Saints Support In Post Toulouse Albi Diversion

By Mark Hazell
December 6 2004

On Sunday a group of Saints supporters, in Toulouse to watch their side play Stade in the European Cup, will be heading off to watch the French D" derby between Albi and Montauban. Here's the details.

Albi Details

Albi v Montauban, Pro D2, Sunday 12^th December, kick off 3pm

Train times:-

Depart Toulouse 1135, arrive Albi Ville 1226

Depart Toulouse 1242, arrive Albi Ville 1352

Depart Albi Ville 1817, arrive Toulouse 1920

Depart Albi Ville 1922, arrive Toulouse 2026

Depart Albi Ville 1955, arrive Toulouse 2052

Depart Albi Ville 2151, arrive Toulouse 2250

DO NOT get off at Albi Madeleine station, as it is outside the town. Albi Ville is more central and is easier to get to the ground from.

The Albi site, http://www.sca-albi.org/index2.htm, contains maps of the town and details about the ground. Go to “Le Plan du Site”, then “Pour arriver au Stade” for general area and town plan details.

No news on ticket prices as yet, but should I get a reply from the club at some point during the week I’ll post it on the message board.

If you want to know more about the town, check out the tourist site at http://www.mairie-albi.fr/eng/tourindex.html.

Toulouse Lautrec

Albi, at the time of writing, are 13^th in Pro D2, albeit ahead of the Sunday home game against Tyrosse, but go into that game on the back of five consecutive league defeats. Their situation has not been helped by having 19 of their 47 man squad, including 9 who are considered to be first XV regulars, missing through injury. They’ve used 30 players in their twelve games to date, when they only used 32 in their thirty league games last season. The club has also been rocked in recent weeks by the death of 20 year old second row Jalal Himil in a car accident - Himil was in the process of joining the club from Metro-Racing at the time.

Montauban go into the game on the back of a 32-3 home win over Limoges on Saturday, and lie second in Pro D2 with 47 points, two behind the pacesetters Toulon. They’re also the top points scorers in the division, with 361 from their 13 games.

Albi have won four of their five league games at home before the Tyrosse match, the defeat coming 18-11 against Lyon. Montauban have won three and lost three of their games away from home this season.

This will be a local derby with French passion, French flair…and Saints supporters. Enjoy.