McAlpine fresh

Huddersfield Town v Darlington

Nationwide Division Three

Saturday February 7th 2004, 3pm

Darlo's second trip to the impressive-looking Alfred McAlpine Stadium after last season's Worthington Cup defeat.

Last season, Town had a rotten time on and off the pitch, with their big-spending days coming back to haunt them. They were been in administration with a crippling, whopping £20m debt, but the clouds lifted a week before the start of the season.

Even with ex-Blackburn striker Kevin Gallacher and local boy Andy Booth, back from Sheffield Wednesday, they still sunk early on in Division Three, although a good run of late means there within reach of the play-offs. Managerial duo Peter Jackson and Terry Yorath quickly signed striker Jon Newby from Bury to replace top scorer Martin Wilkinson, who went to Northampton, as well as Crewe's bandanna-wearing Nigerian defender Efe Soje. However they recently lost top scorer Jon Stead to Blackburn for £1.2m, which could mean more squad strengthening soon. Experienced defender Rob Edwards returned to the club and Tony Carss (remember him?) is a useful man in midfield.

Man to watch
Andy Booth Former Sheffield Wednesday striker, but a local lad and back with the club he's always supported. Solid and powerful - scored the only goal at the RA in December.

Full match previews on the D@rlo Uncovered and The Tinshed websites.

Ground and ticket prices Ticket prices: Pay at the turnstiles for away seats in the Travelworld Stand - expect to pay £14.50 (Students/OAPs £7, children £5).

Click for map of stadium or streetmap of ground

Anything worth adding? Please e-mail us any suggestions.

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By car A relatively easy trip from Darlington. Take the M62 and exit at junction 25, following signs for Huddersfield and the A62. As you approach the town, take a left turn into St Andrew's Road (sign-posted Sheffield A629) and the stadium is a left turn at the lights. Parking at the ground is limited, but there is a car park opposite Stadium Way in Gas Works Street.

Trains and buses
It's a straightforward walk from the railway station - out on the left and into Northumberland Street, straight over the crossroads heading on the A62 Leeds Road, turn right at the island into Gas Works St and the stadium is ahead over the crossroads.

Suggested trains: Darlington 10.41, arr Huddersfield 12.12. Duration 1hr 31 mins; rtn: 17.48 arr Darlington 19.32, dur 1hr 44 mins or 17.48 (York 1843) 18.57-arr 19.25. Dur 1hr 37 mins. Cheap day return £23.20; Saver return £29.50. Other trains back: London Kings Cross 17.42 (Wakefield Westgate 18.13) 18.20 arr 20.26; Birmingham and Manchester: 17.14 arr Manchester Piccadilly 17.48, then 17.58 arr Birmingham New Street 19.30; also 17.27 (18.06) arr Birmingham New Street 20.03.

Taxis
Metro Taxis 01484 533000
Lockwood Taxis 01484 454242
A1 Taxis 01484 541111
Star Taxis Tel: 01484 452277

Darlington FC Supporters Club
Coach time 11.30am, £10.50. Contact: 01325 243911. See DFCSC website for more details.

The McAlpine Stadium itself has become an award-winning landmark, while the Victorian Jubilee Tower on Castle Hill is an older point of interest on the local landscape. The village of Holmfirth has an exhibition dedicated to Last of the Summer Wine, while it's worth checking if the Kirklees Light Railway is still open at nearby Clayton West Tel: 01484 865727.

Huddersfield Tourist Information Centre, 3-5 Albion Street, Huddersfield Tel: 01484 223200

The tourist office can arrange accommodation, while there's also an accommodation list on the Pennine Yorkshire website

The Head of Steam, St George's Square, Huddersfield railway station
Part of the small real-ale chain at the station. DAFTS recommended. .

Rat and Ratchet, 40 Chapel Hill Seving 12 handpump beers plus its own, brewed on the premises.

Slubbers Arms 1 Halifax Old Road, off A641
Victorian pub with Landlord and Marston's Pedigree beers. No TV, music or slot machines! Open from 5.30pm. CAMRA-recommended. Click for map.

The Spinner's Arms 100 Leeds Road Popular football pub near the ground, but can get crowded. Click for map

There's a fish and chip shop and Macdonalds up along Leeds Road, otherwise it's burger vans or the usual High Street eating places in the town centre.

If you'd like to be e-mailed a regular bulletin with the latest updates on this site - including details of DAFTS members known to be travelling then E-mail DAFTS

Rail timetables Virgin Trains GNER National Express Online map
Hotels/B&Bs icHuddersfield Council web Pennine Yorkshire

Surfing there...

A good, varied choice. The excellent HTFC World site is one of the best on the 'Net, worth a look at any time for its cartoons alone. The Official Huddersfield site is OK for just the basic stuff. Also see Huddersfield.Net - a very comprehensive un-Rivals-looking unofficial site, while the Rivals site is DownAtTheMac.com and the very busy Supporters Trust also have a website.

Next away match:
Bristol Rovers (Sat February 14)

Huddersfield Town FC:
(01484) 484100

No responsibility is taken for accuracy, if in doubt check before travelling.

© DAFTS 2003