, but despite labels on shop shelves in other Waitroses, I’ve not found any more.
Either there isn’t much of it or what there is sells well! I suspect the latter.
Remember many coeliacs are in their fifties and sixties and in many cases, fruit bread was a treat at Sunday tea. It ceertainly was for me.
Let’s hope Waitrose open up their computer system, so we can see where the bread is available. But then we’d do a raid on the shop.
The Daily Express Annoys Their Jewish and Muslim Readers
According to the BBC this morning, the Express is giving away a voucher for a free gammon steak today.
I would link to the Express, but as when you access that website, it opens another window selling the viewer something he or she doesn’t want, I won’t. I wonder how many others hate that practice with as much venom as I do?
I did find the details on the excellent Money Saving Expert website. Here is what you get.
Just spotted the add in todays paper
Weekday paper is 45p, Saturday 70p, Sunday £1
Get from Budgens & Londis
Saturday – Gammon Steaks
Monday – Crumpets
Tuesday – Natural Yoghurt
Wednesday – Pack of Wagon Wheels
Thursday – Ocean Spray Cranberry & Blueberry Drink
Friday – Quaker Porridge Oats
What a wonderfully balanced diet! Especially for a coeliac like me. Cranberries are also banned if you’re on Warfarin.
They didn’t mention that you could tear the newspaper into squares and use it for toilet paper.
The Anonymous Widower 