Although I'm severely peeved with the jokers that switched our (not-so) local derby to Thursday, I think I'm going to make the effort and maybe stay the night in Neath.

Anyone else going to paint the town pastel with me?

can't now it's Thursday unable to have time from work, one of the busiest times for me. Was a definate for friday

Me and Mrs WQ are heading over & stopping in the Swansea Premier Inn. Dan If you see any decent accn in Neath let us know.

Paddocks going to.

Going to a disco in Maidstone instead.

MAJISTRATE / RUFFSTUFF / SLY / JUMPING JACK FROST / HAZARD / DCRUCIAL B2B MELINKI / TERMINOLOGY RED B2B X.2.C / MC'S SKIBADEE / FUNSTA / HARRY SHOTTA / TRIGGA / BASSMAN / SHAYDEE / FEARLESS / EKSMAN / TRIXTA / CO'D / REBORN / DANJA / SMOKIE

Now I know how my parents felt when I talked about Jefferson Airplane, Frank Zappa, Hawkwind et al

Nah don't worry lad, he's going to see Smokie, remember their hits

Funny how I have arranged to see a couple of customers in South Wales on Thursday afternoon.



I love it when a plan comes together

So that's at least 5 of us then (could be the smallest away crew yet!)

Wire-quin - we've booked the Castle Hotel in Neath. It's £60 for a twin/double room including breakfast and parking. It's in walking distance of the ground and got bars and Sky Sports and food available. They have got rooms available if anyone is interested.

Will have to see if feasible to arrange a meet-up somewhere (I'll pm later in week).

I might need somewhere to change out of my suit!

I'm sure we can smuggle you in our room, PP (don't think the hotel will have us down as a menage a trois!)

The switch to Thursday evening has completely shafted me for this game, although TBH I'd already lost interest with all the faffing around over the venue - no chance of me being able to go. However I went down to Neath yesterday for the Scorpions v Skolars match, having booked cheap train tickets when they went on sale in January and before knowing when or where our own game with Crusaders would be played. (I'm one of those people who has to try to visit every club and every new ground.) The good news for those going for our game is it seems Crusaders will only be charging £8 behind the sticks or a tenner for the side stands. (It was £8 yesterday.)

It's an OK old style ground. A rather higgledy piggledy main stand along most of one side, a bit like the one we used to sit in at Brentford; a decent covered terrace at one end with a smaller open terrace at the other end, and a semi-permanent stand with a tent-style roof running the length of the opposite side which looks exactly like the one Enfield FC had at their old Southbury Road ground in the late 90's when Saracens RUFC were groundsharing there.

The town itself seemed pleasant enough on a sunny spring afternoon (much nicer than Bridgend) and I visited all three pubs in the current Good Beer Guide: the Wetherspoon's directly opposite the station (average for a 'Spoons), the Borough Arms in Upper Henry Street, which was a really friendly old fashioned but smart backstreet local set in a row of terraced houses, and the Crown & Sceptre on the main road across the river in Cadoxton, which was a pub/restaurant in a relatively affluent looking area and seems to have a good reputation for its food.

I remember walking past the Castle Hotel in the town centre, which looked an attractive old whitewashed building, and there was also a more modern looking hotel close to the station (the Blue Boar or Blue Bell I think?) which certainly looked fairly decent from the outside.

Thanks for the info, PoD. I'm looking forward to it now (and weather meant to be sunny in Neath on Thursday).

I am driving down for the evening and bringing Britney ( Steve) with me.
When I was on working on the road if I was in area I always stayed at this place
[urlhttp://treetopsguesthouse.net/[/url , a nice B&B, good breakfasts and the guy who runs it is a rugby fan.

Mrs and I will be there - first away game of the season.

On a slight change of subject anyone know of a boozer in Central London that will show Leeds v Bradford. It looks like a wall to wall soccer night. So i guess most of my usual places would be showing that. But any hidden gems?

Try the Britannia next to Monument station.

Interesting any reason wh? Never been to this gaff before.

Think wendyball is on ITV4, Five and ESPN