Celtic FC- Celtic Park

Visits: 3 (1 Unofficial)
Celtic 1-0 Everton (Pre Season Friendly, July 2006)
St Johnstone 2-0 Dundee United (Scottish Cup Final, May 17th 2014)
Celtic 0-2 Borussia Monchengladbach (Champions League Group Stage, October 19th 2016)
Stands I’ve Been in: Lisbon Lions Lower, Jock Stein Upper, North Stand Upper
Ticket Price (1st Official Visit): £28
Attendance (1st Visit Official): 47,345

Transport

Walked it from the city centre twice, be prepared if you do, its one hell of a walk! Drove once, there is a lot of street parking on the side streets off Duke Street, especially on Bluevale Street, where you may have to give someone a quid or two to 'mind your car' to the north of the ground, and considering the crowds, not too bad for getting out after. 

The Celtic Way, leading up to the Main Stand, 2016

Food & Drink

You cant find a pub in Glasgow, you're blind! Went in a pub called Turnstiles near the ground that was quite small but did a pretty good job of serving fast in a full pub! Inside the ground, other than the usual...pizza! Not some cruddy 'pizza pod' or a slice, an actual half a pizza! You dont get that in England! 

A large section of the North Stand goes potty as St Johnstone score their Cup clinching second goal, 2014

Inside the Ground

Cracking ground, imposing on all sides with the big two tiers, only for the smaller Main Stand, which somehow still fits with the rest of the ground despite being much smaller. 

View from the away end, looking at the Jock Stein Stand, pre season 2006

Atmosphere

Celtic have a reputation of their own of course, but it seems the ground itself is great for creating an atmosphere regardless of who's inside, as it was excellent for this cup final. For the Champions Leaue game, the pre match build up was as good as Ive seen everywhere. The roar that went up when the Champions League music started as the teams lined up was amazing. It was quite up and down during the match though, understandable given the team's performance. The Monchengladbach fans could be heard loud and clear throughout. 

Looking towards the emptying Lisbon Lions Stand as St Johnstone parade the Scottish Cup, 2014

Anything Else

A little bit of history in the making, seeing St Johnstone win the first major trophy after 130 years! Having now done two Scottish Cup Finals and 3 English Cup Finals at 4 different venues, Scotland really do so much more than we do down here to make it a day for the fans. A much higher percentage of the tickets going to the fans of the clubs, no segregating pubs, reasonably priced tickets, no over the top policing, fans just left alone and allowed to enjoy the occasion, the way its supposed to be.

Dundee United fans pack the Main Stand

Overall

Great ground, great atmosphere, and one worthy of hosting the Cup Final too. One everyone should definitely visit for a big night at least once.

Celtic Park Photos

Altrincham FC- Moss Lane

Visits: 1
Altrincham 2-1 Guiseley AET (Conference North Play Off Final, May 10th 2014)
Stands I’ve Been in: Hale End
Ticket Price (1st Visit): £13
Attendance (1st Visit): 4,632

Transport

The ground is not far from Altrincham tram station, so very accessible. I drove and it's all street parking. Worth keeping an eye on the permit holder only bays in the streets near the ground, as some  of them are only valid on weekdays.

Ground exterior

Food & Drink

Like all non league clubs, there is the clubhouse. Due to segregation for the play off final the day I went, away fans were not allowed access, but the club did have a deal with a big pub just a few minutes walk from the away end to allow away fans in instead so that was okay. The pies are very good, so definitely worth waiting until you get inside! If you dont want to wait that long, there is a chippy opposite the Main Stand too.

Guiseley fans in the Hale End

Inside the Ground

Classic little non league ground, the seated Main Stand covers about two thirds of one side, with the rest of the ground standing. Away fans have the luxury of the uncovered Hale End (definitely a bad thing on the day I went when frequent torrential showers was the order of the day...) while home fans have cover in the Popular Side and Golf Road End.

The Golf Road End following celebratory pitch invasion

Atmosphere

It was Altrincham's biggest crowd in 32 years, and a promotion final, so naturally, it was relentless from both sets of fans. Cant imagine its that good all the time!

The Popular Side

Anything Else

The winning goal in this game was one of the most incredible moments Ive seen in football. Extra time had been played out virtually without incident because both sets of players were absolutely dead on their feet, and penalties looked inevitable. So as the board went up to signal the added time, Altrincham made a sub, I presume to waste time or a specialist penalty taker. But as play resumed, both Guiseley defenders left the ball for each other, Altrincham's striker ran through one on one but the keeper saved...and the loose ball rolled right to the feet of the sub to score with his first touch within seconds and win promotion. Heartbreaking stuff.

The Main Stand

Overall

Decent little non league ground, good balance and a good size.

Moss Lane Photos

Brighton & Hove Albion FC- American Express Stadium

Visits: 1
Brighton & Hove Albion 1-1 Blackpool (Championship, April 21st 2014)
Stands I’ve Been in: North Stand
Ticket Price (1st Official Visit): £30
Attendance (1st Visit): 27,610
Address: Amerrican Express Community Stadium, Village Way, Falmer, East Sussex, BN1 9BL

Transport

Dont drive there! The ground is surrounded by a parking permit ring of steel the like of which Ive never seen! And given the queues for the train back to Brighton, the advice given on the Football Ground Guide to park at Lewes and get the train from there is good advice indeed. Still a massive queue there too, but nowhere near as bad as heading back into the city. If you can go via Lewes on the train rather than Brighton, do it! The only upsie to the transport chaos is that public transport is free with a match ticket (or proof of purchase if you’re collecting your ticket on matchday) in a wide area around the ground on matchdays.

Approaching the ground from Falmer Station

Food & Drink

There are plenty of places to eat and drink near Brighton or Lewes Stations, not a lot near the ground, but the stuff in the ground is very good if thats what you’re stuck with. The pies are pricey (probably no more than most other football grounds these days I suppose), but absolutely to die for. The bars at the ground also remain open long after the game, in an effort to alleviate the transport chaos mentioned above.

The East Stand

Inside the Ground

Its not even been there 2 full seasons yet, but already has had plenty of changes made with the capacity raised. The two ends are small single tiers that are dwarfed by the two much bigger sides. The two tiered East Stand on one side, and the bigger three tiered West Stand, which is reminicscent of a bit of a mix between Chelsea' s West Stand with the small middle tier, and Manchester City’s two side stands with the rounded top tier. Lovely ground to look at from the inside, only criticism is its a bit dull on the outside with no real big frontage. The ground also has the nice small padded seats they have at MK Dons, and a big screen behind each goal.

The West Stand celebrates Brighton taking the lead

Atmosphere

Really good, even when it was only a few singing in the North Stand, it felt very noisy, so good acoustically.

Blackpool and Brighton fans in the half empty South Stand

Anything Else

Me in my commemorative Brighton shirt after completing the 92

Overall

The transport dependency spoils what is otherwise a good day. The ground itself is up there with MK Dons and Man City as the best of the new build stadium generation by a mile.

Amex Stadium Photos

Bradford Bulls RLFC- Odsal

Visits: 1
Bradford Bulls 6-46 Leeds Rhinos (Super League XIX, April 17th 2014)
Stands I’ve Been in: Away terrace
Ticket Price (1st Official Visit): £20
Attendance (1st Visit): 10,106
Address: Odsal Stadium, Bradford, West Yorkshire, BD6 1DS

Transport

Its right off the M606, which is only really as problem because it causes the traffic to back up. As it was so busy when I arrived, I just parked at the sports centre across the street from the turnstiles, and got out pretty handy…only to find they close the road that leads back to the M606, so be warned and be aware you need to know another way home!

View from the grass banks at the back of the terracing

Food & Drink

There is a pub just opposite the ground, but inside is just fine. Its a very odd set up, as there is just an absolute succession of burger and food vans and bars scattered about at the top of the terraces. Huge choice so cater for every taste.

Mostly Bradford fans in the side terrace

Inside the Ground

Its very old…the site is enormous, you can see how the place used to hold so many, but its looking very unloved these days, with a lot of sections of the terrace cordoned off. Uncovered terraces make up for two and a bit sides of the ground, the all seater Provident Stand down one side, and then the weird corporate Coral Stand behind the sticks.

The odd Coral Stand

Atmosphere

The fact the majority of the ground is uncovered meant it was pretty dire. Didnt help that it was such a one sided game, as the Bradford fans were understandably pretty miserable, while the Leeds fans it seems just couldnt be bothered. Disappointing all round.

Predominantly Leeds fans behind the posts

Anything Else

View from the side terrace

Overall

Im glad Ive been there, it has a lot of good things about it, but its generally now really showing its age, and given Bradford’s problems on and off the pitch, it wont be changing any time soon.

Odsal Photos

Newport County FC- Rodney Parade

Visits: 1
Newport County 1-2 Portsmouth (League Two,  March 29th 2014)
Stands I’ve Been in: North Terrace
Ticket Price (1st Official Visit): £15
Attendance (1st Visit): 4,261
Address: Rodney Parade, Newport, South Wales, NP19 0UU

Transport

The ground is mostly surrounded by residential streets, but despite a lot of double yellow lines, there is still plenty of free street parking. Alternatively, the city centre is just across the river.

Approaching the turnstiles

Food & Drink

They dont do pies...what the hell kind of football ground dont do pies FFS? Just typical scabby football ground burgers. Vile. So you’ve been warned, go to one of the takeaways on Corporation Road before you go in. Couple of bars on the ground’s property, mostly associated with the rugby club who Newport share the ground with.

The teams line up in front of the Hazell Stand

Inside the Ground

For a start, the ground has a very odd setup, in that because its a rugby ground, and generally made for being able to walk all the way around, but since Football League regulations dont allow that, there are temporary metal fences and lack of signage all over the place. Took me until half time to realise that fans on the Town End terrace where I was were actually supposed to go down into the inside of the Bisley Stand to use the facilities. So you effectively could still walk all the way around the ground. Lets be blunt, the ground is a dump, it isnt very nice. The all seated modern Bisley Stand is the main centrepiece of the ground, and is split between home and away fans. The rest of the away fans are given the very charming uncovered temporary seats at the South end of the ground. Behind the other goal, the home fans have a very small uncovered terrace, both stands behind the goals are miles from the pitch with it being a rugby ground. Only really the old school Hazell Stand I really liked, classic old fashioned seated upper with terraced lower at the front.

The Town End Terrace at half time

Atmosphere

Pretty poor from the home fans. Pompey had over 1,000 at the game though and it was their first win in quite a while, so they were the ones making all the noise. Spilled out a bit during the game with both sets of fans trying to get at each other early on, then after the game outside the ground.

The Pompey fans in the temporary South Stand

Anything Else

Newport and Pompey fans sharing the Bisley Stand

Overall

Not a good ground at all. Miles from the pitch, poor atmosphere, feels temporary all over.

Rodney Parade Photos

AFC Wimbledon- Kingsmeadow

Visits: 1
AFC Wimbledon 0-3 Rochdale (League Two,  February 8th 2014)
Stands I’ve Been in: EcoHouse Terrace
Ticket Price (1st Official Visit): £16
Attendance (1st Visit): 3,837
Address: Jack Goodchild Way, Kingston Road, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey, KT1 3PB

Transport

Stayed the weekend in London with a friend as I was also going to Everton’s game at Spurs on the Sunday, but by train, it couldnt be easier, despite being quite far out. Direct overground train from Waterloo to Norbiton, and about a 10 minute walk, if that from there.

Approaching Kingsmeadow

Food & Drink

You pass a couple of places to eat on the main road walking from the station, I went to a chippy on the corner, which was alright, if nothing special. There is also a decent sized bar at the ground with big screens showing the early game. Limited kiosks inside the ground though, so very busy as you can imagine.

The Paul Strank Main Stand

Inside the Ground

Its still very non league...good in a sense that there are no pillars in any of the stands (with the exception of the very middle section of the side terrace where the camera gantry is) but all of the stands are very small and the terraces quite shallow. The EcoHouse Stand behind the goal is the main home end, while the other terrace down the side is split in half between home and away fans. The seats the away fans are given are in the new seated Nongshim Stand behind the goal, while the Main Stand runs down the other side.

The EcoHouse Terrace

Atmosphere

Expected better, it was quite poor to be honest, even before Wimbledon started getting thrashed. Didnt seem to have the greatest acoustics in the place either, never heard a thing from the Dale fans all day, and even when they did start really going after the goals, could still barely hear them from the other end of the ground.

The YourGolf Terrace

Anything Else

The seated Nongshim Stand

Overall

Pretty disappointing, though slightly understandable given that Wimbledon share with a non league club. They do have plans to move back to Wimbledon soon however so hopefully that will go ahead.

Kingsmeadow Photos

AFC Bournemouth- Dean Court

Visits: 4
Bournemouth 1-1 Watford (Championship, January 18th 2014)
Bournemouth 3-3 Everton (Premier League, November 28th 2015)
Bournemouth 0-2 Everton (FA Cup 5th Round, February 20th 2016)
Bournemouth 1-0 Everton (Premier League, September 24th 2016)
Stands I’ve Been in: Steve Fletcher Stand, East Stand, Ted MacDougall Stand
Ticket Price (1st Official Visit): £21
Attendance (1st Visit): 10,353
Address: Dean Court, King’s Park, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH7 7AF

Transport

Its a long old drive from up north…the ground is signposted as soon as you reach Bournemouth, though all the signs direct you to the club car park behind the Ted McDougall Stand…Id recommend searching a bit further afield for parking because its an absolute nightmare getting out after…we parked at Harewood College second time, £2 and much better for getting out. Only downside is you have to walk across a field to the ground...which isnt the brightest of ideas on a dark blustery day! It's also worth noting that all of the street parking around the Littledown area, just outside King's Park where the ground is, is a parking 'controlled zone.' And it only applies Monday to Friday, so its basically all free street parking if you're playing there at the weekend.

Got the train on my latest visit. Horrible horrible five hour journey from up north that seems to stop at every single station. The walk from the main station isnt bad though. Only downside is that the ground isnt signposted at all. You would think with now being a Premier League club, they could at least list the ground as a landmark on all the walking signs, and not just the beach and piers!

Stadium main entrance, 2014

Food & Drink

Location likewise isnt the best, there is more places to eat and drink if you are coming from Pokesdown Station (as I found out when I drove all around the world getting out of the car park!) Having a walk around to Boscombe looking for food before the game, there really isnt a lot, I ended up going to a cafe in the nearby shopping centre, as I never passed anything else on my way there, just the one little cafe in the park next to the ground. There is a very good cafe opposite the shopping centre too, which does a lovely roast dinner! If you're coming from the other station at Bournemouth Central, you pass plenty of places too. Including a burger place called Smokey's which does the best burgers Ive ever had in this country. The chicken funghi fusion is godlike.

The Steve Fletcher Stand, 2016

Inside the Ground

The ground has been completely rotated and redeveloped since 2001, and now has 4 sides after the building of the Ted McDougall Stand. That stand is a bit more temporary in nature with a couple of pillars, while the other 3 were all built together and are pretty uniform single tier stands.

The Ted McDougall Stand

Atmosphere

Very good actually.

Both sets of fans in the East Stand, 2014

Anything Else

There were a few anti-ITV chants comically, due to some ticket holders being moved for the Liverpool game in the FA Cup next week so that ITV can get their cameras in! Also things got very nasty after my second visit thanks to a couple of pitch invasions, fans trying to get at each other, bit of a kick off outside. It was a surprise really, as I was sat right next to the home fans and they never even looked at the away section until they equalised and then things started getting nasty.

The teams walk out from the West Stand, 2014

Overall

Not a fan, pretty dull ground overall, miles away, and a fairly dull location. Atmosphere is its most redeeming feature.

Dean Court Photos

Milton Keynes Dons FC- Stadium MK

Visits: 3 (1 unofficial)
Milton Keynes Dons 1-3 Wigan Athletic AET (FA Cup 3rd Round Replay, January 14th 2014)
Milton Keynes Dons 3-1 AFC Wimbledon (League Cup 1st Round, August 12th 2014)
Milton Keynes Dons 1-3 Everton (Pre Season, July 26th 2016)
Stands I’ve Been in: North Stand Lower, North Stand Upper
Ticket Price (1st Official Visit): £12
Attendance (1st Visit): 8,316
Address: Stadium MK, Denbigh, Milton Keynes, MK1 1ST

Transport

It seems a lot of people dont like MK with all its roundabouts, but being from a fellow roundabout filled new town, I dont mind it! There are a few industrial estates on Dawson Road opposite the ground, and there is an absolute ton of free parking along there. Mega quick for getting out as well, so cant complain.

The obscenely dull frontage of Stadium MK against AFC Wimbledon, 2014

Food & Drink

The ultimate retail park city...surrounded by the usual, but they were too busy so I chanced the food in the ground. I wouldnt bother, £2.50 for a bacon roll that was smaller than a McDonalds cheeseburger and was fatty as hell! They also only opened one food kiosk in the away end for Wigan’s visit, so you can imagine what the queue was like at half time…

The East Stand against Wigan

Inside the Ground

I really didnt want to like it…but this is just pure evidence of how good a ground a club can get if they just pay out a bit instead of just building another Shrewsbury on the cheap. Emirates style padded seats, some unique touches such as the weird little overhangs in the Main Stand, concourses where you can see the game similar to Hampden, four big screens (though annoyingly, only the one above the away end had a clock and replays!), the turnstiles are inside under cover, its just fantastic. Only real criticism was that on the outside, the ground has no big frontage with the club’s name or logo on it, though the hotel at the front of the Main Stand gets star billing! So for a passer by, you could be forgiven for thinking the ground was some kind of arena and hotel complex rather than a football ground!

The West Stand vs Wigan

Atmosphere

Surprisingly good, given how empty it was. It probably helped that the club closed the corner sections of the ground for this game, so the fans in all four stands were pretty close together rather than being spread out all over the place.

The Cowshed before kick off vs Wimbledon 2014

Anything Else

A pitch invasion after an AFC Wimbledon goal, 2014

Overall

I really didnt want to enjoy myself, it was through gritted teeth…but its a fantastic ground for a new build.

Stadium MK Photos

Wycombe Wanderers FC- Adams Park

Visits: 1
Wycombe Wanderers 0-1 Preston North End (FA Cup 2nd Round, December 7th 2013)
Stands I’ve Been in: Greene King Terrace
Ticket Price (1st Official Visit): £15
Attendance (1st Visit): 2,249
Address: Hillbottom Road, High Wycombe, HP12 4HJ

Transport

The ground is pretty much on the outskirts, just off the M40, so driving looks good! The ground has a big car park on site, but there are lots of places on the industrial estate leading to the ground that are much easier getting out, and mostly slightly cheaper too.

Ground exterior from up on the hill

Food & Drink

As said, the ground is pretty isolated, so very little if anything near the ground. The pies are lush though, so could be worse!

The Greene King Terrace

Inside the Ground

Great ground to look at, something you hardly ever see any more with 4 totally different stands! Worth noting too that there isnt an obstructed view in the place! The away fans get probably the dullest stand with a simple all seated single tier, while the home end opposite get a pretty decent terrace. Down the sides is the big two tiered Frank Adams Stand, while in contrast, the weird little raised Main Stand completes a pretty unique ground!

Preston fans in the Dreams Stand

Atmosphere

They have a drummer, notice a pattern? It was really disappointing like a lot of grounds with a drummer, bang bang bang drowning out any singing, and the second the drummer stopped, everybody just shut up! Never heard a thing from the Preston fans all day.

The Main Stand

Anything Else

A nice touch at the ground was the old gates from Wycombe’s former home Loakes Park still in use on the car park.

The Frank Adams Stand

Overall

Fantastic ground to look, but generally lacking as an overall away day experience.

Adams Park Photos