Reds All Over Europe: Celta de Vigo. - UEFA Cup 3rd Rd 1st leg, 24th November '98.

RC Celta de Vigo

Currently lying third in the Primera Division - a point behind Real Madrid, and having beaten Aston Villa at Villa Park, Celta will be our toughest test of the UEFA Cup campaign so far. Celta are currently celebrating their 75th anniversary having been founded in 1923.

Vigo Club Honours:

Don't know that much about them - yet! Stay tuned.

Stadium:

Celta play at the Estadio Municipal de Balaidos, which has a capacity 33,000 - more than enough to accommodate their 14,000 socios. Looks decent enough. Villa took 400 but I hear we are asking for around 1000 tickets.

Travel:

Vigo is situated on the North Western tip of Spain on the Atlantic coast. In fact the nearest really big city is Oporto in Portugal. Independent travel will be either very time-consuming or very expensive (or both). Flights from Manchester operate into Oporto but are pricey. Vigo airport is 10km (6 miles) east of the city .

Madrid is a nine-hour train journey from Vigo and travelling by ferry to Santander leaves a similar journey by road or rail. Vigo is NOT part of the main railway network (RENFE). Trains go from Madrid to La Coruna. You have to change at Ourense for Vigo. There's no main train route from Santander to Galicia other than via a long detour inland.

Unlike Valencia there'll be no cut-price package holidays to take advantage of. However, Vigo DOES have an airport - the region's other main airports being at La Coruña and Santiago de Compostela. The tourist office in Vigo is at the Estacion Maritima railway station (Phone (986) 43 05 77).

If you're driving up from Oporto: Head North to Braga and take the 101 to the Border at Monção on the Rio Mino. Follow the river west to Valença and cross the river into Spain. Follow the 550 North to Porriño where the road splits: To the West is Vigo or you can continue North towards Vigo airport if you're meeting anyone.

Millwest Travel are operating a 2 day tour priced at £259.00 - flight departs at 10am on Monday 23rd, and returns after the game on the Tuesday night. the price includes transfers to and from a 4 star b&b hotel, and to the stadium.The price is based on sharing a twin or triple room. Single rooms are available for a £15 supplement. Millwest prefer that you sort out your own tickets from LFC (so get that ISC membership renewed) as they've experienced difficulty getting tickets from the club in the past. Phone 0161 228 6601 and ask for Mick and say you saw this on the RAOTL web site. Fax them on 0161 228 6306.

Towns Travel of Liverpool are organising 3 tours. The one day in-and-out from Speke Airport, Liverpool: priced at £209. A 1 night stay, flying out on the Monday and back after the game, priced at £259; and a 2 night stay out of Manchester and London priced at £399. Contact Towns on the usual number: (0151) 426 5133 and PLEASE say that you saw it on the RAOTL web site. That's the phone number of their head office in Prescot: Branches at (0151) 427 5122 (Garston), (0151) 525 1768 (Walton), 01744 24314 (St Helens) and (0151) 424 4218 (Widnes).

Barnes Travel of Liverpool are doing a Day trip air jaunt leaving Liverpool on the morning of the game. Cost is £199 (insurance, if required, costs £6) and includes all transfers. Match tickets are guaranteed, and will be supplied at cost price. Barnes are at 26 County Road, Walton , Liverpool L4 7QM - phone (0151) 524 2000 or 286 2000.

Match tickets will cost extra on the above tours (No details as yet - but we believe they'll cost around £30).

You may also have spotted an advert for a 3-day airtour priced at £299, from Manchester on scheduled flights. Beware - this is a SwissAir flight to Zurich and a transfer to a flight to Porto. It offers 2 nights in a 4 star hotel. It leaves Monday and returns on the Wednesday. No match tickets are offered either. If you're still interested phone 0800 731 9683.

The Craic:

See our < Valencia page >for the basics of having a good time in Spain.

Vigo, though relatively small (pop: 300,000) is Galicia's largest town and the biggest fishing port in Spain. It is situated in an attractive setting neat the mouth of a deep ria (river gorge) spanned by a high suspension bridge. Vigo is not a particularly beautiful city, and has no old buildings of any distinction. The oldest part of town, the Barrio del Berbes, is near the port and used to be the sailor's quarter. It's cobbled streets and alleys are teeming with bars - sounds good to us. the area is particlarly well served with tapas bars which serve mainly seafood. So when you get to Vigo head straight to the old harbour and follow the sound of singing. Sorry we can't be more specific.

Essential Lingo:

¡ Hola ! ........................................ Hello.

She Crazy! ................................ Mr Fawlty, I agree, your wife is a barmpot.

Adiós ........................................... Goodbye.

Dos cañas por favor............... Two beers please

Ocho cañas por favor............... Eight beers please

Gracias ....................................... Thank you.

¿ Donde está el estádio ? .... Where is the stadium?

Si ................................................... Yes

Por Favor .................................... Please

¿ Habla Ingles ? ...................... Do you speak English ?

Currency:

The Spanish currency is the peseta ('pta' - but referred to in RAOTL as 'pstas'). At the moment there are around 230 to the pound, 1000 pstas = roughly £5.50.