Blog Archives
Morecambe
A club only recently in the Football League, from a town known for its sandy beach, a rich shrimp dish, and being home to a very famous comedian of the same name. LOCATION: Morecambe, Lancashire, is on the coast just over an hour north from Liverpool or Manchester. CONTACT: morecambefc.com, 01524 411797, #UTS NICKNAMES: The…
Sunderland
“Sun’lun” was just hanging on in the Premier League for years before a dramatic fall a few years ago—but they are back in the Championship, returning hope to an amazing group of supporters. LOCATION: Sunderland is about four hours by train from either London or Manchester. CONTACT: safc.com, 0371 911 1200, #SAFC NICKNAMES: The Black…
Grimsby Town
Way out on the edge of the country, and just now back in the Football League, there’s a club who famously “only sing when we’re fishing.” LOCATION: Grimsby is two and a half hours by train east of Manchester and just over three hours from London. CONTACT: grimsby-townfc.co.uk, 14726 05050, #GTFC NICKNAMES: The Mariners, because…
Carlisle United
Way up in the north, almost to Scotland, is an old club in an old ground in an old city that will take you back in time. LOCATION: Carlisle, Cumbria, is two hours north of Manchester by train. CONTACT: carlisleunited.co.uk, 0330 094 5930, #CUFC NICKNAMES: The Cumbrians or The Blues
Wigan Athletic
For years a story of plucky overachievement topped off with a remarkable moment of success, Wigan had a nice rebound from hard times before returning to their old ways. LOCATION: Wigan is between Manchester and Liverpool, about 30 minutes from each by train. CONTACT: wiganathletic.com, 01942 774000, #WAFC NICKNAMES: The Latics or just the Tics.…
Tranmere Rovers
If you’re in Liverpool for a game at one of those “other” clubs, do yourself a favor: take a ferry across the Mersey and go see a traditional game of football at Prenton Park. LOCATION: Tranmere is a neighborhood in Birkenhead, which in turn is in a place called The Wirral Peninsula. But Rovers are…
Preston North End
Almost the definition of a traditional, well-supported, and mostly second-tier club, Preston North End also has a lovely modern ground, a convenient location, and butter pies. LOCATION: Preston is about an hour by train north of either Manchester or Liverpool. CONTACT: pnefc.net, 0344 856 1964, #PNEFC NICKNAMES: The Lilywhites, after their shirts
Oldham Athletic
Such an approachable club that you might be able to hear the pregame team talk from the parking lot. Too bad what’s become of them. LOCATION: Oldham is basically a suburb of Manchester, about 25 minutes out from the center on the city’s Metrolink service. CONTACT: oldhamathletic.co.uk, 0161 624 4972, #OAFC NICKNAMES: Latics, which, as…
Manchester City
The club once called “noisy neighbors” by Man United’s manager is now arguably the best team in the world. With their new worldwide following plus a nice, modern stadium in a cool city, they should be a major attraction for groundhoppers. LOCATION: Two and a half hours from London’s Euston station CONTACT: mancity.com NICKNAMES: Citizens,…
Huddersfield Town
A favorite story of recent years, Huddersfield Town is also a fine example of a fun, easy, off-the-normal-circuit club to go and visit on a day out from Manchester. LOCATION: Thirty minutes northeast by train from Manchester CONTACT: htafc.com, 01484 960 600, #HTAFC NICKNAMES: The Terriers, which was introduced to honor the fitness and tenacity…
