This week heralded one of the most anticipated dates on the English sporting calendar — and there wasn’t even a single fixture played. Of course, I’m referring to the release of the football fixtures for the next season, which will come around in August. Every fan at each club, no matter what the disappointments of the previous campaign, will rush to see what hurdles lie ahead as a hoped for new dawn beckons in every respective case.
Usually, this will mean seeing who awaits on the opening day, when any derby clashes are scheduled, what’s in store on Boxing Day and who rounds things off on the final day — home or away when something important could be resting on the outcome. For Blackburn Rovers, the fixtures have bestowed an opening day home fixture against newly-relegated Norwich City. Boxing Day has delivered a trip to Barnsley which should make for fine trans-Pennine trek for those driving to South Yorkshire from Blackburn. New Year will see a first footing from a healthy contingent of Geordies with Newcastle United at Ewood on January 2. The season will sign off with an outing at the compact West London abode of Brentford,. This is always a popular destination thanks to the numerous pubs dotted about the vicinity of Griffin Park. There used to a pub on each corner of the ground. Not sure if one has disappeared now. And it’s all good fun to browse through the other fixtures and take dates in — even form 12,000 miles away.
In a new innovation, the cashed-up, hyped-up Premier League has already released its fixtures separately, a week earlier. That’s another sign of the EPL’s growing swagger and seemingly condescending outlook towards its cousins in the lower tiers. But there are some big names in the Championship. Clubs with real tradition and pedigree now that Aston Villa and Newcastle United have been forced to sample life at a level below their assumed station.
An amusing aside last week saw a Bristol City fan-related piece assessing the merits of various away trips for the coming season. Unfairly or not, they rated a visit to Huddersfield Town as the least attractive away day from their West Country starting point. My own recollections of visits to Huddersfield can only be based on two treks way back in the early 1970s. When Rovers enjoyed prolonged Premier League status, our paths did not cross often. Back in the days of yore the Terriers were based at their old Leeds Road ground. I recall a windy open end for the away fans and a couple of welcoming pubs pre-game. But that is all ancient history now with Town having been established since 1994 in their multi-purpose ground which seems to change its name to whoever the sponsor is. It is a venue I have never experienced. Huddersfield fans got their own back by suggesting the Bristol jibe might be a “kettle and pot black” situation and listed their five top grounds for the coming season. Surprise, surprise — Newcastle and Villa were included along with Leeds United, for a derby experience, Brentford (the clusters of nearby pubs) and Brighton.
Again, oddly at the end of last season the Newcastle fans’ forum The Mag had a dig at Villa fans for gloating at the Toon joining them in the Championship soon. “At least we have an attractive ground and city which visiting fans can enjoy,” was the claim. That’s true. The ground is virtually in the city which is packed with pubs which are packed with fans. The craic in Rosies before and after games with my Geordie chums Chris Baines, Ged Clarke, Simon Malia and Mick Ramsey used to be stirring occasions. The only drawbacks for me were twofold. In all my visits watching Rovers — both as fan or as reporter in the old press box — I have never seen us win. And the view from the elevated away section on the Leazes End means you may as well be watching from Everest. The players are the size of ants. On my last trip, another defeat, we tapped into Ivan Hickmott’s Tyneside links to procure a seat in the home ranks. Rovers did not give us much to shout about so me and Ivan were quite safe in our incognito status.
But the Toon publication’s slight on Villa Park is wide of the mark. The ground may not have a scenic approach, being in the shadow of Spaghetti Junction, but it is expansive and impressive from the away end when visiting fans were housed in the North Stand seats. And there is a hidden gem of a pub called the Bartons Arms about 15 minutes walk away near the A34 on High Street Aston. This hostelry was cannily discovered by Mick Eddleston, Ian Neville and their former away day group. It is positively ornate and spacious inside and has copious real ales on tap. Plus the kitchen serves wonderful Thai cuisine. I have experienced both wins and losses at Villa. Notable victories were the 4-0 rout featuring a Chris Sutton hat-trick in August 1997 and a 4-1 FA Cup romp with Matt Jansen briefly back on the scene in January 2003.
It looks like those two fallen giants will be high on every everyone’s wish-list to visit. But there are plenty of other enticing days out in a Division that houses some grand names from English football’s rich tapestry. And of course new kids on the block, Burton Albion. Happy travels to those fans back in Blighty.
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