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RECKLESS GUIDE TO HALIFAX

THE RECKLESS GUIDE TO

FC HALIFAX

The Skrill Premier League

September 2013thSaturday 7

Kick Off 3.00pm

 

Stadium: The Shay, Shay Syke, Halifax West Yorkshire HX1 2YS

Telephone: 01422 341222

Club Colours: Blue and White

Nickname: The Shaymen

Official Website:www.halifaxafc.co.uk

Key Personnel:
Gateshead born Neil Aspin is in charge at The Shay and had a long playing career as a defender with Leeds United, Port Vale and Darlington between 1982-2001. He managed at Harrogate Town before joining FC Halifax in 2009.

Impress the Locals:
The club was originally formed in 1911. FC Halifax Town formed out of the ashes of Halifax Town who went into administration during 2007-08 season. Debts of £2million with over £800,000 owed to HM Revenue and Customs saw the club wound up. The Shaymen reformed in July 2008, be it three steps further down the pyramid, the FA placing them in the Unibond League Division One North.

Brief Directions by Road:
Take the M62 exiting at junction 24, follow signs for A629 Halifax (quite complicated after the slip road, just keep focused) and into Calderdale Way which becomes the Huddersfield Road After approx 4.5 miles on this A629 keep right into Shaw Hill where you will find the ground on your left and parking.

Car Parking:
There is parking at the ground at a small charge but street parking locally is freely available.

Directions by Train:
A mid morning train from Kings Cross will take around 3 hours with a possible change at Leeds.

A 10 minute walk awaits – out of the station through the car park and turn left onto Church Street. Over the roundabout into South Parade and then straight onto in Shay Syke. You will see the ground to your right.

Supporters Coaches:
Barnet Football Club will be running a coach to every away first team game this season. The 2013/14 Travel Club is now open for fans to join by a monthly fee system or one off individual booking.

Monthly Travel Club Memberships cost £38 for Adults, £30 for Concessions & Juniors and just £20 for Under-10s.

As a member of the Bees Travel Club, the club guarantee your seat on every trip of the season. All the coaches are stewarded and will depart from The Hive and return to The Hive immediately after the match.

For further information on the Bees Travel Club, please call the ticket office on 020 8381 3800 and select option two or visit The Hive in person.

Eating and Drinking Locally:
The Three Pigeons, which you pass on the left when walking from the station serves up very decent pints. The The Barum Top Inn (Wetherspoons in Rawson Street) Inn is a good bet for food as always. Nearer to the town centre you will find The Pump Room in New Road. My Reckless recommendation – which is a tough pub to find but a real gem tucked away behind the old Mill building to the east of the ground, is the Shears Inn ttp://www.shearsinnparisgates.co.uk. You will find it in Paris Gates/Boys Lane HX3 9EZ.

It is the oldest pub in Halifax and a well worth seeking out. I will be in there for real ales and their range of hot sandwiches, with a side of chips and gravy dip, all are scrummy.

Social Club:
The South Stand bar is open to all before and after the match.

Ground Description:
The ground was originally laid out in 1921 and remained a very basic stadium with some area simple grass banks until as late as the early 1980’s. The club now have an arena that could grace the Football League with very few problems.

The recently refurbished east stand has room for around 4,000 and houses all the office facilities plus changing rooms and corporate hospitality. At each end of the ground are huge “old school” covered terraces each offering a fabulous view of proceedings. Opposite is the old Skircote Stand, the oldest of the structures which has been converted from terrace to seating. Part of this stand is made available for visiting supporters.

Admission Prices:
Adults £17.00 Concessions £13.00 16 and Under £8.00

Rivals:
Rochdale traditionally, but the club are surrounded by some pretty fierce opposition. Oldham to the south east, Rochdale and Bury to the west, Bradford to the east and Burnley to the north. To the south lies Huddersfield and horror of horror the hooligan infested Holmfirth Rovers.

Previous Meetings and Memories:
Our last visit in August 2004 saw us 2-0 down at half time. However an own goal, a strike by Liam Hatch and a sublime prefect lob by Giuliano Grazioli saw the Bees win 3-2. The previous season we picked up a 2-1 win (thanks to Graz and Ben Strevens) and even the terrace drum joined in the celebrations tumbling down the high terrace towards Shane Gore in the Bees goal…………it could have killed someone for sure.

I also had the absolute pleasure of visiting Halifax in the 2000/1 season by stretch limousine. Our little party shared numerous pints and vodkas in the lounge bar with John Doolan’s Dad before the game and numerous more after it. The result that day was……I can’t remember!

Season 1991/2 in November saw in my opinion one of the best ever team line up, rather than individuals, I ever witnessed at Underhill put us top of Division 4 for the first time. We completely demolished a Halifax side by three goals to nil in front of nearly 5,000 fans. Strikers Gary Bull and Mark Carter were backed up by Kenny Lowe, Harry Willis, Paul Showler and Paul Wilson in midfield with Andy Pape, Duncan Horton, Dave Howell, Gary Poole, and Dominic Naylor at the back. I say best ever line up because this bunch had to be top class as the likes of Nicky Evans, Frankie Murphy, Tony Lynch, Micky Bodley, Gary Phillips, Derek Payne, Edwin Stein, Carl Hoddle and Geoff Cooper were either on the bench or in reserve – absolutely awesome.

Overnight Stay Factor:
I will award 6/10 as there is some lovely scenery to be found in the area – the Moors and the Pennines. You will find Halifax itself a good-natured place with numerous pubs. For that special late night out The Coliseum night-club is revered throughout Yorkshire. I went to a brilliant soul extravaganza there some years ago featuring Edwin Starr, Rose Royce and The Real Thing – wicked, funky and all that and I still have the red silk lined black waistcoat.

Celebrity watch:
Halifax’s list of famous persons is mind blowing – US President George W Bush’s family tree was traced back to Halifax and his ancestors emigrated to Massachusetts in the 16th century. The Poet Laureate of 1984 Ted Hughes OBE lived in Halifax. 1970’s legendary Blue Peter presenter John ‘Get Down Shep’ Noakes, wrestling giant ‘Shirley Crabtree’ aka Big Daddy, TV weatherman John Kettley and John Christie the infamous gas murderer of ‘10 Rillington Place’ in the 1940’s also hailed from these parts. Daniel Defoe allegedly wrote the novel ‘Robinson Crusoe’ whilst staying in Halifax around 1718. When you are driving home in the dark after witnessing another Barnet victory you should forever think of Halifax as the ‘cats eyes’ that illuminate the road markings were invented here too by Mr Percy Shaw.