The Road to 92

So Blue for Hornets

2012-01-22T16:46:00.002Z

I was surprised that St Andrews is up a hill. Somehow I never think of Birmingham as being hilly or high up but I believe West Brom's ground is the highest League ground in the country. Anyway, not much of a crowd so easy to get a seat in the main stand. Sold out of pasties so I had to have a Balti Pie instead with my Fanta (robbed of its top by the refreshment bar staff).

The ground itself is unbalanced with the stand opposite me very much the odd one out. Smaller and older it looked more nineteenth century than twenty century and definitely not twenty first century. Still a pleasant ground with reasonable atmosphere considering the cold and wind in the January afternoon.
The football itself was fair and the most memorable element was the abuse Zigic was getting from those around me and I would have to agree he had a bad match at least. The other strike wasn't much better but The Blues still managed to score three goals to Watford's none.
Fifty third English League ground for me; not the best but not the worst.

Back Again at the First and only Ground!

2011-12-31T13:46:00.001Z

Managed to get a ticket to see the boys live. Not the best football match but the event was brilliant, loved it. A good few years since I have been in the Anfield Road end; excellent view and good atmosphere.

There have clearly been some minor changes since my last visit when I held a season ticket (what you give up for love!). The ticketing system have been updated but the prices are still very reasonable for the Premiership. The music still stirs the heart.

A Forest Girl's Dream Comes True

2011-11-20T16:41:00.001Z

Pre match entertainment included talking to the match mascots. One local girl had dyed her hair red and predicted the scorleine accurately, 3-2. The City Ground is a nice stadium beautifully situated next to the Trent and sat in the Brian Clough stand before the match I was bathed in sun.
I parked in the station car park and walked with the throng to the ground. Once in I enjoyed a beverage and hot dog; nice enough and not too bad at £4.80.

We lost sight of the sun as kick off arrived. While the temparature dropped the football did little to warm the hearts until Andy Reid came on late to turn the match in favour of the reds. The crowd was a good size and reasonably hearty if a little doubting in a good result (not without reason). I recommend a visit.

London Road Blues

2011-11-15T20:48:00.001Z

I was joined by my brother-in-law for this one. We stood on the terraces to see the local team lose to the League leaders as Southend visited Macclesfield Town. First gam I have been to where no ticket was issued. There was also confusion on where to get in and buy our tickets from but we managed it; joining the home fans standing along the side near the dugouts. This is definitely a lower league ground. Many features belong to the last century; and many of the spectators around us but friendly folk. The southerners ruined the day for the locals and we witnessed a rare home defeat but they then the visitors were league leaders.

London Road

Frattonising with the Enemy

2011-11-15T20:45:00.000Z

A real old fashioned ground, which has clearly seen better days, that day enjoyed some football that was welcomed by the Blue Army. I parked just outside the gorund but it was costly; double the more usual fiver at ten quid! Still virtually in the ground. The stand where I sat was high and sunny but the roof impinged to make things seem very dark and kept the sun from warming us on this cold day. Refreshments were fine and easy to get before the match. Heathly atmosphere around me and the home fans enjoyed a rare victory.

The Real St James Park

2011-11-15T20:40:00.000Z

I got to the ground really early as I hoped to bump into a friend but didn't so enjoyed a walk around town. St James Park is a lovely ground.

I enjoyed good local fayre before the game and parking at a car park in town was easy if not cheap. The ground has a three sides feel to it with the side opposite me being more fence than viewing space. The main bulk of the home contingent occupied a large open plan stand to my right and were vocal in their support. I enjoyed the visit though seeing Huddersfield triumph away from home again did dampen it for the lcoals.

Some Say Meat is Murder

2011-09-16T17:34:00.001+01:00

Earlier this month I went with relations to see Grimsby score a one-nil win over Forest Green Rovers. The New Lawn is currently famous for serving no red meat at the ground. This was certainly a cuase for many chants from the visiting fans, some amusing.

The football ground is a lovely non league ground with good stands on three sides. We travelled by bus from the main town nearby, Stroud and thanks to crowded roads had to chase the bus down the road on the way because it failed to make the same stop we had disembarked from earlier. Still the Cotswolds are nice to look at while you slowly inch down the hillside; the ground is on a hill top. It was a reasonable match was fought out in excellent spirit.

No Cherry on the cake today!

2011-08-18T15:44:00.001+01:00

Despite the furvent support of the home fans the Cherries lost this one after a red card lost them their man of the match. Another of the three sided grounds in a leqafy part of the outskirts. The ticket office was busy before the game but I made it into the North Stand with about 12 minutes to spare.

The ground is set in Kings Park and has recently been turned around. Inside its nothing special but the fans are keen and loyal. My first evening match for some time and pleasant enough for that. Food and drink were fine and averagely priced.

Home Park welcomes The Millers

2011-08-14T16:18:00.003+01:00

So Home Park is a ground of new and old. The old , the main grandstand, still has wooden seats - not too comfortable and my view of one goal was obscured by a stand pillar. The crowd were loyal, respectful and not impressed by their team on the whole; especially No2. who could dribble well enough but failed to get a single decent cross into the box - wasting the open space he had on Argyle's right flank.

The Pilgrim Himself?

Tea and a burger was £5.30, PG Tips and a home made job with onions. Both okay and the staff were pleasant if slightly deaf.
The match was interesting if goalless for 45 minutes. Argyle were lucky to escape a couple of times and made no clear chances themselves. The second half was a different affair and goals came quickly. The Pilgrims opened the score with a solo effort from no.21, a new signing apparently. This only angered The Millers who quickly equalized and then just carried on scoring eventually running out 4-1 winners.
There is a construction site next to the ground for some Life Centre. Also nearby is park and ride car park free to football fans. The journey was easy enough, some delay on the M5 due to an accident and holiday traffic. Didn't take too long to escape the car park and back up the A38 and M5 was free flowing. Recommend a visit.

Sixfields - No Goals

2011-08-07T14:51:00.002+01:00

Tidy little lower league round in amongst some industrial developments and close to other sports developments, Sixfields is a fairly standard affair. The atmosphere was a bit limp for an opening season fixture but then Stanley only brought about fifty supporters. Both sets of fans made some noise but then the match never really got going and lacked any goals. The cobblers had a few thundering shots but all over the bar and Accrington had one attempt disallowed.
I sat in a family stand though it was difficult to tell. Tea was an average two quid and the Chicken Balti - was it the famous one? I couldn't tell but it was very edible for its £2.90.

I booked my ticket online and picked it up from a portacabin as advised by the football ground guide website but poorly advertised by the club itself (it did say once you got into the ticket office).
Thanks to my family enjoying entertainment in Milton Keynes I traveled up from there on the train and walked to the ground (25 minutes), no problems.

It's back, again

2011-08-05T17:06:00.000+01:00

It always seems an age but finally Football returns and so does my quest!

Down in Essex for the Brewer's survival

2011-05-01T15:06:00.002+01:00

The trip to Southend was my longest so far. Over three hours and over 150 miles including a trip halfway around the M25 (they are still widening it in places.

The away supporters enjoy their own cafe and the staff were very friendly and helpful. The game was as expected, some tension on the Brewers side, but eventually the points were shared; enough for Burton's safety.
I liked this ground it has character, friendly staff and reasonable facilities.

A Meadow Barren of Goals

2011-04-28T20:51:00.002+01:00

So the Greenhous Meadow Stadium was a modern one on the outskirts of town and lacked much character or originality but does it job well enough. I must say the catering was excellent. Tea with real milk you added yourself and a fresh tuna baguette to munch on, nice.

The match was a closely fought stalemate goalless affair and the home crowd were a quiet lot. Both clubs look likely to make the play-offs but no more. Shropshire is a real country county and we ha a pleasant day.

No Dons of Football today

2011-04-23T10:21:00.001+01:00

So Milton Keynes Stadium and the Dons. A scorching hot day and probably not one to bext enjoy from seats firming in the sun all game. Still the shelter of the wonderful concourse was available. More interesting than some of the recent modern grounds I have visited. Very obvious scope for expansion though on te day current capacity wasn't filled. Padded seats, good visibility, easy access and clean facilities makes this ground a nice place to see football. The away fans, from Huddersfield, were a very happy and vocal bunch. For most of the game they drowned out an local support but given their team were winning easily maybe not surprising.

All in all definitely liked the ground and it was a pleasant experience.

Leafy Lamex

2011-04-04T21:00:00.001+01:00

Stevenage Boro have a ground with modest pretentions from the road view. Once in though it is a lovely little ground with very friendly locals. The football was good, both home and away teams were playing vibrant football.

A definite feel of its non-league roots but nice enough, enjoy. The ground has a convenient free car park over the road. The team played some nice football.

Molineux Jollity

2011-03-07T21:24:00.003Z

Great match and lovely fans. Six goals and a draw but what a great game for Deano to be remembered by. The ground was full and I enjoyed some good football to boot.
The locals joked about another victory but seriously hoped for a single point. The ground was full and the atmosphere was good. The view was good and those around me were jovial even after some lamentable defending cost them their lead and then again their draw.
Before the match in the stand facilities were cramp compared to more modern stadiums I visited this year. I had to queue for toilets and though I got my hot tea easy enough the refreshments bar was singular unlike the female loos.

Curiously one of the home songs seemed to be a jibe about the Premiership itself. The pitch seemed to play well enough but looked muddy in places. Half time entertainment was the best I seen. Not just one kids team demonstrating their skills but simultaneously an adult competition too. The away fans seemed to be in the lower tier below us in the east stand rather at one end. Definitely recommend a visit.

Well into the Millennium

2011-02-13T20:22:00.000Z

The new Cardiff City Stadium has no unique character as a building. It does it job well but is like many new stadiums around the Leagues of this size. My visit coincided with a family visit to the Doctor Who exhibition in Cardiff Bay.

I walk to the ground from the Bay area and arrived in about 40 minutes with no difficulties. With 10 minutes to spare I went straight to my seat - I like to see the whole game. (Why do fans leave with minutes to go? Some around me missed the only goal!)
The ground was pretty full; only a few thousand off capacity (21,406 compared to 26,828 capacity). The away side were clearly after a draw and we had to wait until the 88th minute for a goal. I would though choose a different stand; I was with the vocal Cardiff fans who were apt to stand up too often for my liking. Some nearby stood for the entire game which I could have handled - like the old days you know ;-)
With a better contest I can imagine this being a great place to see football and Cardiff has much to recommend it.

What a Swan Song!

2011-01-30T13:12:00.000Z

Captain calamity ruined the day for the locals and difficult to say the O's deserved a victory but the scoreline said they did so on the roll. The drive down the M4 was a nice easy drive and parking at the stadium was no problem (though a bigger crowd would change that). The Liberty Stadium is a nice modern structure shared with the Ospreys. I had an excellent view from right at the back of the West Stand. Food and drinks were average; PG Tips and burger for under a fiver by 40 pence.

I got my ticket at the ground on the day for £15 so a reasonable price. The atmosphere was fairly limp but with the ground two thirds empty perhaps that wasn't surprising. I think S4C had the match live and it was freezing early doors. All considered though it was a ground I would recommend.

Boing, Boing Baggies!

2011-01-15T20:35:00.002Z

First live Premiership match for years and it was a good one. Five goals and a home win. The ground was packed and the atmosphere very good.

Once through the turnstiles the area under the stands wasn't big in that the West Stand was clearly partitioned along its length. PG Tips for the tea so that was nice. I didn't try the food as I had eaten with my family in town before catching the train out from Snow hill. The trains were good, £1.90 return and a 7/8 minute journey then a five minute walk.
Its not the biggest ground but that probably helps with the atmosphere because it was close to being full with some twenty five thousand watching. The away fans were vocal except when they were behind. The locals were fine though slightly cynical about the Baggies actually getting a win but that might be more down to their poor recent form (five straight defeats). Another ground I would return to for good football and average facilities.

Madjestic Reading?

2011-01-03T21:54:00.002Z

Another Park & Ride experience. The football stadium is a new one rather than nineteenth century affair. It is nice enough but no longer anything special and empty; I'm not sure I would be able to pick it out from a bunch of other recent builds.

Inside the food doesn't rate well but the tea was real PG Tips. A cold winter's bank holiday and good opposition should have meant a good crowd but Burnley only brought 1,000 fans (was that Reading restricting the number? - because they filled their area). Anyway there were some six thousand empty seats.
The home fans did muster a multi drum band. Also some vocal locals with incredulous bias. And the music build up to the team coming on was a some piece of work. I doubt the impact lasts and it certainly didn't work for Reading as they went behind, starting badly but I was impressed at the effort.
The Clarets played their part well and if Marney could have shot right he'd have wrapped up the result all by himself with three good chances. He took none of them, Shane Long however took his and Reading ran out eventual winners. I had to wait for about quarter of an hour for the return bus but still a good day's football. I'd be happy to go again.

Frozen out at St Marys

2010-12-02T11:06:00.000Z

Well if Cheltenham Town were hoping for a warm welcome to Hampshire they didn't get it. Instead St Marys was a very cold place and only the hopeful singing of the away fans gave the game any warmth. Three-nil down with minutes to go and the cry went up "Let's pretend we've scored a goal, hooray!".
The ground was a nice modern affair with no columns blocking anyone's view of the pitch. Less than ten thousand saw the match. The Robins gifting the home team an early goal and from then on the result was in little doubt.
I used the Park and Ride for away fans; five pounds for a parking spot and safe ride to the ground and back. We all got away before five thirty with no trouble.

The food bar was offering hot drink and a Yorkie for two quid; but I needed warm food first and indulged in a hot chicken pasty which was fine. Because of the inclement weather I had decided on getting a ticket on the day which costs you two pounds extra but still £17 isn't bad. I didn't see much of the town but it looked typical rather than special; the port being the main attraction. Just a pity the game wasn't more of a contest.

Adams Family Horrors

2010-11-14T17:48:00.001Z

Wycombe's ground, Adams Park, is very much at the end of an industrial estate but nice enough for all that. I had a seat up in the gods to watch a match devoid of much goal mouth action but early on a lot of shooting from outside the box for the Chair Boys.

The early dark nights doesn't help you keep warm; and it is that time of year where extra layes of clothing are vital with those of with no body fat to keep us warm.
As recommended by their website I used the Park and Ride, walking back to the car to keep warm. A brisk half hour walk did the job nicely. The P&R is well sign posted and just off the M40 so easy to find. With a petrol supermarket station the fuel costs were good too.
The facilities in the ground are the usual affair and the locals were saprse on this cold autumn game; the crowd a mere 4,077. Bradford brought a impressive number of fans considering the distance and they generated some noise too.

Breezy football at the County Ground

2010-09-26T15:13:00.001+01:00

The County Ground has four sides but, as I am finding, for lower league sides only three were occupied. It was a feisty game ended with a ninetieth minute winner for the home side over the league toppers. I would not recommend the tea but otherwise nothing special to note.

The ground is nice and close to the train station though the car park seem to have spare places. The crow of eight and a half thousand wasn't big; the main stand look noticeably sparsely populated.

Brewers draw with Alex

2010-09-19T19:11:00.002+01:00

The Pirelli Stadium is new, small and apt. The food was excellent; many fellow fans were enjoying mushy peas and chips; I stuck with a burger. I was too late for a car park place but found parking on a nearby road easy enough. Tickets were the cheapest I have encountered £15 for an Adult seat.

The ground looked well filled but was half capacity; I guess because many sides are standing and they were comfortably spaced shall we say. Another good lower league ground.

Three sides but four goals

2010-09-05T14:24:00.001+01:00

The Kassam Stadium, home of Oxford United, is quite an impressive League Two ground - at least on three sides! Parking was good and free despite the reasonably large crowd. The tickets were average prices and the refreshments okay inside the stands.

Oxford played well excepting a bad period where Morecambe nearly got a goal that would have enabled a fight back but it didn't happen. Instead Oxford added two late goals to flatter the scoreline after a sending off. As I say often, worth a visit.