Hi,

I was wondering if anyone could give me a little info please? I haven't been to Rochdale before and I'm coming up from Kent with the family ( grown up kids) for the Ireland -Fiji game at Spotland, was wondering if you could tell me where's good for getting a few drinks and something to eat pre- match near the ground? Doesn't have to be anything fancy, ideal would be a nice pub that does a decent bit of grub.

Also could you let me know what it's like for car parking in the area? I read on a football grounds website that a lot of parking in the area is resident permits type thing, would be grateful if you could let me know if there's anywhere I can park that's not too far away from Spotland.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give, looking forward to the game! Any idea how ticket sales are going ? I hear there's a big Fijian contingent turning up so us Irish ex-pats and 2nd generation mob will have to cheer extra loud!

All the best,
Rob

The Cemetery pub is the closest with real ales and food on offer.On big match days they use overflow parking at Oulder Hill school which is signposted.There is very limited street parking but as you have read most of the streets are resident only parking which is enforced by the local Authority.There are the usual fast food places just at the end of the motorway and the Sandbrook pub does food and drink in the same area.If you arrive early there are places in the town centre including CAMRA pub of the year The Baum right next to the co-op museum.

Cheers mate, sounds great will give one of those pubs a go - thanks for the tip for parking. Really looking forward to this game, it's the only Ireland one that I can get to and it sounds like there'll be a great atmosphere with the Rochdale Fijian community.
Thanks again,
All the best,
Rob

Is it me or are the Irish playing sneaky cheats off the ball ?

Good half of football loving it , Fiji had better settle down or Ireland will take them.

The Irish Fullback swing his arm into the Fijian halfs head right in front of Bentham was a circus " Walk away.....he was just pushing you off "

Started watching the game as an impartial , fully in support of the Pacific Islanders now.

Great crowd , brilliant , another proud showing for Rugby word cup 2013 well done !

Just wanted to say what a great evening we had at Spotland last night, even if the result went the wrong way!!

Enjoyed the game, real full on stuff! Had to end with a Fiji win in Rochdale - thats what the script demanded! Great banter between the fans, well done to all for not just putting on a march but for making it an event!

And thanks for the tip about the Cemetery, spent a good couple of hours in there before kick off, would have stayed longer if there hadnt been a RLWC game kicking off up the road!

All the best
Rob

Don't suppose anyone has a spare scarf from this game they would like to sell?

Son is after one as a momento but didn't manage to get one at the game

Cheers, Steve