Stadium: Ewen Fields, Walker Lane, Hyde, Cheshire, SK14 2SB

Telephone: 0161 367 7273

Club Colours: Red and Navy 

Nickname: The Tigers

Official Website: www.hydefc.co.uk

Brief Directions by Road: A nice trek this one and worth getting up early for. There are numerous ways of getting to the M67 the most picturesque is across the Peak District via Snake Pass and through Buxton and Glossop. Motorway choice is M6/M56/M60. Whichever way you chose, leave the M67 at Junction 3 and take the A267 towards Hyde. At the second set of traffic lights turn left onto Mottram Road. Pass the Morrisons store on your left and at the first set of lights turn right onto Lumn Road then left at a T-junction onto Walker Lane. The entrance to the ground is down on the left just past Hyde Leisure Pool.

Car Parking: There is a car park available at the ground which is free. Additionally there is parking available at the Leisure Pool, which costs £2 per car. A residents only parking scheme operates in the vicinity of the ground so street parking has to be away from the stadium.

Directions by Train: The nearest station to Hyde is Newton which is a 10 minute walk and served by regular connecting trains from Manchester Piccadilly.

Supporters’ Coach: Coach travel will be available with pick up points from Barnet as well as The Hive. For full details please see barnetfc.com

Eating and Drinking Locally: The Social Club at the ground allows away supporters and is friendly and safe.

The nearest pub is the Gardeners Arms pub on Lumn Road. On Mottram Road you will find the Sportsman Inn, which is a CAMBRA listed establishment and serves up beers from the local Rossendale Brewery as well as other guest ales. For an early Christmas Lunch the Cotton Bale on Market Place in the town centre is the local Wetherspoons outlet.

Ground Description: A rather quaint enclosure awaits  with the stadium having room for around 4,100 with plenty of covered terracing and around 500 seats in the Main Stand. The Tinkers Passage Terrace is normally allocated to visitors. It is very low, just 7 steps but fully covered and will keep you warm and dry. It has a net above its roof to stop more wayward shots going into neighbouring gardens. I never realised that Edwin Stein played for Hyde!

Admission Prices: Adults £14, Concession £8, Seating £16, Concession £10

Previous Meetings and Memories: There is only one stand out game that involves both clubs but it goes back to a time when Hyde FC were actually Hyde United. The Club Call Cup Final, effectively the Non League League Cup, of 1988-9 was played at Telford’s Bucks Head ground and around 700 Bees fans in a crowd of 963 saw the club pick up their first serious piece of silverware in over a decade. 

Celebrity watch: My scour of the internet found the following celebrities connected with the area that would enhance any autograph book. Bill Tarmey – actor with broken glasses, Nicky Butt – footballer with easy surname to make fun of, John Thaw – flare wearing Mark 1 Granada owner, Davy Jones – flare wearing primate  tambourine player amongst others, some others I am afraid are rather infamous.