FC Barcelona- Camp Nou

Visits:1
FC Barcelona 6-1 Roma (Champions League Group Stage, November 24th 2015)
Stands I’ve Been in: Gol Nord Superior
Ticket Price (1st Visit): 74 Euros
Attendance (1st Visit): 71,433
Address: C. Aristides Maillol, 12, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

Transport

We stayed near Placa De Catalunya in the city centre for 2 nights. The Barcelona Metro is excellent, cheap and efficient, we paid less than 10 Euros for a 10 journey ticket, and there was a direct Metro from Passeig De Gracia near the hotel, to Les Corts near the ground. There are also a few others near the ground within walking distance, and we were back in the hotel about an hour after full time.

Ground exterior

Food & Drink

I deliberately waited until we were in the ground to eat as Im always curious if football food in other countries is any better than what we have! In this case, no! Sausages the only hot food option, and while it was edible, it was pretty cold and not all that good! Loads of cafes and place to eat on the walk from Les Corts, and a 'social area' just outside the ground too, so plenty of options.  

The Grandstand

Inside the Ground

What can you say other than wow? Biggest stadium Ive ever been to, and while it's a bit ugly and unassuming on the outside, it takes your breath away inside. Cant say Id have liked to have been in that high up away end where the Roma fans were, but where we were in the second tier was flawless.  

Looking towards the Gol Sud as Messi scores his first goal of the night

Atmosphere

I wasnt expecting it to be brilliant, I think the nature of the bigger clubs and the kind of expectations they have, a lot of them are quite disappointing. It wasnt bad though, and was quite consistent throughout. The Roma fans were very loud, and even getting smashed on the pitch and being up in the gods, they made themselves heard. 

The Lateral

Anything Else

Barcelona of course have a lot of identity with Catalonia, and they protested during the playing of the Champions League anthem and several times during the game by waving thousands of Catalan flags and chanting something. I later found out it was in reference to UEFA fining Barcelona for displaying a large Catalan banner during last season's Champions League Final, and again against Leverkeusen this season. Its also a bit of a hot topic around here lately with the push for Catalan independence.

If you do visit Barcelona and get the chance, then do the ground tour and museum. Well worth the money, you get to see every inch of the stadium, the club museum, walk around pitchside and right up to the press box and everywhere in between. Brilliant experience well worth doing.

A section of the Roma fans in the top tier

Overall

An absolutely incredible stadium, and with Barca currently the greatest club side of my generation, to see them turn it on and win 6-1 on my first trip was an absolute privilege.

Camp Nou Photos

Barnet FC- The Hive

Visits:1
Barnet 3-1 Dagenham & Redbridge (League Two, September 26th 2015)
Stands I’ve Been in: South Terrace
Ticket Price (1st Visit): £17
Attendance (1st Visit): 2,079
Address: The Hive, Camrose Avenue, Edgware, HA8 6AG

Transport

I was spending the day in London anyway, and was advised that the nearest Tube station at Canon's Park on the Jubilee Line has a large car park for only £2 for all day on a Saturday. Made sense to park there anyway as the station is only a 5-10 minute walk from the ground. Just be aware that if you're coming into London on the train via Euston or wherever, Canon's Park is at least 25 minutes away on the Tube, so dont leave it too late! There is a car park at the ground, but it looks like it takes a long time getting away, as I could still see the queues as the train passed the ground on my way back into London.

The Hive complex and training pitches

Food & Drink

I was late arriving from Central London so didnt have time to look around. The ground is built on Barnet's former training ground, so it is understandably a little isolated. They have a few cafes and bars and things on site at the ground though to make up for it, though I cant speak for their quality. Even with small crowds, the queues get quite big at the kiosks in the ground. 

The East Stand and offices

Inside the Ground

Barnet have done well to turn what was effectively a few training pitches and an office building into something resembling a home. A small covered terrace at either end, and the big all seater West Stand are all solid, just the East Stand spoils the overall look of the place as its basically an office building with a few rows of seats shoehorned in. Its okay though, and something as simple as a bit of colour in the East Stand cladding and the terraces would be all it really needs to bring it a bit more to life.

The South Terrace at half time

Atmosphere

Not fantastic, but it picked up a bit second half. Probably didnt help that in this game, Dagenham only brought a couple of hundred fans, so were all seated in the West Stand with the away terrace left empty. Daggers fans were quite noisy early in the game, but understandably shut up a bit once it became apparent how awful their team were playing.

Both sets of fans in the West Stand, as Barnet celebrate their third goal

Anything Else

Michael Gash scored twice for Barnet...cue the more than a little bit comical chorus of 'We all love Gash' from the Barnet fans!

Looking towards the empty North Terrace

Overall

Obviously doesnt have any of the character Underhill did, but considering Barnet were effectively homeless when they left there, they are doing very well turning this place into a proper home. 

Underhill and The Hive Photos

New York Mets- Citi Field

Visits:1
San Francisco Giants 8-5 New York Mets (Major League Baseball, June 10th 2015)
Stands I’ve Been in: Left Field Promenade
Ticket Price (1st Visit): $18
Attendance (1st Visit): 24,436
Address: Citi Field, Flushing, New York, NY, USA

Transport

Well now for something completely different! Not only my first time outside of Europe, but my first baseball game! New York has a subway train system, so this seemed the easiest way to get there. Mets-Willets Point is a dedicated subway station perched pretty handily in between Citi Field, and the US Open Tennis venue Flushing Meadows in Corona Park in Queens. As such, its a station pretty used to be big crowds and events so there was no waiting afterwards, with passengers very handily split between local and express trains, so we didnt have to stop at every stop. Apart from the fact we were staying in Brooklyn so didnt get home until about midnight, about as convenient as it gets. 

Jackie Robinson Rotunda and the Shea Home Run Apple

Food & Drink

Extortionately priced to an obscene degree. It was good at least, and a hell of a lot of choice. Also, unlike football here, you can drink a can of beer watching the game. Run out? Dont even get up, just wave down the guy walking around with a cool box selling more! They also sell deep fried Oreos...cant say I was tempted... 

The left field

Inside the Ground

Baseball stadiums have a very different layout, in that are quite often built up on three sides, with a much lower fourth side opposite home plate. Citi Field has two big screens in this area with all the stats you could ever possibly want about both teams and the game, as well has having a little scoreboard down one side with the latest scores from all the other games constantly displayed. Prices in baseball vary greatly, from under $20 for the cheap seats, like up in the Gods where we were, to over $200 for the best seats in the house. It may not have been as close to the action at the top, but gave a great view of the game overall.

General view of the action under the floodlights

Atmosphere

Very different to football, Ill say that! Its a much more sedate and less tribal game I suppose, so thats to be expected. A lot of any atmosphere there was felt very false and manufactured, with the big screen constantly prompting various different bits like songs or a 'noise-o-meter,' which generally just made everyone start screaming really loud. The National Anthem is also sung before the start of every game, as well as Take Me Out To the Ball Game at the 7th inning stretch...seemingly so called because by that point, most of the crowd are starting to vegetate so need to be prompted to get off their backsides and have a stretch!

The right field

Anything Else

Citi Field is built adjacent to the site of the club's former home, Shea Stadium. The club have retained the tradition of the 'Home Run Apple,' which rises from its hiding place when the Mets hit a home run. The original apple used at Shea Stadium is outside the main entrance to the stadium, which is modelled on the Brooklyn Dodgers' former Ebbet's Field home, demolished in 1960 when the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles. The Mets are seen as a continuation of the Dodgers in New York. There were three home runs scored on my visit...sadly all of them by San Francisco players!

The left field

Overall

Very different in design and attitude to football in Europe. But something well worth doing. Certainly not a bad way to pass a gorgeous summer evening should you ever find yourself in New York!

Citi Field Photos

Rangers FC- Ibrox

Visits:1
Rangers 4-1 Cowdenbeath (Scottish Championship, March 28th 2015)
Stands I’ve Been in: Copland Road End Lower
Ticket Price (1st Visit): £18
Attendance (1st Visit): 32,682
Address: Edmiston Drive, Glasgow, G51 2XD

Transport

Took advice to park at Shields Road Park & Ride, which is only 3 stops from Ibrox on the Subway. Works out a little pricy with the parking and the ticket, but very convenient. Was back at my car less than 20 minutes after the game ended, despite a bit of a queue for the Subway after. 

Ibrox's magnificent exterior

Food & Drink

Loads of catering vans, and a big chippy next to the Subway station, though the queue was a mile long! 

The Broomloan Stand pays tribute to legendary Davie Cooper 20 years after his death

Inside the Ground

Very impressive inside and out. The Bill Struth Main Stand, with its listed building exterior and triple decker seated stand are a ground geek dream. The other three sides are more uniform with two tiers each with unrestricted views all round. Even with a low crowd and a very few away fans in attendance, the place is grand.

Cowdenbeath fans in the visitors corner

Atmosphere

Awful to be honest. Not enough away fans for them to make an impact, silent where I was sat. It seems Rangers have started a little ultras group or two in the Broomloan Stand a la Palace or Celtic. Thing is they seemed to have two very distinct groups sat at opposite ends of the stand, rather than all clubbing together. So while those little groups gave it a little bit of something, neither were really big enough to do anything.

The impressive Bill Struth Main Stand

Anything Else

Rangers walk out to Tina Turner's The Best. A little ironic these days I suppose, but as a walk out tune, it's a pretty good one and gets the crowd going.

The Govan Stand celebrates another late goal

Overall

Not a fan of Rangers as a club at all, but its a brilliant ground. Full of history and grandeur. Having now done the big three in Glasgow (Rangers, Celtic and Hampden) I think Ibrox is the more impressive ground of the three.

Ibrox Photos

Boston United FC- York Street

Visits:1
Boston United 2-1 Gainsborough Trinity (Conference North, March 21st 2015)
Stands I’ve Been in: Spayne Road Terrace
Ticket Price (1st Visit): £12
Attendance (1st Visit): 1,319
Address: York Street, Boston, Lincolnshire, PE21 6JN

Transport

A deceptively long drive through England's deceptively massive county. Parking is alright though, it's quite close to the town centre so you can use any of the pay car parks there, or there is plenty of street parking in the streets around the ground.

York Street exterior

Food & Drink

As said, it's close to the town centre so take your pick. There is a big chippy as you turn into York Street as well. 

The teams line up in front of the York Street Stand

Inside the Ground

Classic non league ground, as good as some League grounds. Flawless view from the two covered terraces, the Town End behind one goal, and the Spayne Road Terrace down one side, with the all seater Main Stand down the other. Its only really the York Street End that looks like it needs some work, reminded me a bit of the North Terrace at Stevenage. Its just an odd little mishmash with some seating upstairs, a shallow little terrace at the front, and some odd temporary seating in the middle of the lower section.

The Main Stand

Atmosphere

The Gainsborough fans never made a sound all game. Boston fans in the Town End gave it a little bit of something, but it wasnt great really. Especially not with a drum.

The Town End celebrates a Boston goal

Anything Else

The Spayne Road Terrace before kick off

Overall

Lovely little ground, reminded me of Cambridge and Southport. One worth seeing before they move in the next few years.

York Street Photos

BSC Young Boys- Stade De Suisse Wankdorf

Visits:1
BSC Young Boys 1-4 Everton (Europa League Round of 32 1st Leg, February 19th 2015)
Stands I’ve Been in: Nord Tier 1
Ticket Price (1st Visit): £31
Attendance (1st Visit): 20,835
Address: Papiermuhlestrasse 71, 3000 Bern, Switzerland

Transport

Went on a package day trip as it was the only way to afford it, so we were bussed from Basel Airport to the ground early in the day. From the ground, it was just a short tram ride to Barenplatz, where the Everton fans gathered for most of the day. Barenplatz was only one stop away from the city's main train station, so everything was fairly central and close together, while the trams were about every 6-7 minutes. There is a tram stop just outside the ground, but on the way back to the ground before the game, police asked the away fans to get off at the stop before and walk to the ground via Sempachstrasse, so we approached the ground from the away end side. Could still walk around and mix freely, suppose it just stopped us all arriving at the home end of the ground where all the bars were en masse, which was fair enough.

Ground exterior

Food & Drink

There were some bars and even a shopping centre on site at the ground, but obviously being a short walk from the city, the choice was endless. We had some homemade goulash at one of the bars in Barenplatz, and couldnt have done any better! Not as expensive as I expected either. 

The Ouest as Blues fans celebrate Lukaku's hattrick

Inside the Ground

Terrible on the outside, there is more branding for the shopping centre inside it than there is that its a football ground! Inside is very good though, the obligatory fences and netting, but the views are good all round, with some difference on the main stand side. We were given the full end behind the goal, I was in the lower for once at a Euro away!  

Blues fans in the Nord

Atmosphere

Very good, despite being half empty. Their ultras behind the goal were non stop, while our end were buoyant all the way through. One of the better atmospheres Ive seen anywhere.

Young Boys ultras in the Sud

Anything Else

Bern is a German speaking city, and seemed to reflect that with the attitude of the place. It was definitely more Wolfsburg and Nuremberg than Lille. Laid back, good locals, no over the top policing and stewarding, and a lovely city to spend some time in. The ground, although being rebuilt, has a lot of history too, having hosted the World Cup Final and European Cup Final in its previous guise. Im not sure too if it is the original or a replica, but there is a old fashioned clock and scoreboard outside the ground like the one at the old Wankdorf stadium.

The Est as Blues fans celebrate

Overall

Another new country visited, and like Germany, they do a lot of things so much better than we do. A trip well worth it, even before the match kicked off.

Stade De Suisse Wankdorf Photos

Queen of the South FC- Palmerston Park

Visits:1
Queen of the South 0-2 Hibernian (Scottish Championship, January 24th 2015)
Stands I’ve Been in: Terregles Street Terrace
Ticket Price (1st Visit): £16
Attendance (1st Visit): 3,677
Address: Portland Drive, Dumfries, DG2 9BA

Transport

A  very easy drive from the North West, join the A75 at the end of the M6, and that near enough leads all the way to the ground. Its not signposted at all, but following brown signs for the Ice Bowl will take you straight there. There is free parking at both the Ice Bowl and the QOTS Arena next door, and not that bad for getting out either.

Main Stand exterior

Food & Drink

Not a whole lot at all near the ground. The Arena had a cafe inside which seemed popular, and the lounges at the ground are open for both sets of fans. (And being in Scotland, of course sell Irn Bru!). Other than that, not much. Eat before you go in the ground, the scotch pie I had was utterly vile, and a lad next to me sarcastically made a complaint to a policewoman about paying £4 for such a disgusting burger! 

Queens and Hibs fans in the all seater East Stand

Inside the Ground

Very old school barring the new all seater Rosefield Salvage Stand. The old fashioned Main Stand is opposite, with terracing behind both goals. The covered Portland Drive Terrace is the largest remaining terrace in Scotland for the home fans, while the away fans have the joys of the uncovered Terregles Street Terrace. Away fans also have a large section of the seats in the Rosefield Salvage Stand. 

The Portland Drive Terrace, as Hibs prepare to take a penalty

Atmosphere

Awful, it really was. QOTS fans had a drum and were a bit noisy at the start, then silence for much of the game, while the Hibs fans never made a sound until they scored, and even then it didnt last long.

The open Terreagles Street Terrace

Anything Else

The Main Stand

Overall

Reminded me of Wycombe, terrible location, but a lovely interesting ground with 4 different stands and a ton of character.

Palmerston Park Photos