Waterfront

A day trip to Birkenhead started with a walk down to Woodside Ferry Terminal to admire the views across the Mersey to Liverpool's waterfront.

Returning up the hill I explored Hanover Square which apparently has, apart from Trafalgar Square,  more Grade 1 listed buildings in one location than anywhere in England. From there it was a short detour to the Wirral Transport Museum where volunteers were busy keeping buses and trams in shape and there were enough old road signs and transport ephemera to keep anyone happy.

Then football beckoned. A twenty minute walk brought me to Prenton Park, home of Tranmere Rovers who were hosting the lowest ranked team left in the FA Cup, Chichester City. This is one of those unique fixtures that the FA Cup throws up, the two teams had never met before and probably never will again.

In front of the TV cameras, Chichester held Rovers at bay for more than an hour, but then Tranmere scored five in 22 minutes to take the tie away from them. An added time consolation goal gave the Chichester fans something extra to cheer about, although it spoiled the potential symmetry of me seeing 5-0 cup games on consecutive days. 5-1 it finished.

Once back across. or rather under, the water I had a little while before my train went from Lime Street, so I popped across the road to Liverpool's Christmas market which was very busy. And December 1st seems to have brought the Christmas lights out everywhere.