Cammell Laird FC- Kirklands

Visits: 3
Cammell Laird 1-1 Witton Albion (UniBond League First Division South, April 5th 2010)
Cammell Laird 0-2 Kidsgrove Athletic (UniBond League First Division South, April 20th 2010)
Cammell Laird 0-3 Bamber Bridge (FA Trophy Preliminary Round, October 7th 2011)
Stands I’ve Been in: All stands
Ticket Price (1st Visit): Free
Attendance (1st Visit): 132
Address: Kirklands Stadium, St Peter's Road, Rock Ferry, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH42 1PY

Transport

Driving isn’t a problem, if you’re coming from the Liverpool side of the Mersey, it’s right near the Birkenhead Tunnel, so not a bad drive. With the size of the crowds too, street parking is easily available, or at the Lairds Sports Club opposite the ground on St Peters Road.

Under the floodlights against Kidsgrove

Food & Drink

There is a big pub just where you turn off New Chester Road called the Abbotsford. Failing that, there is the social club at the ground, as well as the refreshment bar inside.

Looking at the bus depot side

Inside the Ground

The club were demoted from the UniBond Premier in 2009 due to the standard of their ground, despite installing a new seated area and covered standing area along one side to meet league regulations. There is also a seated stand along the main side with the changing rooms, dugouts etc., while the two ends are uncovered.

Clubhouse side

Atmosphere

Lairds don’t get the biggest crowds, usually averaging somewhere between 60-100 people, so with that in mind, the atmosphere isn’t going to be stunning really! The small intimate crowd though does allow for some good banter between the crowd and the players and officials.

One of the two uncovered ends

Anything Else

Overall

Not the greatest facilities in the world, but a cracking welcoming little club.

Kirklands Photos

Leeds Rhinos RLFC- Headingley

Visits: 2
Leeds Rhinos 20-20 Bradford Bulls (Super League XV, April 1st 2010)
Leeds Rhinos 36-6 Hull FC (Super League XVIII, February 1st 2013)
Stands I’ve Been In: North Stand, Upper East Stand
Ticket Price (1st Visit): £18 (Student)
Attendance (1st Visit): 17,244
Address: Headingley Stadium, St Michaels Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS6 3BU

Transport

It’s signposted all the way from the motorway so not a problem. Considering it's all street parking too, parking isn’t bad, though traffic can be bad getting away after. We parked for free at a pub called Taps around the corner which was free and not too bad for getting out.

The South Stand, 2010

Food & Drink

There is a main street full of takeaways and KFC etc. just down the road from the ground, or alternatively inside, there are plenty of food and drink outlets, and a couple of bars in the Main Stand too, so very easy to come by!

Main Stand against Hull, 2013

Inside the Ground

Like Knowsley Road, it’s showing it’s age a lot these days, though the old South Stand is due to be redeveloped soon. As a result, the view isn’t the greatest from some areas (in particular where I sat which had two pillars blocking most of one end of the pitch!) The uncovered West Terrace obviously provides good views with no pillars, while the newer Carnegie Stand behind the other posts also has good views, with a terrace at the bottom, and seating in the upper. The old South Stand is a big covered terrace, which has had to have it’s capacity reduced, hence it’s upcoming redevelopment.

Bradford fans pack the West Terrace for an Easter Derby, 2010

Atmosphere

Wasn’t the greatest for a lot of the game, though kind of understandable given Leeds’ run of defeats before the game, their performance, and the fact that Bradford led from the 2nd minute to the 77th, but it could be pretty good when it got going, especially towards the end when Leeds staged a bit of a fightback from 20-6 down!

The Carnegie Stand, 2010

Anything Else

The ground backs onto the Headingley cricket ground, and shares the same turnstiles, and bars in the Main Stand.

Overall

Again, like Knowsley Road, a bit of a dump that’s had it’s day, but sport still needs a few old school venues like this one, and it was a good night.

Headingley Photos

Wolverhampton Wanderers FC- Molineux

Visits:4
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-0 Everton (Premier League, March 27th 2010)
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-3 Everton (Premier League, April 9th 2011)
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-0 Everton (Premier League, May 6th 2012)
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-2 Wigan Athletic (Championship, October 4th 2014)
Stands I’ve Been in: Steve Bull Stand Lower
Ticket Price (1st Visit): £25 (Student)
Attendance (1st Visit): 28,995
Address: Molineux Ground, Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton, WV1 4QR

Transport

I had a tip from a Wolves fan, and it turned out to be a pretty good one! Leave the M6 at Junction 12, follow Stafford Road all the way towards town, turn left at a roundabout with the Island pub next to it, and lo and behold, free matchday parking at a park and ride! Only about a 10 minute walk to the ground from there, and traffic not so bad afterwards. Spot on!

Billy Wright statue outside the stand named after him, 2014

Food & Drink

You can’t really go without here. Decent selection inside the ground with burgers, hot dogs, pies, the usual, and outside, curries everywhere you look! As far as getting a drink goes, I’d always heard Wolves can be a bit of a moody away, but a pub a little way away from the Stan Cullis Stand opposite the Asda called the Goal Post was heaving with Blues mixing with home fans with absolutely no bother. They served curries too and put on what looked like a free barbecue buffet which had sadly all been gobbled up by the time we got there!

Ground exterior, 2014

Inside the Ground

Given that the Steve Bull Stand is the oldest in the ground, I was very surprised just how good it was! Away fans who take the full allocation as we did take the whole of the lower tier of the stand, and despite it not having many rows and us being in row B, it was really steep so even that low down, the view was pretty good! The ground looks quite steep all around, and is built in a valley, so while it feels quite big and imposing once you’re inside, it looks and feels quite small on the outside.

The redeveloped Stan Cullis Stand, 2014

Atmosphere

It wasn’t bad. Wolves fans were pretty quiet until they started getting on the refs back, which in turn lifted them a bit to get behind their team more. Away fans struggle to get anything going, as we’re so far spread out. Maybe thats why they put us in the side?

The Billy Wright Stand, 2010

Anything Else

The Jack Harris Stand, 2010

Overall

Very good, I really enjoyed it. One of those grounds that has everything you’re looking for in an away day. Somewhere to eat and drink, not too far away or hard to get to, decent away end, decent atmosphere. A new contender in my list of favourites!

Molineux Photos

Chorley FC- Victory Park

Visits:3
Chorley 1-5 Leigh Genesis (UniBond League First Division North, February 27th 2010)
Chorley 3-2 Mossley (UniBond League First Division North, March 23rd 2010)
Chorley 0-0 Halifax Town (FA Cup 4th Qualifying Round, October 25th 2014)
Stands I’ve Been in: All of them!
Ticket Price (1st Visit): £3.50
Attendance (1st Visit): 260
Address: Victory Park, Duke Street, Chorley, Lancashire, PR7 3DU

Transport

It’s very hidden! I’d been working in Chorley for around 18 months, and despite driving past the ground so many times, I’d never ever known it was there. As a result, when I turned up for this game, I was late and missed the kick off because when I finally found the ground, I was at the wrong end of the ground and they only have one set of turnstiles open! Parking is no problem given the size of the crowds Chorley get, I turned up at 2.55 and still got parked right next to it on the main road.

Food & Drink

Like most clubs at this level, there is the social club in one corner of the ground for drinks. They also have a pretty decent snack bar with a pretty wide selection of hot food. Never sampled any as I’d ate before I came out, but the soup in particular looked very tempting.

Rare segregation in place for the Halifax FA Cup game, 2014

Inside the Ground

It’s old, but a fair size for it’s level. One big fair sized covered terrace at one end, a smaller covered one behind the other, the seated Main Stand, and an old school grass verge type terrace along one side.

The Main Stand against Leigh, 2010

Atmosphere

The atmosphere in a ground that big with only 200 odd inside isn’t going to be brilliant. There was a bit of singing from the Leigh fans when they were well ahead, but most of the noise came from lone Chorley fans yelling at their team! Given the performance, I can’t blame them!

Big crowd for an FA Cup tie with Halifax, 2014

Anything Else

The grass bank, 2010

Overall

Enjoyable and relaxed enough. From ground geek perspective too, enough to keep me interested!

Victory Park Photos

Torquay United FC- Plainmoor

Visits: 1
Torquay United 1-2 Port Vale (League Two, February 13th 2010)
Stands I’ve Been in: Family Stand
Ticket Price (1st Visit): £12 (Student)
Attendance (1st Visit):  2,563
Address: Plainmoor, Torquay, TQ1 3PS

Transport

A long long trip, but can’t complain about access. The ground isn’t really signposted until you’re right on top of it, but parking was spot on, free street parking literally a 30 second walk from the away end. Getting back was less fun thanks to lane closures and the longest ever diversion on the M6…

Mosaic outside Plainmoor's Family Stand

Food & Drink

The Boots n Laces bar is on site at the ground, or you can head towards the beach where there are plenty of pubs and places to eat. We went to a chippy near the front on Princes Street, about 10 minutes walk from the ground. Typical seaside chippy with small portions and big prices, but they were bloody good chips though! My dad had a burger inside the ground that didn’t exactly come recommended…they also sell chips in the ground, which is rare these days, but no idea what they were like having already ate.

The Family Stand, before kick off

Inside the Ground

Good little mix, with the all seated Family Stand behind one goal, the seated Main Stand with paddock at the front, and the all terraced Popular Terrace and away end. The ground is fairly up to date all around, with the only obstructed views coming in the Main Stand (or the crossbar if you happen to sit level with it!)

The players walk out in front of the Main Stand

Atmosphere

Absolutely none where I sat, though I kind of knew that sitting in the Family Stand! All the atmosphere from the home fans came from the Popular Terrace, which was a bit hit and miss, but pretty good when it got going. Likewise the away end, which seems to have excellent acoustics, because the Vale fans could be heard loud and clear when they got going.

The Popular Terrace celebrates Elliott Benyon's goal

Anything Else

Elliott Benyon scored with his first touch just seconds after coming on as a substitute for Torquay, must be a personal record at least as one of the fastest goals Ive ever seen from a player!

Port Vale fans in the Warbro Road End

Overall

Strange sleepy little town seemingly full of old people, it shows at the ground as it’s a really relaxed. I would say it’s a decent little ground too that I’d be happy to go back to, but only if it moves a hundred miles or so further north!

Plainmoor Photos

Leigh Centurions RLFC- Leigh Sports Village

Visits: 3
Leigh Centurions 16-14 Wigan Warriors (Friendly, January 24th 2010)
Leigh Centurions 24-12 Oldham Roughyeds (Northern Rail Cup, January 31st 2010)
Leigh Centurions 12-60 Leeds Rhinos (Challenge Cup Quarter Final, May 11th 2012)
Stands I’ve Been In: North Terrace, West Stand
Ticket Price (1st Visit): £14
Attendance (1st Visit): 3,540
Address: Leigh Sports Village, Sale Way, Leigh, Lancashire, WN7 4JY

Transport

By public transport, Leigh is not the easiest town in the world to get to…mainly because it has no train station! Meaning your best option is a train to Wigan, bus from there to Leigh, then taxi from the bus station! Driving though, it’s great. The new ground is just off the East Lancs Road, not far from the M6, and there is ample free parking available at the ground, where the stewards are even very efficient at getting rid of all the cars afterwards.

Ground exterior, 2010

Food & Drink

The ground is so close to the old Hilton Park site, a lot of the same old pubs are still popular. The Railway, and the Harvester on Atherleigh Way are always fine on a matchday, and on site at the ground is the Legends Bar.

The West Stand, 2010

Inside the Ground

As you would expect from a new ground, and Leigh’s attendances mean that there is no real crush under the stand for food and drink at half time. There are also TVs inside the ground with Sky Sports on, which is always a plus. On the outside, the ground is all seated on three sides, with the large terraced North Stand behind the posts at one end.

The East Stand, 2010

Atmosphere

Not bad considering the ground is so empty. The obvious anti-Wigan feeling made for an excellent atmosphere at what was supposed to be a friendly match, while even for a Northern Rail Cup game with just 1,600 or so in attendance and two stands shut, the atmosphere and banter between the two sets of fans was always lively.

The North Terrace for a Northern Rail Cup game, 2010

Anything Else

Wigan fans in the South Stand, 2010

Overall

A massive improvement on Hilton Park in every sense really. Always sad to see an old ground like that go, but Leigh are an infinitely better off club with greater future prospects at the LSV.

Leigh Sports Village Photos

Cardiff City FC- Cardiff City Stadium

Visits: 2
Cardiff City 1-0 Preston North End (Championship, December 5th 2009)
Cardiff City 0-0 Everton (Premier League, August 31st 2013)
Stands I’ve Been in: Away Supporters Stand
Ticket Price (1st Visit): £15 (Student)
Attendance (1st Visit): 18,735
Address: Cardiff City Stadium, Leckwith Road, Cardiff, CF11 8AZ

Transport

After getting the coach to Ninian Park, and the train to the Millennium Stadium, I made my 3rd visit to a different Cardiff ground by a 3rd mode of transport and drove! I had some filming to do and had to get there early so the car seemed the best alternative. Straightforward, and if you use the M50 on the way there, you don’t have to pay the toll charge on the Severn Bridge! Hadn’t really looked into parking as much as I usually do, so wasn’t sure where to go. Got to the ground, drove about another 100 yards past it, and found free street parking. Lovely stuff. Parked at Canton Rugby Club about a 10 minute walk from the ground second time, and they have a bar and TV there that lets in away fans so that was decent, and even though you pay, you get a voucher off money at the bar so not bad at all.

Ground exterior, 2013

Food & Drink

Across the street from Ninian Park, so identical.

The Canton Stand, 2013

Inside the Ground

A bit of an improvement in terms of facilities on Ninian, that’s for sure! Gone are the old netting fence separating the fans, the low roof, the terraces, for a nice shiny new ground…its just not the same, especially as there were only 2,000 more on than when I went to Ninian Park. Whereas that meant an almost full Ninian Park, it meant nearly 10,000 empty seats here. Full house on my second visit however, what a surprise…

The Grange Stand, 2009

Atmosphere

As above, it was very empty so not that good. Fortunately, most of the more vocal fans seemed to be next to the away end, so there was at least plenty of banter! The singing of Men of Harlech before kick off sends a shiver down your spine as well. Second visit was abysmal for a full ground and a team just promoted. They couldnt even do Men of Harlech properly second time, so that really disappointed me.

The Grandstand, 2009

Anything Else

The Ninian Stand, 2013

Overall

I love the city, its miles away but I always enjoy going there. Sadly I’m old fashioned and miss Ninian Park like mad. Was especially sad looking at it from outside the ground, and seeing that the Grange End where I had one of the best football days of my life, is now just a pile of junk. Arguably, it was before as well, but it was a special pile of junk! By the time I went the second time, it was a fancy housing estate…sad.

Ninian Park/ Cardiff City Stadium Photos

AEK Athens- OACA Spyros Louis

Visits: 1
AEK Athens 0-1 Everton (Europa League Group Stage Matchday 5, December 2nd 2009)
Stands I’ve Been in: Gate 20
Ticket Price (1st Visit): £19
Attendance (1st Visit): 15,000

Transport

Went with a club package, so was bussed around from the airport and city centre to the ground.

Ground exterior

Food & Drink

Wouldn’t have a clue what’s around the ground…we spent the day in the city centre, and when we were bussed to the ground, we were escorted straight in by riot police, and had nothing to do for an hour and a half…lovely. The city is fantastic, as is the food…mmm..souvlaki! The city itself is strange, in the sense that it so grand, and you’re walking down an ordinary shopping street, but surrounded by ancient monuments!

The away section

Inside the Ground

From the seated area, it certainly looks stunning (though half the away end being uncovered isn’t exactly fun when we had various spells of torrential rain…) but it is ridiculous how little UEFA care about ground standards and safety. England cleaned up it’s act after Heysel and Hillsborough, the mistakes of the past meant we were forced to bring our grounds up to date, and we are now at least safe to attend a football match. Even after the problems posed by Liverpool fans at the Champions League Final here in 2007, there are still no turnstiles, its all about police checkpoints, sitting wherever you like, no toilets, just a line of portaloos! Only one food outlet, and you had to go through a police checkpoint again just to reach it and to get back to your seat, a problem that can be easily solved by hmm…turnstiles! You do have to wonder how deluded UEFA really are when they deem this ground worthy of the honour of hosting a CL Final, and Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, not. The view from the away end was at least flawless, even if we were a bit far away thanks to the running track. The police were a pain in the backside. Left us alone while the game was on, but a pain by all account whenever someone wanted to use the toilet or food for the reasons pointed out above. Also insisted on keeping us behind for 20 minutes and making sure we did so in the seated area, so if you needed the loo, you were screwed! Also more concerned with making sure were behaving ourselves and not allowed to move about, rather than keeping an eye on what the home fans were up to. There were flares, missiles on the pitch, fans climbing over the fences to steal flags and put their banners up, and of course, the usual flag burning antics (or attempted ones…clearly there is a good reason why all flags in this country must be fire retardant! It was quite funny seeing their 6th or 7th attempt at flag burning fail, and the whole away end singing ‘You can’t start a fire!’)

The very sparsely populated side stand...

Atmosphere

15,000 fans in a 71,000 capacity stadium…what do you think? Wasn’t so much down to either set of fans, we were both pretty constant all night, but while they were dispersed all over the place, the atmosphere was never going to be anything other than hollow from them.

The even emptier main stand side

Anything Else

The Athens ultras behind the goal

Overall

The city itself is well worth a visit. The ground…not so much. Getting in and out of the ground was a very unpleasant experience all round and spoiled an otherwise excellent 24 hours.

OACA Spyros Louis Photos

Blackpool FC- Bloomfield Road

Visits: 2
Blackpool 4-1 Wigan Athletic (League Cup 2nd Round, August 26th 2009)
Blackpool 2-2 Everton (Premier League, November 6th 2010)
Stands I’ve Been in: East Stand
Ticket Price (1st Visit): £10
Attendance (1st Visit): 8,089
Address: Bloomfield Road, Seasiders Way, Blackpool, FY1 6JJ

Transport

The road layout has changed slightly since I was last there! In hindsight should have stayed on M55 a junction longer, so as long as you do that its easy, can’t miss it. Pay and display literally 10 seconds from the ground. Just be aware that they charge more during ‘holiday season!’ Might have been August when I went, but it was nothing like holiday season!

Stan Mortensen statue outside the ground, with the Blackpool Tower in the background, 2009

Food & Drink

If you cant find anything in Blackpool, you’re blind! Good pub called the Happy Jock just away from the ground towards the front.

The old uncovered temporary East Stand for away fans! 2009

Inside the Ground

It will be a smart little ground when it’s finished…as it is, away fans currently have to endure a shaky uncovered temporary stand, which is just lovely on horrible rainy nights like my first visit. Thankfully it has now been replaced with another temporary stand, but that one at least has a roof. The South Stand, which was still unfinished on my first visit, is now finished and opened in March 2010.

The new and improved covered, but still temporary away end! 2010

Atmosphere

Can’t argue with Blackpool fans, they made plenty of noise all the way through. Probably the only time Ive ever heard a drum too that actually helped the atmosphere rather than drowning it out. Wigan fans were poor, the performance didn’t exactly help, but any noise we did make early on was nothing in that uncovered side. A big improvement on my second visit understandably given the roof over the away end and the improved performance.

The Armfield Stand, 2010

Anything Else

On completion of the Armfield Stand in March 2010, smaller away followings were accomodated in the corner of the North Stand, while bigger followings stayed in the temporary East Stand. With Blackpool now promoted to the Premier League, the old temporary East Stand has been replaced with…a temporary East Stand! It is a big improvement on the old one though, and does have a roof now, and away fans now have around 2,000 tickets, taking up half of this stand.

The Matthews and North Stands, 2010

Overall

Until that away end is changed, it will always be still a bit of a hole for visiting fans. Promotion has improved it, but it still spoils an otherwise top away day!

Bloomfield Road Photos