Dale Trust Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 (edited) Hi Folks Ahead of next Tuesday, we at the Dale Trust have put together an Away Fans Guide to Spotland for no reason other than to make your trip as easy as possible for you. We know many of you will have visited Spotland before but hopefully it will be of some use to some of you. We'll come back next Wednesday with a 3 min survey if thats okay to gauge feedback and see if there is anything we can do to improve your visit / our away fans guide. Getting to Spotland Stadium, Rochdale OL11 5DR For 95% of car-based visitors to Spotland, it’s a case of leaving the M62 at Junction 20, and following the signs to Rochdale. It’s pretty much a straight road direct to the ground. Bear left with the retail park facing you, pass under the bridge which proclaims ‘Rochdale birthplace of co-operation’ and then it’s straight on all the way. After the traffic lights you’ll pass the sewage treatment works on the right, followed by Rochdale Cemetery on the left as you get closer. We appreciate coming from Bolton, you might head through Bury. If you do, follow the road through Bury, passing the KFC and Fairfield Hospital before you reach the lovely town that is Rochdale. In this case you'll pass the Rochdale Cemetery on your left and then take a left at the immediate set of traffic lights. If you’re coming by train, the best way of getting to the ground is by taxi. Costs around £4 to do so. There’s often Town Taxis waiting outside the station but sometimes it can be est to ring up in advance as you approach Rochdale and pre-book one. Best numbers are Streamline 01706 644104 or Millenium 01706 646465 If you are travelling through Manchester Victoria, you will have the option of Metrolink or Train. The train is about half an hour quicker as the Metrolink goes through Oldham which is definitely the long way around. Avoid at your peril. Parking On the whole, it’s a case of first come first served. There’s a couple of parking restrictions on the roads to the right as you approach the ground, and parts of Sandy Lane will be coned up but that aside, it’s help yourself. There’s plenty of sides streets with no restrictions in the vast majority of them. There’s no parking at the ground itself. Eating As you approach the ground from the motorway, there is a retail estate on the right-hand side. You will find your usual retail estate eateries there such as Pizza Hut, Frankie and Bennys, McDonalds, and the Sandbrook and a really good curry house called the Copper Pot (opens 5-15 on Saturdays). If grabbing a pre-match bag of chips is more your sort of thing, then the Willbutts Lane Chippy is something of a Football League legend. Its smack bang opposite the away turnstiles and if you weren’t hungry before, then you will be when the aroma his you are you queue your way in. It’s a cracking chippy and comes thoroughly recommended. Pubs The closest pub to the ground is the Ratcliffe Suite / Dale Bar. It’s built into the ground and accessible from the Sandy Lane end of the ground. Traditionally, the Ratcliffe Suite is aimed at away supporters and is massive. They have Sky Sports on a couple of big screens and TV’s around the room. Despite its size, they serve pretty quickly. They don’t do food in there other than hot pies from behind the bar. A little further away is the Cemetery Pub. This will be on the right-hand side if you are approaching the ground from the motorway. The Pub is CAMRA listed and was recently added to the “Champions Club” by the brewers Timothy Taylor due to how they tend to their beer. Those away supporters who are regulars to Spotland flock to the “Cem” year after year as part of their visit, with many preferring the pub to the game. Again, big screens and TV’s showing live sports. There will sometimes be football specials on in terms of food, but if not, there will be sandwiches and hot pies available. Season Ticket holders get a 20p discount on certain drinks and this applies to away supporters as well so don’t leave it at home. If you are opting to drink in town rather than close to the ground, you have several options. There’s a big Wetherspoons called the Regal Moon and a Yates across the road from there (facing the town hall). There are a few really good independent places such as the Flying Horse and the Medicine Tap (both area also facing the town hall). A little further afield is the Baum. It’s a former CAMRA pub of the year, and is situated on Toad Lane – the historic birth of the Co-op. Admission We believe its pay on the turnstiles next week Adult £15 Youth (20 and under) £5 Junior (11 and under) £1 The Away End If you’ve never been to Spotland before, away fans are housed in the long stand down one side of the pitch on Willbutts Lane. It’s our newest stand (built in 1992) and offers an unrestricted view of the pitch. Dale fans often wonder why we give our best stand to away supporters, so it gets the thumbs up from us. It will house up to around 3,500 away supporters, but if you’re not bringing that many, the end blocks may well be fenced off. The club have recently invested in netting to cut down on the impact of local pigeons who used to, shall we say, left their mark on some of the seating in the away end. There is a typical football concourse below the stand, selling beer, pies and everything else you’d come to expect at a football ground these days. We believe there’s a couple of screens in there showing you the latest scores. Stewarding / Policing Historically, some supporters (usually Scunthorpe) used to complain about the stewarding at Spotland but it’s been a long while now since there were any issues of overzealous stewarding to the best of our knowledge. We tend to rely on stewarding, though the more high-profile games will have Police in attendance. The only views we have had from away supporters in recent years about our stewards is when the Barnsley fans got one to wear plant pot on his head or Oldham supporters decided that one of them looked like Boris Johnson. Stopping Over There are a few places that offer overnight accommodation in town The Flying Horse pub in town does accommodation. Rooms are above the pub and are perfect if you want somewhere cheap and cheerful after a night out down town. Fantastic value for money, and you’ll be well looked after. (http://www.theflyinghorsehotel.co.uk/accommodation/) There are other hotels in the town. The Broadfield is based in the town centre, whilst the Royal Toby and the Norton Grange are a couple of miles away from the ground. Further help If you require any further help, you can email us at info@daletrust.co.uk or you can come and see us before the game in the Dale Bar / Ratcliffe Suite at our Trust desk. Edited August 9, 2019 by Dale Trust Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radcliffe white Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 A very good guide wouldn’t of thought we’d take many 6-800 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eddie Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 We won’t be taking a team, never mind fans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc505 Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 Be surprised if this is needed at this rate, but ta. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ani Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 Season ticket holders get 20 p off a pint. If if only eh ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOWTUN BAKED Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 Been to Spotland enough times to know most of that, but brilliant info for those that haven't. Well done & appreciated. You could teach our trust a thing or two :) If we still exist &/or the game goes ahead, I'll happily reply to your survey! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 Once was enough, thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErnestTurnip Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 Anyone any more specific ideas for parking? Last time I drove there ended up a good couple of miles away which was ok but there might be better options. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Site Supporter HomerJay Posted August 8, 2019 Site Supporter Share Posted August 8, 2019 8 minutes ago, ErnestTurnip said: Anyone any more specific ideas for parking? Last time I drove there ended up a good couple of miles away which was ok but there might be better options. park on the road near the park and walk down, only 5 mins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Casino Posted August 8, 2019 Moderators Share Posted August 8, 2019 32 minutes ago, ErnestTurnip said: Anyone any more specific ideas for parking? Last time I drove there ended up a good couple of miles away which was ok but there might be better options. PRked near the cemetery pub. Prob 10 minutes but a quick getaway through bury Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members burnden Posted August 8, 2019 Members Share Posted August 8, 2019 We might not be turning up yet , ta for info though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ErnestTurnip Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 Cheers Homer and Cas, both sound better than where I ended up last time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birch-chorley Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 Could be the clubs last game before oblivion Pay on the door so no messing about Real show of support We should be filling the ground for this one 2k-3k minimum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radcliffe white Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 1 minute ago, birch-chorley said: Could be the clubs last game before oblivion Pay on the door so no messing about Real show of support We should be filling the ground for this one 2k-3k minimum You still waiting for Dover away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awandering Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 This game is more likely to go ahead than Saturday's as costs involved are minimal comparatively. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Zico Posted August 8, 2019 Moderators Share Posted August 8, 2019 Anyone up for staying over at the flying horse? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolton va va Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 Last train back ..22-43. I don't leave early or use taxis but can walk like the wind. Though i know it's a long way, is it doable ? ( if extra time is a possibility, forget it ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radcliffe white Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 About 2 miles from ground piss it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 2 minutes ago, radcliffewhite1 said: About 2 miles from ground piss it Extra time and pens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radcliffe white Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 Won’t come to that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leyther_Matt Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 Only done the walk back to the station once and remember it being a right trek. 54 minutes ago, ZicoKelly said: Anyone up for staying over at the flying horse? I’m there on Sunday for the rugby and going on Tuesday so I did actually consider it for a second, until I remembered that previous trips to Rochdale have seen me get home earlier than I do from the UniBolt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Casino Posted August 8, 2019 Moderators Share Posted August 8, 2019 25 minutes ago, bolton va va said: Last train back ..22-43. I don't leave early or use taxis but can walk like the wind. Though i know it's a long way, is it doable ? ( if extra time is a possibility, forget it ) Pretty sure I'm going...god willing Going straight from work but can get you back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radcliffe white Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 Same should of offered myself I will be driving problem solved offers on the table Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bolton va va Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 Thanks for the offers, they're much appreciated, but I do already have alternative transport. Train is always 1st choice for me when possible, but the chance of extra time as much as the distance to the station, will probably make it a car job. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOWTUN BAKED Posted August 8, 2019 Share Posted August 8, 2019 37 minutes ago, radcliffewhite1 said: Same should of offered myself I will be driving problem solved offers on the table Superb! If you can pick me up from my local boozer ta! I'll even let you pay for the brasses & bing, 'coz I'm nice like that 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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