My non-league day out...Southport V Rochdale friendly

I'd been looking forward to this weekend ever since we'd announced the friendly fixture against Southport, not only because it was the first of our pre-season games in the UK, but also because it meant I could finally meet @NicSFC off Twitter, who, if you follow me, will know I talk to a lot!

Southport bound & new shirt

So, we arranged to meet before the game and come Saturday morning I opened the curtains to see the heavens had opened all night and I'm sure the rain didn't stop all morning. As I tarted myself up for Nic (lol) and pulled on my brand spanking new Dale shirt, which is rather smart as you can see, it continued to rain and I was starting to wonder if the game was going to be called off. We set off from Rochdale at 12.30pm, picking up other Rochdale fans on the way and we were finally Southport bound...as we left Rochdale, the rain stopped and the sun came out...typical Rochdale weather!


The journey to Southport took a little longer than expected, the traffic was pretty bad, obviously because of all the Dale fans making the trip to the seaside (lol!), and we also did the typical "oh there's a coach from Rochdale, it must be the players, oh no it's some old people" haha! Anyways, as we arrived in Southport, we easily parked up on a decent street too, there's plenty of street parking around the ground, which is a welcome change. As soon as we parked up I rang Nic, she was already at the ground, so I headed in her direction. She'd told a lovely man to look out for a very blonde Rochdale fan, so we were immediately united!

Nic and me

So, with my Southport fan and non-league chaperone in hand, I left my fellow Rochdale fans in the pub with the rest of the Dale lot and headed off with my new friend (and her brother!). I was rather impressed that it was just £7.00 in at Haig Avenue, was certainly a welcome change. Into the ground I was once again impressed by the set up. Three of the four sides were standing terraces, two uncovered and one covered, and then along one side was a "main" stand that was seating and covered.


Given the morning's typical northern weather and the fact that we both have nice hair, we decided to sit in the covered seated stand, which is also where Nic usually sits. So, we took up our places in the stand, we also had a pretty decent view right on the half way line, behind our bench and next to the tunnel, so not only did our hair stay looking nice but it also meant we had a good view.

So, the match kicked off, unfortunately or funnily we were sat in front of a Scottish Dale fan who felt the need to give a running commentary on the game! I have to say the team that Southport put out in the first half struggled to get near our players and the league gap was quite obvious, but we ended the first half 0-0. Into the second half Southport fielded a different team and they seemed to have a little bit more about them and played some decent football. Their side also included ex-Rochdale player Simon Grand...who has got rather fit...I'm sorry lol! Rochdale took the lead on 55 minutes with a header from new signing Ashley Grimes, but just after the hour Southport pulled it back level with a well taken penalty from Tony Gray. Rochdale newbie Simon Hackney made the scoreline 1-2 on 85 minutes with a beauty of goal over the keeper's head from 25 yards out. And that was it done and dusted: Southport 1 - 2 Rochdale.


A few more highlights from my non-league day out? I think Nic got rather jealous when we got our ice bath out, oh yes, we're posh now we're in League One...although the image was somewhat ruined when a group of our fans decided to strip down to their underwear, jump over the boards and get in said ice bath...


We also spent most the time having a good natter as girls do and also checking out some of the players, sorry...lol! Nic was the first person I've met off Twitter and I came back alive, so it must have gone well, although I'm sure I'm not supposed to meet up with random people off the internet!


So we said our goodbyes and on our way back to the car we stopped off at a shop to get some sweets...I have to say it was a strange experience...I've never been in a shop that sold old Easter eggs without the packaging with a sign that just said "egg £1" haha!


Getting away from the ground was easy and we were well on our way, so on went my music much to the dismay of those in the car with me, although I reckon they quite liked my rapping and brapping. Home, trashy TV and a Chinese for tea, all in all a good non-league day out.