250 miles in a day is a hell of a commute, but one which I’d gladly do
again. At least for the way there – I was amazed at how cheap the return ticket
was - £21.75 – which for a journey of approximately 125 miles each way is great
value, I’m not sure you’d be able to travel the same distance anywhere else in
the UK. However, I soon realized why. The train left from Shipley, a town near
Leeds, and I noticed on the platform that all the places it called at were
small, the biggest being Skipton. The train pulled up, all of two carriages,
there were no more than ten people on the train at any given point. The journey
went through the gloriously bleak and austere countryside of the Yorkshire
Dales, which was great to watch fly by for the 2 ¼ hours. The way back, in the
dark and via Preston, was less impressive.
I got to a snowy and chilly
Carlisle just before 2, and went straight to the ground, Brunton Park, a mile walk from the station. The ground looked like it hadn't changed since they briefly topped the English football pyramid back in the mid-70's. There were wooden
seats and more fans standing than sitting which can only be a good thing, but with the Coventry fans not braving the uncovered terraces behind the goal, instead electing to sit in the stand alongside the pitch. Carlisle scored in the second minute and spent the entire second half with
their backs to the wall, holding on for a 1 – 0 win.
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