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13/09/2010
Dragons fan sheds his Oxford blues

http://www.southwalesargus.co.uk/news/8387088.Dragons_fan_sheds_his_Oxford_blues/

From the South Wales Argus 11 September 2010:

DRAGONS FAN SHEDS HIS OXFORD BLUES

WHEN it comes to rugby, no one can question the passion of supporter Nick Warburton. The Newport Gwent Dragons season ticket holder has clocked up 10,000 miles over the last four years by driving to Newport from his home in Oxford in a bid to watch every home game.

But now fed up of the 180-mile round trip, Mr Warburton, 38, has set up a branch of his care recruitment company, Completely Care, in Newport to make it easier for him to catch kick-off and has already created new jobs there for local people.

Having the Newport branch just a mile away from Rodney Parade means the father-of-four can now break up his journey.

Instead of leaving the Oxford office at 4pm, Mr Warburton can now travel up to Newport the day before and spend time working in the office on Stow Park Circle.

"I would be all set to leave for the Friday night games and then something gets in the way. A meeting, a phone call, some urgent emails – anything that meant hitting the rush hour traffic all the way to Wales. Of course, our customer will always come first but I would get so frustrated," he said.

Mr Warburton, who also goes to most away games, said he sometimes missed kick-off because of traffic and did not arrive till the second half of one game because of a bad accident on the M4.

He said even tried working from the company’s branch in Bridgend on match days but Friday night traffic along that stretch of the M4 means it was the same journey time as from Oxford.

Mr Warburton said he probably spends at least £60 a week on petrol just travelling to the games and said his wife Erica thinks he is 'crackers'.

Three of his children also seem to be following in his footsteps, having their own Dragons' kits and flags.

The former Duffryn High School pupil moved to Oxford when he was 19 and still has friends and family living in Newport.

"I've got three excuses to come now - family, business and the rugby," he said.

Dragons captain Tom Willis said: "It’s fantastic that Nick will be able to get down to matches with a little less stress."