Who are yer? Novara Calcio

Novara Calcio are on a roll, playing at their highest level for a generation.

The boys in blue and black did enjoy a few years in Serie A but you have to dig deep into the history books for that.

They were relegated from the top flight in 1956. Further slips down the pyramid saw them batting at Serie C1 and C2 level for many years until a much welcomed promotion back to Serie B,  after a 33 year absence, in 2010. And then, the big one, a leap via the play-offs into Serie A and back with the big boys in 2011.

Where do you come from? Stadio Silvio Piola

Novara call the Stadio Silvio Piola home, also known as the Stadio Communale. This 10,000 capacity stadium is part of a sports complex on the edge of Novara.

It's charming, with some old skool Euro floodlights, but in truth it's a fairly basic affair on three sides.

The one decent part is the main stand, the only part of the ground which is covered and a fair sized one tier section. The rest is a relatively shallow open bowl.

Take a pew: The main stand opposite.

Opposite the main stand is the Distinti area, open with plastic seats on all but the first three rows (guess where I ended up grrr). The first three rows there, and both curved ends, are concrete slabs for rows of seats, hence the large number of cushions making their way in.

Home ultra fans congregate behind the goal to the left of the main stand with what few away fans turn up being housed at the right hand end.

We're on our way: Getting to the ground

You can walk it from the station. And I have done, well walked back anyway when I was in a rush back to town and the buses weren't quite playing ball. Details below…

But the best way there and back from Novara main station is definitely by bus. Buses 4 and 8 go pretty regularly from the central station to virtually just outside the ground in Viale Kennedy. They are the top options, but Bus 5 also runs fairly close - if you take Bus 5 hop off at Largo Cantelli and continue straight on down Corso Vercelli, the stadium is on your right at Piazza Luther King.

It's over there: The stadium as seen from the main road.

The buses take no more than ten minutes and you can pick them up around the main station or alternatively just up the main road leading directly opposite from the station forecourt, 100 yards up from the tourist information centre.

You can buy bus tickets at any newsagent kiosk. In 2011 a ticket each way was one euro, just ask for a ticket as they last for 90 minutes, then stamp it in the machine on the bus. Grab two, one for the return journey.

If you insist on walking.. here you go. It'll take a good half an hour with a few cafe bars along the route.

Follow the road straight opposite up from the station, then at the top continue straight onto the largely pedestrian route. After a couple of hundred yards turn right into Corso Italia. Follow this to the end, then over the road and at the major junction bear left down the main Corso Torino. Follow this all the way to Largo Leonard roundabout, then ahead and right along the next main road. Continue along this, Corso Vercelli, into you reach Piazza Luther King and the stadium is on the right.

Bag a seat: Buying a ticket

Tickets can be bought from banks in the Novara district ahed of the game but this will be no good if you turn up on Saturday. They aren't available online so you need to buy on the day.

The ticket office kiosk is in the car park on the right as you enter the stadium grounds. The cheapest seats (or concrete slabs, as mentioned earlier) are 5 or 10 euros. Note if you're in the home end, the Curva Nord, you may end up close to the ultras but it's rarely full so I'm sure you can move around if it's not quite to your taste.

Two for the main stand please: The ticket office in the car park

If you want cover from the sun, or the rain, then you have to go in the main stand (Tribuna) where tickets will be 20 to 30 euros. The Rettilineo section is in front of the main stand but it's partially covered at best. The Distinti is the side opposite, uncovered but a good view.

Important: You will need ID to buy a ticket, as they put your name on the ticket. A passport's best.

Who ate all the pies? Eating and drinking

Outside there's a row of half a dozen food and drink outlets with a few picnic chairs and table to take the weight off, although they weren't overly busy when I was there. Beer is available here, although not the most popular drink of choice. There is one bar close by - it's nearest the home end just outside the stadium grounds in Viale Kennedy and looks to be a real homer.

Not quite 10 deep at the bars: The food and drink 'sector' in the car park

Inside facilities are, shall we say, limited. Soft drinks and crisps are your option in the kiosks underneath the stands. In my experience you needed to buy tokens and then hand them in for drinks, which seemed to cost a  euro per drink. Good luck.

Grab a souvenir: Club store

If you're after club gear there's a healthy selection on one stall next to the food and drink outside - there was nothing inside. Check outside the website: www.novaracalcio.com