Bradford:-Bradford has probably the most improved real ale scene around at the moment. Near the ground the suburb of Wibsey has a host of pubs. If you are a devotee of the recent wave of micro pubs Hoopers is a new one worth a look on the high street. Tucked away on Slack Bottom Road is a nice little traditional pub, The Gaping Goose. A two roomer with 3/4 handpumps in here. If you are going by the city centre, outside the interchange is Jacobs, Bradford CAMRA Pub of the Year. Nine ales to pick from in here! The new area to seek out in Bradford is North Parade where a number of new bars have opened recently, the pick of which is The Sparrow Bier Café, excellent in here. A ten minute walk from here will take you to Bolton Road where the long established and possibly best pub in the city is The Corn Dolly. This is basically an open plan pub with a great range of well kept ales. You won't go far wrong in here. Enjoy your ale, enjoy the match.

Swinton:-Unfortunately Swinton's present home in Sale is a real ale desert. If going by train and having a couple in Manchester The Port St Beer house on Port Street near Piccadilly station is a handy place for seven real ales to be found. A bit pricey but you are in Manchester. A short walk to The Arndale Centre will take you to the Micro Bar in the market section. This place is brilliant. Owned by Boggart Clough Brewery there's four pumps to choose from. What makes this place stand out is that it's surrounded by stalls selling food from all around the world. Get your jock, order a pint and sit down and watch the world go by. If going by car The Sedge Lynn (W) in nearby Chorlton-cum-Hardy is one of the best 'spoons around. This Art Deco pub is well worth a visit. On to Sale now and J.P. Joule on Northenden Road is the local Wetherspoons. Plenty to choose from in here but nowt much else to shout about in Sale itself. Enjoy your ale, enjoy the match.

You will Ian. Looking forward to seeing you and the lads.

Leigh, near Wigan:-Starting on the edge of the town centre The White Lion, opposite the parish church is a friendly pub where six handpumps dispense ales from Allgates brewery. A good pint is guaranteed in here. A few doors away you can find The Thomas Burke (W). Ten pumps on in this former picture house named after a famous Leigh tenor, known as the Lancashire Caruso! A short walk to the other side of the centre will bring you to the George & Dragon. This pub with a Tudor facade has a couple of changing beers on. No children allowed in here although I'm sure I met Salford Lad in there last season. On towards the ground now and on St Helens Road is The Britannia. A good place to meet the local RL fans, a last pint here is well worthwhile before a short walk to the ground. Enjoy your ale, enjoy the match.

I do remember setting off from the Fax at 9am for a 3:30 kick off at Hilton Park and missing it because we got stuck the Boundary pub, and they shut at 2 on a Sunday aft in those days. Good times.

A few yards past the White Lion is the Boars head, worth a stop also and they run a bus direct to ground for a quid or so

How much! I have a chauffeur this week I'm pleased to say. We might call in there as I haven't done that one.

Liverpool:-A small guide for those attending the 4 Nations final on Sunday. On Lime Street station is The North Western, Liverpool's latest Wetherspoons. Very ornate with lots of railway memorabilia on the walls and the usual good range of ales. Two gems to visit whilst in this great real ale/classic pub city are The Dispensary. Turn left out of the main entrance of the station, past The Crown and The Vines, a wonderful interior in here but no real ale so pop in have a look and pop out and just past the traffic lights on your left is possibly the best real ale pub in Liverpool. About eight pumps on in here, all superbly kept. If you can pick up a copy of Merseyside Ale in here as it is one of the top mags and sometimes includes a real ale map. Out of here and left again to the next lights,turn left and on your left The Roscoe will be found on Roscoe Street. This is one of Britain's top 5 pubs that have appeared in every CAMRA guide. Great community boozer ala The Three Pigs. If time allows in the city centre two pubs not to miss are The White Star, the back room here is where The Beatles used to get paid after their turns in't Cavern and a favourite of mine, The Lion (NI) near Moorfields station. Enjoy your ale, enjoy the match! Up The Fax.

Good point, Norman. I know a couple of lads from Fev coming over on Boxing Day so I will do one before then. I have to say the aforesaid Micro's are a great boost to Fax's real ale scene. Cheery Tree shudds. Ilkley Pale 4.2% Mmm!

Halifax:-A new season is on the horizon and with it comes a few new micro pubs in the town centre. Open a couple of years now The Victorian Café Bar behind The Victoria Theatre is a real gem. Eight cask ales in here along with numerous bottles and plenty of "craft" lines if that's your tipple. Pies as well! Not to be missed. The Alexandra on Alexandra Street is the latest to be opened and although only two pumps are available in here again there's bottles aplenty, a small and welcoming bar is this one. Right next to The Town Hall is The Grayston Unity. In what was an old electrical store a tiny bar will serve you four cask ales in a very unusual setting. Last but not least is The Pump Room micropub. This one is situated at the top of Halifax Bus Station and in a very cosy atmosphere you can choose from six handpumps all of which dispense excellent real ale. Enjoy your Rugby, enjoy your ale.

Toulouse:-A long time since I visited Toulouse and the memory is fading, by all accounts we met Bentleyman and his good lady last time, but for real ale you're struggling in France although there is one ray of light in central Toulouse. The Frog and Rosbif on rue de l'industrie is just a short walk from Place Wilson. This is an English style pub with it's own on site brewery. Here you will find six real ales including a stout, a blonde (lager) and a white beer (Belgian). When alighting the underground I recall a very pleasant bar right outside although only the normal French beers/lager was available. Enjoy the match, enjoy the ale! Up The Fax