Destination: Northampton
Famous for: Like Walsall, Northampton is famous for leather. However, where Walsall went in for saddles, belts, upholstery and other industrious items, Northampton’s finest leatherworkers concentrated on fashioning the shoes, bodices, gimp suits and whips of the underground sex trade.
The club: Northampton Town, with a proud history dating back to 1897 when they were founded by a bunch of school teachers. Despite rumours, @pedagogue was not there.
The ground: The PTS Academy Stadium, formerly known as Sixfields. Stuck a little out of town by the local Cineworld and TGI Fridays – long walk or short taxi from town.
The selection:
Bescot Banter fans should go to The Cordwainer. It’s been refurbished, but locals say they can’t tell. Top tip: order drinks through the app in order to annoy the bar staff, then blow kisses at the bouncers if you fancy a kicking.
Vital Walsall fans should go to Sevens, as the rugby club isn’t playing. You can play ‘find the barman’, as they like to serve the locals first and foremost, and then preload for the game on their extensive gin and tonic selection. Wooden floors make for maximum ‘we will rock you’ sound effects.
WFHYS fans should go to The Old Bank. What’s not to love about a filthy hole with stinking toilets, frozen food, sticky floors and incompetent staff. It’s just like being in the Blue Pop stand!
UTS fans should go pub crawling to the ground, via the Thomas Beckett, Foundryman Arms, Jimmy’s Bar (sports) and Sevens, where they can meet up with the Vital gang and compare club rumours.
Locals recommend The Lamplighter for excellent real ale and food.
If you can’t get into the ground try selling your body to afford a bucket of popcorn and a movie at Cineworld, or go rile the waiters at TGI Fridays before making your way home.
