Northampton v Ulster Roll Call

[gpjmoss]

Anyone been to Northampton for a match before? We'll be driving down and would appreciate any advice on decent places to park.
Thanks

[BR]

Anyone been to Northampton for a match before? We'll be driving down and would appreciate any advice on decent places to park.
Thanks

There's a big car park at franklin gardens. Don't know the details of it though. There's plenty of NCPs in the town too though.

[Cap'n Grumpy]

I'm trying to work a deal with Ulster Sports Travel to use spare capacity on their coach to and from Birmingham Airport on friday and saturday mornings that might be cheaper and possibly more direct than trains. This will be leaving Brum airport probably 10.30-10.45-ish, friday morning arriving at Park Inn Hotel at approx 12.00noon.
Return journey on Saturday would leave at 10.00 from Park Inn Hotel

Anyone who might find either or both of these useful, please PM me.

[pwrmoore]

More direct than the train????

Train leaves from Brum Airport and drops you on the correct road for Franklin's Gardens - I reckon no more than around 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile walk. No changes or nuttin'. No getting stuck in traffic. You can sit at a table and enjoy a few snacks and tins purchased in the airport shop specially for the purpose. If there are four of you travelling together in off-peak times then there is a four-for-two ticket offer which means that the return fare is approx £7 per person - though all four of you have to travel together on the same trains.

[Cap'n Grumpy]

More direct than the train????

Train leaves from Brum Airport and drops you on the correct road for Franklin's Gardens - I reckon no more than around 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile walk. No changes or nuttin'. No getting stuck in traffic. You can sit at a table and enjoy a few snacks and tins purchased in the airport shop specially for the purpose. If there are four of you travelling together in off-peak times then there is a four-for-two ticket offer which means that the return fare is approx £7 per person - though all four of you have to travel together on the same trains.

was thinking more direct to hotel(s), but gotta say, you can't say fairer than that - assuming four travelling together (and possibly even if less than 4).

Still if anyone (or 2 or 3) wants to consider going in direction of Park Inn Hotel (maybe to check-in or whatever) you know what to do if you want an alternative.

[Yoda]

Just a heads-up to those travelling ex-Belfast on the day.

Hillary Clinton is visiting Belfast next Friday, dunno her itinerary or which airport she'll arrive at but there's considerable potential for a load of auld bellix round the terminals/approaches if you're anywhere close to her arrival time.

her visit here follows some engagements in Dublin so hopefully minimal disruption to the airports

[BR]

29xThe Pain:

Right, mate. We've flights to Brum booked and the train tickets from Brum Airport out to Coventry bought - how do we get from Coventry train station to your gaff?

[AyeYerMa]

I'm bloody suffering, recurrence of a wee health problem which is going to require medication. Unfortunately said medication does not agree with alkiehol.

Suffer for a week or suffer a dry trip away?

It's a toughie.

[BR]

I'm bloody suffering, recurrence of a wee health which is going to require medication. Unfortunately said medication does not agree with alkiehol.

Suffer for a week or suffer a dry trip away?

It's a toughie.

No matter how unhealthy your wee is, I'd avoid the medication.

[HwoodMike2umate]

Friday Plan -
8.10am arrive B'ham airport.
Depart on Off peak train to Northampton sometime after 9am
Try to spend morning not drinking too much. Maybe look for flagpoles, apply facepaint, eat, check in to Ibis etc
Wig & Pen from 2.00pm
Thomas a Beckett from 4.30pm
At Ground 6pm
Find spot on Terrace and hold firm, nibbling peanuts.
Bed by 11pm

Like all day long drinking plans it will probably turn out nothing like this.

[Wee Woman]

I'm bloody suffering, recurrence of a wee health problem which is going to require medication. Unfortunately said medication does not agree with alkiehol.

Suffer for a week or suffer a dry trip away?

It's a toughie.

Nothing tough about it AYM you could 'forget' to bring your tablets with you .

I am also on medication that does not agree with alcohol. I will be 'forgetting' to take my tablets for 2 days - it's a long term course of tablets so 2 days ain't gonna make much difference to my issue tbh.

Of course, if this medication has anything to do with actually keeping you alive, please disregard these comments

[Rooster]

Does stout not count as medication these days ?

[AyeYerMa]

Friday Plan -
8.10am arrive B'ham airport.
Depart on Off peak train to Northampton sometime after 9am
Try to spend morning not drinking too much. Maybe look for flagpoles, apply facepaint, eat, check in to Ibis etc
Wig & Pen from 2.00pm
Thomas a Beckett from 4.30pm
At Ground 6pm
Find spot on Terrace and hold firm, nibbling peanuts.
Bed by 11pm

Like all day long drinking plans it will probably turn out nothing like this.

One suspects that flight could be "an experience".

[BR]

Friday Plan -
8.10am arrive B'ham airport.
Depart on Off peak train to Northampton sometime after 9am
Try to spend morning not drinking too much. Maybe look for flagpoles, apply facepaint, eat, check in to Ibis etc
Wig & Pen from 2.00pm
Thomas a Beckett from 4.30pm
At Ground 6pm
Find spot on Terrace and hold firm, nibbling peanuts.
Bed by 11pm

Like all day long drinking plans it will probably turn out nothing like this.

Not that far from my own Plan B. Plan A is awaiting a response from Colin who seems to be lying remarkably low!

05:00 Leave my house
05:15 – 05:45 (depending on who drives) Arrive BHD
Enjoy a last Ulster fry while waiting for the Dog to clear security
07:00 dep BHD
08:10 arr BHX
Enjoy Airport-type Full English while awaiting for the Dog to clear security
09:05 dep BHD (off peak return for 4 people is £30.20 – 4 for the price of 2)
09:54 arr Northampton
10:05 arr Super Sausage for a proper Full English
11:00 dep Super Sausage
11:30 arr Wig & Pen
Enjoy a relaxing pint of porter, maybe two
12:15 ask Richard the manager for that day’s bill of fayre, order the dish that most pleases and consume with just the appropriate amount of gusto
12:16 wash it down with a pint of porter, possibly two.
15:00 dep Wig & pan
15:15 arr Travelodge
Check in, freshen up and change into something more appropriate
15:16 dep Travelodge
15:30 arr the Malt Shovel
Marvel at the wonderous range of cask conditioned ales on offer and then give up and order a Guinness
16:30 dep Malt Shovel
16:40 arr Gold Street fast food emporium (TBC)
16:50 dep Gold Street fast food emporium
17:20 arr Thomas A Beckett
Enjoy pre match drinks with like-minded rugby aficionados
18:30 dep Thomas A Beckett
19:00 arr Franklin Gardens
Enjoy a drink in a proper rugby ground
20:00 kick-off

After that, I’m easy!

BTW: I get the impression that the Gordon Terrace is not a free-for-all, it may be sectioned off according to ticket zone, maybe some of our Saints friends could confirm/deny.

[Flat-top]

Rich you could do with getting yourself organised, seems like you are just leaving it all to chance