***Away Day Review Non-League Special: FC United of Manchester v Stafford Rangers @ Gigg Lane***

I left out at 4.46PM then walked 3.2 Miles to Mayfield Sports Centre at 6.15PM to find the North West Countries Football League fixture between Rochdale Town FC & Cheadle Town FC had been called off by the time we got there it felt like a waste of time my gut-instinct told me it wouldn’t be on

Then we got the bus to Tesco Sudden after deciding next closest match were FCUM v Stafford Rangers after finding out the likes of Ashton United & Curzon Ashton were away at Tesco’s, I got one of their £1.90 All-Day Breakfast Sandwiches which wasn’t that great then got the Bus into Bury for the second time in a fortnight the journey never took that long as the bus were very quiet. We arrived in Bury about 15 – 20 Minutes later then walked it straight to the ground with no pub stop’s at all as it wasn’t Northampton Town v Rochdale although we really wished it had of been 

We were at Gigg Lane for around 6.45PM, we saw their Non-League FCUM Club Shop which made Rochdale’s look very small . Then we found out which were the Stafford Rangers part of the one stand which were open FCUM were not as big as they were made to be in their Club’s online pictures, I got a bottle of Carlsberg which set me back £3.30, FCUM scored there first goal were by Tom Greaves in the 7th Minute just couple minutes during FCUM’s celebration Rochdale had scored on Northampton Town the goal were by Ian Henderson i cheered

Then 28 Minutes into the Match news had came through Former Rochdale Footballer Reuben Reid had sent Plymouth Argyle 1-0 against Automatic Promotion Championship contenders Chesterfield. I cheered again got a few odd look’s and we chanted we are Top of the League in Stafford Rangers end, Just before Half Time in 45th Minute Charlie Raglan sent FCUM 2-0 up against Stafford Rangers who were starting to look like a Relegated Rochdale Team with no hope then the announcement came in at Half Time that they needed a new linesman due to an injury Half Time were extended by an extra 15 Minutes because of this one delay which showed how unprofessional football is just below Conference, I though might aswell get another bottle of Carlsberg which were pain-killing paying the struggling rival club another £3.30 it were kinda heartbreaking

The 2nd half eventually got underway news had came through that Rochdale had scored in 54th Minute against Northampton Town with a goal from Matty Lund i cheered then just 3 Minutes later news come through that Chesterfield had Equalized against Plymouth Argyle thank to a goal  from Ritchie Humphreys in 57th Minute then just one minute later former Rochdale Footballer Reuben Reid put Plymouth Argyle 2-1 up against Chesterfield in 58th Minute we celebrated again then just a minute later FCUM had scored again an superb goal by Tom Greaves in 59th Minute what put them 3-0 Up against Struggling Stafford Rangers then just 6 Minutes later news came in that Joe Bunney had scored in 65th Minute against Northampton Town it were strange celebrating it in the struggling Rival’s Football Ground then just 9 Minutes later in 74th Minute the Sub Sub Greg Daniel’s scored 4th Goal for FCUM putting them 4-0 up against Struggling Stafford Rangers. then injury time were announced we left to catch bus back to Rochdale which only took 10-15 Minutes then we got back for 10PM

My Man of The Match: Tom Greaves (He belongs in The Football League)

Don’t forget

I’m currently saving up to go to The UEFA Under 21 European Championship which will be held in Czech Republic in June 2015…

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***Away Day Review: Bury 0 – 0 Rochdale (East lancashire Derby)***

I started the day off in the Regal Moon in Rochdale with an Traditional Pre-Match Guinness (£2.25) at 1.33PM, Then we headed up to San Remo’s on Drake Street just 20 minutes later were a got a bottle of Budweiser (£1.50) and an Beef Salad Sandwich (£1.90) before we got the bus at 3.05PM but we ended up getting off at Tesco’s in sudden and waiting abit then caught the bus after it we ended up in Bury for 4.20PM

Then we ended up going into The Picture House Free House were it were a whooping £2.99 for a Pint of Guinness, then we moved on because my friends didn’t like the feel of the place and it were starting to fill up with Bury fans so we went to The Robert Peel which were also an Free House it cost me £3.00 for a pint of Guinness, but there were Dale Fans in the pub we stayed abit then went to the Molloy’s Irish Bar where i got a nice cheap Guinness and the two lads were i got a beer each then after staying for abit chilaxing in a bar which felt very welcoming.

Then we got a taxi to the Swan and Cemetery Pub where Dale Fans were meeting up before Kick Off, I ended up meeting a few people of Amber and Black aswell as the famous Robshaker, Col ended up buying me a Guinness which were very unexpected but appreciated it were nice and relaxing in the pub, Then i finished the Guinness and made my way to Gigg Lane (Renamed JD Stadium).

I got into the ground after being messed around by the stewards on were i had to go, It felt more like an Friendly Match atmosphere in the ground, I found a seat as everywhere were unreserved on the night. It really didn’t feel like an Derby Match at all. After all the hype, Bury fans where embarrassing in the side, getting themselves thrown out and everything and that were just the first half. Football wasn’t that special compared to the previous match just a couple days back. The atmosphere in our crowd where split between dale fans chanting against dale fans, I didn’t really understand why they all couldn’t sing same songs together. The queue’s for the toilets were ridiculous never even had chance to get anything to eat in the ground.

Managed to get out for the second half were there was some brilliant saves by Josh Lillis, there were a couple of efforts by Dale but nothing really impressive, Bury threw flares on their sandy pitch for some strange reason, The match ended up finishing  0 – 0 but it were expected as we never win on Television unless Fox is filming, Made my way out of the ground

Then i ended up walking back to the Bus Station there were alot going back to Dale via Bus, Got off in the fancy new Rochdale Bus Station nipped in Regal Moon but didn’t buy a drink then just decided to get the last bus home

Don’t forget

I’m currently saving up to go to The Actual UEFA Under 21 European Championship which will be held in Czech Republic in June 2015…

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Any Donation Welcome

 

***Away Day Review International Special: England Under 21 v Wales Under 21 (UEFA Under 21 European Championship Czech Republic 2015 Qualifier) @ Pride Park Stadium (Ipro Stadium)***

I left mine at 10.42AM, then got into town and walked up the road to the train station were i ended up missing the 11.04AM train and ended up getting the 11.14AM Train to Manchester Victoria then reached Manchester Victoria were i again had to walk to Manchester Piccadilly to get the 12.20PM Train. I passed an familiar football ground on the way i think the club is now stranded in The Skrill Northern Conference League. Then i had to change at Sheffield to get 1.24PM Train to Derby.

I Arrived at Derby just before 2PM this gave me time to find the stadium and see if any England Fans were knocking about before Kick Off. Then i walked to Pride Park which wasn’t far at all i got to the stadium at approximately 2.19PM.

I walked around the entire stadium looking to buy a Football Programme from the International Qualifier Derby Match between England & Wales but they didn’t seem to have any in which were meant  very unprepared for this Fixture at Pride Park Stadium at 3.18PM. I met Ex-England Goalkeeper David James who’s now an pundit for BT Sport. He were an nice fellow.

Then at 4.15 Wales Under 21’s arrived at Pride Park i ended up meeting their Manager Garaint William who signed my Football Programme, He were very nice guy along with the 8 Wales Under 21 Footballers. Then i ended up seeing Ex-England & Wales Midfielder Owen Hardgreaves who also signed my Football Programme. He were also a pundit for BT Sport. The England coach arrived at 4.49PM. The players got off. But this time we didn’t have a grumpy Stuart Pearce. We had Gareth Southgate who were happy to sign people’s Football Programme’s. I told him i were planning on doing Czech Republic and he said to me “We’ll make sure we do our Best” That made me happy. Then i entered the ground to find The FA sanctioned a dry stadium meaning no Alcohol were being served or on sale. I got a Coffee & Pie it came to £5 which is cheap for a Football Club which club be playing in the Premier League Next Season.

I were in the Stadium for 5.09PM this gave me plenty of time to find my seat then which were an very nice view. I were glad i chosen the seat months in advance. Then took a couple of Pictures as Wales came out to Warm-Up for the Match and Then ended up seeing England Under 21’s Coach Gareth Southgate again were i got a Picture with him before Kick Off.

Then i took to my seat and waiting for Kick Off took a couple More Pictures

Then i saw the National Flags of Wales & England enter the Pitch at 5.48PM.

Then the Players entered the Pitch at 5.55PM

Then just a Minute later Both Wales and England sung respective National Anthem’s.

Then England & Wales did the Fair Play Handshakes and Exchanged Pennants before Kick Off…

Then the game kicked off England were very dominant and controlled the Match despite Key Players like Will Hughes, Wilfred Zaha & Danny Ings The Match at Half Time ended being 0 – 0 either side looked like they were gonna score their were a few efforts which missed then at Half Time i saw Patrick Bamford & Harry Kane who were sat in the stand just before the 2nd half got under way…

Then the second half got under way England looked alot stronger compared to the Wales team. This saw Nathan Redmond score just 12 Minutes into the second half in 56th Minute. It were a brilliant goal then just 11 Minutes later in 67th Minute Danny Ings came on for Saido Berahino and then just 5 Minutes later which i though were the Best sub of the Match were Will Hughes coming on for the overrated Ravel Morrison on the 71st Minute which left me thinking why wasn’t Scott Hogan called up for the Fixture then just 3 Minutes after that Sub Liam Moore replaced Nathaniel Chalobah in the 74th Minute Wales had made their last Subs but didn’t look capable of scoring on Jack Butland who kept a Clean Sheet

Then the Match finished so i made my way to the station and ended up getting the 8.11PM Train were i got a celebratory Guinness which cost me around £3.45 but yet again the train is expensive

Then i arrived in Sheffield 8.45PM to find the train i needed wasn’t running due to some landslade outside of Sheffield which mean i were waiting an whole hour for the 10.11PM Train which ended up getting me back to Manchester Piccadilly just after 11.00PM. This meant i had missed my Train home and had to get the last Tram home from Manchester,  Just my luck i caught the last tram but it were Rochdale via Oldham the journey took ages. I got back just after Midnight then jumped in nearest taxi home.

I’m currently saving up to go to The Actual UEFA Under 21 European Championship which will be held in Czech Republic in June 2015…

Feel Free to Donate anything you want!!

Any Donation Welcome