A ROUGH GUIDE TO... CREWE
Believe it or not, four months have now passed since Notts' last competitive away game, that epic, incredible 4-3 win at Wycombe Wanderers. Too much has happened since then to try and sum up in one introductory sentence, but we're here again as Keith Curle takes his side on the relatively short journey north west to Crewe to take on one of the League One newcomers. Twenty odd games unbeaten and fresh off a 5-0 thrashing of Hartlepool in the cup are the Alex - we recommend you make full use of our public house suggestions.
WHAT'S THIS ONE GONNA SET ME BACK?
Adults - £20
Seniors - £16
12-16 - £9.50
Under 11 - £5.50
Disabled - £12
HOW DO I GET TO CREWE, THEN?
Ah, time to reacquainte myself with that old friend, Google Maps, which suggests that driving to Crewe should be simple enough. Just over 66 miles and, according to everyone's favourite international search engine, an hour and a half or so on the road. Head south out of Nottingham on the A453 towards Kegworth, before joining the A50 and heading towards Stoke-on-Trent, through Uttoxeter. Head into Stoke itself and right onto the A500, which will take you all the way to the outskirts of Crewe, where the A5020 will take you into the town centre. Turn left over the railway tracks and then left again into Gresty Road, where the ground will be on your left. Or, alternatively, have a look at the massive blue line below.
With regards to public transport, the train is a reasonably cheap and quick alternative for getting to Cheshire. Services take just under two hours, with one change necessary in Derby. Trains depart Nottingham at eight minutes past every hour, with the connection in Derby leaving at twenty to the hour. A standard adult off-peak day return from Nottingham to Crewe will set you back £17.20, with return journeys departing Crewe at seven minutes past the hour and Derby at thirty nine minutes past. Gresty Road is a short walk from Crewe station - leave the station and turn left and then left again.
WHAT HAS CREWE GOT GOING FOR IT?
Crewe is a town known primarily for its connection with the railway business, hence the club's nicknamed of the Railwaymen. However, the major railway engineering facilitity in the town has been much reduced in size in recent years. In another blow for engineering in the town, production at the Rolls-Royce factory was curtailed in 2002, with just Bentley being produced in the town now. Otherwise, Crewe is the home of a massive Mornflake factory which means that it constantly smells of porridge, which is recently pleasant. Although not as delightful as Corby, over which the aroma of Weetabix hangs and is utterly wonderful.
Famous former Crewe residents include Beth Tweddle, bronze medalist gymnast from the London olympics who was coached in the town, and international rugbyist Mark Cueto. Another olympian, BMX rider Shanaze Reid who unfortunately missed out on a medal, also hails from Crewe. They may not have a golden postbox, then, but they do boast one of the most important figures in the feminist movement in suffragette Ada Nield Chew.
The town's football club may now be what Crewe is best known for, with the Alex having garnered a reputation for attractive football and producing precocious young talents under the watchful eye of Dario Gradi. The most recent player off the production line is Nick Powell, who joined Manchester United in a multi-million pound deal this summer, but the likes of David Platt, Robbie Savage, Neil Lennon, Dean Ashton, Rob Hulse, Danny Murphy, David Vaughan and Luke Varney all came through the Gresty Road system. Steve Davis' side edged into the play-offs last season with a long unbeaten run and promptly beat Southend and Cheltenham on their way to promotion. Current young stars include Max Clayton, Ashley Westwood and Luke Murphy, all of whom look destined for greater things.
WHAT IS GRESTY ROAD LIKE?
One of the more lopsided grounds in the Football League, Gresty Road has one huge, imposing main stand which is surrounded by three smaller, more bog-standard League One efforts. Away fans are housed in the Blue Bell BMW stand along one side of the pitch, with just under 1,700 fans being accommodated. No cash is accepted on the turnstyle and fans travelling without tickets will be required to visit the Gresty Road ticket office before trying to enter the ground.
WHERE CAN I GET SOMETHING TO DRINK?
The supporters' club at the ground tends to allow a small number of away fans in, but with the ground so centrally positioned it makes sense for Notts fans looking for a cheeky pre-match pint to find a watering hole in the town centre. The Royal Hotel on Nantwich Road has a specific bar for away fans, whilst the Brocklebank off Weston Road is a Brewers' Fayre chain that also offers matchday parking for just £1. For beardy, real ale drinking types there is the Borough Arms on Earl Street - a twenty minute walk from Gresty Road but worth it if you can't cope with a pint of lager.