Away Travel: Droylsden 5th April
DROYLSDEN
Saturday 5th April 2008, Kick-Off: 3.00pm
Droylsden FC, The Butchers Arms, Market Street, Droylsden, M43 7AW. Tel: 01613 701426
Directions by Car: Leave the M60 at Junction 23 and take the A635 towards Manchester. After passing a retail park on the left (including a McDonald's), turn right at the next set of traffic lights onto the A662 - Droylsden Road. On reaching the centre of Droylsden, turn right at the lights (before the road becomes Manchester Road), into Market Street, where the ground - The Butchers Arms - may be found on the left.
Parking: There is no parking at the ground, but you should find plenty in nearby streets.
Train: The nearest station is Fairfield (an 'unmanned' station), with services running hourly from Manchester Piccadilly. From the station, The Butchers Arms is a 10-15 minute walk; turn right and along Booth Road until you reach Manchester Road. Turn right and continue until the junction at the Fairfield Arms pub. Turn left into Ashton Hill Lane and ramble onwards, over the canal until the end of the road. Turn right into Market Street, and follow it over the main road. The ground is located a little further along to the left.
Alternatively, take the '216' bus from Manchester Piccadilly (outside the NatWest in Piccadilly), alighting the stop after the Tesco and turning left at the traffic lights. The journey should take around 20 minutes.
It is perhaps worth noting that Manchester City, whose City of Manchester home ground is nearby, are playing at home to Chelsea the same afternoon. In fact, the '216' bus runs past the stadium, so should you take this option, the journey may take a little longer.
The Away Travel Club will be running a coach, priced at £23 for non-members, £21 for members and £15 for Under 16's and Junior U's, leaving Ely at 8.15am and The Abbey at 9.00am. Contact the club on 01223 566500 to book your place.
Admission: Adults £12, Concessions £8, Under 16's £5. Special offer: CFU are providing free admission for the first 200 Under-16s and students through the special 'CFU' turnstile - details
Programme: £2
The Ground: The Butchers Arms, from photographic evidence, appears perfectly adequate. The grandstand is small but raised well above the playing surface. Part of the opposite side is taken up by a covered, terraced area, with the remainder open to the elements and not tiered. United fans are likely to be allocated the covered, terraced Car Park End, behind a goal, which offers ample facility for travelling fans.
Pre-Match Refreshment: The Phoenix (are you watching Peter Kay) Social Club at the ground usually admits away supporters, with home fans often afforded the top floor, and away fans the ground floor. The Butchers Arms pub is a stone's throw away, and a little further along the White Hart pub may be found. For supporters walking from Fairfield station, two pubs are passed along the way - the Fairfield Arms on the junction and the Lazy Toad. Both, we are assured, serve good food and cask ales.
Local attractions: Droylsden is a town, but part of Greater Manchester, four miles from the centre of the city. Unsurprisingly, as Manchester expanded and the population increased, Droylsden became a housing overflow area and, as such, is devoid of any great areas of interest, at least for the travelling football supporter.
Eric Stewart of the band, '10cc' hails from the area. He say, he don't like Droylsden, oh no, he love it. Additionally, Howard Donald of Take That fame was born in the town. A hotbed of musical talent if ever there was one. Could it be magic?
Henry Milward
