August 2026. Coventry. A decent break from pubs between Frome and my next Big Trip Out, which I used dreaming up alternative blog titles to “Sent to Coventry“. I’ve been struggling with the relentless driving of the last few years (never mind the 30,000 a year of the previous 20), so it’s back to Platform… Continue reading COVENTRY – BACK IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE (OF PUB CRAWLS)
Tag: Football
LOOKING FOR ROTHERHAM’S NEXT BEER GUIDE PREEMPTIVE AMONGST THE FAMILY DINING PUBS
July 2026. Rotherham. Mrs RM’s sports injury persisted into the new week, scuppering a restart of the Cask Camino. I said “I’m off” and took the tram down into Sheffield, and just kept riding on the Tram Train, like in a 10,000 Maniacs Cat Stevens song. Parkgate retail park marks the end of the Sheffield… Continue reading LOOKING FOR ROTHERHAM’S NEXT BEER GUIDE PREEMPTIVE AMONGST THE FAMILY DINING PUBS
THE WORLD CUP FINAL, TATER TOTS AND TEMPER TANTRUMS
July 2026. Sheffield. Back from Darlington and a disappointing Chinese takeaway (life lesson : never go back) I popped next door (ish) to see how many folk were going to watch the World Cup Final at our local. The Blind Monkey had decent crowds this last month for the England matches; I even heard people… Continue reading THE WORLD CUP FINAL, TATER TOTS AND TEMPER TANTRUMS
I AM JIM B’s TAXI
May 2026. Sheffield. While I was in zen mode back in 2022, focused only on completing the Beer Guide before family disaster/pandemic/ash cloud struck again, I’d have got irritated with anyone wanting to pop over to Sheffield to spend a Saturday revisiting good pubs. But now I’m delighted to entertain visitors, as long as they… Continue reading I AM JIM B’s TAXI
HELLO STOCKPORT, GOODBYE PEP
May 2026. Stockport. Back from Romania, we dashed off to Stockport the next morning to help Matt and Emma with their move from central Manchester (Emma’s Dad had already done the hard yards) to Heaton Norris. Just look at the stress on Matt’s face on the Magnet’s balcony; Yes, we turned up just in time… Continue reading HELLO STOCKPORT, GOODBYE PEP
STONES IN THE STAND. THE JOY OF WOMENS FOOTBALL
May 2026. Sheffield. I’m no glory-hunter. Not for me the trip to Crewe Alex to see Cambridge United promoted. I couldn’t get a ticket. I chose the last Saturday of the grass roots season to watch “Proper Football”. Bramall Lane, home of legends like, er, Eddie Colquhoun, where the modern day stars drive normal cars.… Continue reading STONES IN THE STAND. THE JOY OF WOMENS FOOTBALL
FLAT TRACK BULLIES
December 2025. Manchester. Normally I meet Matt in Manchester near Piccadilly before a City game, but last Saturday I just fancied getting to the Etihad early and jumped off at Ashbury’s. Note, map above, the astonishing number of sports stadia in East Manchester, a legacy of the Commonwealth Games of 2002 and the totally above… Continue reading FLAT TRACK BULLIES
GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY v MACCLESFIELD – ROBBIE SAVAGE’S WHITE COAT
January 2025. Gainsborough. Another month, another dose of non-league football, the perfect respite from the grind of funeral planning and powers of attorney. Non-league comes in many forms, of course, from the 7th tier semi-pros of Hastings and Macclesfield to the amateurs of Manchester City, whose season ticket prices my occasional seat at the Etihad… Continue reading GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY v MACCLESFIELD – ROBBIE SAVAGE’S WHITE COAT
LOW KEY BUT LUSH. ASHFORD’S CRAFT BAR
November 2024. Ashford. Two (2) successive posts about Kent’s most beleaguered town (blimey, even Rainham is better these days), can Paul Bailey and I make Ashford the new beer destination ? Well, no, obviously not, but the Spoons is half decent, the flashy Curious Brewery by the station is plain curious, and that GBG sports… Continue reading LOW KEY BUT LUSH. ASHFORD’S CRAFT BAR
WEDNESDAY ON A TUESDAY
March 2024. Hillsborough. Americans may not be aware that there are two (2) sorts of football (“soccer” if you must). There’s the game played by Manchester City, Luton Town, and whoever else is in the Premier League these days, and another version known as “grassroots football” played by everyone else without access to the miracle… Continue reading WEDNESDAY ON A TUESDAY
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