Two weeks before Christmas, go on, treat the partner, you watch the footy while they get some shopping in, possibily!
And, after what seems for ever, we play the Robins of Gloucestershire at a decent time at last, at least we can get back home at a decent time after, is it three, four if you take in the postponement last season, midweek trips to Whaddon Road on the trot?
Anyway, book in advance and there's some good value about, a mix and match with the coach will see the cheapest option, £18 return the best on the trains and arriving at 14.22 would be OK but a rush, worth paying a touch more to get some decent drinking in!
(THESE PRICES HAVE CHANGED, SEE UPDATES)
We should still be in a decent position by the second Saturday in December even if the Shrimpers don't actually top the table as they proudly do at the moment.
Certainly plenty of decent drinking to be done, but that's for another article!
Examples (updated from 06/12/11)
OUTWARD
London Paddington 10.15 - 12.22 Cheltenham Spa - NOW £22.00
London Paddington 11.00 - 13.24 Cheltenham Spa - NOW £20.00 (via Swindon)
London Paddington 12.15 - 14.22 Cheltenham Spa - NOW £20.00
INWARD
Cheltenham Spa 18.01 - 20.14 London Paddington - NOW £22.00 (via Swindon)
Cheltenham Spa 19.00 - 21.14 London Paddington - NOW £20.00 (via Swindon)
Cheltenham Spa 20.01 - 22.16 London Paddington - NOW £22.00 (via Swindon)
Singles from Southend stations £11.00-£18.50 to Cheltenham, only £11.00-£13.50 getting back, possible £22.00 return which is excellent value.
For all train bookings to Cheltenham go to: www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk
Mix & Match with the Coach
Go to www.nationalexpress.com and book 10.00-12.30 at NOW £11.50 with the 19.00 train service and that's NOW £31.50 return (back on 18.01 - £22.00) to Gloucestershire!
Megabus has fares at only £4 but sadly not the services to match, you would not make the footy!
(PRICES HAVE PROBABLY INCREASED, SEE WEBSITE)
DIRECTIONS
Cheltenham Station is over two miles from the ground, but walkable if you want to stop in town for a pit stop.
Using the local bus
Take the 'D' bus from the railway station car park (every 10 minutes during the day/every 20 minutes in the evening) to the town centre then either walk to the stadium (15 minutes) or take the A bus to The Abbey Business Stadium, Whaddon Road.
Taxi
From the railway station to the ground expect to pay around £8/£10. The taxi rank is located in the station car park (next to the bus stop).
Walking (free, unless you stop for a pint!)
If you are going to embark on the 35-40 minute walk then turn right out of station car park and follow Queens Road for around half a mile. At end of Queens Road, turn left into Lansdown Road.
At the next (Montpellier) roundabout, turn left into Montpellier Walk, (which later becomes the Promenade). At the end of the Promenade, turn right into the High Street.
Go along High Street for around 100 meters and then turn left into Winchcombe Street, (by a branch of the Cheltenham & Gloucester Building society, if it hasn't gone bust!) Continue straight along Winchcombe Street and into Prestbury Road. Straight across the next roundabout and then first right into Whaddon Road.
The entrance to the away end is down on the left.
Maps
to end up here;
(Thanks to www.footballgroundguide.co.uk for their help with this article.)