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Post by southportred on Sept 22, 2014 15:30:17 GMT
Hello Gasheads, City fan in Peace As a Bristolian who has been living in Southport (missionary work, trying to teach the locals to hold knives & forks etc) for well over 20 years, I thought, in the interests of camaraderie, I would pass on some local knowledge re your trip next Saturday. Travel Travelling by train is a bit of a pain. You would have to change stations at Liverpool Lime St. The Southport trains run from Liverpool Central, not Lime St. Its only a couple of hundred yards away and easy to find (almost dead in front) but it will be packed with shoppers and a ball ache. Southport station is about a mile from Haig Ave, there are usually taxis freely available outside the station and they do not rip off. Forget buses, town planning in Southport in non existent, to get any kind of bus from the station will require you to walk for a quarter of a mile in the wrong direction. Car. If coming up the M6 take Exit 26 (signposted Southport, Skelmersdale (and possibly) Ormskirk. This will actually be the THIRD motorway exit you will see signposted 'Southport' but the other two bring you out on the wrong side of town, so ignore the first two exits and take J26. The downside here is that you have to go through Ormskirk, which is a bottleneck at the best of times and Saturday (market day) is definitely NOT the best of times, so allow for delays of, say 10-15 mins. Once through Ormskirk, the Southport Road brings you to a "Welcome to Southport" sign after about 7 miles and a gert big roundabout. There is a McDonald's to your left and a B&Q to your right. T'Other side of this roundabout are playing field and you will see Haig Ave behind them. At the roundabout, you can take either the 3rd (bear left) or 4th (straight on) exit and Haig Avenue is about half a mile up. You will have to find 'on street' parking as there is no carpark. If you take the 5th exit at the roundabout, you get into a retail park (Aldi, PC World, Usual suspects) with loads of parking. As always, there ware warning signs up but I have never actually seen parking Nazis there so you should be OK. It is only a short walk to the ground from there. Pubs The nearest pubs to the ground are the Richmond (3 rd exit off roundabout/left hand side of the playing fields and the Thatch & Thistle 4th exit and rhs of the playing fields. Both do food, I do not think people in colours would be welcomed in the Richmond, so if in shirts, try the Thatch & Thistle (has Sky TV so I assume is football friendly). Both do food and both are fairly close to the ground. Those not in Colours should do OK at the Richmond, although it does get busy on Saturdays (OK for a pint but you may have to wait on food and it isn't cheap in any event) For those wanting snack, there is a newsagent on Haig Avenue, just yards from the ground. I think that's it, if I think of anything else, I'll be back. Hope you enjoy your trip to the seaside Saturday. Come on you Yellows Cheers for the advice southportred - jolly decent of you. Looking forward to the trip up north. I am a bit concerned that the locals have had to resort to getting someone from south Bristol to teach them proper table etiquette - they must be a right bunch of savages!! Everything is relative Devonwhite, everything is relative
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Post by kernowtoteend on Sept 22, 2014 15:52:13 GMT
Have not been there is years...... Last time must have been in the 70's.
Found good food in th cafes - one of them even had a picture of the Clifton Suspension Bridge and did not know what it was or where it was.
Sorry I can not be there - too many pasties to sell in the deep West.............
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Post by Gas Since 1957 on Sept 22, 2014 16:45:37 GMT
Cheers for the advice southportred - jolly decent of you. Looking forward to the trip up north. I am a bit concerned that the locals have had to resort to getting someone from south Bristol to teach them proper table etiquette - they must be a right bunch of savages!! Everything is relative Devonwhite, everything is relative Certainly is in South Bristol............
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tuckbox
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 19
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Post by tuckbox on Sept 22, 2014 16:48:39 GMT
My least favourite pier is smorgan.
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Igitur
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 2,294
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Post by Igitur on Sept 23, 2014 7:58:58 GMT
My least favourite pier is smorgan. For me it's Lord Prescott. (I know it's 'peer' but any chance of having a go at that blankety blank.)
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Post by midlandgas on Sept 23, 2014 9:53:03 GMT
Cromer pier in Norfolk go there a lot
4 of us from Birmingham going Saturday c u there
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Post by mehewmagic on Sept 23, 2014 13:49:54 GMT
my girlfriend is trying to go to every pier in the UK. so I heard...
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Post by mehewmagic on Sept 23, 2014 13:53:44 GMT
It is the second longest pier after Southend, my girlfriend is trying to go to every pier in the UK. Apparently it goes over a carpark and starts way in land. She didn't rate it, hadn't made the top ten of the 20 odd she's done. I used to live up North and southport seemed ok. often visited after going to the Anthony Gormley figures on the beach/sea further south. has a side splitting (free) hall of mirrors i would never have known it is (technically) the 2nd longest pier in the UK. As you mention it does start way inland and goes over a carpark. in fact it seems quite short. total con if anyone goes there expecting to go a longway out to sea. Nothing like southend at all.
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Post by fleetwoodgas on Sept 23, 2014 18:52:00 GMT
Its also not far from Blackpool and the illuminations are on.
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puregas
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 90
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Post by puregas on Sept 23, 2014 19:09:21 GMT
Each to his own I suppose.
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Post by sfcest1881 on Sept 25, 2014 1:05:47 GMT
Alright lads, on the basis the Bristol City fan didn't get figuratively lynched, I'm gonna assume that you don't mind me posting on this thread.
I say you should ALL come, but then that's mainly as the atmosphere at Haig Ave has been pretty dire recently, so if we're going to lose, there might as well be some noise there.
I'll start by answering some questions:
Yes, Southport is much nicer than Blackpool, much cleaner & less chavvy. I would highly recommend the promenade & newly refurbished King's Gardens for a walk if you want to take it easy or clear your hangover the next day. p.s Blackpool is easily an hour by car from here so just don't bother.
Digs wise, there's a couple of Travel Lodges, The Ramada for about £80 b&b or the Vincent if you're minted.
Yeah, it's an ok night out, but remember we're a town, so if you're expecting the hacienda, then you'll leave disapointed. I would recommend Lloyds (straight down from the carousel on the prom) for cheap drinks & cheaper women, but this place is just to start off. Maloney's (under the Scarisbrick Hotel, smack bang in the middle of town) for cocktails & an atmosphere. Leave via the back exit & it takes you to all the other bars, you'll find your way from there. But the new(ish) Casino is a good place to end a night.
The pier is (from memory) the 2nd longest in the UK, to be honest it's well kept & a nice walk, but there's a tram that goes all the way to the end if your old or lazy. Some of it is over land & some over the lake, & the cafe at the end is mediocre so don't go expecting Mr Miyagi's back garden. p.s The only pier we burnt down was the scum's (Fleetwood's).
Food wise we have plenty of top notch restaurants (some with Michelin stars), but in town go for The Sandgrounder (pub grub), or just over the lake is Ocean Plaza with all your Franky n Benny's / Chiquitos / Nando's & what not. The Richmond by the ground does nice food, but they tend not to like groups of football fans.
Avoid the lawnmower museum, in a rough part of town & infinitely more boring that it even sounds.
Other places to visit would be The Inn Beer Shop or The Lakeside Inn at the end of the prom (the smallest pub in Britain).
For a pint before the game, the ale in our bar at ground is cheap, local brews & the footy will be on. But it's small & dingy & every time I go there a little piece of me dies. So drink in town & taxi it, or try the Thatch as it's less than a 5 min walk from the ground.
You can deffo pay on the gate, in fact there's no other way, so don't expect a ticket like my missus did because you also follow a proper club. It's £13.50 for the terraces & £15 for the main stand.
As to the match, we're on a poor run of form, we couldn't defend a set-piece if our lives depended on it & for what it's worth, by the time we get to Cleethorpes (I mean Grimsby) we won't have won away from home for over 413 days. So my prediction is:
Southport 1 - 3 Bristol Rovers.
Safe trip to those that make it.
Up the Port!
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Post by midlandgas on Sept 25, 2014 6:58:01 GMT
Cheers mate whatsvthe parking like around the ground is it safe in the local streets
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Igitur
Joined: June 2014
Posts: 2,294
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Post by Igitur on Sept 25, 2014 7:13:18 GMT
Cheers. Any Sports Bars?
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Post by sfcest1881 on Sept 25, 2014 8:40:12 GMT
Parking by the ground is safe enough, you can go for Haig Ave itself, Forest Road or Beatty Road (which both run off Haig Ave), but if you do they start getting full by about 2 o'clock. & park correctly (no pavements) as the parking wardens from town occasionally show up mid match. Alternatively do what I used to do & park at The Thatch (pub), the road directly opposite the front doors takes you to the ground In less than 5 minutes.
The only place that could call itself a sports bar is The Sandgrounder, which to be honest is a decent boozer. It's got a big screen & flatscreens scattered everywhere including behind the bar so you don't miss the action queueing for a drink., they serve decent food, have a pool table & you can sit outside of you want. It's on Lord Street, which you simply can't miss as it's a mile long & it is basically Southport town centre. Looking at the Scarisbrick hotel, it's a 5 min walk to the left.
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Post by midlandgas on Sept 25, 2014 13:23:03 GMT
well played sfcest 1881 appreciate your comments
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Post by Curly Wurly on Sept 25, 2014 16:05:12 GMT
Glancing through the Southport forum www.portchat.net/viewforum.php?f=1 they seem to be at a pretty low ebb at the moment. I am hoping that Rovers go there with the right attitude and look to be as ruthless as possible. If we are wasteful, I can see them gaining in confidence and us going through another Altrincham / Braintree experience. From what I have seen, they seem to leave a fair bit of space in midfield and they look vulnerable to a good cross. BTW, thanks for the info sfcest 1881
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Post by midlandgas on Sept 25, 2014 16:28:51 GMT
0 - 8 HALF TIME 0 - 14 FULL TIME WELL IN MY DREAMS LAST NIGHT
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brizzle
Lindsay Parsons
No Buy . . . No Sell!
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 4,293
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Post by brizzle on Sept 25, 2014 17:19:50 GMT
That's a very good post sfcest1881, and very informative and welcoming as well. Many thanks and good luck to you, except on Saturday of course.
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Post by midlandgas on Sept 25, 2014 17:27:21 GMT
Realistically 3 points and a clean sheet would be great
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brizzle
Lindsay Parsons
No Buy . . . No Sell!
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 4,293
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Post by brizzle on Sept 25, 2014 17:34:30 GMT
Realistically 3 points and a clean sheet would be great I really believe that the 3 points are ours to lose, but a clean sheet would be an added bonus though. Good luck to all those making the journey.
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