| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers 19:38 - Jan 6 with 6534 views | IFK_Helsinki |
Hello from Finland!
Me and my son are coming to Manchester for the weekend in February. My son asked for his tenth birthday present a trip to a premier league game. So, we have tickets to see man city against Swansea on the 5 of Febuary. Now, I’m a supporter (and my son) of a small team from Helsinki that played for 42 years in the lower leagues after being relegated from the Finnish top flight in 1972. (I was born in 1973). We were promoted in 2015 to the Finnish premier league and have now survived for two seasons. Obviously, we have no money and will probably be relegated next season. I have been supporting a small club all my life and can`t say that I feel comfortable taking my son to man city and spending a fortune at the megasuperstore.
I hope Rochdale fans understand what I’m trying to say. I hope my son can see that there are more to football than the premier league and if you support a smaller club you won`t probably win as much, but you might feel part of the whole thing and enjoy yourself more. The most popular football club in Finland is Liverpool, closely followed by the other premier league giants. The local Finnish clubs are seen by most Finish kids as indifferent. Maybe I (and Rochdale) can show my son it`s not all about the mancitys and uniteds in this world. Would be very grateful if somebody would take a couple of minutes and answer my questions so we can make the most of our day out at your club.
So here come the questions:
If we take the Metrolink to Rochdale Town centre, is there some bus to the ground? How long is the walk to the ground from Rochdale town centre? What do you recommend we do before the game? Is there some pub where Rochdale supporters have a drink and something to eat or should we go straight to the ground? According to the Rochdale website there is a supporter’s bar at the ground. Any advice or ideas are welcome. Which stand would you recommend? Anything that helps.
Good luck and keep the faith.
Cheers Johan
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| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 20:07 - Jan 6 with 5242 views | SuddenLad |
Johan,
Welcome. I think every Dale supporter will understand what you are trying to say !
I would say your best bet would be to arrive in Rochdale on the Metrolink, try a couple of beers in the Regal Moon pub, which is more or less where the tram ends.
There is a terrific fish and chip shop right outside the ground and the pub at the ground is well worth a vist.
From our town centreit is a good 25 minute walk to the ground, or a 5 minute taxi ride. Taxis are plentiful and there is a taxi rank right outside the Regal Moon pub.
Whatever you choose to do, you will be very welcome at Spotland and you have made a fantastic choice. Enjoy it. ! |  |
| “It is easier to fool people, than to convince them that they have been fooled†|
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| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 20:10 - Jan 6 with 5225 views | boromat |
Hello,
You can get the metro but the train is quicker. And both end up close to the centre of the town. The ground is a good 30 minute walk which doesn't mind me but a taxi doesn't cost much if the weather is bad. Not sure of the bus options.
Plenty of pubs in the town. And there are three pubs on the ground itself. I'm sure others can recommend specific pubs.
The three home stands are the sandy lane end this is a terrace so all standing it's also the smallest and cheapest but has a good atmosphere and makes a bit of noise behind one goal. The main stand is the best view for home fans along one side of the pitch and is all seated. The pearl street stand is behind the other goal, is all seated and like the sandy it does make some noise.
The very best view is actually the away stand but you didn't hear that from me :-). | |
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| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 20:39 - Jan 6 with 5133 views | dalelee |
Johan, the train is quicker and I don't think there is any difference in cost to the metrolink.
I echo what fellow posters have said.
If you have plenty of time the walk is about 30 mins although in Feb we could have any type of weather so taxi is an option from the station. A trip into the town centre the regal moon (wetherspoons) is recommended as is the flying horse and the baum but I imagine you won't want to spend too long in pubs with your son!
If you do visit I would love to hear your review and how your son compares Spotland to The Etihad! And spend some money on our club shop, we need the money more than Manchester City. [Post edited 6 Jan 2017 21:24]
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| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 20:52 - Jan 6 with 5078 views | Yorkshire_Dale |
| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 20:39 - Jan 6 by dalelee |
Johan, the train is quicker and I don't think there is any difference in cost to the metrolink.
I echo what fellow posters have said.
If you have plenty of time the walk is about 30 mins although in Feb we could have any type of weather so taxi is an option from the station. A trip into the town centre the regal moon (wetherspoons) is recommended as is the flying horse and the baum but I imagine you won't want to spend too long in pubs with your son!
If you do visit I would love to hear your review and how your son compares Spotland to The Etihad! And spend some money on our club shop, we need the money more than Manchester City. [Post edited 6 Jan 2017 21:24]
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I love this Brexit lark.....we are getting fans from all over Europe coming to San Spotty right now.
You and your family are welcome too, Johan.
I hope you get hooked on us! | | | |
| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 21:08 - Jan 6 with 5014 views | DaleiLama |
Nice one Johan. You will find the people of the town and the club extremely friendly and I hope you have a great visit and see a really good game. I'm sure you'll get lots of great advice from townsfolk about your trip but may I suggest you copy and paste your post into an e-mail and send it to our sales and marketing manager - contact details as follows: Frances Feilding (she is a lady) frances@rochdaleafc.co.uk or telephone +44 1706 753581. She may offer to do something to make your visit a little more special for your son - could be a nice goodwill marketing opportunity :-) i hope so! [Post edited 6 Jan 2017 21:11]
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| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 21:14 - Jan 6 with 4977 views | R17ALE |
"I hope Rochdale fans understand what I’m trying to say."
Absolutely!
Your English is better than that of many English born people!
Enjoy your trip. |  |
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| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 21:44 - Jan 6 with 4845 views | boromat |
Another thing you could organise for your son through frances or by phoning the club is a shout out over the tannoys at half time something like welcome to Spotland to such a person visiting for the first time from Finland. Heard that done before along with the birthday announcements. | |
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| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 21:50 - Jan 6 with 4814 views | TVOS1907 |
| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 21:44 - Jan 6 by boromat |
Another thing you could organise for your son through frances or by phoning the club is a shout out over the tannoys at half time something like welcome to Spotland to such a person visiting for the first time from Finland. Heard that done before along with the birthday announcements. |
You could also send something to rochdale_programme@hotmail.com for insertion in the matchday programme. |  |
| When I was your age, I used to enjoy the odd game of tennis. Or was it golf? |
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| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 22:18 - Jan 6 with 4726 views | Swissdale |
Hello from Rochdale!
Great to hear you will be visiting spotland, and trying to teach your lad about what being a proper football fan is all about.
i would recommend the Baum in the town centre, good food, good beer, less drunks, and probably the closest experience to a traditional English pub.
For the match I'd get a main stand ticket with lounge access (will be around £27 for you and maybe £15 for your son). It's a little more expensive, but your son will get to meet and take pictures with some of the players after the match (where they present the man of the match award). |  | | |
| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 22:30 - Jan 6 with 4685 views | R17ALE |
| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 22:18 - Jan 6 by Swissdale |
Hello from Rochdale!
Great to hear you will be visiting spotland, and trying to teach your lad about what being a proper football fan is all about.
i would recommend the Baum in the town centre, good food, good beer, less drunks, and probably the closest experience to a traditional English pub.
For the match I'd get a main stand ticket with lounge access (will be around £27 for you and maybe £15 for your son). It's a little more expensive, but your son will get to meet and take pictures with some of the players after the match (where they present the man of the match award). |
Swiss Dale is right Johan, but if you want the complete opposite experience to City ignore his ground advice!
For total contrast, stand up on the Sandy Lane Terrace where you are so close to the action you can smell the deep heat/Ralgex? on the players, and see the sweat on their faces.
At City, you can barely make out the numbers on the shirts.
I don't know if they have terracing in Finland, but it's a very English thing I'd say.
I suspect your lad and you will have your eyes opened by how the other half live! | |
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| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 10:14 - Jan 7 with 4442 views | mingthemerciless |
The Baum's the stand out drinkers pub in town. The Regal Moon is cheap and cheerful and will give you a good indication of life in modern day Rochdale. For good or ill. | | | |
| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 10:45 - Jan 7 with 4393 views | BigDaveMyCock |
Johan, I've personal messaged you. I travel from Manchester on match days. | |
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| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 11:16 - Jan 7 with 4331 views | Billie |
| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 20:52 - Jan 6 by Yorkshire_Dale |
I love this Brexit lark.....we are getting fans from all over Europe coming to San Spotty right now.
You and your family are welcome too, Johan.
I hope you get hooked on us! |
Brexit is neither a lark nor fook all to do with the OP. | | | |
| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 13:36 - Jan 7 with 4205 views | 1949er |
Dear Johan, the Sandy Lane end is good for atmosphere, but your son is likely to learn some Anglo Saxon expleteiives. | |
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| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 14:37 - Jan 7 with 4100 views | 1mark1 |
| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 22:18 - Jan 6 by Swissdale |
Hello from Rochdale!
Great to hear you will be visiting spotland, and trying to teach your lad about what being a proper football fan is all about.
i would recommend the Baum in the town centre, good food, good beer, less drunks, and probably the closest experience to a traditional English pub.
For the match I'd get a main stand ticket with lounge access (will be around £27 for you and maybe £15 for your son). It's a little more expensive, but your son will get to meet and take pictures with some of the players after the match (where they present the man of the match award). |
I would say that the Flying Horse is a fine traditional English Pub, not just close to one like the Baum, and in my opinion the best Pub in Rochdale. My recommendation would be, go to the Flying Horse with your son, then straight to the ground, possibly going into the Radcliffe on the ground, with a cheap taxi costing only about £4 .
As for the match itself, depends if you prefer standing or sitting. If sitting Pearl Street is better for atmosphere, Main Stand if you want to be able to meet players and enjoy hospitality etc. |  |
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| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 15:08 - Jan 7 with 4030 views | D_Alien |
| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 14:37 - Jan 7 by 1mark1 |
I would say that the Flying Horse is a fine traditional English Pub, not just close to one like the Baum, and in my opinion the best Pub in Rochdale. My recommendation would be, go to the Flying Horse with your son, then straight to the ground, possibly going into the Radcliffe on the ground, with a cheap taxi costing only about £4 .
As for the match itself, depends if you prefer standing or sitting. If sitting Pearl Street is better for atmosphere, Main Stand if you want to be able to meet players and enjoy hospitality etc. |
Agree about the Flying Horse, much better value than the overpriced ale at the Baum, plus the Baum would be a right faff to get to (especially if time limited on a matchday) if you weren't familiar with the area
[Post edited 7 Jan 2017 15:16]
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| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 15:17 - Jan 7 with 4002 views | 1mark1 |
| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 15:08 - Jan 7 by D_Alien |
Agree about the Flying Horse, much better value than the overpriced ale at the Baum, plus the Baum would be a right faff to get to (especially if time limited on a matchday) if you weren't familiar with the area
[Post edited 7 Jan 2017 15:16]
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Agree. Much easier to get to FH, and it's better value. | |
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| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 05:57 - Jan 9 with 3800 views | aleanddale |
| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 15:17 - Jan 7 by 1mark1 |
Agree. Much easier to get to FH, and it's better value. |
Easy pay on day - flying Horse a treat boozer for real ale.. | | | |
| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 08:42 - Jan 9 with 3729 views | mingthemerciless |
I wonder why " The Baum " won Camra national pub of the year not so long ago ?
I go in " The Flyer " quite often given it's the pub Hornets use for meetings/events etc. I think Ben's done a great job at " The Flyer " but there's something about the pub that I just can't take to, I can't really put my finger on it but I never really feel comfortable in there.
My beef with " The Baum " is the booking of tables for food. It's difficult to get a seat sometimes, especially at weekends. | | | |
| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 09:20 - Jan 9 with 3664 views | aleanddale |
| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 08:42 - Jan 9 by mingthemerciless |
I wonder why " The Baum " won Camra national pub of the year not so long ago ?
I go in " The Flyer " quite often given it's the pub Hornets use for meetings/events etc. I think Ben's done a great job at " The Flyer " but there's something about the pub that I just can't take to, I can't really put my finger on it but I never really feel comfortable in there.
My beef with " The Baum " is the booking of tables for food. It's difficult to get a seat sometimes, especially at weekends. |
I like both and Simon ( Baum / Healey ) and Ben ( FH ) both do great jobs.
All three are different all three have pros / cons.
I like the fact the flying horse focuses on all local beers within a small radius of the town. Had several pints of Citra when last in there and it was like slurping nectar!!
Both give great boozing options in the town centre. | | | |
| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 10:24 - Jan 9 with 3592 views | CockneyDale |
| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 09:20 - Jan 9 by aleanddale |
I like both and Simon ( Baum / Healey ) and Ben ( FH ) both do great jobs.
All three are different all three have pros / cons.
I like the fact the flying horse focuses on all local beers within a small radius of the town. Had several pints of Citra when last in there and it was like slurping nectar!!
Both give great boozing options in the town centre. |
As your son is ten he may find the low view from the Sandy problematic. The view from the Pearl Street or Main stands may be easier for him (while perhaps less of the same banter around him). Welcome to Rochdale - spread the word! |  | | |
| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 17:27 - Jan 9 with 3385 views | follon |
Hello and welcome to the Dale. If you take the train, walk out of the door and head straight down the road towards first set of Traffic lights, turn left and walk 50 meters to the Nelson Pub £2.20 a pint of lager. Real Rochdale pub with both white and Asian customers. Taxi from the Nellie to the ground £4.
Enjoy | | | |
| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 18:10 - Jan 9 with 3302 views | TipperaryDale |
Nelson! We're trying to impress him not send him scuttling back to the next train. |  | | |
| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 18:22 - Jan 9 with 3266 views | dalefan |
Hi Johan, what's the name of the team you support in Finland | | | |
| Rochdale - Bristol Rovers on 18:40 - Jan 9 with 3225 views | IFK_Helsinki |
Thanks for all the replays. Much appreciated.
We will be escorted to the game by an exiled Dale fan. He was kind enough to offer to travel with us to ground from central Manchester. Much appreciated. So, we will see you all at the game and we might even have a pre-match pint at one of the pubs in town. Feel free to come and say hello if you see some strange looking foreigners.
I will write a report of our journey when we come home. | | | |
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