I worked over time, and decided not to do Harrogate after Notts. The tick was needed but ultimately wasn't worth what it'd cost for what it'd be - was a good game but if I've got to fork out for a Northern away match in the playoffs I know which one needs to be done

It was an easy awayday by train (despite Northern Trains contriving to make me miss my connection at York). MK - Manchester, Manchester - Leeds (trans pennine), Leeds - Harrogate, Harrogate - York (missed 20 min connection by 1 minute), York - KX (by Grand Central Railways, a first for me, nice train), Euston back to MK.

A grand day out (to nick a phrase from Wallace and Grommit)

I always pick crap Grand Central trains so you got lucky. I got a cheap 1st class trip in December with them and was looking forward to it. Waiter service consisted of a bloke wandering up and down with a cardboard box of lime (Yes lime) flavoured crisps or shortbread biscuits

Ha - yes it was fine on our class 180 5 car unit (but no snacks from York to London despite evidence that they were dished out earlier in the journey, which was a bit poor). Definitely more comfortable seats than the Azumo but to be fair that wouldn't take much. Good real ale and a pie at the York Tap made the hour wait more enjoyable.

Blimey I think you are all very brave trusting trains

Even back from London a few weeks ago took me 3 hours to get back as Euston was Armegeddon

I've commuted to town for years - yes there's always the occasional epic but generally it's fine. Trouble is there's no good alternative route if the WCML is shut down - Flitwick is 25 mins drive if somebody was around to pick me up (or vice versa). When EWR is properly up and running, Bedford or Aylesbury (or even Bicester) will be viable alternatives.

So, how many of the reported attendance of 573 didn’t show yesterday?

I suspect that was tickets sold rather than actual attendance. Quite a few I know had bought previously but didn’t make the trip once it became a dead rubber, and only those fussed about the Tick, had already bought train tickets, or had convinced the missus with a trip to Betty’s Tea Rooms and a night away, actually bothered.

Strange that North Yorkshire Police thought it warranted the huge police presence. They obviously expected it to be a crucial match a few weeks ago, put a big operation in place, but then didn’t think to themselves last week “this is a nothing game now. Maybe we scale back the meat wagons, and plod on overtime and save the tax payer a few quid”.