(Barely) Alive and Kicking

A very relaxed journey north today - Chris was travelling with us but a late addition to the trip was his fiancee, Suzy, so they'd got seats together in coach G rather than sit with us in coach F. The good thing was this meant there were no arguments about Big Bad Baldy Bazza Conlon.

Instead Martin could get on with his pools selection -aided by his pile of out-of-date newspapers - whilst I listened in to the podcasts of comic duo, Trevor and Simon, which I'd recently come across.

(left) The gang in the Quaker

Although the pair - known for swinging their pants and not doing duvets - were thought of as kids entertainers on Saturday morning TV, I'd always liked them. Far too good for children.

Suitably amused, we arrived slightly early at Bank Top which meant I was pastried up and in the QuakerHouse before the town clock had struck 11:30am.

Beers on today included: Oakleaf Bitter and Pompey Royal from the Oakleaf Brewery, Bread of Heaven from Brains, Manx Pride from Bushy's, Matchlock Mild and Brickdust from Martson Moor, Odins Raven and Dual Hop from Rudgate plus a golden ale from Atlas.

And on parade today were Trevor, John W, Bev, Tony and John B. The latter was here against his better judgment - his back was playing up but he came in the belief that the pain of the game would mask that of his ailing back. You really shouldn't jest about such things.

Of the beers, the one from the Atlas bewery plus the Dual Hop, Matchlock Mild, Brickdust and the Manx Pride all impressed.

Also impressed was my old chum, Ken the ticker from Durham - who I'd meet a few weeks ago in the Newcastle Arms - he was making a rare foray to the Quaker and was delighted as he'd get five ticks from the selection today. That's pretty darn good in the ticking world.

In Number Twenty-2, in addition to the usual suspects there were a few other decent ales: Monty's Firkin from the Magpie Brewery, Decade from the York Brewery and Warlock Stout from Houston.

(right) A pint of stout separates John and Trev

The stout was very good - one of the best Iwe've had recently and worthy of more time but before we knew it our taxis had arrived.

One of the first aspects of today's game that was just a bit worrying was the referee - we never seem to do well when we have the diminutive Mr Mathieson in charge and he's certainly been on the end of some of my more sweary shouts in the past.

But today he didn't really put a foot wrong - unlike Darlo.

And it didn't take long to all go wrong - after just ten minutes Darlo allowed Torquay two attempts at goal following a corner and the ball was knocked past Redmond through a fairly static back line.

And that was it - the remainder of the half was a very grim affair - it was clear that Torquay were as poor as we were and it was not pleasant to watch. Alan White received a long, drawn-out talking to from the ref but did not produce a card which surprised most of us.

Then just as we were looking forward to the half-time break, Torquay doubled their lead somewhat fortuitously - the Torquay man evaded our defence fairly easily but his shot dribbled in. It was one of those days - we seem to have more than our fair share of such days.

The second half brought some hope of improvement after Curtis Main (sponsored by the Capital Quakers of course) was given an open goal - in fact the chance was so easy it seemed to take him by surprise before he reacted and stabbed it home.

But overall Main's performance was underwhelming and Guy Branston had probably the easiest afternoon for quite a few weeks. If Main put as much effort into fighting for the ball as he did moaning that he'd been man-handled then he might have got more out of the game.

My worry is that Curtis Main is not a natural striker - he has the nasty coloured boots befitting of a star forward but he seems to lack a battling desire to get to the ball first. Perhaps when he was a big lad amongst his peers a few years ago it was all too easy for him. I fear he is not the bright young star many hope he is (and I do hope I'm wrong). Tony W agrees - which must be a first for us both.

There was a respectable turnout of Torquay fans who were in good voice throughout - as you would expect if you're winning a long away from home.
There was no sign of their most famous fan, Helen Chamberlain, presenter and mainstay of Sky's Soccer AM.

However her absence won't prevent me from posting a picture of her and I at a Coca-Cola Football League PR event a few seasons ago.

(left) Torquay's fairest fan

Unfortunately in this shot I'm holding the wrong end of her but rest assured that I did originally start further up (if you know what I mean). She's a lovely lass - very genuine.

For some reason she thought I resembed Bomber from Auf Weidersen, Pet!

The Gulls fans were delirious when the final whistle blew - we were simply resigned to our fate. Not that we weren't already resigned to the drop but the manner of the last three defeats means that it looks like the players have given up too.

Trev and I trudged back to the station - always a depressing walk but even worse after a defeat - but at least all our trains were on time. Our train was full of Geordies full of their 6-1 defeat against Barnsley - the Tykes fans themselves were rather quiet, bemoaning the sending off of their keeper.

On arrival back in London I popped over to St Pancras and met up with Liz and Jenny in the Betjemans Arms for a few nightcaps and then it was time to wend our weary ways home...

Meet Me On The Corner

Originally I had intended to travel up for the game at Morecambe with a few southern-based DAFTS but I ducked out a couple of months ago when I found it clashed with a gig I wanted to see which is why I spent the weekend in Newcastle instead of the north-west.

I decided to travel up early on the Friday and take time re-visit some of my old haunts - I was at university there in the early 80s - and a brisk InterCity service saw me arrive at Central station before noon.

It was a bit early to check in at my hotel so I wandered over the Tyne Bridge to Gateshead and took in the massive redevelopments around the Quayside since my last visit in 2001 - the Sage and the Gateshead Millennium bridge amongst the most obvious ones but there has been a lot of other new buildings put up too.

However I was in search of something a bit older - a pub called the Central Bar which had been bought by the Head of Steam chain and is in the process of being given an expensive makeover. North-East CAMRA chum John Holland had suggested it was well worth seeing.

Unfortunately it is completely hidden behind scaffolding but click here to see what it looks like without the covering.

(left) Buffet bar at the Central Bar

Inside the pub has some wonderful original features - such as panelled walls and a wonderful old buffet bar which is not currently in use.

There are plans to open this bar and other rooms plus build a rooftop terrace.

The beer choice was decent too - and all in good nick - with a choice of Hop Back Crop Circle, Elgoods Copper Feelgood, Big Lamp Bitter and Harviestoun Bitter & Twisted.

The renovation still has a long way to go and it will probably be another six months before it is all complete but it promises to a small but significant step in the on-going regeneration of this part of Gateshead.

The next pub on my itinerary was an old favourite of mine - the Crown Posada on The Side, the road that weaves down to the Quayside from the centre of town.

In my time there in the 80s, it served Taylors Landlord and toasted curry sandwiches (albeit with sultanas in the curry - verboten!) - today the toasties are no longer on offer but the beer is still good and the food is now stotties with basic fillings.

(right) Crown Posada - note stain glass windows

For a Friday lunchtime, the pub is relatively quiet and I'm able to sit at the bar. My attempts to chat with the barman are in vain - not a chatty type. No jukebox either - just a Dansette-style record player and a load of 12" easy listening LPs.

Beers on offer include Lord Collingwood Festive Ale, brewed by local brewery Wylam to mark the 200th anniversary of the death of Admiral Lord Collingwood, who helped Nelson defeat the French at Trafalgar. I'll drink to that.

Also on offer were Mordue Workie Ticket, Black Sheep Bitter, Jarrow Bitter plus a couple from Hadrian and Border - Gladiator Bitter and the curiously named Are You Listening Gordon Heal?

Just as I was supping up, the tranquility was broken by a 22-strong stag party from Wales - all on bottles of Bud. Very boisterous but friendly - "Hello all! Oh look, it's Adam Jones! Legend!!".

They were referring to me, dear reader, and my alleged likeness to a hairy Welsh rugby international.

(left) A hairy man with a camera (photo © BBC)

I made a hasty but dignified exit and took the opportunity to check into my hotel before moving onto one of Newcastle's premier pubs for the casketeer - the Newcastle Arms - on the edge of Chinatown (which was never there in my day).

The Newcastle Arms was a pub we avoided years ago but today is highly regarded - and this weekend they've got a beer festival on. How's that for synchronicity?

There was the main bar with six pumps and then another six on temporary stillage and a whole host of beers that I'd not come across. Too many to list so I won't.

There was a healthy contingent of CAMRA folk, both from the local branch and further afield, with whom I had a good natter. There was also a plethora of tickers (or scratchers/scoopers) going through the beer list.

I came back here for another session on the Saturday lunchtime and met Ken, a ticker from Durham, who often used to popped into the Quaker House on a Saturday lunchtime. He was with a few other scoopers, all on halves of course. The staff will even get samples from beers still in the cellar for these lads (known as a cellar run) and you can see that it's appreciated.

Beer ticking has never interested me as such - I'm happy to drink new beers of course but won't record them save for mentioning them here (cos my memory is not what it was) - and the pursuit was the subject of a recent documentary.

I've yet to see it so don't know whether it puts them in a favourable light. They can be an easy target with their obsessiveness but they're a friendly bunch and some are even married!

I was very impressed with the Newcastle Arms - not just the beer, that's a given - but the management and staff were very friendly and although they don't food, they're happy for you to bring your own.

Little wonder then that it has been the top pub in Newcastle for three of the last four years (and runner-up when it didn't come top).

This particular day ended relatively early in the evening but in traditional style - I ordered a takeaway curry and had another quick pint in the Posada whilst waiting before returning to the hotel with my grub.

NB: For a useful guide to pubs and beers in Newcastle and the surrounding area, check out this site.

Late Update: The Newcastle Arms was bridesmaid again this year as it came second to the Bacchus which has just been named Newcastle CAMRA Pub of the Year 2010.

Up Hill, Down Dale

I popped along early to King's Cross to check that Martin caught his train to Leeds - he's just so disorganised when left to his own devices - before I headed over to Euston for a last visit for the season to the Double Six for breakfast and then on the 8am train to Manchester.

For once in my life, a Virgin train journey to Manchester actually went to schedule - arriving at Piccadilly in just over two hours - which meant I could get a train from Victoria so that I was in Rochdale by 11am. Why don't they always work like this?

(left) Rochdale Town Hall

The weather was all bright and beautiful, blue skies and lots of sun, so I took the slighty more scenic route into town via the park overlooking the town hall - not at all grim - and then wound my way through the shopping precinct to the delightfully named Toad Lane and our pre-match pub, the Baum.

The pub is right next door to the Rochdale Pioneers Museum which is based in the preserved original store from the early days of the Co-operative movement. But no time for culture today though.

The Baum was brought to my attention in Tandleman's beer blog - a great source for info on pubs in the Manchester area - and Liz took the London Millers there a few weeks ago when they were at Spotland. They enjoyed their visit so much it became their trip of the season.

Beers on offer included Holts Fifth Sense, Black Banjo Stout from local brewery Green Mill, Flowers IPA, Boggart Bogeyed and Phoenix Spotland Gold. I tried the latter two and both were nice, steady session ales in good condition and perfect for early lunchtime drinking.

Colin "I'll have an 'alf" Fletcher wasn't far behind in joining me there - he'd narrowly missed joining me at Victoria station - and predictably he went straight for a half of the stout.

The pub is quite similar to Number Twenty-2 in some respects - off the main circuit of town pubs and with probably a slightly older set of drinkers plus those who pop in for a coffee after visiting the museum next door.

Speaking to the manager though he said he'd had about 100 Port Vale fans dumped on them by the police before the last home game. Lucky Vale fans, less lucky for the bar staff.

(right) The Baum

We left the pub and headed up Spotland Road and just made it into our seats with seconds to spare before kick-off. A decent turnout of Darlo fans given the late re-arrangement of the fixture for television - I'm sure Martin wasn't the only one who lost money on non-refundable rail tickets but do Sky really give a toss?

There was action at both ends from the off - Rochdale first went close then Pavel Abbot was put through only to hit the ball straight at the keeper.

We didn't have to wait long for first blood though after a nice bit of interplay saw the ball bounce up nicely for Jason Kennedy who looped the ball over their keeper - an absolute scorcher. But had we peaked too early?

The goal stunned Rochdale - not just the players but the crowd who suddenly went very quiet and nervous. Darlo fans all know this sensation far too well because we've experienced it enough times at home games - freezing on the big occasion.

Thereafter Rochdale had the lion's share of possession but didn't make it tell - White and Miller dealt with most things thrown at us and when Dale did get through on goal they either blazed wide or made it relatively easy for Kazimierczak to save.

Darlo were no slouches though and had their own chances during the half - Abbot wasted a great chance to put Poole though on goal and Miller beat their keeper only to head wide - but it was Kennedy's goal that separated the teams at half-time.

Rochdale came out fighting in the second half and Darlo rarely got out of their half in the first ten minutes but we slowly came back into it a bit and looked dangerous on the break until we finally doubled our lead in the 65th minute.

From a partially cleared corner, captain Ricky Ravenhill headed the ball back into the box - from this Abbott looped his header against the post and a Dale defender knocked it into his own net while attempting to clear the ball.

Rochdale never really recovered from this - they huffed and puffed for the remainder of the half but Darlo more or less closed the defensive doors and ran down the clock.

A well-deserved victory through hard-work and team play.

(left) Colin and Martin in the Baum

We popped back into the Baum, dragging Martin with us, for a celebratory pint and to enjoy the moment - very sweet. We can be magnanimous in victory when we have to...

We then wandered back to the station and headed back into Manchester for a trawl of some of the pubs between Victoria and Piccadilly stations.

First point of call was the Smithfield Hotel - a veritable Mecca for tickers - where I had a pint of some hoppy Easter beer - I stopped paying too much attention at this point. It's a cheap and cheerful hotel reminiscent of the Dalesman - the bar is a bit rough and ready but it was full of folk ticking beers and watching the Villa-West Ham game. And with some small dogs in attendance, what more do you want?

From here it was just a short walk along Swan Street to the Crown and Kettle - a nice pub which has a very ornate ceiling of which only part has been renovated - some decent beers on tap as well. We had a pint here but as soon as the Arsenal-Chelsea FA Cup came on the TV we voted to move on.

Just over the road is Bar Fringe - it doesn't look the type of place to do real ale from the outside but they had four beers on tap when we were there - and a nice lively atmosphere. It's been described as an authentic recreation of an Amsterdam brown bar - hmm, not quite that but worth a visit all the same.

A pint was enough for us both at this point - Colin had already gone for his train home - and we soon followed in his footsteps to catch the 18:55 to Euston. Not surprisingly we were soon out for the count, waking in time for another on-time arrival.

A very good day out in all respects and for me, a great way to end the away trips for this season - good rail journey, great pubs and a great result.