Advantages: Football is the greatest game in the world ever, we're not Manchester United
Disadvantages: We lose more often than we win

...I am a season ticket holder at Stockport County, and the 2000/2001 season has just finished, with County in 19th place. The fact that relegation fears were only averted one weekend before the end of the season might not sound all that good to all you Manchester United fans down there in Taunton and Exeter. In fact, Edgeley Park (home of the County) is only seven miles from your Old Trafford ground. But you didn't know that, did you??? Anyway, to support such a team in the shadow of the two Manchester clubs takes real dedication, and the fact that our average crowd for last season was around 7,000 shows that the majority of the population of Stockport just don't turn out to watch the team. Fair play to them, sometimes County can be quite dire. Manager Andy Kilner's tactics can be beyond belief, four defenders out of five... Read review

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Advantages: Close to London, plenty of good seaside resorts.
Disadvantages: Erm...

...Sussex is the most wooded county in the whole of the UK. It boasts a wide variety of places, from the high-life of one of Britain's most famous seaside resorts at Brighton, to the calm of one of Britain's most famous forests - The Ashdown forest, better known as Hundred Acre Wood. For yes indeed, this county on the south coast of England, nestled between London and the Sea is home to Pooh Corner and Poohsticks Bridge. And all this not 30 miles from the country's second airport London Gatwick, also in Sussex. Formally split in to East & West Sussex, the county can offer almost everything of a tourist's desires. London is just 30 miles north of the county. The resorst of Brighton, Bognor Regis, Eastbourne and Littlehampton all settle on the south coast of sussex. And in between you can find everything from the Roman City of Chichester... Read review

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Advantages: Friendly, Welcoming People
Disadvantages: Bleak Past

...orientated. A must-visit if you want to understand a little more about Northern Ireland, is The Ulster-American Folk Park, which is located outside Omagh. The Folk Park is a huge expanse of land on which old houses have been taken from all over the country, brick-by-brick to tell the story of Ireland in olden times. They don’t do things by halves here either… when you visit, all the staff are in full costume. There are a few Neolithic sites in County Tyrone which are rather unique, and one in particular is based in Gortin, at the Ulster History Park. Even if you are not interested in history, the Gortin Glen is the most eeriliy beautiful glen I personally have been to, and I love to drive the windy roads there. COUNTY DOWN +++++++++++++ If you like to walk, then come to County Down. The infamous Mountains of Mourne are in County Down... Read review

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Advantages: Good young players who may do well in the Second Division
Disadvantages: Woeful season

...Today's 3-1 defeat at Wimbledon confirmed what we all knew weeks ago, that Stockport County would be playing in the Second Division next season. It is somewhat unusual for a team to be relegated as early as mid March but when you realise that they have only won three out of 39 games all season in the league then you start to realise why they are in this position. Sixteen defeats at home out of 19 starts tells it's own tale. County got off to a poor start to the season but have picked up some good results notably a draw against local rivals Manchester City. Manager Carlton Palmer must have known the magnitude of the task when he took on this job but very sensibly he is building for the future, bringing in youngsters like Andy Thomas, John Hardiker, Rob Clare and Fraser McLachlan. If you look at the statistics County have tended... Read review

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Advantages: Super stadium, super football
Disadvantages: Freezing in the middle of winter!

...My love of Derby County started back in the early 1970's. As I live in Derby, I decided to give the local football team. Well. that was it, from that moment on I was in love with Derby County Football Club. I now have a season ticket and go to as many away games as I can. Believe me, Derby are a different team this season. Craig Burley, although injured at the moment, is pivotal in our rise up the table. Bjørn Otto Bragstad, Youl Mawene and Danny Higinbotham will be great defenders for us, they just need to adjust or settle down to premiership playing. Kinkladze is a super hero already, his first full season in the Premiership will have the Derby crowd loving him even more than they do now. Up front Malcolm Christie, back from a nasty virus, will be a revelation this year and will hopefully get into the England squad, he has... Read review

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Advantages: Good location. Prosperous. Fairly clean
Disadvantages: Lacks night life, a bit expensive.

...Maidstone,one of the larger towns in Kent,is actually the County Town. Somehow it seems to be less well known than several other places in the county such as Dover, Canterbury or Gillingham. It is essentially a prosperous place and is only around 40 miles from London. The shopping scene in the county town is a good one and most of the well known multiples are represented here, and there are a number of good specialist shops. There are several high quality hotels in the town or on the outskirts as well as guest houses and bed and breakfast establishments. There are some very good eateries in Maidstone,including ethnic restaurants, and where I would give it very high marks are for its pubs both those in the town centre and at outlying spots such as Bearsted, Allington Lock and Harrietsham.It really does have some gems. Maidstone... Read review

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Advantages: The Best Bon Jovi Track
Disadvantages: None

...Dry County is by far THE best Bon Jovi song in my opinion. It shows off their talents as musicians, lyricists and composers. The Keep The Faith album version lasts an incredible 9.52 minutes, whereas the single version had to be shortened down to around 6 minutes (just like Meatloaf's I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)). Written By Jon Bon Jovi after going across South America on a motorbike, he got the inspiration for the song when he was in a 'Dry County', he has written the song as a portrait of the towns and stories he heard about the region, as well as the people who left their old lives behind to stake their claim to a 'fortune' in the Dry Counties and what happened to them. The intro is almost haunting, with the focus mainly on David Bryan's keyboard/piano skills, there is a little bit of Richie Sambora... Read review

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Advantages: Variety of Entertainment
Disadvantages: Some places can be behind the times!

...of Southwold is known for its 18th century lighthouse and its Adnams Brewery. Continuing down the coast is Aldeburgh, home of the composer Benjamin Britten, (1913 -76) who was also an accomplished pianist and conductor. His legacy is the renowned Aldeburgh Festival held at Snape Maltings. The artist JW Turner frequented Aldeburgh and his sketches of Suffolk are now to be found in the Tate Gallery in London. Felixstowe is a seaside town but also the largest container port in the UK with rail links through Ipswich and beyond. Ipswich, the county town was the birthplace of Cardinal Wolsey the Lord High Chancellor of England until he fell foul of the king, Henry VIII. He founded a college, some ruined gates survive, the new Wolsey Theatre is so named. To the west is Sudbury, this is Gainsborough country, the painter Thomas Gainsborough... Read review

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Advantages: Great places to live,low crime rate
Disadvantages: can be cold during winter months

....During the college football season go to Byrd stadium and the place will be jam parked. Shopping If you are looking for a place to shop there are many.White Flint Mall,Rockville Pike,Silver Spring Mall,Wheaton Plaza,Montgomery Mall,all of these places have huge shopping malls and they are all accessible through the metro train or bus stations.Other Malls that you would have to drive to include Columbia Mall,White oak shopping center,Greenway shopping center,the great Annapolis Mall,Arundel mills(the largest of them all).You would find stores like nordstrom,Sears,Hechts for clothing,Best Buy,ComUSA,Circuit City for electronics and Marlo furniture for home furnishing needs. Beaches For relaxation especially during the summer holidays the place to be is the beaches down in the Eastern part of the state.Ocean city is where all the great beaches are... Read review

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Advantages: Good weight with a meaty middle
Disadvantages: None really, except I always find the edge :)

.... The Insignia E.S. variety of bat is a very comfortable to use bat, which can neither be described as heavy or light. It strikes a good balance between the power and control aspects of the game of cricket, allowing both powerful drives and pulls, as well as the more delicate cuts and sweeps to be played with ease. Various professionals have been known to use County bats such as David Gower and Nick Knight, and some even use this particular variety. One problem that I have with this bat is that the edges of the bat, especially down towards the middle are quite thick, this means that if you do happen to edge a delivery, (which I do all the damned time!!!) it is very likely to fly off and carry to the fielders. I guess the advantages are that it makes the bat less likely to crack if it hits the edge, as well as encouraging good techniques... Read review

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