Welcome to my pyramid groundguide page. This details some personal thoughts on the different grounds I have visited on my travels. Most of these I have visited while watching Barnet. In addition, I have given details of pre-match lunch and ale stop offs that may be made.
The food/drink ratings are out of five. The ground ratings are also out of five. They are based on whether I like the feel of the grounds, not just whether they are technically good and have lots of shining plastic.
Accrington Stanley (last visit 19.02.05)
Todmorden
The town of Todmorden, up in the moors and just a few miles from the Hebden Bridge (see the Halifax section) promised much. Unfortunately it delivered little, the two pubs I visited not having a real ale between them. I did find a chip shop though, and thoroughly enjoyed their porion of mushy peas (****).
Food (in ground): Having not had my fill en route, I tried the pie and peas (with brown sauce and ketchup, naturally) inside the ground. Both were absolutely delicious, the perfect warmer on a cold day. Perhaps the best food I've tasted inside a football ground, so I'll give it *****.
Crown Ground (**)
The Crown Ground, named after a nearby inn, is a modest venue.Visitors get a section of a small side terrace with just a couple of steps of to stand on. It is close to the action, however, and comes with a roof. Home supporters aren't so lucky - the two open terraces behind each goal are mightily exposed to the winds which whip down off the moors. It isn't the worst ground around, but aside from the Peas there isn't much to get excited about.
AFC Telford United (last visit 03.05.04)
Telford have a very smart new stadium, though sadly they fell victim to financial pressures and went under. Having reformed as AFC Telford, they are, however, on the way back and presently sit just two levels below the conference national.
Clubhouse (***)
The clubhouse forms part of the very plush new hotel complex at The Bucks. It is very smart, though lacks a bit in character. The drinks were rather pricey, Guiness coming in at £2.75, although the club did kindly lay on some chips for the bees fans stopping off en route to Shrewsbury.
AFC Wimbledon (last visit 24.07.04)
Food: The area around Kingsmeadow is something of a food desert, so I ventured out to Kingston in search of sustenance. Unfortunately, this proved rather upmarket and offered little for the hungry traveller, so I plodded on towards the ground. There are in fact a few kebab type shops nearby, one even serving Fish & Chips. I settled on a chicken and chips (£2.90), which at least filled a hole. **
Clubhouse
There are actually two clubhouses at the ground, both huge. It is rather like being at Dagenham again. Unfortunately the range of drinks is unimaginative, leaving me with only a Guiness (£2.50 **).
Kingsmeadow (**)
Entrance to Kingsmeadow is under a grand iron arch, but unfortunately the insides aren’t so special. Dagenhamesque even. There is a modest stand on one side, with shallow terracing around the rest of the pitch. All but one end is covered, but it’s hard to gain any great vantage points so the views aren’t brilliant.
However, AFC Wimbledon certainly are. Formed when their club was abducted by aliens and transported to Milton Keynes, ‘the fans club’ certainly live up to their name. Everyone, from the people on the turnstiles to the stewards to the supporters were genuinely good people and its hard not to wish to club well on their way.
***STOP PRESS***
Having written this section I received an e-mail from an AFC Wimbledon fan (yes, someone actually read my site!). On the food front the 'Fat Boys Cafe', run by AFCW supporters, comes highly recommended for it's English Breakfast's. On the drink side, apparently the clubhouse serves Hog's Back T.E.A. I'd seen some signs around advertising this but not actually found it, however, if you ask at the bar you may be in luck.
Aldershot Town (last visit 27.11.04)
Aldershot
Food: As I didn't have too much time, I went into the Kebab shop down the road and got some chips. They weren't brilliant. **
Drink: The Beehive pub is just down the road from the ground, and what a top little place it was. The bitter wasn't selling very well so it was £1 a pint. I'm not quite sure what it was as the label was obscured by the price tag, although it was very tasty (***) and apparently came from Abingdon, although the CAMRA guide doesn't list any breweries in Abingdon so I'm not sure! The Beehive also had a dart board with a rather cool electronic scoreboard. Just put in your score and it automatically does the maths.
The Rec (**)
In fifteen years of watching football I have never known an atmosphere as loud as that in the East Bank at Aldershot. The home fans are certainly very loud and give their team plenty of support.
In many ways, the ground looks like St.James Park, Exeter. Opposite the imposing East Bank is the tiny High Street End terrace. Seating is available on both sides of the ground, on one side it extends full length, the other just a little distance. Again, like SJP, there is a railway line running just behind the ground.
Perhaps the oddest thing, apart from an atmosphere which makes other conference grounds seem like the moon in comparison, is the segregation arrangement. Barnet fans were allocated not just half of the East Bank, but the open terrace on one side of the ground as well. However, this is split in half by the Main Stand, leaving visiting fans at opposite ends of the ground from one another.
I took advantage of this at half-time, by changing from the East Bank to the other end, where Barnet were attacking. I alledge that this is because Barnet were shooting up that way, not because I found the East Bank a bit noisy and intimidating. Honest!
Aylesbury (last visit 13.12.05)
Food (in ground): I had a very ordinary, and rather pricy cheeseburger (**). Other than that, the offer was standard football fayre.
Buckingham Road
There are only two things of note about Buckingham Road. One is the very smart clubhouse facility, which puts many to shame. Second is the giant duck sitting outside the entrance, a nice touch.
The ground itself is bland in the extreme. A five row stand covers one side, whilst there are covered terraces on two of the other sides. Aside from roofing on the fourth side, you could be forgiven for confusing this ground with Witton's Wincham Park.
Barnet (numerous visits)
Barnet are my very own club and Underhill my second home, so I might be a bit biased here. Sorry!
Clubhouse
The Durham Suite lies in the corner of the ground, accesible from both inside and outside of the stadium. A great place to get a pre match drink (Flowers* and Guiness** are both served), meet the mates and possibly watch a re-run of our previous game, although this is dependent on Martin Allen remembering to bring the video.
Underhill (***)
Barnet have been trying to flee from the place for years, but remain at the quaint old ground at the bottom of the hill.
The main stand stands out of proportion with the rest of the ground. From here, the slope of the pitch is most evident. Looking opposite, one of the snack bars touches the roof, the other is a good six feet below it. Next to the main stand is the Family Stand, which offers a terrible view. Indeed there are some seats here so poor that the club are not allowed to sell them! Opposite is the East Terrace. This is where the vocal home supporters congregate. It's a bit decrepit and the roof has (bullet?) holes in it, but we love it. At one end is the pencil thin North Terrace, from which you overlook some back gardens. From the other, the open south stand, you can watch the cricket if the game gets boring.
The toilets at the Clock End are brand new, most of the rest is not. However, the Balti Pies are awesome and a trip to Underhill remains an enjoyable experience. Far more authentic than a trip to the plastic ground up the A1.
Barton Rovers (last visit 03.10.05)
Sharpenoe Road (**)
Whereas at Underhill the terraces follow the line of the slope, at Sharpenoe Road the terraces are literally stepped. This means that on one side of the ground, there are five seperate enclosures all with their own covers. One of these sections is seated, although out of the original 48 seats thirty-six were broken and five missing althogether. Strange, I don't remember them playing Cardiff?
The rest of the ground is relatively mundane, with a small stand on the opposite side and a railing around the rest of the pitch. The clubhouse, however, is an impressive modern facility.
Billericay Town (last visit 12.07.05)
Billericay
Billericay is a very smart town with lots of large houses. There is also a very spacious Wetherspoons on the High Street, so I decided to add it to the list. Dinner was a tasty lasagne (***), which I washed down with an excellent pint of Liberation (****) and a bottle of Velkopopovicky Kozel (***), brewed in Plzen. I believe this is the most popular beer in the Czech Republic and it came with the characteristic freshness absent from the mass produced lagers.
New Lodge (***)
Unusually for a club at their level, the New Lodge has covering on all four sides. The terraces and stands are all on the small side, although it does mean that you can get up close to the action. Behind each goal tin shed style roofs have been bolted onto the existing terraces, which do look a bit tacky. Still, there are some nice features such as the plastic tables and chairs by the snack bar. Apparently this serves ice cream although this had all melted due to a power failure.
Borehamwood (last visit 13.02.04)
Borehamwood
The ground is handily situated only a few minutes walk from the High Street. As I arrived nice and early, this meant that I could pay a visit to the Chippy, The Golden Plaice I think it was called. My fish and chips were very generous size and quality, although I didn't have any vinegar on my fish. At £3.80 it was a bit pricier than those in the north, but good value nonetheless (***).
Clubhouse
The clubhouse cannot actually be accessed from inside the ground, thus the first mistake I made was going in. Still, as I had a ticket I was allowed out to visit the club, and back in again. A strange arrangement. The clubhouse itself wasn't bad, although it was fairly busy with Wood and Bees fans. I had a Guiness (**), as there wasn't much else.
Meadow Park (***)
Although it lacks a bit in character, Meadow Park is a very well equipped ground for the Isthmian League. The main stand has seats with BWFC written out, the sort of thing you see at grounds in the Football League. On the opposite side is a covered terrace running the length of the pitch. Then, behind both goals are some stepped terraces offering a good view of proceedings. That's it, really.
Bristol City (last visit 23.08.05)
Ashton Gate (**)
Ashton Gate is a ground I had always wanted to visit,. the away end looking particularly impressive with it's lettered seating. However this section, the Blackthorn Stand, used to be a terrace and in the haste to convert the ground to an all-seater backless seats have been bolted on the existing terrace. Seats indeed, that have been crammed into every nook and cranny. Some are sloping, others directly behind the disabled enclosure, most bizarre. The shallowness of the steps also ensures a poor view.
The rest of the ground looks better, although seems rather dull and dreary. It had a certain something to it, but in all honesty wasn't the best all-seater I'd ever seen.
Bristol Rovers (last visit 26.11.05)
Mayshill
A rather brief stop this one. A quick pint of Red (?) (***) went down nicely.
Food (in ground): Rovers do some excellent pasties, to warm you up on a cold winters day. Unlike most, these might actually have come from Cornwall. (****)
The Memorial Ground (****)
Anyone getting bored of the dull, samey grounds springing up around the country would be delighted with a visit to the Mem. It is one of those grounds that just doesn't look right, and doesn't even really look like a football ground. The impressive Das Stand, with lots of hospitality boxes, looks like something you would find on a racecourse, while the Centenary Stand opposite wouldn't be out of place in a rugby ground. The bulk of the home fans populate the covered Bass Terrace behind the goal, whilst others spill onto the paddocks.
Away supporters have a choice of an open terrace with a good view, or a bizarre stand with a tarpulin over it as cover. Unfortunately there are lots of pillars, although it is a novelty to watch a game from what feels like a beer tent.
Oh to the days when more grounds had the character of this one.
Burton Albion (last visit 29.01.05)
Burton are set to leave their Eton Park ground in the summer, moving across the road to the Pirelli Stadium. To be fair, Eton Park is a little bit on the small side but it will be a pity, because it's one of my favourites.
Clubhouse
The reasonably sized clubhouse serves a pint of Bass, so I had one. At least, I ordered one but it didn't quite taste right - more like cider. Maybe it was cider, I suppose I'll never know! (**)
Eton Park (****)
Eton Park is neat, tidy and fully covered. There is a small main stand on one side and shallow covered terracing around the rest of the pitch. Perhaps what makes it such a nice venue is the colour scheme. The club play in yellow and black, and the ground reflects this with, amongst other things, colourful stripy bins. Hopefully when they move over the road little features like this will not be lost.
Canvey Island (last visit 23.07.05)
Canvey
Not many people know it, I certainly didn't until recently, but Canvey is the closest seaside resort to London. Perhaps thats a bit of an overstatement, although there is a sea wall and a few power stations across the Thames Estuary in Kent. Or maybe it's not an exxageration, since Canvey has all the whelk stalls and arcades that you expect from a seaside town. Just a pity that like so many others the town has fallen into disrepair, the public toilets on the seafront having last been cleaned in 1764.
Food (30.08.04): Jellied eels are a speciality in Essex, and although the sea front fish bar didn't have any did have an interesting sounding 'Rock Eeel & Chips' for £3.70. It's the first time I've ever had eel, and probably the last. Not dreadful but it was rather bony and didn't go down too well. (**). That said, I did enjoy sitting on the sea wall eating my chips while getting drenched by a bank holiday shower.
UPDATE (23.07.05): After the disappointment of the Eel last year, I thought I'd play safe and go for the Cod. And a very tasty looking porion of Cod and Chips arrived for the modest sum of £3.60. Again I sat on the sea wall (it wasn't raining this time) and tucked in. Taste was a bit odd, which I soon put down to it not being Cod but some other nasty concoction (Plaice probably). So only one star (*) I'm afraid.
Drink: Along from the chip shop, over the road from the bingo hall, is the faded grandeur of an old bar. Topless dancing was advertised (Mmm!), although sadly all that was on offer that day was a pint of Guiness.
Park Lane (****)
For a conference ground, this is nothing if not small. The 'main stand', or rather the only stand has a mere three rows of seats and the terrace opposite is equally diminutive. Home fans get the only reasonable amount of space, away fans just a couple of steps. However, Canvey don't get huge crowds so it doesn't really matter, except to the groundgrading police.
It might be small but Park Lane has real character, attractively painted in the club clours of yellow, white and blue. Moreover, since its just yards from the sea front the waft of salt air blows over the ground. I might be alone in saying this, but I thought it was one of the nicest grounds in the conference and if you get the three points as well then a trip to Canvey makes for an excellent day.
Cardiff City (last visit 22.08.05)
Tonygwnlais
Time constraints meant that this was to be a short stop in the village of Tonygwnlais, just outside Cardiff. The chip shop was shut (you wonder if they ever opened) although there was a very Brains nice pub with benches outside. I had a pint of the Dark (3.5% ****) and a half of SA (4.2% ***). Some Welsh Cider was also circulating but the verdict on that one was mixed!
Ninian Park (***)
Once, all grounds would have been like this. Ninian Park is a very traditional ground, with huge banks of terracing among the seats. The main Grandstand, where the players come out, is rather old and rusty, as is the Popular Bank opposite. This is a classic stand with paddock terrace in front, the terrace having survived to this day. On top is a huge bread advert stretching the length of the roof, making it look like something out of another era. The Grangetown end is a huge terrace behind one of the goals, and this is where the vocal City fans go. The terrace is split into two by a fencing, with away supporters getting one half. Curiously, this half has a small bank of seats in front. The roofing projects the volume, and you can imagine that when it is full there would be quite an atmosphere. At the other end is a small and unremarkable Family Stand, again with a giant advert on the roof. All in all, I quite liked Ninian Park.
Carlisle United (last visit 13.08.05)
From most parts of the country, a trip to Carlisle involves a very long trek up the M6. So the trip is as much about seeing Britain's longest motorway as visiting the football league's most isolated club. And if truth be told, it is probably one of the more varied motorways around, taking you from inner-city Birmingham to the wilds of the Cumbrian fells.
Food (in ground): The in-ground catering is excellent and very varied, with options including the Scotch Pie. I had an equally good Brunton Pie (****), which was very tasty.
Drink (in ground): With the quality of the food, it was a pity that the offering of drinks was so limited, leaving little more than a cold pint of Fosters (*). Frankly the bar was crying out for a cask of Jennings Sneck.
Brunton Park (***)
Like many in the division, Brunton Park is a hugely imposing venue. The crown of the ground is the pristine new East Stand, which vsiting supporters are allocated a part of. One unusual feature of this stand is that is extends well beyond the end of the pitch! The rest is rather older - with a main stand opposite and terracing around the rest of the ground.
The club, with huge support and a huge ground, really shouldn't be struggling at the bottom of the football league as has been the norm for the past few years.
Cheltenham Town (last visit 02.09.05)
As befits a westcountry side with a non-league tradition, the Cheltenham supporters are a very friendly bunch. Stranded on the wrong side of town twenty minutes before kick-off, my thanks go to to the fans who offered me a lift to the game. Top notch!
Whaddon Road (****)
Whaddon Road is the archetypal mix of old and new. A spanking new stand has been erected to replace the old side terrace, while the traditional element remains in the old Whaddon Road End. This was one of my favourite terraces around, as it came in two halves - one covered, the other not - seperated in the middle by the turnstiles. Sadly, in an act of vandalism, the club are now destroying this wonderful piece of architecture in place of another shiny stand. So in a few years time, Whaddon Road may look just like anywhere else. At least the beautiful backdrop of Cleeve Hill will withstand the developments.
Cheshunt (last visit 11.07.05)
Cheshunt
Food (in ground): The Ambers Snack bar serves up very tasty bacon rolls, a snip at just £1 each (****). I helped myself to a couple. Unfortunately the chips were of the usual oven variety and were nothing special. (**)
Clubhouse
Cheshunt had a rather good clubhouse, complete with pool table, darts board and Sky TV. I can't remember the choice of drinks but I had a Guiness, which I'll give **. Unfortunately, these seem to have all disappeared and it looks rather bare now.
The Stadium (*)
The Stadium is very odd. There is a wooden stand on one side of the ground, along with a covered terrace, but these are both quite a way from the pitch. On the other side there is another stand, although this again is a long way back from the pitch. You do wonder what the architect had in mind! Behind the two goals are massive flat areas, which means a long sprint to retrieve the ball when it goes out of play. On the positive side, there is plenty of room to expand should the club need to.
Darlington (last visit 28.12.05)
Clubhouse
The impressive modern clubhouse sits under the south stand. Drinkswise there is nothing better than a Guiness, although some excellent food is served up. I had a chip buttie (*** £1.50) which went down a treat on what was a very cold night.
Food (in ground): The catering inside the ground is very limited. The pie and peas with mint sauce sounded very good, but wasn't (**). For now, Accrington remains mushy pea central in the footballing world.
96.6 TFM Darlington Arena (**)
Nb: Despite having only been there three years, the ground is on it's third name. Next year it will probably change to something even sillier.
Once upon a time Darlington had a beautiful, well equipped ground in the town centre. Holding some 10,000 people, it was a good size for a club of their stature. There was a fine new stand with all the usual facilities to go with the old terracing around the rest of the pitch.
Then along came a chairman with visions of grandeur. Now those same 3,000 people sit in a massive out-of town all-seater arena. A true monument to madness. Undeniably impressive, it is nonetheless soulless and empty - indeed one side has reputedly never been opened. While the lettered seating might look good, it is surely not what a club like Darlington need. Or am I just old fashioned?
Enfield Town (last visit 21.08.05)
Barnet v Enfield used to be one of the biggest derbies in non-league football, but sadly Enfield have spiralled into decline following the sale of their Southbury Road home. Nowadays Town can claim to be the main club in Enfield; most of the supporters having defected to them. They currently share with Brimsdown Rovers at Goldsdown Road.
Goldsdown Road (*)
This is one of the more basic grounds around. The stand is functional, little more, while there is a small amount of covered terracing on the opposite side. That aside though, the ground largely consists of a fence and walkway around the pitch. Not one of the most exciting venues about, I'm afraid.
Exeter City (last visit 06.03.04)
Tiverton:
Food: My pre-match lunch was provided by the Penguin Fish Bar. Fish, Chips and Mushy Peas came in at £3.60. The mushy peas melted delectably on top of the fish, although I found out that a cone of chips does not contain many chips. Still, Pierre had ordered a large portion so I nicked some his. The Penguin is close to a river with ducks in. The grassy bank offered pleasanter than usual surroundings in which to eat my chips. ***
Drink: Tawny Bitter (3.8%) ***
St.James' Park (****)
Although St.James' Park has undergone extensive redevelopment in recent years, it retains a pleasing mix of old and new. On one side, the old grandstand. On the other, the plush new Doble Stand, with red and white seats and executive boxes. Likewise, the two ends could hardly be more different. The majority of City fans congregate in the Big Bank, a mammoth covered terrace behind one goal. It's a terrible structure, although luckily visiting supporters are allocated the opposite St.James' Road End. This small terrace, backed by a hedge, is open to the elements. However, it is also very close to the action which is very exciting when your team is attacking. Little additional features, such as the peeling red paint outside the ground, combine to make this one of my favourite grounds in the country.
Farnborough Town (last visit 17.08.04)
Farnborough
Food (in ground): The area around Cherrywood is highly residential and something of a desert for the hungry traveller. Nevertheless, standard footy fare is served in the ground, with the burgers (**) perfectly adequate.
Clubhouse
Clubhouses are not normally renowned for the quality of their beer but Farnborough is an exception. A couple of cask ales are served, Hogs Back T.E.A (4.2% ***) from a local brewery being the most interesing (also Youngs Bitter 3.7% **). In addition to a pool table, there is also a (free) football table, which is a lot of fun. Although the ground will not win any prizes, this is one of the finest clubs around and the supporters are quite friendly too, especially Farney Rubble who is a fellow fish enthusiast.
Cherrywood Road (***)
In the conference decrepitness stakes, Cherrywood wins hands down. It's all a bit haphazard, with those who want to sit down having a choice of seating: traditional plastic, backless plastic or wooden. Pillars abound in the main stand blocking the view. Behind each goal is shallow terracing, one end having a rickety roof, the other not.
Nevertheless, I rather like it. It makes a change from the charmless modern grounds which are popping up with alarming regularity, while the lack of segregation is a big bonus.
Forest Green Rovers (last visit 25.03.05)
Stroud
Food: I visited the High Street Chippy. As it was a little pricey, I settled on Fish Cakes and Chips, which were £2.70. The fish cakes weren't bad, but the chips were a bit tired. They also lacked the vital ingredient, a good slosh of vinegar. Disappointing. **
Drink: The Wetherspoons provided me with a beautiful pint of dark, rich Station Porter Ale (6.1% ****) for a bargain £1.50. Good value and good quality - I hold Wetherspoons in very high regard. For my second pint I visited an upmarket wine bar which served a pint of rather tasteless Greene King Smooth IPA (3.6% **). Spoons 1 Poncey wine bar 0.
Cirencester
Cirencester is a lovely old Roman town, which along with Stoud make good stop offs on the way to Forest Green. There didn't seem to be a Fish & Chip shop around, however, so I settled on a pub lunch. I forget the name of the pub (The 'Wheatsheaf'?) but it served tasty food & real ale and came decorated in all sorts of football memorabilia.
Food: A hearty lunch of Steak & Ale pie. Not quite Burton sized portions, but good nonetheless. ***
Drink: A pint of Sharp's Dooms Bar went down nicely with the pie. ***
The Lawn (*****)
Everything about this ground is perfect:
To reach The Lawn travellers must go up a very steep hill, which is 1:10 in places, and probably even steeper in others. The picturesque surroundings are typical of the region, rolling green hills and Limestone Cottages.
Once you reach the top of the hill, you encounter the conferences friendliest set of supporters. There is no segregation enforced, at least not for the visit of Barnet. But then there isn't any need.
Although the ground is best described as quaint, the facilities are actually very good, with covered terracing on three sides and the smart new stand on the fourth. It's all a bit lobsided, with a monster sideways slope on the pitch, but that just adds to the charm. Best of all, the terracing at the Nympsfield Road End has advertising hoardings which are very bangable.
Just about the perfect conference club and an absolute pleasure to visit.
Gillingham (last visit 30.07.05)
Prior to this, my last visit to Priestfield had been in 1991. Since then the ground has been transformed, with new stands on all four sides. Quite how the club got planning permission for the developments is beyond me, as the ground is in a highly residential area hemmed in by houses on all sides. Access to the away stand is down a little alleyway between the houses!
Food (in ground): The Steak & Spitfire pie sounded appealing, and it turned out to be a real treat. Although costly at £3, it was much bigger than your usual football pie and came with a good slosh of Shepherd Neame's finest. As and when we next visit, I'll keep an eye out for it (*****).
Priestfield (**)
Gillingham have managed to build up a fairly sizeable stadium, with some 15,000 seats. That said, it seems a little disjointed with the stands all different heights. The two tiered Medway Stand is the most impressive development, while the Rainham End also boasts an impressive, Wokingesque stand. The other two sides are less good though, with away fans usually being given a bank of green seats open to the elements. Just the sort that Gills fans would moan about at Underhill! On our visit though, we had the small Gordon Road Stand, which was difficult to get excited about.
Grays Athletic (last visit 18.01.05)
At a time when the FA Trophy is undergoing something of an identity crisis, it seemed an odd decision by the conference league to create another cup which was more or less the same, except that games were to be played midweek. Most groaned at the prospect but for me it proved a good thing, as it enabled me to visit somewhere new. Grays on a January night might not sound very exciting, but I certianly had a good time.
Food (in ground): With little around the ground I once again ended up with a passable burger (**). Wouldn't it be great if just somebody could come up with something a little different - Chicken Korma perhaps?
Clubhouse
No joke, the Grays clubhouse is the only one in the country to be in the Good Beer Guide. It even won the S.E Essex CAMRA pub prize in 2003, so I had high hopes. Unfortunately, our game just missed the beer festival which was to be held there, but it turned out not to matter. The selection of beers was marvellous - it was just a shame I couldn't try them all. In the end I went for the Bridge Road Bitter (***), the clubs own, Colley's Dog (Tring brewery, 5.2% ***) and half of a Belgian beer called Le something (a mindblowing 8%, ***). I was certainly well oiled for the game ahead.
The Rec (**)
At the time of writing, Grays are top of Conference South and so look likely to gain promotion to the national league. If they achieve it, they will displace Canvey as having the league's smallest ground. Aside from a regular stand stretching the length of the pitch, there is a mini terrace with just two steps on it. Very strange. Two odd features here are the flats whose balconies literally overhang the ground (a number of people were enjoying a free view of proceedings) and the toilets. The toilets themselves were not unusual, but getting to them certainly was, as it meant going through a maze of tunnels and even some changing rooms. Well - no-one can say a trip to Grays isn't full of surprises.
Gravesend & Northfleet (last visit 11.12.04)
Northfleet (Nb: The ground is in Northfleet, not Gravesend)
The area around the ground is a bit of a desert for the hungry supporter. However, on my last visit I notice that the dodgy housing estate up the hill from the ground has a chip shop. He who dares...
Food (in ground): The pick of the menu in the ground is the waistline busting Mega Burger, three burders and two slabs of cheese in a bun. A bit like the Faggots at Burton, it's something that just has to be tried, so I went for it. Not bad at all, so I'll give it ***, although at £4 filling a hole in your stomach comes at the expense of burning one in your pocket.
Drink: AFAIK The Plough, up the road from the ground, is the only pub nearby. Subsequently, it is absolutely heaving with football traffic. Marston's Pedigree (4.5% **) is served, which was a shame. Why, when Kent has such a fine brewing tradition and the world's oldest brewery, does The Plough transport its bitter all the way down from Burton?
Stonebridge Road (**)
In keeping with the industrial area in which Stonebridge Road lies, the ground has a rather industrial feel to it. Three sides are covered, one with a small seated stand. Away fans, of course, are allocated the fourth side which is in the open. Still, at least it is quite large and offers a decent view of proceedings.
According to the Non-League Directory, the ground has a capacity of just 4,184. Unless this is a typing error (and there are a few in the great book), I can't see why it is so low. Perhaps the club have an over-officious local council?
Halifax Town (last visit 21.08.04)
Hebden Bridge:
Food (Crown Fish & Chips, Crown Street): My pre-match meal of Fish, chips & mushy peas came to a bargain £2.85, plus 5p for a tray although you can avoid this charge if you have your fish wrapped in paper. The portions were very generous and the food is all very tasty. *****
Drink: Black Sheep (3.8%) **** Old Speckled Hen (5.2%) **
The Shay (***)
The Shay is a huge ground, far bigger than most in the conference. The main stand is not especially large, although the new stand opposite it will be very impressive once it is completed. Perhaps I should say if, it has been half built for years now! Behind the two goals are two cavernous terraces, among the biggest in the country. Away fans are allocated one of these.
Given the attraction of a Halifax-Barnet fixture (not much), the ground feels very empty. Indeed it is hard to get much of an atmosphere going, although the roof does help. On the other hand, there is plenty of open space to run around wildly celebrating Barnet scoring, which happened four times in fifteen minutes last season.
Overall though, not my favourite ground, although it is rather unique, not least because it is the only ground I've ever been to serving candy floss.
Hayes (last visit 26.07.05)
Hayes is an ordinary, mundane suburb. And in the middle of it is an ordinary, mundane ground. It's not the most exciting place to visit, really.
Clubhouse
The clubhouse is sited on the main road, just before you get to the ground. It has seen better days and is now a bit run down, although the Guiness was very reasonable at £2.25 a pint.
Church Road (**)
In many ways the ground is very similar to Clarence Park. A small seated area on one side, and a terrace running around the rest of the ground, with par of it covered. Viewing facilities are good, although there aren't any interesting features to make it stand out.
Hereford United ( last visit 06.11.04)
Ross on Wye
Food: The Seven Seas Fish Bar provided me with a good sized Cod & Chips for £3.80. Unfortunately, the quality wasn't brilliant. The batter was rather harder than it should have been, and the chips suffered from the usual vinegar problem: That is that all the vinegar stays on top and the chips at the bottom don't get any. I've noticed this problem quite often - any solutions would be most welcome. **
Drink: Hereford is home to the Cider Museum and some of this fine drink has made its way to Ross. I contented myself with a local Wye Valley Bitter (3.7% ***) and not so local Greene King Abbot (5% ***).
Edgar Street (*)
You could call Edgar Street rustic, or you could just call it rusty. Lying next to the cattle market in the middle of Hereford, it's certainly seen better days.
If you manage to squeeze through the ultra narrow entrance into the away terrace, you're greeted with a pencil thin terrace with lots of pillars. The view is terrible, indeed if you position yourself correctly you can completely block out both goals. Above the terrace, and opposite, is some seating, from which things are probably clearer. The terraces behind each goal are a little strange, as they are semi-circular. Indeed on one visit a car was parked up between terrace and pitch!
Not my favourite ground, I'm afraid.
Leigh RMI (last visit 05.03.05)
Leigh are a remarkable club. Despite rock bottom crowds and no ground (the share with the rugby club) they have managed to survive in the conference for several years, even managing a fifth placed finish in their first season. Alas, it is all catching up with them, with the club having become the whipping boys of the conference.
The RMI (Railway Mechanics Institute) part of their name derives from their days in Horwich, when they were called Horwich RMI. The move seems to have done little to help the club, and the trip to the desolate stadium is a depressing experience.
Food (in ground): Pie and Peas were a snip at £1.50, but unfortunately they weren't a patch on Accrington's (***).
Hilton Park (*)
Hilton Park is onwed by Leigh's rugby league club, and this is big rugby country. Unfortunately, it means very few people go along to watch the football. This needn't be a particular problem, except that the ground is vast. A huge open terrace runs 3/4 of the way around the pitch. On one side is very steep main stand running right down into the dugouts, while on the other is another equally large stand. The ground is simply too big and too open to generate any atmosphere, while there is little money available to make any improvements. The signs of decay are all around, with crumbling terraces and loose bits of metal sticking out here and there. A more modest venue would better befit the club.
Macclesfield Town (last visit 17.12.05)
Macclesfield has all the feel of a footballing backwater, a non-league club that hit the big time and got promoted to the football league, but who are now feeling the effects by struggling both on and off the pitch.
Congleton
Congleton is a pleasant and properous market town and an enjoyable place to unwind before the game. There are a number of decent pubs serving tasty lunches and real ales; what more could you want?
Food: A bigger than usual pre-match meal of steak & chips. Very hearty, although a bit of a rush in the end (***).
Drink: Two pints this time. An average pint of Martson's Burton Bitter (***) and an excellent one of Hyde's Insulation (5.0%, *****). Insultation is a dark beer with a full body, perfect in front of a roaring fire on a cold winters day.
Moss Rose (***)
Moss Rose is classic non-league ground. On one side is an impressive new stand with corporate boxes, although it feels a little out of place. The main stand opposite only covers 1/3 of the pitch side, but that's no bad thing as otherwise it would block out the backdrop of the South Pennines. The Star Lane End is most odd, a mix of seating below and terrace above. Visitors get the open terrace opposite, unspectacular in itself but a change from the all-seater away ends that are the norm now.
Manchester United (last visit 26.10.05)
Promotion to the football league meant a number of things, one of which was swapping the FA Trophy for the Carling Cup. Nothing too remarkable there, except that through to the third round Barnet had the chance of drawing one of the big boys. And so it came that my club, number three, would be travelling to number twenty-one, Manchester United. I was just a bit happy with that. As it happened I ended up travelliung in a limo drinking champagne, then getting a tour of the ground from executive boxes, to the tunnel and into the dressing rooms. The 4-1 defeat was, in the circumstance, excusable.
I took lots of photos of the day, which are accesible by following the link below.
http://www.christophernash.blogspot.com
Old Trafford (*****)
What can be said about the Theatre of Dreams that hasn't already. The first sighting is of a megalithic stadium rising from the soulless suburbia around it, with huge neon lights announcing that this is the home of Manchester United. The impact is awesome. My seat was in the upper tier, right at the top, of the Scoreboard end - the players appearing like little pawns on a chessboard. The feeling was almost vertigo inducing, indeed the club warn vertigo sufferers to take appropriate steps.
That I've spent years going to places like Farnborough and Macclesfield helps accentuate the contrast between the haves and have nots in the game. Just being in such an arena watching my club was a joy to behold - a truly once in a lifetime opportunity that I'll never, ever, forget.
Mansfield Town (last visit 22.10.05)
Field Mill (**)
Like the McCain, Field Mill was a ground that I really should have been to before. But I hadn't, so this was a trip I had greatly anticipated. The pictures had showed it to be a classic ground with lots of character and big open swathes of terracing. No more! It is now a dull and soulless place. The remnants of the past are still present in the miniture, and now derelict Bishop Street Stand. The other three sides are all modern stands that you could find anywhere.
The Main Stand is an impressive double decker affair (a la Northampton, Wycombe, Lincoln etc) while behind the goals are two of the typical L2 front loading stands that you could find anywhere. One day we will shed a tear of regret for the wanton destruction of our footballing architecture - destroyed in the name of progress. This was the day I shed that tear.
Morecambe (last visit 16.04.05)
Everyone loves a trip to the seaside, and of course Morecambe is by the sea. There are also excellent views across the bay to the Cumbrian fells. Quite how it came third in a recent poll of crap towns is thus a complete mystery - Stevenage wasn't even in the top two!
Christie Park (***)
I would rate Christie Park as an average conference ground. The Roseberry End terrace is its most impressive feature. Not quite as big as Exeter's Big Bank, but nonetheless a large structure which is very popular with the home fans. The mian stand is also fairly sizeable, although perhaps look a little rusty. The other two sides are smaller, a pencil thin side terrace and a slightly larger one behind the goal. Slap bang in the middle is the press box, which is quite strange.
So not the best ground, but certainly not the worst.
Notts County (last visit 02.01.06)
Nottingham
Food: You have to go some way from the ground to get into the city centre. After a long walk there didn't seem to be too many pubs around, so it was back to the chippie. Haddock & Chips (**) were OK but unspectacular.
Drink (Vat & Fiddle): The V&F was recommended to us by a passing county fan. It was one of the best pubs I've ever been to. This is a proper real pub, or if you like Polish Vodka then there is a whole range of them. Among the dozen or so ales I tried Castle Rock Elsie Mo (4.7% ****) and the darker Castle Rock Black Gold (3.5% **). Mo was beautiful although the Mild wasn't so good, still at £1.70 a pint you can't complain.
Meadow Lane (****)
Meadow Lane is a strong contender for the best ground in L2. Capacity wise it isn't much below Darlington, but with four distinct stands it really looks the part. Visitors are given the best of these, the Kop End. This holds over 5,000 seats, and the view is certainly very good. From the top you can even peer over to the roof of the City Ground, which is just over the river.
Oxhey Jets (last visit 20.12.05)
Oxhey are very much a club on the up. In the past few years, they have made the move from the Herts Senior County League right through to the South Midland League Premier Division. Sadly the facilities have not developed at the same pace and the ground is very poor for it's level.
Boundary Stadium (*)
The Boundary Stadium resembles a construction site.On one side there is a small main stand, although this has been poorly construced and the view is obscured by the people standing on the terrace in front. There is one piece of very steep terracing; although to make way for it lots of mud has been dug out, and this has simply been dumped in front. The rest of the ground had barely been touched. Behind one goal is a grass bank, and you'll get muddy feet if you stand there.
Mind you you'll get muddy feet in most of the ground. So perhaps the best place to watch the game is from the car park, as this is elevated above the level of the pitch. The snack bar is also here (i.e. outside the ground), so you can have a bite to eat and not have to clean your shoes afterwards.
Northampton Town (last visit 09.08.05)
Sixfields (***)
Coming by road, Sixfields looks just like any other new stadium, being in an industrial park abounding with Pizza Hut and other such joints.Walking in from the station, however, your first sight is an impressive arial view from the top of the hill, the ground having been cleverly designed to be in a huge bowl. If the game is sold out, the hill is definitely the place to be!
Inside, the ground is unremarkable. The cavernous West Stand towers over the rest of the ground, with the other three sides being identikit seated areas. The seats are all maroon though, in line with the clubs colours, and look quite nice.
Northwich Victoria
See Witton Albion
Scarborough (last visit 25.09.04)
Filey
As an alternative to going into Scarborough itself, Filey makes an for interesting pre-match stop. Although rather quiet and genteel, there are nonetheless plenty of Fish and Chip shops around town.
Food: The Cod and Chips (£3.20) were prime and succulent and I eat them on a bench by the seafront. It should have been just pukka, but as it was a really long jounrey up I'd been nibbling crisps all the way and lost my appetite. So I can only give it **.
Drink: Rather disappointing: Filey proved to be a bit of a Real Ale desert. Nonethless, I had a reasonable pint of John Smith's (*** Cask, not the creamflow poison), and a Guiness (**).
McCain Stadium (****)
A beauty. The McCain used to be rather basic, but now there are spanking smart stands behind either goal with SFC written out in the seats. Facilties are good, although the club have paid little attntion to their upkeep. Lots of seats are broken and the rest covered in dirt. Still, the new stands contrast well with the old main stand. Opposite the main stand is a covered terrace opposite quaint, with huge McCain's adverts of the roof. The McStad is unique in others ways too - like having bits of deserted terrace in the four corners of the ground.
On the hill behind the stadium is a quad bike track, so if the game is dull (it was!) you can watch the bikers scooting along at breakneck speed. Which makes a change from having rows of houses to look at.
The rumour mill suggests that Scabby are looking to relocate to a new site - so get to the Theatre of Chips while you still can.
Shrewsbury Town (last visit 27.09.05)
Food: In ground catering can be of variable quality, although I'd heard good things about the Cornish Pasties at Shrewsbury. In fact they were excellent, unlike most pasites these may even have come from Cornwall (****).
Ironbridge
If a pre-match stop is desired, you could do worse than visiting historic Ironbridge, the birthplace of the Industral revolution. Apparently Brunel designed the bridge, and he was a very fine chap indeed, although I wonder if it was in fact Thomas Telford - after whom the nearby town is presumably named.
The only drawback with the town is it's lack of eating places, a bag of fizzy sweets full of chemicals and half a pork scratching hardly constitute a pre-match meal (-1*). At least the Bass (***) was good.
Gay Meadow (***)
In terms of it's location, Gay Meadow cannot be beaten. Set just by the River Severn and very close to the town centre, this is ideal. Unfortuantely the great location puts a buffer on the clubs expansion plans, so plans are in place to abandon The Meadow for a new out of town stadium. So we should enjoy this historic old ground while we still can.
Visitors get the partially covered Station Terrace, which comes with a fence in front. Luckily this doesn't constrain the view, as the terrace is fairly high, but why have it in the first place? The two sides have a terrace and a stand. The riverside terrace backs onto the river, which is where the ball sometimes ends up. In this case, an old man sails off to retrieve it. Legend has it that one misty day he set out to collect a ball, only to come face to face with an angry swan! Maybe the two look alike?
St.Albans City (last visit 16.07.05)
Clarence Park (***)
My first impressions of Clarence Park that it was like Home Park, in Plymouth. As with the Devon side, the ground is situated in the middle of a huge park, which makes for an attractive entry point. And as at Home Park, it is then neccesarry to climb of flight of stairs on entering to get to the terrace.
But that's where the similarity ends. The ground is basically very reasonable, with a large terrace encircling three sides, one of which is roofed. On the fourth side is a seated enclosure. There used to be a tree growing on one of the terraces. This had a preservation order on it, so the club have had to fence it off, which is a pity. Nonetheless, this is still a very likeable ground to visit.
Stevenage Borough (last visit 26.12.04)
Broadhall Way (** / ****)
Techincally Brodhall Way is a very good ground. It is all under cover, and the views are unobstructed. But there are no features to make it stand out - no sloping pitch, no tree growing in the terrace, no falling down clubhouse. Just four symmetrical stands - two terracing, two seating. So BHW deserves just two stars, along with other concrete grounds. Yet I've given it a split rating - while it only scores 2/5 most of the time, it deserves a four for when we visit. As the most accesible away ground from Barnet, hundreds make the trip and the atmsophere is hair-raising. If it were two hundred miles away this would be a dull trip to a dull ground in a dull town, but as it is - it's one of the best.
Stockport County (last visit 13.11.05)
Stockport
In my 'Football Fans Guide' a book produced in the mid-90's to assist the travelling supporter, Stockport are described as 'The Friendly Club'. Having made my first trip to Edgeley Park, I would concur with this assessment. The town centre was run down and deserted (it was Sunday morning mind), so we visited the working mens club next to the ground. It was a good choice!
The club put on some tasty food for lunch, I had a excellent bowl of Tam Tash (a sort of lamb & potato stew) with some crusty bread on the side. At only £1 it was a bargain and for the first time I will award it the coveted five stars. On the drink front, there was a selection of real ales, the Tetley Dark Mild (****) was an excellent accompaniment to the stew, the Tetley Bitter (***) rather more ordinary.
Edgeley Park (***)
Having had a heaty lunch, I settled down in my seat to watch the game. Edgeley Park is an all-seater stadium (boo hoo!) although quite a smart one at that. The four stands are all different which gives it some character. Pride and joy is the massive, two-tiered Cheadle End where the bulk of the home support gathers. Opposite is the uncovered Barlow End, where seats have been bolted onto the existing terrace. We were on the side in the Barlow Stand, where the acoustics were excellent.
Tottenham Hotspur (last visit 11.11.05)
It isn't often that I get the chance to visit a premiership ground, but England U-21's game with France provided just such an oppurtunity, and with tickets just £10 each it wasn't a chance I was going to miss. Access to the stadium looks straightforward, with two mainline stations just a few minutes walk away, although the trains get very busy. The area around White Hart Lane is typical inner-city territory, and very run down.
White Hart Lane (***)
After Old Trafford, I had presumed that all premiership grounds were imposing structures visible for miles around. So it was with some surprise, having walked from Northumberland Park station, that I suddenly realised I was outside the South Stand at WHL! It looked more like a block of flats.
Inside, the ground has a very snug feel, with four double-deck stands around the ground. It is the sort of place that could easily feel like home, unlike a Leigh RMI or a Wrexham. On the downside, the seats were very tightly packed and perhaps a bit too snug, while the concourses were packed at half-time. I wouldn't like to be there if there was an emergency.
Tamworth (last visit 11.09.04)
Tamworth
A short walk from the ground, Tamworth town centre is surprisingly pleasant and the High Street comes complete with a Tourist Information centre. That's a bit pretentious as you wouldn't go out of your way to visit. Nonetheless it made a good stop off before the game. I was fortunate to find a pub serving good food, something you sometimes find in the Midlands.
Food: Fish, Chips and Peas with a knife and fork to boot - it makes a change from eating out of old newspaper. Very tasty and good value too (£3.50, ****). A pity that I've forgotten the name of the pub.
Drink: Bank's Bitter (3.7% ***) & Bank's Original (3.35% ***). Went down well with the F+C.
The Lamb (**)
Like Canvey, Tamworth have a very small ground. The away terrace has a little roof on it, although it makes it look like a bus shelter. The rest of the ground is similar, two small terraces and a few seats in the stand.
What other league has such odd mix of stadia? On the one hand you have cavernous places like Halifax and Carlisle, then you get others like Tamworth. Still, variety is the spice of life so they say.
Tottenham Hotspur (last visit 11.11.05)
It isn't often that I get the chance to visit a premiership ground, but England U-21's game with France provided just such an oppurtunity, and with tickets just £10 each it wasn't a chance I was going to miss. Access to the stadium looks straightforward, with two mainline stations just a few minutes walk away, although the trains get very busy. The area around White Hart Lane is typical inner-city territory, and very run down.
White Hart Lane (***)
After Old Trafford, I had presumed that all premiership grounds were imposing structures visible for miles around. So it was with some surprise, having walked from Northumberland Park station, that I suddenly realised I was outside the South Stand at WHL! It looked more like a block of flats.
Inside, the ground has a very snug feel, with four double-deck stands around the ground. It is the sort of place that could easily feel like home, unlike a Leigh RMI or a Wrexham. On the downside, the seats were very tightly packed and perhaps a bit too snug, while the concourses were packed at half-time. I wouldn't like to be there if there was an emergency.
Tring Athletic (last visit 27.10.04)
Tring
Food: A Chip just off the High Street (called 'The Plaice' or suchlike) provided an excellent Cod & Chips for £3.70 (****). There were even a few seats inside to shelter from the rain, which was handy. While the ground is a little way out of town, a detour to the High Street come highly recommended.
Drink: There is a brewery in Tring, although as I drove up to the game I stuck with a lemonade in the clubhouse.
Cow Lane (*****)
A beaut!
This ground that doesn't seem particularly special at first glance, yet in time its magic weaves it's spell. Aside from a small seated stand holds about fifty seats, the covered terrace behind one of the goals provides the only shleter. Given this, a lot of people choose to watch the game from in the clubhouse, which affords a good view of proceedings.
It is out on the terraces though that you find the quirks. A forest of trees behind one goal provides a delightful backdrop, and indeed a few trees actually find their way into the ground. One tree evidently has a protection order on it because the terrace is built AROUND it. Behind the goal, a ladder was perched on the wall. It's purpose is seemingly to allow the ballboys to get out, why they don't use the normal exits like everyone else never became apparent.
Perhaps if Barnet fall on hard times and get relegated to the South Midland League, we can at least console ourselves with such enjoyable trips as this.
Food (in ground): The in ground catering is good quality and good value. I particularly recommend the baguettes, a foot long slice of french bread stick with a range of fillings. The tuna and salad goes down a treat and is excellent at £1.50. It certainly makes a change from the usual pre-packaged football fayre.
Wingate are my most local club, so I make occasional trips to the Abrahams. The stadium has come on quite a bit in the past few years, albeit in a rather piecemeal way. The most impressive thing about the site though is not immediately apparent. I believe that the underground watering system apparently cost £500,000, although I might have dreamt that.
The ground itself is sited next door to Finchley Rugby Club. This means that the main stand in both stadiums is actually the same structure, part of it facing the football pitch and part facing the rugby pitch. Clever? On the opposite side stands a covered terrace, the roofing having a rather large clock on it. At one end is a small covered terrace, at the other a smaller one, backed by a tennis court. There is also an astroturf and swimming complex visible nearby, making Finchley a real hotbed of sporting excellence. Or maybe not.
In the meantime, just watch out for the stray oval balls which occasionally come over the fence.
Northwich is in salt country - where that condiment to F+C comes from. Aside from that, it is a relatively small town which boasts two reasonably sized clubs.
Food (in ground): I spent all my time in Northwich town centre in the Penny Black (see below), so wasn't able to visit the chip shop across the road. It didn't matter though, because I was able to get a good value pie and chips (£2.30) inside the ground. Smothered in ketchup and brown sauce this made a veritable lunch, far better than most in ground fare. ***
Drink: CAMRA recommend just one pub in Northwich, which is the Wetherspoon's owned Penny Black. You can see why. A whole line of hand pumps greets the drinker, with old favourites like Spitfire alongside the guests. The prices were also very tasty. Where else can you get a half a guest for 68p? I tried three drinks, all were excellent:
(17.04.05) Ringwood Fortyniner (4.9%) *** Hyde's Fine and Dandy (?) *** Cains Dark Mild (3.2%) ****
At the time of my visit, Northwich were sharing with Witton at their Wincham Park stadium. With a whole line of derelict buses next to the ground, the outside feels a little bit like being in Gravesend.
Inside, it is rather more pleasant. WP is a fairly small ground as it holds only 4,500, but it is neat and tidy. On one side is a shallow stand, opposite is a shallow terrace. Behind each goal are shallow terraces. That said, there is covering on all sides of the ground and the view is good.
Bearing in mind that Witton are only a level seven club though, the facilities are very good. I have certainly been to worse grounds in the conference this season.
Welwyn have a decent clubhouse which serves up some tasty bacon butties (***). An unusual feature here is that the toilet facilities in the clubhouse seem to be the only ones in the ground, which is actually outside of the turnstiles. Hence at half-time everyone leaves the ground only to return later!
Having now been to several grounds in the South Midlands League, I'd judge this to be one of the more basic. Aside from the usual railing around the pitch, the only stand was a rather old structure with a few wooden benches. There were also a few rusty portacabins around the pitch, they're purpose not being at all apparent.
With the clubhouse not being open to Barnet fans, I had to make my way down the road in search of refreshments. The ground is in a smart residenital area, which means there isn't much around - certainly no greasy chip shops!
Food (in ground): There's standard football fare inside the ground, my burger (**) filling a hole.
Drink: I found a little inn about ten minutes from the ground, complete with pool table and lots of Barnet fans. The Green King IPA (***) went down well.
Some grounds, like Chester or Stevenage, are dull, symmetrical and characterless. Others, like Forest Green are lob sided and wonderful. Kingfield definitely falls into the latter category. Three sides of this odd stadium are decidely non-league, all very small enclosures. But rising behind one goal is the fantastic LGS stand, which towers not only over the ground but over most of Woking. The other sides have shallow terracing and a couple of little stands, one unfortunately graffited by a huge McDonalds ad. The setting is also fairly unremarkable, but these minor faults shou;ld not be allowed to take away from a ground which is certainly one of my favourites.
The Racecourse has hosted some internationals in it's time, and is certainly an impressive ground. The new Pryce Griffiths Stand is very plush, but I didn't find it very aesthetically pleasing. The rest of the ground is older, and rather drab. The Kop is a huge terrace behind the goal where the home supporters congregate, not too dissimilar from how I imagine it's namesake would look. As with Ashton Gate I should have been impressed, but I just couldn't find any affinity with the place.
I'd always had visions of Wycombe being a smart town; that was before I saw Beaconsfield. The Estate Agents advertise plenty of million pound properties, and it shows. I had a pre-match snack of a slightly chewy tuna baguette with a pint of coke (***). There was a chip shop but it wouldn't have felt quite right.
Following a narrow road through an industrial estate gives few hopes for what might be found at Adams Park. For a new ground, however, Adams Park has a real heart and soul and is a great place to come and watch football. The whole place has a feel good factor about it.
Outside was a huge beer tent serving Greene King IPA - alas I felt a bit ill and didn't go in. The whole stadium is set in the rolling Chiltern countryside, with the main car park being a huge field. Inside, the facilities are impressive. Centre stage is the double-decker Woodlands Stand, complete with executive boxes. Visitors are allocated the Roger Vere End, while home fans stand opposite in the Valley End.
None of the stands matches, something which gives the place a bit of character - it's a shame more new grounds can't be like this
