What a day made, the 450 mile round trip worthwhile. I was in one of the hospitality boxes, 3 of us guests of a Darlo supporter, and looking over to our supporters was a magnificent & wonderful sight. We couldn't subdue our enthusiasm and got some stick from a couple of their supporters in an adjoining box - made it even better. To be honest, on the whole I was impressed with the stadium & went on the heskylators.

You might be impressed but I wasn't....the pipes in the shithouses weren't made out of Gold!!!!

That must have been when George's creditors money ran out.

Bet your journey home was more pleasant than mine

Whereabouts do you live mate?

I'm in Saffron Walden in Essex not that far from Cambridge. In the last few weeks I've driven 1,550 miles to see just 4 games, 2 at the Vic, Darlo & Boston.

To Mr. Sarf - yes I'm sure my journey back was more enjoyable but if it helps I've had more than my share of miserable journeys back from the Vic as well Cardiff, Cheltenham, Bristol and so on. I must agree with others that Quakerz & your good self have been noble in defeat as were several other Darlo supporters I spoke to.

Cheers Hawk. The walsall home game took 7 hrs plus to get home after they closed the A1. About 12.30 am that one

I hate that A1

The A1 is great when it's open & running freely but many times, especially returning home it's closed. After we'd beaten Peterborough with a late goal (at the Vic) we were diverted through - you've guessed it, Peterborough & there's us with the Hartlepool scarf on prominent position in the back.
People must have thought I'd driven through there on purpose to rub it in.

I can use the M1, but then i have a 45 minute drive round the M25

One day i'll look at the plane option

I used to travel the A1 every home game from Worksop and when they were rebuilding the Doncaster/Pontefract/A64 motorway bit it was purgatory every weekend, I'd leave at 10.00 am to get up to Pools for the kick off, but it's a lot smoother now so maybe all the rubbish was worth it.

They're doing a lot of roadworks on the A1 by the Worksop roundabout. That roundabout means that I am half way there.

I've flown up to Manchester a couple of times for work from Stansted - half an hour flight for a road journey that would take over 3 hours - trouble was we still had to check in 2 hours before the flight.

You still had to check in 2 hours early, I thought it was only an hour for internal flights?

When we flew to Southampton the other year to go to the play off clinching game at Bournemouth we didn't check in until about 40 minutes before the take off

mainly because someone left the tickets at home

Read on the Walsaw board about their flight from Stansted to Newcastle then a train to Darlo (£7 i think they said for the train). Might check that option out one day when i have money

Yeah they're building a flyover, it'll be 18 months or so I'm afraid. I can't think of a quick way round it unless you go through Retford and Bawtry up towards Doncaster. Don't think it'd be quicker. You could nick off through Blyth about a mile further South and see how that goes but I bet everyone's at it.

Yes we went that way, Retford & Bawtry, going up for the Hereford game, mainly as the A1 was shut. Made for a change of scenery but I don't think it would be any quicker normally. Good journey on Sunday but then there was not much traffic and on the way back I could swear my car was floating on air.
Can't go on Friday so maybe I'll catch up with you in the chat room.

The 2 hour check in was during last year & may have been due to heightened security at the time, not sure. On the return from Manchester to Stansted everyone on the flight had to be digitally photographed - never had that before for a flight.