Llandudno FC

 It shows how little the World Cup means to me, that instead of staying at home and rooting for England, I got on a train to North Wales for a pre season friendly vs Whitchurch Alport. To me, this is real football whereas the World Cup is fantasy football.

The journey there was smooth, with a short stoppage in Chester I had enough time for a bacon sandwich before moving onwards. I had another change of train at Llandudno Junction (by the way this is nowhere near Llandudno, do not try and walk from here) and was in Llandudno for 1130. The game was a 2pm kick off so I had a little wander into town, I bought four or five drinks from the pound land shop, given the mercury was through the roof still in this never ending heatwave. I then got a ham salad sandwich and a raspberry turnover that I saved for later on for my tea, due to the lack of anything remotely near to Chester train station. I then had a quick walk down to the promenade and then turned around and headed to the ground.

Ideally located just half a mile from the railway station (just around the back at the side where the new houses are being built) the Go Goodwins stadium is heavenly for a groundhopper that uses public transport, very little distance on foot and all flat, it's a real rarity. Upon arrival you actually enter through a double sliding automatic door instead of a turnstile which is different, to be greeted by two ladies who scan your ticket and then give you a paper ticket. The club shop is just to the right as you go in and what a joy it is, just things muddled together, if I'd had time it's the sort of place I could spend hours looking through the programmes etc. I got my pin badge for £3 and after a lap of the ground I headed for food, unfortunately the menu wasn't as extensive as I imagined but I went for something slightly different with a portion of cheesy chips for £4. I was given a buzzer and waited, I actually waited 30 minutes for them but the lad said their were problems with the electric going on and off. Anyway the chips were well done with generous cheese given, as a warning to anyone who doesn't like salt, they were also pre salted.

I went and sat in the stand after eating and noticed a soap opera celebrity in Simon Gregson also known as Steve Mcdonald from Coronation Street, who apparently has a holiday home somewhere in North Wales. I moved around to the other side just upon kick off as two vapers arrived and I can't stand being sat next to it, I had a good vantage point under shade and stood anyway. Whitchurch had brought about a dozen fans including one who shouted some very odd things all through the game with a Chelsea shirt on and he got on my nerves, luckily he remained behind the goal. There was probably 120 there all in all. 

The game began and it was evident very quickly that Llandudno were streets ahead of the opposition who were from the Midlands league, equivalent to the north east counties Premier step. The hosts were 4.0 to the good at half time, the first a penalty that went in off the post, the second was a scramble in the goalmouth, the third was a good long range strike and the fourth was an excellent cross and take from close range, with an offside player cleverly leaving it for the crosser. The Alport defending was poor plus they couldn't keep possession or get much out of their own half and the game was over as a contest.

Second half and Llandudno started where they left off with a cross from the right to the far post which was struck back across goal and in, entirely unmarked. Then Alport seemed to find a bit more steel and Llandudno probably also eased off a bit. The visitors pulled one back from out of nowhere a punt from the half way line was high and hit like an arrow, got caught in a gust of wind and sailed into the net, if nothing else it gave their fans something to shout about. Then soon after the number 10 found himself clean through before finishing emphatically into the top corner. 5-2 was how it finished and a good workout for both teams ahead of their respective campaigns. I just about had time for a bubblegum icecream in town before heading back east. 

The journey back started well as far as Chester but from there on in turned into a nightmare, firstly Chester Races were on, secondly train companies were again using the weather to justify cancellations and thirdly 90 mile home somehow felt like 590 miles. Sure enough my train was cancelled, I then had to take a train to Manchester Piccadilly, which stated it was direct but it was not, stopping at endless stops including Northwich and Altrincham, it was like a revisit of my youth following York City. When I arrived in Piccadilly it very quickly became evident there were no transpennine trains, due to the upgrade we are getting on that line. So, no plan b for passengers other than set off on foot for the mile or so across Manchester to Victoria and pick something up there. I managed to get straight on a train but it was held up while they kicked somebody off, then it sauntered along due to speed restrictions via Brighouse instead of Huddersfield before arriving about 20 minutes late. I then had about 40 minutes to wait for the local train up towards home, also delayed, arriving home a lot later than I should have. As a fairly frequent traveller I can honestly say putting trains in government hands is definitely not the answer for a better service, they care as little if not less than private companies that previously ran them.

After feeling jet lagged on Sunday, I'm hyping myself up for Tuesday week when I will be returning to Wales, South West, to the thorn in my side, Haverfordwest. However luckily I will be driving to this one so won't have to rely on the inept railway system.