|
Post by tristanwhite on Dec 17, 2011 16:48:43 GMT
Hi! Just joined this forum as I am a Valencia fan -- based in London, I run the 500-strong Valencia Supporters Group in the UK and we'll be bringing a few up to the Brittania. First of all, I want to say how utterly thrilled we are to be playing Stoke. Apart from the fact that it's nice and close for us, Stoke is a great town, I've been there a few times as I also play poker and you have a great casino up there of which I'm a member. Stoke are playing very well at the moment, and we've just hit a bad spot following our loss to Chelsea, so not feeling terribly confident although a lot can change between now and February. Any information you want about Valencia, your trip there, where to stay, feel free to ask me on this forum, I always like to make good ties with the away fans and we often find that because you have such a great time in our city when you visit, you end up making Valencia your "Spanish team" after the tie and supporting Valencia with us as we take on Real, Barcelona, etc. We have a mailing list, and we have a presence at all the European away ties. I also produce an unofficial "pirate" 8 page colour fanzine for our fanclub, which I distribute around our away section (and occasionally finds its way onto eBay as they are quite collectable as only a hundred or so are printed normally). Nearer the time, ie in January, I'll be asking if any of you would be so kind as to prove a few words from a Stoke Fan's perspective, I will ensure you get sent a copy of the fanzine afterwards if you give me your mailing address off-list. But I'll ask for this nearer the time. Valencia is a great city, and very very friendly, you won't have any trouble there at all. Make sure you spend some time there, if you're there a while then the Oceanogràfic (a huge futuristic aquarium) is a must-see though it will take many hours to see it all. The nightlife is legendary... especially if you are still there for Friday night. The best part of Valencia for late night bars is called the Barri del Carme (Barrio del Camen in Castillian Spanish -- in Valencia they also speak Valencian, which has similarities with Catalan), and there are some top bars and clubs there, particularly around Plaza del Negrito (you can see some of them listed here www.roughguides.com/travel/europe/spain/valencia-and-murcia/valencia/bars-and-clubs.aspx) so it's a good idea to get there shortly after the match finishes as the tube closes at midnight (although you could walk it, though tube is better). And you must try the legendary Agua de Valencia which is a cocktail of champagne (cava), orange juice, vodka and gin. Get it by the litre and share. Normally about €10 for a big jug in happy hour, but that's enough for two people to get pretty merry indeed. :-) Before the match, make sure you drink in Manolo's Bar www.manoloeldelbombo.com/ outside the stadium in Plaza de la Afición, opposite the Valencia merchandise store, there's no problem anywhere drinking and wearing colours or anything, you'll find us very friendly. Manolo won't be moving his bar to the new stadium when it's finished, so this is going to be one of your last chances to visit it before he retires. The place is a small museum to football, with memorabilia from all the matches he's been present at with his big drum. Check out his omelette bocadillos and his calamari bocadillos (baguettes), they're excellent, and cans of beer for a Euro. The atmosphere there before the match is always great. The tradition is always to buy a couple which they wrap up in foil for you and you bring them in to eat at half-time. Match programmes are notoriously hard to find, but they do exist (as well as a number of free paper fanzines, but the one you will want is a smaller, glossier publication called Amunt which is the official matchday programme). You might see it on the odd bar counter or in the official shop, and it might be a Euro though sometimes it's free. There'll probably be some large A4 pirate ones too though for a few Euros or so, but I tend to ignore those as they're not official. If you need somewhere to stay, it's pretty cheap, even in the city centre, don't be too lulled by cheap hotels on the outskirts as they're a pain to get to at four in the morning after a few bevvies. Even hotels in the centre near the main square will not cost much... maybe €40 for a single room, or €100 for a room sleeping three or four. But book soon on booking.com or hotels.com or they'll be snapped up. Incidentally, if any of you could recommend a pub in Stoke where about 20 Valencia fans, wearing Valencia shirts, would be welcome to come and drink (as I have to meet up with them to hand out tickets etc) I would appreciate it. Obviously, within walking distance from the Britannia. Please don't be mean and send us to a particularly dodgy pub!!
|
|
|
Post by Caerwrangonpotter on Dec 17, 2011 16:51:35 GMT
Welcome along to our board & as with our other European visitors this Season im pretty sure you will be made very welcome. Expect a few more replies later for sure once the game with Wolves is over, and im pretty sure you will have a cracking time with us & the trip to The Brit!
|
|
|
Post by Chris1863 on Dec 17, 2011 16:53:53 GMT
Welcome fella.
Do your fans behave themselves?
We are a great bunch and will give you a warm welcome
|
|
|
Post by Chris1863 on Dec 17, 2011 16:56:31 GMT
Is it true that you have a port vale scarf hanging outside the pub opp the ground?
|
|
|
Post by clergue on Dec 17, 2011 16:56:43 GMT
I stayed at Hotel Londres in Valencia about ten years ago. A pleasant city with lovely people. I look forward to visiting again in February!
|
|
|
Post by mistersausage on Dec 17, 2011 16:56:58 GMT
Very nice of you to take the time to provide so much info for the Stokies who will be going to the away match.
Welcome to the Oatcake
|
|
|
Post by stokiejoeofalsager on Dec 17, 2011 16:58:19 GMT
WELCOME!! do you have a link to a valencia forum if there is one? if not tell your friends to come on
|
|
|
Post by ange1 on Dec 17, 2011 17:04:47 GMT
Welcome to Stoke City. I have sent you a PM re your questions
|
|
|
Post by casper113 on Dec 17, 2011 17:06:36 GMT
hi tristanwhite and welcome to the stokie forum,,, number of questions for you
1, where is the best place for us stokies to stay in valencia
2, where is the best place for stokies to drink.
3,what is your ground called, i have tried to google it but always comes back with the small grounds in valencia.
4.how friendly will your fans be when stoke knock you out
many thx bud, and you will always be welcome on here
|
|
|
Post by Pirate on Dec 17, 2011 17:11:50 GMT
hi tristanwhite and welcome to the stokie forum,,, number of questions for you 1, where is the best place for us stokies to stay in valencia 2, where is the best place for stokies to drink. 3,what is your ground called, i have tried to google it but always comes back with the small grounds in valencia. 4.how friendly will your fans be when stoke knock you out many thx bud, and you will always be welcome on here Estadio Mestalla
|
|
|
Post by takeshikovacs on Dec 17, 2011 17:11:53 GMT
Ground is the Mestalla isn't it...pronounced Mestaya?
|
|
|
Post by madasasnake on Dec 17, 2011 17:18:56 GMT
Welcome to the Oatcake!
I'll certainly be asking you some questions nearer the time!
Really looking forward to seeing Valencia and the stadium - a few of my Manchester friends tell me its one of their favourites! It's just a shame that the game in Valencia isn't during the school holidays or I would have been able to stay out there for a few days with my son and justified it on the basis that he's studying Spanish!
As above, is there is a link to the Valencia Forum - he will have to translate it for me!
|
|
|
Post by Pedropotter on Dec 17, 2011 17:19:14 GMT
Hi Tristan You won't remember me but I met you a couple of times a few years ago as I have a mate thats a big Valencia fan (he lives in Stoke), and I went to 2 champions league games with the Valencia fans (at old trafford and Highbury). I was made very welcome and as you say, made Valencia my spanish team as a result.
I can't make the away game as I'm on holiday (Lanzarote funnily enough), so I'm gutted. I hope you have a great time both home and away, but obviously I hope you lose :-)
|
|
|
Post by ruts66 on Dec 17, 2011 17:31:15 GMT
Hi Tristan,
Welcome to The Oatie, good to see you...
Valencia is my favourite European city so when the draw was made it was a no-brainer. I visit the MotoGP every year and stay in Cheste or Lliria.
How easy is it to get on the metro at Aragon after the game to get back to the nightlife?
Do you think the crowd will be anywhere near 55,000 for little old Stoke?
Cheers,
ruts
|
|
|
Post by beamerstoke on Dec 17, 2011 18:11:41 GMT
having been to Valencia 3 or 4 times with work i cannot wait to go there for "leisure", it is a brilliant city. Was lucky enough to be there when the cities other team - Levante - had their promotion party a few years ago - really friendly place, hope we do ourselves justice
|
|
|
Post by ttownstokie on Dec 17, 2011 18:15:34 GMT
Forca Malaga y Stoke City,Mañana vas a perder y gracias para Joaquin y Isco
|
|
laurie
Youth Player
Posts: 330
|
Post by laurie on Dec 17, 2011 18:21:16 GMT
Welcome. Always been a supporter of Valencia since the days of Pablo Aimar and John Carew. We enventually had Carew on loan for a few matches last season but he was way past his best. Now if we could ever have had the little Argentinian Aimar who I first saw in the 2002 World Cup - he would have been as popular as our Ric!
|
|
|
Post by ttownstokie on Dec 17, 2011 18:25:03 GMT
|
|
|
Post by tristanwhite on Dec 17, 2011 18:37:28 GMT
Welcome fella. Do your fans behave themselves? We are a great bunch and will give you a warm welcome We always behave ourselves. To be honest, I've never even seen a fight around the stadium or anything. A lot of alcohol is drunk for sure, and a lot of flagwaving and singing, but there are no nutters.
|
|
|
Post by tristanwhite on Dec 17, 2011 18:42:38 GMT
WELCOME!! do you have a link to a valencia forum if there is one? if not tell your friends to come on Not a link as such, it's a Yahoo! mailing list (http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/che-uk/) for members. You can find a link to lots of different fansites on loco4losche.com/index.php
|
|
|
Post by Menorca Stokie on Dec 17, 2011 18:48:16 GMT
Nice to see you flying the flag for us Giris Ttown.
|
|
|
Post by tristanwhite on Dec 17, 2011 18:48:27 GMT
1, where is the best place for us stokies to stay in valencia 2, where is the best place for stokies to drink. 3,what is your ground called, i have tried to google it but always comes back with the small grounds in valencia. 4.how friendly will your fans be when stoke knock you out 1. As I said in my first post, the centre. It's cheap. Book now and you can get a bargain. Personally, I often stay in the Hotel Europa www.booking.com/hotel/es/europa-valencia.en.html?aid=311076 which is cheap and cheerful, and very central. They only have a few rooms though. Let me know if you get stuck. 2. Also said that in my first post. At night time, head for the Barri del Carme (Barrio del Carmen) and in particular the bars around Plaza del Negrito. Before the match, the best place is right by the stadium, in Manolo's bar (the big guy with the drum who goes to all the Spain games, you've seen him on the telly I'm sure). There's nowhere you will be bothered. 3. Estadio de Mestalla, or just Mestalla. 4. LOL -- were that to happen, we'll still be friendly... assuming the result is fair!
|
|
|
Post by tristanwhite on Dec 17, 2011 18:49:44 GMT
Hi Tristan You won't remember me but I met you a couple of times a few years ago as I have a mate thats a big Valencia fan (he lives in Stoke), and I went to 2 champions league games with the Valencia fans (at old trafford and Highbury). I was made very welcome and as you say, made Valencia my spanish team as a result. Yep, I think I remember you, is your mate bald?
|
|
|
Post by tristanwhite on Dec 17, 2011 18:54:50 GMT
How easy is it to get on the metro at Aragon after the game to get back to the nightlife? Do you think the crowd will be anywhere near 55,000 for little old Stoke? Cheers, ruts No problem with the Metro as most Valencians drive back from the game, as you'll see from all the cars treble-parked everywhere (most people park anywhere, even if trapping someone in, but leave their handbreak off and window open so that someone can push you to get out -- that gives you an idea of (a) how trusting a place it is and (b) how utterly nuts people are Personally, I prefer to take the Metro from Facultats on Line 3. In three stops you're at the main station (Xàtiva) and from there it's a ten minute walk to the nightlife north of the main Plaza del Ayuntamento (Plaça de l'Ajuntament), ie the Barrio del Carmen. It does close at midnight, sometimes before, so don't leave it till the last minute. Tube map here: www.valencia-tourist-guide.com/images/ext/maps/metro-map-valencia.png
|
|
|
Post by tristanwhite on Dec 17, 2011 18:56:29 GMT
Forca Malaga y Stoke City,Mañana vas a perder y gracias para Joaquin y Isco We're called Guiri also, Penya Guiri de Londres. I'm very annoyed about losing Isco. Joaquín wanted to go so good luck to him, but Isco is a really good prospect for the future. I saw him play out in Hamburg last year for a friendly against Valencia and he was the best player I thought.
|
|
|
Post by tristanwhite on Dec 17, 2011 19:03:17 GMT
LOL always like Málaga CF ever since the reception we got in 2001 when we won the league at your ground. Nice bunch of fans. And playing well at the moment too.
|
|
|
Post by tristanwhite on Dec 17, 2011 19:04:35 GMT
Is it true that you have a port vale scarf hanging outside the pub opp the ground? I wouldn't be surprised. If you bring your scarf there (Bar de Manolo), I'm sure he will put it up on the wall also. And also pose for a picture with you, behind the bar.
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 17, 2011 19:24:12 GMT
Hola, Valencia, for a pre-match drink try the Locomotive in Heron Cross. Friendly bar, nice bar-staff and about 10 min walk to Stadium. lots of parking nearby. Enjoy and hope you will recipricate for us, we are stopping in Benidorm for couple of nights then maybe 2 nights in Valencia.
|
|
|
Post by Pedropotter on Dec 17, 2011 20:52:10 GMT
Hi Tristan You won't remember me but I met you a couple of times a few years ago as I have a mate thats a big Valencia fan (he lives in Stoke), and I went to 2 champions league games with the Valencia fans (at old trafford and Highbury). I was made very welcome and as you say, made Valencia my spanish team as a result. Yep, I think I remember you, is your mate bald? He sure is.
|
|
|
Post by Do eet fer Paddock on Dec 17, 2011 21:01:58 GMT
I saw the Guiri Army flag when I watched Malaga last Autumn. 1-2 home defeat to Zaragoza. Malaga were bloody awful! Said at the time, both teams looked ave championship level.
Thanks for the info Tristan, all really useful. Can't wait to see your city in Feb.
|
|