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.
A Funny Thing To Advertise At Football
I was intrigued by this advert at Bloomfield Road.
What is pata-ab.eu?
What does pata-ab.eu do? It’s nothing dodgy, but a timber company. I wouldn’t get a wonga loan to buy your timber though!
Strange!
Where To Watch Premier League Football in Blackpool
I found this sign outside a pub in Blackpool.
All Premier League Matches Here!
Note that the Manchester City match can be watched at three. Which of course, is the same time, that the Blackpool Ipswich match started!
So perhaps you have to watch it with a Greek commentary!
That’s the Last Time I Travel First On Virgin Trains
My trip down from Blackpool wasn’t a nightmare, but it could have been better.
It was my fault that I booked First Class because I thought I’d be using my laptop and wanted to take advantage of free wi-fi. But I didn’t take the computer and after a good journey up in Second, I’d rather regretted it, as I find the Second Class seats better than First, as I don’t have a very good back.
I was hungry, but I thought I might get something to eat. All I’d had since Blackpool was a smoothie and a banana in the station buffet. Often there is aFirst Class Lounge, where I can get some fruit and coffee. But not Preston!
On the train, as it was Saturday, all the food offered was biscuits or an apple.
So effectively, I paid the extra for First Class for two cups of coffee.
And then the train was 55 minutes late into Euston. I shall be claiming a refund, if Virgin offer one. I can’t find anything about that on their web site.
As it was, the lateness ruined Plan B,which was supper in Carluccio’s in Islington. Luckily, I had some cold Musks sausages in the fridge.
They Said The Seat Was Restricted View
This is the view from a restricted view seat at Blackpool.
A Restricted View at Blackpool
Especially, as Ipswich lost, I doubt I’ll be going again. I suppose it’s OK if your team doesn’t take too many fans to away matches.
But Ipswich do!
Is Blackpool the Most Pedestrian Unfriendly Resort in the UK?
I went to Blackpool with an open mind, but I had met a plumber from Wigan in Liverpool, who goes to that city with his bike, when he wants to get some sea air.
But I hadn’t been prepared for what I found.
Arriving at Blackpool North station, there was no map or instructions to help me get to the football ground or even the town centre. There was a map for sale at a pound or so,but it didn’t have either the station or the football ground on it.
I was told as a child, that if you’re lost, you should always ask a policeman. So I found two. But one was from Manchester and the other was from Preston. They hadn’t a clue on directions. So I suppose, if there was an incident, they’d probably turn up with difficulty and late.
In fact there are no useful maps in the dump, as to call it a town, insults all of those places, like Great Yarmouth, who care for their visitors so much better.
There is however this bus map on all the stops.
Blasckpool's Useless Bus Map
I suppose it might be useful to those who have the route they are taking to hand. But for me it was as useful as a chocolate teapot.
Close to the football ground it gets worse with roads that have no crossing places for pedestrians.
A typical Pedestrian-Friendly Crossing In Blackpool
The picture was taken on a busy roundabout. where are the protective lights? And here are some Ipswich fans trying to cross the road to McDonalds.
Ipswich Fans Dodge The Traffic in Blackpool
I know Blackpool has financial problems, but surely they want visitors to return.
Obviously they don’t want coeliacs, who have to walk everywhere!
Gluten-Free From Liverpool to Blackpool
On Friday, I’d eaten well in the Victoria Gallery and Museum and then I’d had a gluten-free sandwich from Marks and Spencer on the ferry.
There were no gluten-free sandwiches at Lime Street Station. But this is what Marks & Spencer say on their website.
I broke the journey at Preston and managed to get a gluten-free roast chicken and pesto sandwich in Starbucks, which isn’t my favourite type, but it still filled a hole. Not too far from the station incidentally.
At Blackpool I checked the city centre for something to eat and there was nothing. Even Pizza Express seemed to serve a restricted menu, which didn’t have the salad nicoise. In the end I walked down the promenade to the football ground and didn’t see anywhere I’d have eaten, if I wasn’t a coeliac.
I did see this shop though.
Anos Pizza in Blackpool
I didn’t even ask!
So I didn’t eat anything. Not that I was that bothered at first, but as time for the match drew on, I felt I needed something. So I went into McDonalds and bought some fries and a Coke. The manager was very helpful and at least I used the time there to make a visit to their very clean toilet.
I couldn’t help thinking as I walked down the promenade, that there is nothing that would tempt me to stay any time in Blackpool. I’ve even seen better trams in a museum. This broken clock summed up Blackpool.
A Broken Clock in Blackpool
Or does it only work, when they switch the illuminations on? The picture was taken at 11:18
Liverpool’s Commercial District
Most people forget that Liverpool was and still is in many ways, a prosperous commercial city.
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- Oriel Chambers
I took these pictures as I walked round the city on Saturday morning, before I departed for Blackpool to see Ipswich.
Some of the buildings in the pictures like Liverpool Town Hall and Oriel Chambers are by any standard, some of the best commercial or civic buildings in the country.
The Orange Men are on the Up in Liverpool
Blackpool actually play in tangerine, but they heaped a lot of misery on Liverpool yesterday at Anfield.
Liverpool fans were their usual moaning selves on 6-0-6 last night on the radio, but they have to understand that what goes up must eventually come down!
What price can I get about Liverpool being the Leeds United of the 2010s?
Send For The Dutch
Blackpool has a problem in that they’ve now run out of orange paint. Apparently, it got worse when Blackpool beat Wigan in their first match in the Premier League
I think the Dutch ought to send some of their emergency supplies.
It strikes me though that it could be an opportunity for a great deal of fun and partying on both sides.
Do Blackpool have a Dutch branch of their Supporters Club? I suspect that they will soon!
What is addiction to orange called?
The Anonymous Widower 