Gloucester Match Report

Due to the RFU's unfathomable decision to put an international 7's tournament on at the same weekend as the final domestic weekend of the season, denying many rugby fans from a grand day out at HQ watching a wonderful exhibition - this was my final game of the season. Yes, I chose the 7's over the watching the presentation to our departing players and end of season party. Yes, I am a heathen!

What with the club's efforts to drum up more supporters next season, and the general acceptance that the Season Ticket package for next season is quite reasonable, I've decided to split up this match report in two. If you're only interested in reading about the match, then click here:

Full Match Report

However, for the benefit of those who have yet to do an away match, or are unsure of what to expect with the coach put on for the club, read on - as I find it's these bits that are more interesting than the match!

We arrived in Reading around 9am to acquire a hearty breakfast and made our way to the MadStad for 10. The coach laid on for free to Season Ticket holders was parked up outside the Hotel ready to depart at about 1030. A quick google informed us that it would arrive at 1200 which left us 3 hours to kill in Gloucester pre-match.

The coach had its usual generous affair of food running around, thank you to everyone who brought things along, I shall ensure I reciprocate next time. I had heard word that the smoked salmon bagels were quite good and I was not disappointed, they were delicious!

An hour and a half later, we arrive in Gloucester and are dropped off straight outside the front door, though there was no coach parking so no idea where they went for the next 6 hours, there's not a lot of wide roads in Gloucester! My partner in crime and I had debate on whether to head to a pub and et so drunk the was no hope of being able to remember the match or whether we headed into town and took in the sights and sounds. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, if we knew what was to come I imagine our decision would have been different, but it was a nice day so we headed to the Cathedral.

Gloucester Cathedral is magnificent and well worth the suggested £5 donation to walk around and soak in the history, among notable connections there is a memorial to John Stafford Smith, which is credited with penning the words to the American National Anthem. There's a memorial to Robert Duke of Normandy who is the eldest son of William the Conqueror and a tomb and effigy to King Edward II. I highly recommend a visit if you ever have a bit of time to kill in Gloucester.

Still armed with time, we headed to the docks, which was highly disappointing as it's basically a shopping centre now and then walked back to find a nearby pub. I nearly fainted as I was presented with two whole pounds change from a tenner as I purchased two pints.

We met with some locals who were doing charity work, had a quick gas about the election and generally bang the world to rights, and then onto the Shed itself. We had decided to buy seats rather than stand in the shed. It turns out this decision was inspired as by the time we rocked up there was no room to accommodate stragglers. The ground and facilities are excellent, proper Rugby - it even has a grass pitch, GRASS!

The bars are much cheaper than at the Mad Stad, they have the same £1 keep your cup or trade it back in at the end to get your £1 system that Twickenham is now using, a pint of larger is £3.50 with Guinness being £3.80. It turns out the stadium was cheaper than the pub we were just in! There was a wide selection of food, the burgers looked much fatter than those seen at the MadStad. Although, we have Lockey Farm in the East - so we've got at least something over Gloucester's facilities!

A quick mosey around to our seats and we're with a good crowd of Irish Supporters, just in time for kick off

Continued in Part II...