2014-15 Euopean Odyssey: No 1 SALFORD
By Darraghgirl
June 21 2014
the time has come to stop looking back to what might have been and start looking forward to what could still be. So here is a look at some of the places we can enjoy on our European travels next season. Staring with sunny Salford!
When the draw was made for next Season’s European Champions Cup Competition, I don’t suppose Salford was top of most people’s wish list for a weekend away. After all it’s not quite Montpelier or Paris (and anyway I still think the best destinations are in the Amlin – sorry Challenge Cup – Grenoble, Lyons, La Rochelle – now that’s something to get the old hear heart pumping.) But Salford it is, so what exactly is on offer for a weekend at the home of Sale Sharks?
Well, Salford City Council webpage helpfully states “Don't just exist - live life to the full!” (it then goes on to talk about bin collections and car parks though). Salford’s motto is “Salus Populi Suprema Lex” (which for those not fluent in Latin means “The Welfare of the People is the highest Law”). So let us see if we can indeed “live life to the full” in a city which places such a premium on the welfare of its people!
Having been granted City status in 1926, the City of Salford forms part of the Metropolitan Borough of Greater Manchester and has a population of 218,000. It includes the towns of Eccles, Pendlebury, Swinton, Walkden and Irlam. See it’s sounding better already, I’m quite partial to an Eccles cake.
Salford’s history goes back to Neolithic times. It grew along the Roman Road between Manchester and Bury (now known as the A56). Salford supported Charles I during the Civil War and the Jacobites against King George II, the last king to personally lead his troops into battle – so they aren’t great at picking the winning side! During the industrial revolution, Salford prospered but was overshadowed by its neighbour Manchester. Nevertheless nearby Eccles was the site of the world’s first railway accident when William Huskisson, MP for Liverpool, was having a chat with the Duke of Wellington, obviously missed all the flashing lights and warning bells and got knocked over by Stephenson’s Rocket. He was carted off to the local hospital where he died, possibly from MRSA. So nothing much changes!
In 1894 the Manchester Ship Canal was opened linking the River Mersey to Salford Quays. In those days of course it was meant to be state of the art in transportation (they hadn’t heard of the M6). This was once the 3rd busiest port in Britain but closed in 1982 after ships got too big to get there. Little could they have known that Salford Quays would rise again as home to The Lowry, Media City and the Imperial War Museum (North). So I hope you are now getting a bit more excited!
The Lowry houses the matchstick men of LS Lowry, who lived and worked in the area together with a theatre, cafes bars and restaurants. Currently the theatre programme isn’t published beyond September but just to whet your whistle, you could have the choice of Derren Brown, Showboat or the Sooty Show. So that takes care of an afternoon then.
The Imperial War Museum North (FREE ADMISSION!!) offers a number of exhibitions including Reactions 14 (described as new artistic responses to the first world war), various D Day presentations including From Street to Trench, and the History of Conflict. You can also scale the iconic Air Shard for a panoramic view across Manchester (if you can see it through the rain). And as the southern version of the IWM is currently closed, what an opportunity!!!
And of course the BBC has decamped to Media City where apparently “there is always something happening” (although the only activities I can find for October, December and January 2015 are “Group Training Sessions” – Group Exercise Sessions with friendly mixed classes. Maybe not.)
The culinary experience doesn’t look too hopeful. Googling “Salford Restaurants” comes up with a Harvester top of the list followed by Frankie and Benny’s and an assortment of Indians and Chinese, most of which do fish and chips. The local delicacies include Black Pudding, Manchester Egg (sort of scotch egg in black pudding), Pasty Barm (bread roll filled with meat and potato pasty), Rag Pudding (minced meat and onions in suet), Vimto, Eccles cakes of course, not to mention deep fried Mars Bars etc etc. (Mr DG is suddenly up for the trip –wonder why?) Not a Michelin star in sight from what I can see. But wait – The Manchester House Restaurant (Ok it’s in Manchester not Salford) offers possibilities. On second thoughts £95 for Aylesbury Snail Tart, (Ayelsbury?), Apple and Eucalyptus pie and Ewe’s Milk ice cream. Not so sure!!!!
The stadium is now the AJ Bell Stadium, and calls itself “The North-West’s newest hub for Sports, Events & Conferencing”. You can even get married there “create your dream day at the A J Bell Stadium”. Wonder if you can get married at Allianz? Nuptials may be in the offing for little DG……could be cheaper than Barbados!!!. From my recollection at my only previous visit to Salford with little DG a couple of years ago it was grey and concrete and very, very cold, hardly a dream venue? Parking was good though! I’m not sure who or what A J Bell is to merit having a stadium named after him or her. (I subsequently discover A J (or Andy) Bell offer “taylor-made SIPPS and SSAS solutions”. No I’m none the wiser either).
The AJ Bell Stadium turns out to be nearer Eccles than Salford and I got excited to see it is situated just opposite the Davyhulme Millennium Nature Reserve. Will there be Kites I wonder? The answer to that remains unknown as I can find virtually no information about the wildlife there although Wikipedia helpfully states “it is popular with dog walkers and children on bicycles”. It is, however, very close to the Trafford Centre, with its excellent array of shops which might be popular with the odd spouse not too keen on the rugby. I see there is also the Lowry Outlet Mall “70% off high street prices!” (Ok it’s not Milan but it’s a lot cheaper!)
So are you tempted? Well given the game will probably be played on a Friday night, Salford will become virtually inaccessible with traffic-choked roads and over-loaded expensive trains full of northerners trying to get home having been exiled in the South all week. But if, somehow, the game is played at the weekend you have no excuse. Go plan your weekend of fun and excitement well in advance! And given the proximity to Manchester, don’t forget your brolly!
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2014:07:28:17:11:35 by Darraghgirl.
His contribution included a passion for accurate manufacture of components. He made huge contributions to the design of machine tools.
Without his work there would be no engines, no computers, no aircraft, or any other form of vehicle.
I remember looking at the world's first thread standard in his, then, derelict steel works when I was a teenager - and marvelled.
Regardez mon visage. Suis-je bovvered?
He was a benefactor of Christie's, the largest cancer treatment centre in Europe. He also founded the Whitworth Art Gallery and UMIST.
Manchester and the surrounding areas has many people whose contribution to humanity is quite breathtaking.
People like Dalton, Crompton, Bragg, and Mystic Meg. Webb-Ellis was born in Preston.
Just in case anyone thinks I am off on a 'Lancashire' trip, being a Lancastrian, there are many famous Yorkshiremen that we owe a debt of gratitude.
It saddens me that the talents of all our regions seem to be constrained, rather than liberated, by Westminster.
In the unlikely event that any of the travelling Saracens are unfamiliar with Derbyshire, it has lots of attractive scenery and is good place to stay - if you want to make a weekend trip out of an away match with Sale.
Regardez mon visage. Suis-je bovvered?
Edited 6 time(s). Last edit at 2014:06:23:06:07:51 by Convex Hull.
Small world.
"My kicking coach tells me to imagine I am on the beach and that's what I did. I tried to be as relaxed as possible because we had the wind in our face and I didn't want to force it." - Marcelo Bosch, 06/04/15
As for things to do before or after the game. Grab a quick pint in the Eccles Cross pub whilst waiting for a 67 bus to the ground or a tram back to Salford Quays or Manchester.
If staying overnight it is better to stay either at Salford Quays or Manchester itself as the travel is easier. The trams are very frequent even after a Friday night game.
For those looking for a drinking hole with a bit of character you could always try the Circus Tavern on Portland Street in the centre of Manchester. To say this pub is small is an understatement. The bar has room for one barman/barmaid and a couple of customers!! There are 2 lounges which are packed with half a dozen people in each. If this is too packed then there is the Old Monkey two doors away and the Grey Horse Inn three doors the other way. Makes for a very short pub crawl!!
With the AJ Bell Stadium there are terraces at both ends of the grounds with stands along either side of the pitch. Even though both terraces and the stands are covered if it rains, which is known to happen in Salford/Manchester quite often, you are likely to get wet. If it is windy then the temperature in the ground can feel a few degrees lower than elsewhere in the area (apart from the car park). If it is windy then hopefully this is blowing from the Eccles direction. A clue as to why is next to the Davyhulme Millennium Nature Reserve is the Davyhulme Water Treatment Plant.
It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!
It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!
I recommend the Lamb Hotel in Eccles for a pint of Holts in the Victorian surroundings, but there are loads of decent watering holes to chose from in Manchester. My favourites ones are the Marble Arch, Port Street Beer House and the Micro Bar inside the Arndale Market.
I also recommend a visit to Bury and Ramsbottom (on the East Lancs Railway) if you have time to spare.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:07:13:10:56:27 by mk-fez.
Last season the game away to sale at the AJBell had a few of us
be great to see you up here