The first of two successive visits to the seaside for Saddlers fans begins with a pleasant trip to Bournemouth.

Unfortunately the ground is a fair distance from the town and railway station, but the sea-front is clean and well worth a visit if you have the time.

Thereabouts pub-wise one encounters the usual themed lager-dispensaries associated with the English sea-front. In Bournemouth’s case Edward’s bar is probably the pick, especially if the sun is shining (!!!) as there is a nice upstairs decked area.

Heading from the station logically takes you up Holdenhurst Road, which is well populated with several avoidable bars, the pick of the pubs in this street is at the far end and also the nearest to the ground, namely the Queens Park Hotel (just across the park from the ground).

Anyone approaching from the Boscombe sea-frontage has Neptune as the immediate tacky option, followed by The Portman, a large corner pub on Ashley Road heading up inland towards the ground which although a bit rough around the edges does boast connections to the football club and has a reasonable pre-match atmosphere.

At the ground itself the Cherry Tree has a variable reputation for away friendliness over the years, but in recent times seems to have become more welcoming and relaxed towards visitors and is attached to the re-built main stand.