To the Peaks and back.....just

Date : Saturday November 16th, 2019
Match : Matlock Town v Stalybridge Celtic
Squad : Bowen (15th cap), Quincy (15th cap), Richo, Laddsy (10th cap), Laddso (10th cap), Kenny & Clyde

It is always fun to go a little further afield so the first away trip of the season was a jaunt to the Peak District and Matlock Town. It's always a pleasure to go to this part of the country but the recent rain had left travel plans and the game in some doubt. As it was the game was fine and the weather was not really a factor in the fun we had on the journey. 

It was a 2 change journey so a pre-9am start was in order. We boarded our train at Peterborough and headed off to the first stop at Leicester. Luckily the first change was a short one so we were soon on a train heading to Derby. We arrived safely and then headed for the platform for the Matlock train.

This was the stage of the journey that had been having issues so we were buoyed that there was a train ready to go. We even boarded it and got comfy. However it soon became evident all was not well. The train was good but there was no driver! A driver stepped off an incoming train but declared he was over his hours and wandered off to fill his face. So eventually the train was cancelled and we were shepherded back off it. 

The gap between trains was an hour but we had already waited 25 minutes so there wasn't enough time to go and find a pub so we sat it out. A driver was provided for the next train and so eventually we got back on our way. 

On arrival in Matlock it was clear that this is a town that has been suffering but managing through the wet weather. There were some places shut (such as the Wetherspoons pub as we found out later) but it was mostly business as usual. After a short debate we headed to our first stop - the Twenty Ten.

The Twenty Ten is typical of the modern bars - shop type frontage, lots of wood decor inside, taps on the wall - all of these are fine with me. Inside there was a very good selection of beers so we settled in to peruse the menus. The beer selection had plenty of choice for all - the Thornbridge Jamestown was particularly excellent.

Dog cushion and Richo

Twenty Ten

The menu was rustic and good value. A few of us had pies and they were excellent - the Moo & Blue was superb - add chips and gravy and all for six quid. The bar is obviosuly popular and it started to get busier so we headed off further down the street to the MoCa Bar.

The MoCa bar is even more rustic but in a positive way. Much more of a drinking bar with walkers and locals mingling, dogs a-plenty and some good beer choices. It was standing room only but that was fine as we had a pint and a pee and then headed off to the ground.

Virtuoso sax solo from Quincy

The ground is very central and beautifully presented. Admission was a round tenner and through the turnstile we were able to go straight into the club shop and snaffle that badge memento, I guess maybe you should expect a great view in a place like this but the view to the outside of the ground is indeed very scenic. Inside there were plenty of covered spaces to shelter from the rain and the view from behind the goal was excellent. There was a good crowd of nearly 500 so my only surprise was that it was a fairly quiet crowd by non league standards. Maybe the rain was dampening spirits a little.

A great display of socks on show. Love a vintage Boston sock.

The crowd

The view

The Church end?

The food bar was at the side of the ground - we visited before half time and not only was it slow but they had also run out of pies. They did do chips and gravy however so slightly redeemed. 

Once half time came we retired to the bar - a nice warm space with a view of the pitch and some decent ale.

As for the game itself it wasn't a great one. The away team dominated in conditions that deteriorated particularly in the second half. As it was Stalybridge had to rely on one great strike from Anthony Whitehead in the 2nd half to secure the points but that's frankly enough about the game.

After the match we had to abort a trip to the local 'spoons as it was closed due to flooding. So it was back to the Twenty Ten to prepare ourselves for the trek home. Whilst there a local wise man told us we would probably have problems getting home. A wise man indeed.

The wise man tries to shake off Laddso.

So off we trotted to the station for the train. The only thing missing from this two track Peak station was an actually train. As the time passed and after numerous calls to the customer helpline we called taxis. The first taxi arrived and so the advance party was dispatched onwards towards Derby. 

Whilst the rest of us waited patiently the train turned up. Well actually it was either the train one hour late or the next scheduled train bang on time. So now we had a dilemma. We rang the taxi to find out how long out he was and and after a brief discussion decided to take our chance on the train. 

So the advance party reached Derby station and boarded the connection for Leicester. Meanwhile the back up group are trundling along on a stop everywhere route with regular unscheduled delays also. It was looking good. The advance party were off and heading for Leicester whilst we were still sitting outside Derby awaiting rescue. 

Once in Derby it was obvious there was no train that would get us to Leicester in time for us to catch our last connection so what to do? The other option was get to Nottingham and go from there. Well easier said than done so it was our turn to hit the taxi rank. £40 later and we were at Nottingham station, thanks mostly to my own sat nav and directions - God forbid a taxi driver should know where to go.

The advance party should be well ahead by now but a medical emergency was impacting their journey and so the journey time to Leicester doubled. Whereas we are on the night club special out of Nottingham heading who knows where. Well Bottesford actually. Wasn't even sure where Bottesford was - in all honesty still not really sure. Anyway once at Bottesford it was on to the double decker bus with all the revellers and on to Grantham.

Grantham was strange - no one met us at the station so we headed on to the platform - had a wee stop, raided the vending machine. As we wandered out there appeared a lady (maybe an angel). She pointed us towards a coach and said "Go - your destiny is ahead of you" or maybe "Peterborough coach over there". Either way we boarded, along with one other passenger and set off. 

In the meantime the forward party are stuttering along between Leicester and Peterborough amid scandal and signalling issues. Back on the coach I realised that a train replacement coach is contracted to match the speed of the train it is replacing. As this coach is replacing a mainline train we proceed to belt down the A1 at 125mph. To be honest all 3 of us lost consciousness at this point and so in what seemed like minutes we were rocking up at Peterborough station merely minutes behind the forward party.

Matlock was lovely and it was a great trip but the journey home was a crack for all the wrong reasons. Good though weren't it?


Stats
Match
Northern Premier League Premier Division

Matlock Town 0
Stalybridge Celtic 1

Stadium – The Proctor Cars Stadium, Matlock. Capacity – 2,400
Attendance – 463

Pubs - 2
Best  - Ten Twenty but both were good
Worst - see above
Breakfast - n/a
Lunch - 9/10
Dinner - n/a
Pies - 9/10 at the Ten Twenty, Chips and Gravy 7/10 at the ground

Marks
Ground  - 9/10
Match - 4/10
Beer - 9/10
Food - 9/10
Pie         - 9/10

Enjoyment Factor  - 9/10

Don't we look POSH

Date : Saturday August 17th, 2019
Match : Peterborough United v Ipswich Town
Squad : Bowen, Quincy, Laddsy, Laddso & Kenny

It seemed weird but why not pick our local football team? Especially when they are playing at home to the mighty Super Blues themselves - Ipswich Town. It was an all ticket affair which is extremely alien for people who watch a lot of non league. A bumper crowd was expected so off we trotted into town to see what the day would bring.

First stop The Ostrich Inn. Now The Ostrich has lived in many guises over the years but it is now a proper pub with great ales, ciders and gins plus it's well renowned for it's live music. So it seemed an apt place to start - plus it's off the beaten track as far as town pubs go - particularly for away fans. 

After a couple of beers we headed towards the ground and the Charters Bar. A great bar on a barge - the main drawback is it's proximity to the football ground. Oh and it's now mostly Oakham Ales. Sure enough on arrival the place was full of Ipswich fans singing away. It was all good natured though and we got a beer without too long a wait. 

From there it was on to the ground - it sued to just be London Road but now it's the gloriously names Weston Homes Stadium. That's about all that's changed since I last came mind. We split to opposite sides of the ground - some to the London Road end. Myself into a side stand with the Ipswich fans. There was a lot of them too....and they were noisy.

The game itself was a good one too. Ipswich took an early lead through James Norwood but were pegged back by an Ivan Toney goal on the half hour. Posh started the 2nd half brighter and when Mo Eisa put them ahead it looked like it might be all 3 points for the home side. A late set piece put paid to that though as they allowed veteran defender Luke Chambers to head home and secure a draw.
Posh will have been the more disappointed and will feel they should have got all three points but it wasn't to be.

So for some after game refreshment. Peterborough has certainly improved over the years with regards to pubs and restaurants. Samms is a fairly new bar and does a good turn in craft beers and ciders. It also has an interesting shots / cocktails menu too. We had a pleasant couple of drinks in here before heading off to grab some food.

The old Embe restaurant near Burghley Square was a great food establishment but a little out of the way. After a period of running a stall on the market the restaurant is now back down Cowgate and is a welcome addition to the town scene. The place was newly opened so busy and we had no reservation but they accommodated us on a high drinking table which was absolutely fine for our group.

The menu is small but that's ok. I had some great chicken wings and a burger for main and sweated throughout. The service was excellent and hopefully this place is a stayer.

It was a great way to end an enjoyable day.

Stats
Match
EFL League One

Peterborough United 2
Ipswich Town 2

Stadium – Weston Homes Stadium, Peterborough. Capacity – 15,142
Attendance – 10,071

Pubs - 3
Best  - Samms
Worst - Charters - too busy
Breakfast - n/a
Lunch - n/a
Dinner - Caribbean 8/10
Pies - n/a

Marks
Ground  - 7/10
Match - 8/10
Beer - 8/10
Food - 8/10
Pie         - 0/10

Enjoyment Factor  - 8/10

Cricket is sooooooooo boring

Date : Saturday July 27th, 2019
Match : Nottinghamshire Outlaws v Leicestershire Foxes
Squad : Bowen, Quincy, Richo.

After much nagging we agreed to Richo's demands to go and watch a cricket match (yawn). Needing the trains to work for us an afternoon game in Nottingham seemed ideal. Plus with it being late July the weather would be good. So off we trotted.

First thing to say is the weather was not good - in fact it was pretty poor all day. The writing was on the cards early doors as we sheltered from the rain whilst waiting for our connection at Grantham station. 

G for Grrr, G for grey, G for Grantham

Also we had already been delayed by strikes and line problems so the day was probably not going to go well. 

Once in Nottingham we were a little behind schedule so decided to take in fuel first. So when in need head to a 'spoons. The Company Inn is a short walk from the station and is a large place with more seating upstairs. We took advantage of the wonderful Wetherspoons app which means the lazy ones of us don't have to move. The food was solid if unspectacular and it filled a hole.

After food and a couple of beers we headed out into the drizzle and went to find one of the old classic pubs. "Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem" is an ancient old place built into the side of some rocks. It's certainly a quirky place with plenty of character - beer was ok but nothing to write home about.

Old and quirky.....Richo at Ye Olde Trip To Jerusalem.

Happy drinkers

As we had lost some time we thought we had better head towards the ground before having another beer. So off we toddled through the drizzle and greyness. As we approached the ground we decided to fall into The Embankment.

The Embankment is a Castle Rock pub and that can only mean one thing - Screech Owl. We found somewhere to park our damp bums and enjoyed a lovely pint of Screech whilst checking the game updates from the Notts CC Twitter feed. They were mostly non committal - "If we get no more rain we will have an inspection at 2 and at that point we may decide to think about getting kitted up, dependent on further rain and the whims of the umpires" - that sort of thing. 

So we headed towards the ground, stopping for a swift one in the Trent Bridge Inn (another Wetherspoons affair). Through the turnstiles and what do we see? A Bellhaven bar - with Twisted Grapefruit IPA on draught - heaven! 

So we availed ourselves of some beer, had some food from a food van, bought pin badges (for the collection) and caps (to keep the rain off our heads). Meanwhile it kept on raining.....

Eventually we actually got some cricket too. Not much mind just the 11 overs each. However I have to say it was jolly entertaining - chants to chant, songs to sing. Can't really remember who won - think it was the Foxes but enjoyable all the same. 

After the game we had some time to kill before our train so returned to an old favourite - The Vat and Fiddle, right next to the Castle Rock brewery. By this time the rain had abated and we stood outside enjoying a beer or two. 

From there it was back to the station, and back home via Leicester. A good day - we will do the cricket again.

Stats
Match
Vitality T20 Blast

Leicestershire  125/3 off 11 overs
Nottinghamshire 104/6 off 11 overs

Stadium – Trent Bridge, Nottingham. Capacity – 17,500
Attendance – Unknown

Pubs - 5
Best  - The Vat & Fiddle
Worst - The Trent Bridge Inn - just because it was busy
Breakfast - n/a
Lunch - spoons fare
Dinner - Can't remember!
Pies - chips and gravy was not bad

Marks
Ground  - 8/10
Match - 7/10
Beer - 8/10
Food - 7/10
Pie         - 0/10

Enjoyment Factor  - 8/10