Posh
party
Peterborough United
v Darlington
Coca-Cola League Two
Saturday 3rd May
2008, 3pm
A game we could do without,
as thoughts are already on the play-offs. It is nothing short of a
promotion party for Peterborough, who have had a strong season - especially
at home. Darren Ferguson is in his first full season as player-manager
and much was expected of him, after Posh's promotion push fizzled
out last season.
He's built a strong side, which combines a goal-getting potential
with experience. The likes of Micah Hyde and Josh Low give the midfield
some steel.
 
Man
to watch Aaron McLean They did well to hang onto the ex-Orient and Grays striker,
who has been prolific in front of goal this season in all competitions, as well as being a threat with his pace.
View from the away terrace
Full match previews on the D@rlo
Uncovered website.
This is all ticket. There
is plenty of room, however - a little under 4,000 capacity for away
fans usually but we've been given 1,500 in the away terrace (£15
adults, £12 OAPs, students, £9 under 16). On sale to season ticket holders first and then on general sale at Darlington FC from 16th April. Other facilities: The programme
is a neat-sized 60 pages for £2.50. The toilets though behind the
terrace were almost as medieval as the cathedral on the horizon.
Pies were a very average quality; the stewards miserable, officious
and charmless on our visit. London Road is Posh by name but not
by nature - and they wonder why the game appears sometimes to be
on its last legs at this level.
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Peterborough
United FC:
London Road, Peterborough, PE2 8AL
Tel: (01733) 563947
Official
website
History: Formed in 1934, two years after the collapse of
the old Peterborough and Fletton Utd club. The club nickname though
survived from the 1920s, coined by a manager who was looking for
"posh players for a posh team." Played in Midland League before
election to Football League in 1960. Beat Arsenal in FA Cup in 1965
before losing in quarter finals to Chelsea. Demoted in 1968 for
illegal payements to players for FA Cup tie v Sunderland - and they
lost 7-1.
Record Attendance: 30,096 v Swansea T, FA Cup, 20 Feb 1965.
Ground: London Road
Capacity: 15,314
Honours: Division 4 champions 1960/61, 1973/74. Play-off
winners Div 3, 2000 and Div 2 1991/92.
Record
victory: 9-1 v Barnet (A), Div 3, 5th Sept 1998.
Defeat: 1-8 v Northampton T, FA Cup, 18 Dec 1946.
Last season: 10th
Nickname: The Posh.
Colours: Blue.
Player-manager: Darren Ferguson
Chairman: Darragh MacAnthony
Players in: Liam Hatch (Barnet, £150,000), Scott Mitchell,
Joe Lewis (Norwich), Tom Williams (Wycombe,
loan), Claude Gnakpa (Swindon), Rene Howe (Kettering),
Kieran Charnock (Northwich Vic)
Players out: Shwan Jalal (Morecambe, loan), Guy Branston
(Rochdale, loan), Justin Richards (Kidderminster), Richard Butcher
(Notts Co)
Famous fans/players/connections: Dr Brian Mahwinney (fan,
also Football League chairman), Adrian Durham (fan, TalkSport presenter),
Derek Dougan, Vic Crowe, Eric Steele, Billy McEwan, Fred Barber,
Simon Davies (players). Noel Cantwell and Barry Fry (managers).
Click for Streetmap
of ground or there's also a city
centre map |
Anything worth
adding? Please e-mail us
any suggestions.
Back to index page
Leave the A1, signs for Leicester/Peterborough
N A47. Turn onto the A47 as far as junction 15 (the football club
and city centre signposted). Turn right at the roundabout alng the
A1260 Nene Parkway. A mile onwards, take the road signposted Nene
Park and Orton Longueville. Turn left at the Gordon Arms onto the
A605 Oundle Road. The football club parking is 1.5m on the left -
there were plenty of spaces on the afternoon we were there. Parking:
Fair Meadow carpark, entrance next to the Cherry Tree pub in Oundle
Road - £2 charge; limited street parking.
Clover Cars Tel: 01733 555584
.
Peterborough Cars Tel: 01733 704444
City Cabs Tel: 01733 311313
Darlington
FC Supporters' Club
Coach 10.45am,
£17. Contact: 01325 243911. See Darlington
Supporters' Club
The Cambridgeshire Police also provide a guide for visiting fans, especially those travelling by coach.
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Trains: Basically, just
under a mile to walk from the station, right along the A13 Bourges Boulevard,
passing Asda on the right, through the city centre - over the River Nene
bridge and the ground is on the left. GNER provides services back to Darlo
and London, but you're cutting it fine, unless you leave a little early,
for other places.
Darlington (Train times UPDATED February 2008)
1001-arr 11.48. Rtn: 17.46-arr 1926. Fares: Saver return £70,
advance returns from £36 subject to availability.
London Kings Cross 09.36-arr 11.05, rtn 17.36
arr 18.28. Cheapday return: £20.20., saver return: £24.60
Birmingham New Street 09.13 (Leicester, 1100) 11.14 arr 12.14;
rtn 17.54 (Leicester 18.50) 19.10 arr 19.57. Saver return £27.30.
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There's a good tourism site
run by the local council. Tourist Information Centre, 01733 452336
Peterborough can boast an eye-catching cathedral but is pretty drab for
shops. Best-selling author Mark Haddon has set his new novel in the city
but caused a local stir when he called it "horrible..and not in a funny
way, just a bad way." And he comes from Northampton. Posh fan and Talk
Sport presenter Adrian Durham charitably added: "It's full of small-minded
people who don't understand how cut off from civilisation it is. I'd rather
live in Beirut than go back." It's at the end of the London corridor,
with little faux-Cockney charm. And the end of a corridor can be a very
dark and lonely places.
Spoilt for choice for
real ale here and all within close proximity to station, ground
and city centre. The Stedders' guide quite rightly puts Posh top
of the League Two table for real ale. The biggest problem is fitting
it all in...
Real ale:
Charters
Town Bride (on the river).This is a converted Dutch
barge situated by the town bridge - a few hundred yards from the ground,
open from 12 noon.
Usually about 12 real ales on tap - including a
good range from local prize-winning brewery Oakham - and some excellent
grub. Also has balcony restaurant & large garden. Winner of many CAMRA
awards. Colours not encouraged, predominantly a home pub, admission by discretion. DAFTS recommended. 
DAFTS enjoy the beer festival at Coalheavers - and later a 4-1 win - in September 2006.
Coalheavers, 5 Park Street, PE2 9BH
Another real ale choice - and as if by magic, there's a beer festival
on at this pub to coincide with our visit for the second year in
a row! Open from 12 noon. As well as ales - normally 10 on - there
is real cider and a great range of bottled beers. Also a no music,
pool and fruit machine policy - bliss! Click
for streetmap. To find it, walk past the ground and take the
right hand fork of the main road, and Park Street is on the right.
DAFTS recommended.
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 Near
Ground/real ale:
Palmerston Arms 82 Oundle Road
About 10 mins walk from the ground and a couple of minutes from
The Cherry Tree. A Batemans' pub but had 10 beers and two ciders
on our visit - no lager as they don't have any keg products in the
pub though they're considering kreik beer. In the bar you see the
pub clips on the edge of the bar - the landlord goes through to
the back to serve them by gravity straight from the barrel. Open
from 12pm. Nice pork pies, scratchings and rolls for food. A friendly
welcome too. DAFTS recommended.
Near
Ground/other:
The Cherry Tree, Oundle Road Small traditional pub with
wooden flooring, near the ground and popular with football fans. Hot meals
available. Away supporters welcomed and there is parking (see above). Streetmap DAFTS recommended
The Peacock, London Road. Traditional family pub with lounge and public
bar. Two pool tables and a TV. Open all day. The Office. Respectable fans allowed into this friendly pub with
families' welcome. Open all day.
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| Real ale/city centre:
Bogarts, 17 North Street
(off Westgate, opp Westgate House carpark) As recommended
by the London Millers and not a bad starting point as it opens at
11am - or near enough on our visit. Up to six ales on tap, including
Everards. It won't win any awards for comfort or decor but the ales
are there. A short stroll from the station, as you walk into the city
centre. Meals at lunchtime only. Click
for streetmap
Brewery
Tap, 80 Westgate (NW corner of Queensgate Shopping centre)
Apparently the largest brew pub in Europe and the Oakham Brewery
is visible through a glass wall. A huge barn of a pub, but comfortable
- especially if you get a sofa. Up to nine real ales. Thai food
served in bar or mezzanine restaurant. Open from 12 noon. Well worth
a visit, pre or post-match, if time. DAFTS recommended.
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The mobile burger stall on the corner of the ground's car park is
still
popular before and after a game. Outside the ground on London Road,
is a
row of fast food favourites with Papa Luigi Dial a Pizza popular with
supporters. Established in Peterborough in 1983, be sure to pop in on
matchdays and take advantage of a pizza slice and fries for £2.50.
Otherwise, these succulent freshly baked pizza's are available on
takeaway at half price. Also on London Road is KFC and Turkish
Delight
which both offer good food and reasonable prices.
In the city centre you'll find the usual burger chains - including
the rare treat of a Wimpy in Westgate - Subway, the Cornish Pasty
shop, with street tables if the weather's fine.
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