The pre-game prospects look grim for Norwood supporters travelling to Sunday’s SANFL encounter with North Adelaide. And that’s purely because the clash is in Prospect. Usually part of the whole experience of any sporting occasion is pre-event banter and post-result commiserations or euphoria. Even after a horse racing meeting you can celebrate your winnings or bemoan your ill luck at the hands of the bookies. And what better venue for discussion and debate than the inner sanctum of a nearby public house. This is where the problem arises for visiting Redlegs fans in Prospect. Where are the pubs? Unlike the rest of the city, Main North Road seems bereft of hostelries. It’s a barren, endless thoroughfare of fast moving traffic hurtling past car yards and mega-fast food outlets. A real road to nowhere. Well, no, it can take you to the Barossa Valley. And you will probably need a wine or two after that trek. The problem persists with Prospect. The only imbibing options appear to be the Windmill Hotel or the Northern Tavern. This minor social hurdle has been handled before and it will be resolved again. So the revamped Windmill Hotel looks to be the answer. But why is there this hassle to begin with? I was told that the reason extends way back to about 80 years ago and a local council dispute about building pubs in the vicinity. Someone else mentioned that it was a Methodist plot from another past era. If this is so, history needs to be overturned for the poor denizens who have to live in Prospect, never mind parched Norwood supporters. Pubs should be the heart and soul of a living, breathing community… not put on the banned list. With this is mind, I must also issue a pre-game apology to Preston North End followers back in Blighty arriving ahead of Saturday’s derby against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. This fixture hasn’t been on the League agenda for 15 years because Rovers have held loftier status during that period. But it’s time for the old Lancashire rivals to sort things out again after Rovers won the Deepdale encounter 2-1 earlier in the season. PNE diehards are not the same breed as the claret and blue hillbillies from Burnley and the Yorkshire corridor beyond, so unlike those heathens, they have not had their ticket allocation limited. That means 7000 of them will them will be travelling along the A59 and A677 or by train for the first time in yonks. It’s a 12.30pm kick-off so there won’t be much time for beers. But a word of warning: Blackburn town centre and the Ewood environs are not what they were. In other words, there are no pubs. Well, not literally, but there are numerous boarded-up remnants of many which is harsh evidence of better, more prosperous times gone by. I thank my lucky stars I was a teenager of the 1970s when Blackburn was abuzz with hostelries and the craic in general. So to my old Daily Telegraph chum Pete Bainbridge and any of his Preston pals heading there, it might be best to do some pub homework beforehand. Before this all becomes too depressing, a step in the other direction means salutations for Greenock in the Barossa Valley. No such prohibition-type trials and tribulations there. An Easter break to visit Gabby Patching’s old mate Cathy McMillan in her new cottage meant a hearty and genuine country welcome from all and sundry including those at the Greenock Creek Tavern, the Kallensky winery and, last but not least, Chris and Lisa Higgins at the Greenock Beers Brewery. The hospitality in all these venues positively overflows. Nowhere better than the Brewery, which as an unexpected bonus was even open for samplings on Good Friday, a traditionally awful day for atheist lovers of alcohol. As Chris said to Macca about the decision to open: “Where else are you gonna get a drink on Good Friday?” On the tasting menu are Victorville Pale Ale, Bunawunda Blonde and Greenock Dark Ale. At $5 per pop, each brewed next door, it’s great value. They each slide down well but the Dark was my particular fave. A case is currently being saved, after purchase, for winter days. The Brewery is hoping to expand its outlets but in the meantime the fruits of their labours can also be bought over the bar down the hill at the tavern. So raise a glass to Greenock — thirsty Norwood and Preston North End fans would love to.
thedaverosecolumn 