What can I say? No more than, it’s back by popular demand. Happy drinking!

Well it doesn’t seem five minutes since we were planning pub meets near The Stadium of Light and Upton Park, so for some of our newer supporters this might be a bit of a culture shock. Yes folks its back to Division Four, but despair not!

As if by decision of some Division Four welcoming committee, the fixture computer has handed us an opening day trip to the basement league’s most enduring member, Rochdale. Arguably one of the most atmospheric and friendly away trips there is to be had.

Indeed, such is my love of the town’s hostelries the last time we played Oldham away on a Saturday I stopped off in Rochdale for a pint at the splendidly named “Mucky Duck”, just for old times’ sake. Anyone arriving early by train might want to consider this excellent local’s bar on Drake St. about 5 minutes walk from the station. Most pubs in Rochdale seem to have friendly, flirtatious barmaids serving frothy Northern bitter in outsized glasses, but The Duck really sets the standard in these departments and is worthy of patronage.

Unfortunately the ground is a fair shank from the station and the town centre but delightfully there are several very good bars on its doorstep. Studds is situated directly under one of the “behind the goals” stands and serves hot food as well as beer.

The others are proper old-fashioned match-day pubs and all worth a visit for the same reasons as the Mucky Duck.

Next to the traffic lights on Bury Road (northern) approach to the ground there is the mainly home orientated Cemetery Hotel which is the only one that really caters for real ale seekers. Boasting three rooms and an upstairs eatery this bar has a nice mixture of facilities. One of the rooms is no smoking, while the restaurant is part of The Campaign For Real Food, so chips are off the menu I’m afraid! Probably a good place to go if you arrive early with the family, or are just approaching from Bury Road.

In addition to Studds at the ground there is the Radcliffe Arms on Sandy Lane literally right next to the home turnstiles. This is the place to be if you want cheap beer. Although independent from the club it’s very much a Rochdale FC pub having been named after a former club chairman.

Given the time of year The Church Inn might be the best bet for an alfresco pint. The landlord has been known to do barbecues for the rugby fans who share Spotland during the summer, and it’s also the nearest to the away turnstiles on Willbutts Lane.

Lastly if you need to supplement your proper beer intake with overpriced weak lager served in a plastic beaker (ahem!!) or are unlucky enough to arrive late and miss the delights of the aforementioned, the away stand has a bar to go with it’s superb along the pitch view.

One little fact about Rochdale, they survived re-election in 1980 when the Grimsby delegate went into the wrong room during the voting, and the Luton delegate turned up late, God bless ‘em, The Football League, and especially the basement division wouldn’t be the same without the Dale trip, be nice to see them with us in a higher league next season.