I paid another visit to Tameside with the Heed Army, this time to Ewen Fields, the home of Hyde United for the Conference North clash with Gateshead.
After seeking out and visiting the local Wetherspoons, I made the point of calling into the Sportsman pub on Moltram Road. I recieved the friendliest of welcomes with a pint of Pennine ‘Floral Dance’, (which for some unknown reason was going spare) handed to me by the pub’s manageress. The Sportsman has a fine selection of Pennine Ales, which are brewed by the Rossingdale Brewery in Haslingden, along with a good section of guest ales.
The pub seems very friendly, with the locals interested in where we were from and if we had a pleasant journey. There’s two separate rooms downstairs, one of which has a pool table, while a few of the lads bashed their balls around the table, I stood at the bar and spoke to one of the pub regulars. He told we that he never touches the pubs real ale through the day “Because it’s like rocket fuel” and only drinks it towards the end of the night “For his own safety” I knew what he meant, as I staggered out of the pub, half popped, then up the hill to the football ground, where I then enjoyed a terrific 5-2 win for Gateshead, which was equally as good as the beer I supped earlier.
Visited- 1st November 2008
Supped; Pennine’Floral Dance’(3.6%)****
Pennine’Sunshine’(5.3%)***
Pennine’Rossendale Ale’(4.2%)***
Pennine’Railway Sleeper’(4.2%)**
(picture courtesy of www.pubutoia.com)
