As a day out Chesterfield away has ebbed and flowed over the years. From the innocent seventies when Charles Bronson look-alikes would entrap Double Diamond froth on their moustaches whilst comparing Ernie Moss to Alan Buckley, through the desperately dark Eighties when the town’s police used match-days to justify all the fancy new gear they got during the miners’ strike, to the pleasant almost Zen-like Nineties when away fans were allocated their own bar in the Chesterfield Arms, a place also used to serve the players tea and sarnies after the game.

Sadly, and in no small part due to the antics of our own pre-pubescent lunatic fringe last year’s trip saw a return to 80’s style policing whereby Saddlers alighting at the station were asked for a valid passport, mug-shot and DNA sample before being allowed to go in search of an illusive pint.

The station area boasts a couple of outlets namely the eminently avoidable Aruba Café, and the cavernous County Hotel where secret handshakes, passwords and false beards were required to get a drink last season, although I did manage a half of lager in a plastic beaker on the way home. Needless to say I was the only person in the bar. The staff must have thought I was in danger of self-harm following the team’s display.

Heading away from the station you might logically go down Saltergate as this is where the ground is situated – don’t however. There you will find Local Heroes (strippers) and a couple of other very home orientated bars although the Blue-Bell is ok at the station end.

Head instead up Newbold Road (off to the right) until you come to the aforementioned Chesterfield Arms on the corner of Queen St. This is the best traditional pre-match pub used by both home and away fans, and apart from last year’s heavy handedness has been very away friendly for many a year. Last year the police closed it at 2pm and escorted its contents up to the away turnstiles, including two poor local codgers who were playing dominoes and watching Channel Four racing.

Next door to the Chesterfield is another pub called The Industry which is smaller but equally friendly (pre-last year).Both bars are very reasonably priced and a mere 4 minute walk to the away end in Cross St.

Last year’s regression into the Eighties ended here as upon entering the “stadium” you are transported back to the Sixties. “Beer served in the ground” I hear you ask? Pahh welcome to a partly condemned open terrace with alfresco latrines, or if you need a roof you can pay £18 to sit on an upturned orange box in the main stand.

Word of caution, there were several arrests that were followed through with convictions and bans last season for the heinous crime of singing in the painfully slow queue, so please control your excitement at the prospect of another Saddlers away performance. The reason given was that it disturbed the local residents. Thankfully for them and us, Saltergate is due to be levelled this year and replaced by a football ground …elsewhere in the town.