92 Clubs – Day 9 – Carlisle, Charlton, Chelsea
The trip to Carlisle was difficult because of engineering works. But I made it.
Outside Brunton Park, Carlisle
It was then back down to London on the train and on to a very dark Charlton, just a short trainride from Charing Cross.
The Valley in the Dark
And then it was Chelsea, which was all locked up too.
The Bus Stop for Chelsea
The bus stop was the only thing with the club’s name on it.
I was in bed by eleven.
92 Clubs – Day 8 – Bury, Cardiff
It’s not that I’m flagging, but I’m just finding out how difficult this challemge is.
It was an early start and I took the 08:20 to Manchester where I took the tram to Bury.
Outside Gigg Lane, Bury
The walk to the ground was fairly easy, even in the rain and an hour later I was back on the tram for Piccadilly.
It was then on the 12:30 train to Cardiff, which goes via Crewe and then through the Marches and Newport.
Scenery and Skies on the way to Cardiff
The picture shows some of the countryside on one of our best long distance train journeys for scenery, if the weather is good.
The train was on time at Cardiff or nearly so, and it was then a trip to Grangetown and a walk to the new stadium.
A Deserted Cardiff City Stadium
It was absolutely deserted, as you can see from the picture.
However, I was able to get back to Cardiff Central early and despite all the mayhem of a memorial concert for a pop singer with a rather unsavoury reputation, I was able to get the 17:25 back to London.
Surprisingly, it hadn’t been a particularly tiring day, but except for breakfast, one Marks and Spencer sandwich from Euston and a banana, I jadn’t had much time for getting any food. I was pleased though, that I was early and was able to eat a full meal in Carluccio’s in Upper Street.
92 Clubs – Week 1 – 18 Clubs – 33 Trains, 1 Coach
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7
I should add several Underground and Overground trains and quite a few buses.
But of those 33 trains, only one was late and that didn’t stop me doing what I wanted. One, incidentally, a train from Leeds to London on Day 1 was actually a few minutes early. I won’t complain about that!
The coach from Birmingham to Blackburn on Day 3 was an hour late because of traffic and the seemingly endless time, it took to get across Manchester. But it didn’t mean I had to make any serious changes to the schedule.
I shall give out a few awards each week.
Heroes of the Week
This has to go to the staff of First Great Western, who got me back to London from Bristol on Day 5, despite the fact I fell asleep on the train to Bristol Parkway and ended up in Gloucester.
Another award should go to Jeff on the same day, who helped me navigate Bristol’s buses.
Most Surprising Stadium of the Week
Given the problems they have had over the years, AFC Bournemouth was a relevation. The location was good, the stadium was easy to find from the station. And the coffee was excellent too.
Best Stadium of the Week
I haven’t seen a match there but Brighton seems to tick every possible box. When Ipswich play in February, I’ll be going.
Best Signposted Stadium of the Week
It hurts me to say this, as someone who supported their bitter rivals, Enfield, as a boy, but it has Barnet.
Worst Signposted Stadium of the Week
It has to be Bradford City. You can see the stadium from the station and this draws you the wrong way, where there are no signposts at all. As I said in the Day 4 post, for a stadium with such a tragic past, it is almost disrespectful.
It should be compulsory for every football club director to go to a match by public transport, at least once a year. But I suspect, some believe that anybody who doesn’t come by car is a loser and they don’t want losers as supporters. Surely any bum on any seat is a profit.
Welcoming Stadia of the Week
Some stadia were visited in the dark or when no-one was about, but I was very welcomed at most places and especially Accrington, Bournemouth, Bristol City and Burnley.
Best Town/City of the Week
I was very surprised by Bournemouth. But then you’d expect it to have things going for it, as its problems are far less than most places. If you were going to make a day or even a weekend of the match, then it would be ideal. Obviously, you could make a longer visit with any of the London or big city clubs, Brighton, or even somewhere like Accrington or Burnley, where there are other attractions.
Dump of the Week
Is there anything right about the town of Blackpool? You can understand, why even the Labour Party has deserted it for its conferences since 2002. I must admit I have a particular dislike of the place, as I’ve never been able to find any decent gluten-free food there, but others I spoke to on my travels around the north, seemed to feel exactly as I do about the place. And they were Northerners! Most said it wasn’t their scene or something like that!
Here’s a few things that must be fixed.
- There are no maps at the stations.
- There is no details about the trams and how to find or use them at the station. The trams are unique and should be the backbone of transport within the town, as they go quickly from the very north to the very south of the town.
- The bus stops have no details about where the buses go, that a visitor would understand.
- Most pedestrian crossings are not light controlled and many of those that are, were broken or vandalised.
- Many of the public toilets appear to be almost derelict.
The football ground too, might be modern, but the club has the worst attitude to visiting fans I’ve ever found. The view is very much restricted too, because the seating has all the wrong angles. I bet none of the directors of Blackpool have ever sat and watched a game from the visiting supporters section.
Humour of the Week
Surely the sign at Burnley!
So I may be a few stadia behind, but it has been an interesting week. Thanks must go to all of the supporting people, I’ve met on my journey. One even tried to give me forty pounds on the Underground. I said no, as I want all donations to go through JustGiving, because the charity gets more.
92 Clubs – Lancashire Humour
I saw this sign at Burnley Manchester Road station.
Does the World End At Leeds?
Notice that it just says Train. Does this mean that they are just one a day?
In fact, if I was the Fat Controller of Britain’s railways the line between Blackpool North, Preston, Blackburn, Burnley, Halifax, Bradford, Leeds and York is one that I’d upgrade seriously. It links the East Coast main line, at Leeds and York, with the West Coast main line at Preston. With three coach trains, an increased frequency and better bus/train interfaces like they have at Blackburn and it could have a postive benefit to the area. I didn’t see much of the countryside, in my four journeys on the line this week, as it was either raining or dark and sometines both.
92 Clubs – Day 7 – Burnley, Burton Albion
As I said in an earlier post, I took the morning easy and just turned up at Euston, bought a ticket and took the 11:30 train to Preston, where I changed for Burnley Manchester Road, which is the nearest station to the Burnley ground, Turf Moor. The walk-up ticket cost me £48.70, as opposed to the £13.85, I’d paid for an advance ticket, for an early train. But of course I couldn’t use that one after my troubles in Bristol! Well that is if I wanted to stay sane, fit and well.
Turf Moor
I arrived at the ground just before two after about 30 minutes walk. The trouble is that the station is on one hill and the ground is on another and the only public transport between the two is a taxi. I’ve said before, that crossing the main road by the station in Welcome to Burnley is not the easiest. I met a lady at the station as I moved on to Leeds, when I left and she agreed.
But the people at the club are very friendly and I got a good welcome there.
Welcome to Burnley FC
The receptionist took the picture, which sums up the club well, and told me about one of their former players who has suffered a serious stroke. My best wishes go out to him and his family.
She also told me, how she and a few friends were having an expedition to Brighton to see Burnley play in December, staying for the weekend nearby. Sadly, I won’t be going to Burnley this season as Ipswich play them on a Tuesday night.
From Burnley, I took the train to Leeds, on my way to Burton Albion. It was in fact three trains and I suffered my first delay of the week as it was a bit of a tortuous journey, where I had to change at both Leeds and Derby. The late train, was the service from Leeds to Derby, which was twenty-two minutes late and that knocked on. I dfo wonder how many tickets are issued between Burnley and Burton Albion
Outside Burton Albion's Pirelli Stadium
The picture sums up Burton, although it wasn’t the club or the twon’s fault. To say it was raining would be an understatement, so I chickened out walking to the ground, as pneumonia would not be something to add to my ailments. The picture was taken by a cheery taxi driver, originally from Wimbledon.
Originally, when this day was planned, I would have moved on to Bury. But walking around Manchester, late at night and in the rain, I decided that to return home would be a better idea. After changing trains at Birmingham, I was in London around ten and asleep in bed, just after eleven.
92 Clubs – Day 6 – Is It Over?
On the train last night, I decided I would take things a bit slower and on Day 6 visit perhaps just Burnley and Burton Albion and then see how I felt.
So perhaps the best idea would be to leave London on the 11:30 Virgin reach to Burnley via Preston.
I may get to Manchester, which wouldn’t be the worst place to spend a night!
I tried to book this last night, but all the train web sites were down. As at ten this morning, there is still something wrong.
So I have two choices.
- I write off today and start again tomorrow.
- I go to Euston and see what I can get a ticket for.
But then I’m a London mongrel of the worst kind. So it has to be option 2.
92 Clubs – Day 5 – Brighton, Bristol City, Bristol Rovers
This was supposed to be an easy day with lots of float, but as you will see it wasn’t quite as simple as that.
The aim was to get up early and take the Overground to West Croydon, where I would get the tram to East Croydon.
Croydon Tram at East Croydon
At East Croydon, I had planned to get a train to Brighton and then on to Falmer, using a full price ticket, as I was too early to use my Senior Railcard. I remembered a bit too late so ended up with two tickets, one valid only after 9:30 and the other at anytime.
The train journey was a bit stressful, as it always is for North Londoners, south of the river, but after changing at Lewes, I arrived at the most impressive stadium so far.
The AMEX Community Stadium, Brighton
Some may say the Emirates is more impressive, as it’s bigger, but they have masses of money, whereas Brighton just have fanatical fans, who have not lived, but created the dream.
From Brighton, or should I say Falmer, as the stadium is right on the station and linked to it by a wide well-metaled pathway, I made my way to London and Paddington. To make matters even better, there are modern eight-coach electric trains every fifteen minutes along the coast.
I’d booked a few days ago and it had cost me just £13.20 for the trip out and back. I do have a railcard, but surely that is good value for a day out of the capital.
I have walked to Bristol City in the past, but in this case I took a 24 or 25 bus from the city centre. It was now raining, so we took the picture in the club shop.
Inside the Bristol City Superstore
From there, it was on to Bristol Rovers, with directions from the staff at City. Does that break some unbroken rule about not talking about your local rivals.
The Memorial Stadium, Bristol
Bristol Rovers and Bristol Rugby Club share the same stadium, as the picture shows. There was no-one to take the picture, as it was now a thoroughly bad day and it was making my hay fever worse. Or it seemed like it.
Thanks at this point must go to Jeff, who I met on the bus from City to Rovers, for guiding me across Bristol on the buses.
I returned to the city centre and then I had an excellent supper in Carluccio’s there. No wine though, as I didn’t want to celebrate just yet.
It was then that it all went slighytly pear shaped.
I had booked on the 20:01 train out of Bristol Parkway to get back to London at a reasonable hour. To get there I needed to catch the 19:41 from Tenple Meads. Wherther it was my tiredess or hay fever, the warmth in the train, but an hour or so later I found myself in Gloucester, having fallen asleep. Never in my 64 years, have I ever fallen asleep and missed a station.
But not too worry too much! First Great Western put me on the 21:15 to Parkway and then on the 22:01 to London. They could have charged me for a new ticket, but they didn’t. And I didn’t play the charity card until after they’d let me on the train.
So lots of thanks to First Great Western!
92 Clubs – Day 4 – Bournemouth, Bradford, Brentford
This day started early and I had to get a taxi to Waterloo otherwise I’d have missed the 95:50 to Pokesdown for AFC Bournemouth.
The ground was badly signposted from the train station, but I did have a map and plenty of time, so I found it easily. It is also one of those grounds that peeps over the houses and looks like a football ground from a distance. I arrrived at about eight and found a very ell-designed small ground surrounded by trees.
Outside AFC Bournemouth’s Stadium
It also had a nice public cafe, where I partook of some coffee and a fresh orange juice, served by the very pleasant Helen. I also met some of the staff and I got the impression, that it was a well-run club at the heart of the community.
Before continuing, I had time to walk to the beach and what a difference from Blackpool on Day 3. The town was clean, had toilets you could use without putting a handkerchief over your nose and a bus system that everyone could fathom.
I left on the 10:26 for London and after a shower and lunch, I took the train north to Bradford City on the train. You can see the station from the platform at Bradford Forster Square station.
Bradford City’s Stdium from Forster Square Station
However , it is completely unsigned and a long walk through retail malls. And the only picture taken outside the stadium with supposedly me in it, was taken by someone, who left me out.
Returning to the station, I asked a police officer about the lack of signposting and she agreed with my views.
Thinking on the way back to Leeds, it is not just bad, but totally disgraceful. Just think, that you have come a long way to see where a friend or relative had died many years ago in the Bradford City fire and you couldn’t find your way! Does Bradford care so little about those who died?
I was glad to leave the city and after a pit stop, it was back to London and Brentford. It was about eleven when I got there and except for another rather hairy cat, everybody was in the pub at the end of the road.
Brentford’s Griffin Park Stadium
So as you can see the picture didn’t show too much.
It was then a bus to Ealing and the Central line to Bank before taking anoter bus home, where I arrived just before midnight.
92 Clubs – Day 2 – Barnet, Barnsley, Birmingham City
I’m typing this at an internet terminal in Birmingham Coach Station, whilst I wait to get a coach to Blackburn to start Day 3.
Everything went smoothly today, except for the fact that the Northern line was under maintenance and I had to do some funny routes to Barnet.
Hopefully, if i get back at a reasonable hour tomorrow, I’ll be able to put some more up then. And of course pictures.
I’m running out of money in this machine, so I’ll go and find the coach.
So what happened on Day 2?
I started by taking the 73 bus aiming to get suburban trains out of Kings Cross to New Barnet for Barnet and walk. But I was running a bit late, so I got off at Euston and took the Northern line to High Barnet.
Underhill From the Northern Line
As this picture shows you can actually see Barnet‘s ground from the train. It also shows it is rather squeezed in amongst the houses underneath Barnet Hill.
I ran down the hill to the ground and took this further picture. I’m not in it, as no-one was about.
Barnet's Underhill Stadium
I left soon afterwards and walked to New Barnet station, which meant I avoided the climb back up the hill to High Barnet and had a level walk all the way.
I know New Barnet well and the station has got a lot better since I used it ocassionally to go up to London or to work at Welwyn Garden City from C’s mother-in-law’s house. I also used to train spot from the bridge at the station, as it was covered and you could do it in the rain.
On this day, I just took the train to Finsbury Park and then the Victoria line on towards home.
I didn;t stay long as it was back to St. Pancras to take the 12:30 train to Chesterfield for Barnsley. There were no gluten-free sandwiches at the station, so I just hoped for the best. I wasn’t in Barnsley long and I just had time to walk up the hill behind the station and see the ground.
Barnsley's Oakwell Stadium
After a quick jog down the hill, I was soon in Sheffield, where I did a bit of recconaisance for future trips.
- The trams look to be a valuable ally, when I do both the Sheffield Clubs and Rotherham
- The Marks was well-stocked, but without any gluten-free sandwiches.
- The maps in the station were also good.
I suspect I may be seeing more of Sheffield.
I was soon on my way to Birmingham with a packed late lunch or early supper.
At Birmingham, I decided to take a taxi to Birmingham City and then get him to point me in the direction of a decent Indian restaurant. Was that cheating or just being sensible?
Birmingham City In The Dark
It was the taxi driver who took the picture.
I think that you can see a pattern emerging here. I need a good photographer at each ground. So if you’d like to volunteer for your team then please do!
After Birmingham City, it was an overnight coach to Blackburn, leaving at 03:10 in the morning. It was rather crowded, but I did manage to get a bit of sleep. but it did leave me properly positioned for Day 3.
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!
The Anonymous Widower 