Northampton Travel - Saturday

Northampton Town v Hereford United
Football League 2
Saturday 16th October 2010 KO 3.00 pm.
Sixfields Stadium
Upton Way
Northampton
NN5 5QA
Phone 01604 683700

The Cobblers were formed in 1897 and joined The Football League in 1920 following time in The Southern League. For many years their home was at the old three sided County ground which older Bulls may remember from our FA Cup giant-killing days. In the mid-nineties they moved to the new custom-built Sixfields, which is owned by the local council and provides an all-seated capacity of just less than 8000. Visiting fans are accommodated in the South (Paul Cox Panel and Paint) Stand, which has room for 800 fans. Tickets are "pay on the day" and are believed to be priced at Adults £19, Over 60's £15, U18's £6 and U7's FOC (with an adult?). Tickets are usually purchased from a sales window at the away end.

Coaches – HUISA departs Legends at 11.00 am with a fare of £13 (non-members £15). Bookings through the Club office (08442 761939).

BY CAR – Travel to Worcester and join the M5 north before joining the M42 at M5 J4A. Continue on the M42 remembering to bear left at J3A. At J7A, join the M6 south and then the M1 south (sign London Town). Leave the M1 at J16 then at the roundabout, take the first exit onto the A45/A4500 (sign Northampton West). Follow this road through the first major roundabout and then at the roundabout at the junction of the A5076, take the third exit (sign Ring Road – M1 South) into Upton Road. At the next roundabout, take the first exit and the second at the next. Sixfields will be clearly visible. Distance is around 110 miles and you should allow two hours and a half. There are a couple of sizable car parks at the stadium (£3?). You are advised to avoid parking on other properties in the surrounding Leisure complex as some operate a clamping scheme. Postcode is NN5 5QA.

REFRESHMENTS – The Leisure complex offers all the usual plastic food outlets and the nearest "proper" chip shop appears to be on Main Road in Duston Village. From the ground, go back up Upton Road and straight over the A4500 roundabout then take the first left. The Duston Village Chippy is about 400ish yards.

ALEHOUSES – What do you expect? It's a pretend stadium with pretend Pubs, which mainly serve pretend beer. Among the nearest are the Sports Bar which is part of a bowling establishment, The Sixfields Tavern which takes exception to away shirts, the Magic Tower which takes exception to visiting fans of most descriptions and a TGI Friday which also fails to fill me with much excitement. Away from the ground, The Cricketers Arms in Hervey Street has received decent reviews as has The King Billy (NN1 1PJ) in Commercial Street. Last season, we visited the Malt Shovel Tavern (NN1 1QF) at 121 Bridge Street and found it to be superb... good choice of ale a very decent food at reasonable prices. This includes the local Frog Island Brewery products along with Tetleys and London Pride on hand pump. The Romany Hotel on Trinity Avenue has reportedly got eight or nine pumps mainly from localish micros along with Westons! A late addition to this list (added by a local spy) is the Melbourne Arms (NN5 6HS) in Duston (follow directions to Chippy above). At least three pumps can be found at this quiet "village" boozer usually sporting DeuchersIPA, Directors and Bombardier. Finally, those arriving by train may care to try the Black Lion (NN1 1SW) on Black Lion Hill as they head towards the town centre from the station.

Jamie, Jamie…give us a wave ;)

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