FOR football fans, there are few things better than standing on the terrace at a great game. Programme in pocket, Bovril in hand, scarf round neck, roaring on the boys with the rest of the crowd.

This time of the year is particularly good for us footy fans. There’s something magically atmospheric about matches that begin in daylight and end in darkness – especially when you win.

If you can’t get to the big game though, the next best thing is to hit the pub. York has a fair array of pubs that show live football, but The Terrace on the corner of Fossgate and The Stonebow is unmistakeably the city’s main sports pub, with TVs at every turn and pictures of sporting legends bedecking the walls. George Best here, England’s Ashes heroes there – you get the picture.

This place opened a few years ago, after a brief stint as YO1 and, before that, a lengthier spell as the Northern Wall. Even then, this place was a football fans’ mecca.

Back in 2002 I watched the FA Cup and Scottish Cup Finals here at the same time and it felt like there must have been more people in there than at the Millennium Stadium and Hampden Park combined.

It’s still hugely popular on match days, with the particular selling point of having multiple TVs showing different matches. On non-match days it still has a sporting theme, with Sky Sports News usually rolling continuously.

What of the beer though, I hear you ask. Well it’s mostly got the feel of a lager pub, probably reflecting the match-day tastes of most football fans. If you prefer an alternative to the generic Fosters/Carling/Carlsberg options, they do also have the immensely more enjoyable Amstel on tap.

The place also looks out for real ale fans too, with Caledonian Deuchars and Black Sheep Brewery’s Best Bitter invariably on offer as well, both of which are sufficiently easy-drinking and enjoyable to make celebrating a win or drowning your sorrows a palatable experience, while there is also a decent menu of reasonable pub grub.

Whatever your team, and however they’re doing, this is a place worth popping in to on match-day. After all, if you can’t be on the terrace, you may as well be in it.

IT’S a dog’s life down at the Blacksmiths Arms in Naburn

This week, landlords Ian and Maria Taylor handed over a cheque for £290 to the Dogs Trust, after a fundraising drive.

They were helped on the day by their own adopted dog Shandy, and Amber from the Dogs Trust.

Ian and Maria said: “Everyone at the pub adores Shandy and it’s because of her that we decided to make the pub as dog friendly as possible. We allow dogs into most areas of the pub and frequently there are more dogs than humans.

“We have also opened a special ‘dog bar’ providing fresh water and doggy treats for our canine customers in return for a donation from their owners, and we are overjoyed with how much money has been raised.”

Sarah Powell, from the trust, said: “Amber and I really enjoyed visiting the pub and she gave her woof of approval to the dog bar.”