North East Buses

Classic are already offering return coach travel for £35 as seen on their Facebook page. No doubt other operators will also get involved. Newmarket often offer London & match 2 day packages.

(05 May 2014, 9:24 am)marxistafozzski wrote [ -> ]Nice meeting you yesterday btw mate...

Can be a bit of a drag doing LDN and back in a day, 3hrs on a train to LKX then using the tube and so on, sounds like a hectic schedule for you if you decide to go

Nice meeting you too.

But yeah, I think my reservation is based upon the hectic schedule rather than cost. I doubt the actual ticket will cost that much (maybe £25-30?) and, as Tyresmoke notes, Classic are offering a £35 return coach which sounds quite reasonable.

However, since I'd like to do the trip in the quickest time possible, my travelling costs are going to be somewhat inflated if I decide to travel by train plus I have to factor in the price of the Tube (although I do have an Oyster Card) and then, to top it all off, the cost of a Purple Buzzfare so that I can get into Newcastle and back.

When you put it like that, it starts to mount up, what seems like a good idea becomes costly and lengthy...Me and my dad went to Cardiff in 2005 when my granddad decided to buy us play off final tickets for Hartlepool, we drove down and we were gone for 20 hours, set away about 5-6am and didnt get back till 1-2am the following morning, but we also had the hassle of having to park af Bristol Parkway, getting the train and having to change at Newport, that day killed me, I got home and slept for 36 hours straight...

Do Grand Central not have good deals on from Sunderland

Getting to Sunderland would add between 30-60 minutes each way onto my journey depending on what mode of transport I used.

The time added to my journey may seem trivial to some but it could mean the difference between getting the last bus back home from Newcastle or a costly taxi-fare back from Sunderland (which would probably be around £25).

I know which one I would rather choose!

(05 May 2014, 11:31 am)AdamY wrote [ -> ]Getting to Sunderland would add between 30-60 minutes each way onto my journey depending on what mode of transport I used.

The time added to my journey may seem trivial to some but it could mean the difference between getting the last bus back home from Newcastle or a costly taxi-fare back from Sunderland (which would probably be around £25).

I know which one I would rather choose!

Where u from mate, Gateshead or Newcastle...

I understand the problem you would have, is the playoff final gonna be on tv does anyone know?????

(05 May 2014, 12:24 pm)marxistafozzski wrote [ -> ]Where u from mate, Gateshead or Newcastle...

West West West Gateshead

(05 May 2014, 12:36 pm)AdamY wrote [ -> ]West West West Gateshead

Sounds like Murton, not easy to get to and from, I went to York with Darlo a few years ago and had to walk home from Durham as I only 97p to my name...

So for you to goto London sounds like a trek just to get to Newcastle or Sunderland

(05 May 2014, 1:06 pm)marxistafozzski wrote [ -> ]So for you to goto London sounds like a trek just to get to Newcastle or Sunderland

Using public transport, I would have to travel through either Newcastle or Gateshead to get to Sunderland which pretty much rules out that particular option. Getting into Newcastle is easy although the bus takes around 35-40 minutes depending on traffic.

Taking into consideration the potential for ET and Penalties (and of course travelling time), I imagine I would be leaving Kings Cross between 7 and 8. If the train takes approx 3hrs to get either Newcastle or Sunderland then I'd probably arriving somewhere between 10 and 11. The last bus home (from Newcastle) leaves at 11:15. In all probability, I'd be looking at a taxi home if I chose to travel to Sunderland. I suppose I could get a bus/train into Newcastle from Sunderland and get a taxi from there; but the fare is still around £15 from Newcastle.

(05 May 2014, 8:37 am)Andreos Constantopolous wrote [ -> ]Are you going to Wembley?

What a daft question to ask Yeah, I'm deffo going down

(05 May 2014, 9:12 am)marxistafozzski wrote [ -> ]Is it on TV do you know, who has the Conference TV Package these days???

I'm pretty sure BT will have it on.

Important to point out as well that there are engineering works happening on the ECML on May 18th. Therefore, all services to/from KGX will take an hour or so longer.

(05 May 2014, 2:00 pm)Adam wrote [ -> ]What a daft question to ask Yeah, I'm deffo going down


I'm pretty sure BT will have it on.

Important to point out as well that there are engineering works happening on the ECML on May 18th. Therefore, all services to/from KGX will take an hour or so longer.

Well theres a shock...NOT

Network Rail seems to do engineering work when there expecting a lot of people into LKX...It is as if they think 'we have not dug a hole or took up rails for a while, lets have a dig now'

(05 May 2014, 2:00 pm)Adam wrote [ -> ]What a daft question to ask Yeah, I'm deffo going down


I'm pretty sure BT will have it on.

Important to point out as well that there are engineering works happening on the ECML on May 18th. Therefore, all services to/from KGX will take an hour or so longer.

Whey you could have been off on holiday already, booked for an interview at college or skint :p haha

(05 May 2014, 2:00 pm)Adam wrote [ -> ]Important to point out as well that there are engineering works happening on the ECML on May 18th. Therefore, all services to/from KGX will take an hour or so longer.

Well that rules out the train for me. Unless something changes in the next few days it doesn't look like I'll be going down to London for the final.

(05 May 2014, 2:44 pm)marxistafozzski wrote [ -> ]Well theres a shock...NOT

Network Rail seems to do engineering work when there expecting a lot of people into LKX...It is as if they think 'we have not dug a hole or took up rails for a while, lets have a dig now'

To be fair the engineering works are booked well in advance, they didn't know Gateshead were to make the final. I guess it could have been any two clubs in the Conference at the time, not necessarily on the ECML!

(05 May 2014, 5:16 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote [ -> ]Whey you could have been off on holiday already, booked for an interview at college or skint :p haha

haha even if I did book a holiday it would already have been cancelled.

Actually come to think of it, little anecdote. At the end of this month, my whole family are going down to the VIP part of York Races for my Gran & Granda's Golden Wedding. We booked to go and then a few days later my Dad remembered about Gateshead and the play-offs and went into a bit of a panic in case the dates clashed. He checked them and found they didn't. Happy days

(05 May 2014, 5:31 pm)AdamY wrote [ -> ]Well that rules out the train for me. Unless something changes in the next few days it doesn't look like I'll be going down to London for the final.

I've been searching where the works are. There are some works between York and Doncaster, so trains are being diverted. Also, there are some works between Finsbury Park and Kings Cross, but journeys won't be affected by replacement buses. Trains from NCL to KGX will simply take an extra hour to get there because of the diversion. The works do finish at midday though, so returning should be pretty much fine.

The club are making a big announcement about travel tomorrow. Early suggestions seem to be in favour of chartering a train or two, so you could jump on that with us if you wanted to.

Also, the tickets for the match go on sale tomorrow. You have to get them though off Wembley's official website.

(05 May 2014, 6:02 pm)Adam wrote [ -> ]haha even if I did book a holiday it would already have been cancelled.

Actually come to think of it, little anecdote. At the end of this month, my whole family are going down to the VIP part of York Races for my Gran & Granda's Golden Wedding. We booked to go and then a few days later my Dad remembered about Gateshead and the play-offs and went into a bit of a panic in case the dates clashed. He checked them and found they didn't. Happy days


I've been searching where the works are. There are some works between York and Doncaster, so trains are being diverted. Also, there are some works between Finsbury Park and Kings Cross, but journeys won't be affected by replacement buses. Trains from NCL to KGX will simply take an extra hour to get there because of the diversion. The works do finish at midday though, so returning should be pretty much fine.

The club are making a big announcement about travel tomorrow. Early suggestions seem to be in favour of chartering a train or two, so you could jump on that with us if you wanted to.

Also, the tickets for the match go on sale tomorrow. You have to get them though off Wembley's official website.

They'll no doubt use Ticketmaster to rip everyone off like they did when Darlo went to Wembley. Still its a once in a lifetime opportunity for most people so you can't not go really!

(05 May 2014, 6:16 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]They'll no doubt use Ticketmaster to rip everyone off like they did when Darlo went to Wembley. Still its a once in a lifetime opportunity for most people so you can't not go really!

Saw the prices before like. Cheapest one is over £30, but still, like you say, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity.

(05 May 2014, 5:52 pm)tyresmoke wrote [ -> ]To be fair the engineering works are booked well in advance, they didn't know Gateshead were to make the final. I guess it could have been any two clubs in the Conference at the time, not necessarily on the ECML!

I know there booked well in advance, the same seems to happen on the WCML when North West teams are at Wembley there is always something going on the railway

Liverpool's hopes of winning the Premier League are shattered. Crystal Palace 3 - 3 Liverpool. Palace played well tonight like.

(05 May 2014, 8:53 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]Liverpool's hopes of winning the Premier League are shattered. Crystal Palace 3 - 3 Liverpool. Palace played well tonight like.

I would have pissed myself laughing if you told me that 3 weeks ago...

Liverpool play Newcastle on Sunday and City have Villa in midweek and West Ham on Sunday...

For Liverpool to win

*If they beat Newcastle, they have to count on City getting beat in both there games or draw at least one of them
*If Liverpool draw, the same as above
*If Liverpool lose to Newcastle, they can still win the League if City lose there last
*If City win 1 and lose 1 and Liverpool beat Newcastle , City win on Goal Diff

Cant think of anymore permutations...

But it is citys to lose now

http://www.themag.co.uk/the-mag-articles...le-united/

An interesting analysis of events behind the scenes at SJP http://www.themag.co.uk/the-mag-articles...le-united/

Forgot to tell you all this tale the other day about Gateshead and Wembley, so here goes...

Back in 1994, Gateshead were playing Merthyr Tydfil in a FA Trophy match. After 75 minutes, Gateshead were getting beat 2-0 but then scored 3 goals in the last 15 mins to win the game. Anyway, when the third goal went in, my granda had a heart attack and was rushed up to hospital. It was touch and go whether he would survive or not. (He did survive but unfortunately died of bowel cancer a few months before I was born). The club heard about the incident so they bought my granda an expensive bottle of whisky and he always told me dad to never open that bottle of whisky until Gateshead get to Wembley, so now 20 years later, we can finally open it on May 18th

Good enough reason to crack the Whisky...

Hope it tastes as sweet as getting to see your team at Wembley

(07 May 2014, 7:02 pm)Adam wrote [ -> ]Forgot to tell you all this tale the other day about Gateshead and Wembley, so here goes...

Back in 1994, Gateshead were playing Merthyr Tydfil in a FA Trophy match. After 75 minutes, Gateshead were getting beat 2-0 but then scored 3 goals in the last 15 mins to win the game. Anyway, when the third goal went in, my granda had a heart attack and was rushed up to hospital. It was touch and go whether he would survive or not. (He did survive but unfortunately died of bowel cancer a few months before I was born). The club heard about the incident so they bought my granda an expensive bottle of whisky and he always told me dad to never open that bottle of whisky until Gateshead get to Wembley, so now 20 years later, we can finally open it on May 18th

A sad story with an excellent ending.

Didn't want to tempt fate - but Gatesheads fixture with Grimsby was 21 years to the day Newcastle beat Grimsby to win the league.
There were pitch invasions that night too

BTW, whatever happened to Merthyr Tydfil?

(07 May 2014, 7:06 pm)marxistafozzski wrote [ -> ]Good enough reason to crack the Whisky...

Hope it tastes as sweet as getting to see your team at Wembley

haha hopefully. Must admit, I am quite susceptible to a tipple of whisky now and again.

(07 May 2014, 7:12 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote [ -> ]A sad story with an excellent ending.

Didn't want to tempt fate - but Gatesheads fixture with Grimsby was 21 years to the day Newcastle beat Grimsby to win the league.
There were pitch invasions that night too

BTW, whatever happened to Merthyr Tydfil?

I'm quietly confident we're going up.

I didn't know what happened to Merthyr Tydfil either but according to Wikipedia, the club folded in 2010 and reformed under Merthyr Town, playing in Division One of the Western League.

(07 May 2014, 7:20 pm)Adam wrote [ -> ]haha hopefully. Must admit, I am quite susceptible to a tipple of whisky now and again.


I'm quietly confident we're going up.

I didn't know what happened to Merthyr Tydfil either but according to Wikipedia, the club folded in 2010 and reformed under Merthyr Town, playing in Division One of the Western League.

After a shaky start the other week, Gateshead dominated Cambridge, without creating too many chances.
Are Cambridge still struggling for a keeper?
The fella they had from Leicester didn't look too confident and had obviously been in a poor Stevenage team prior to signing for Cambridge.

Atm Sunderland are stopping up, half time and were 2-0 up... its the prem so anything can happen!

(07 May 2014, 7:27 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote [ -> ]After a shaky start the other week, Gateshead dominated Cambridge, without creating too many chances.
Are Cambridge still struggling for a keeper?
The fella they had from Leicester didn't look too confident and had obviously been in a poor Stevenage team prior to signing for Cambridge.

As far as I know, they've still got that keeper from Leicester. I agree with you when you say that he didn't look too confident. With a bit of luck, he still isn't confident with the ball when we play them

(07 May 2014, 7:35 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Atm Sunderland are stopping up, half time and were 2-0 up... its the prem so anything can happen!

Quietly confident...

(07 May 2014, 7:20 pm)Adam wrote [ -> ]haha hopefully. Must admit, I am quite susceptible to a tipple of whisky now and again.


I'm quietly confident we're going up.

I didn't know what happened to Merthyr Tydfil either but according to Wikipedia, the club folded in 2010 and reformed under Merthyr Town, playing in Division One of the Western League.

They did indeed fold and reform in 2010...

I have a question for you Adam

Is the Gatshead FC we know today the same Gateshead that was voted out of the League 54 years. Football in Gateshead has an interesting history, reforming a few times, mergers with South Shields and so on...

I am guessing Gateshead today is a new club and it was not this club that got voted out of the league, but also guessing most fans view it as a Phoenix so to speak

Were staying up!

What were the odds of us stopping up after the Everton game?