Weekend up north

Thank heaven for Friday off work - I really needed it. Our plans were to drive up to Oldham to stay with friends Debs and Mick, who we normally meet pre-match when Spurs are playing at White Hart Lane. We left home at around 11am and it was plain sailing until a section of the A1 brought us to a stand still due to roadworks. After getting through that it was okay until the m62 when the sheer volume of traffic slowed us down to a maximum 10mph for about an hour. We finally reached our destination at 5:30; a ridiculous 5 and a half hours on the road. After a revitalising cuppa, we took the tour of Debs and Mick's new bungalow, had a chat and then called a taxi to take us to the pub next to the Indian restaurant. I was starving by this point and really shouldn't have had alcohol before eating because I felt a bit light-headed. Anyway, the meal was yummy and man I was ready for it! John provided most of the banter and told stories and jokes I'd heard 25 million time before (and I'm not exaggerating!), however, it was a good laugh.



Saturday was match day. We'd already pre-booked tickets for the Wigan v Spurs game. Makes a change to pay only £20 for a ticket as opposed to £39, £48 or £61! I hadn't been to an away fixture since Charlton shared Selhurst Park with Palace - I think it was 1989/1990. Craig drove over from Leeds to join us for breakfast, and then we all walked to the station and instantly froze. This part of Shaw in Oldham is surrounded by hills and the wind chill factor must've made it zero degrees. It might as well have been December or January. We got the train which took us to Manchester then had to change for the one to Wigan. Oldham sounds and looks fairly close to Wigan on the map but I was surprised how long it took to get there. It was another fairly lengthy walk to the JJB stadium once we reached Wigan station, and I can't emphasise enough how bloomin' cold it was. We took a couple of pics outside the JJB for the 'scrapbook' (see above).

They'd closed the Marquee bar due to a private function so fans were herded to a footie bar in the shopping centre nearby. It was like sardines but at least it was warm. At 2:30 we headed back to the stadium, ready for the 3 o'clock kick off. I must say I was impressed with the toilet facilities - loads of cubicles and no queuing, compared with White Hart Lane where there are only 2 cubicles in the ladies and always a long queue! Something Tottenham can definitely improve on when they rebuild.

Unfortunately, none of us were seating near each other because it isn't possible for one person to book 5 tickets; each season ticket holder or member has to buy their own. John and I were fairly close to the pitch to the left side of the goal. Spurs were attacked the goal at the other end in the first half and with only five minutes gone, Berbatov scored. It looked as though it was going to be a breeze but as always they couldn't hold onto a lead and the Wigan equaliser soon followed. After that Spurs went downhill, pretty much the same way as they have done in every match since the cup final. It stayed 1-1 in the first half and no goals were added in the second. It's just so disappointing watching your team not able to create anything, especially down the Spurs fans' end of the pitch in the second half. Wigan perhaps should've won but we also should have had a penalty when Melchiot had both hands on Berbatov's shoulders, dragging him down in the box. This wasn't too obvious at the time because it happened up the other end, but was very clear watching the highlights on Match of the Day. So it wasn't really worth getting frostbite for but at least we didn't travel all the way up there just for the game.

On the way back, we stopped at a pub and I refuelled and warmed myself up with a cup of tea! Then onwards to the train station again. We stopped in Manchester for an evening meal at Yum Yum's - a Chinese buffet style restaurant which Debs and Mick had frequented before. All you can eat for a tenner. On the way out, I took the stairs whilst the others took the lift (lazy buggers) but I had a idea to take a photo - Soccer AM style. Actually John took it. Anyone for some lift fun? You may see it on the telly once I've submitted it - who knows? lol

Once we'd got back to Debs and Mick's place, Craig drove home and the rest of us just crashed on the sofa, completely knackered.

After a late-ish breakfast on the Sunday morning, John and I set off for home at around 11:30. The return journey only took three and a half hours this time, two hours less than on the way! Anyway, it a lovely weekend spent with good mates and great to get away for a couple of days.