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

Chesterfield FC- Proact Stadium

Visits: 1
Chesterfield 0-0 Northampton Town (League Two, November 26th 2013)
Stands I’ve Been in: South Stand
Ticket Price (1st Official Visit): £18
Attendance (1st Visit): 5,321
Address: 1866 Sheffield Road, Whittington Moor, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S41 8NZ

Transport

I hate driving to Chesterfield from the west, because its so rural and foggy! Approaching the new ground from the west seems to be a good thing though, because there is a ton of free street parking around Chantrey Avenue and virtually no traffic getting out again!

Ground exterior

Food & Drink

Unlike a lot of new grounds, Chesterfield have at least got the location spot on, with a ton of places to go on Sheffield Road. Plenty of pubs, takeaways, even minus the obligatory retail park stuff. Couldnt be better than most new grounds really.

Northampton fans in the North Stand

Inside the Ground

The ground itself is pretty dull to be honest, think Shrewsbury and Colchester again! Four near enough identical stands with open corners, the usual really.

The Main Stand

Atmosphere

Seemed to be built slightly better for atmosphere though, as it was pretty steep in the stands, and even though Northampton didnt have many there, I could hear them pretty loud and clear even from the far end of the ground. Unfortunately that wasnt often enough as I was sat 3 seats across from Chesterfield’s drummer…why?

The East Stand

Anything Else

Overall

Its no Saltergate…as pointed out though, it at least has a good location.

Proact Stadium/ Saltergate Photos

Dagenham & Redbridge FC- Victoria Road

Visits: 1
Dagenham & Redbridge 2-0 Burton Albion (League Two, November 16th 2013)
Stands I’ve Been in: Bury Road End, North Terrace
Ticket Price (1st Official Visit): £17
Attendance (1st Visit): 1,626
Address: Victoria Road, Dagenham, Essex, RM10 7XL

Transport

After a horrible day travelling through London to Palace a week earlier, I asked for some advice on avoiding that for this one! Took the advice to drive and park at Upminster Station at the east end of the District Line, and it was just 4 stops to Dagenham East, and a five minute walk from there. Couldnt have been easier. Once I got there too, tbh, I dont think I would have minded driving all the way either, as Dagenham is on the outskirts of London enough that there isnt a lot of traffic, and there was lots of street parking that you normally have to pay for, but is free on Saturdays or after 6.30 on weeknights, so its not like parking would have been a problem either.

Approaching Victoria Road

Food & Drink

Not a whole lot between the ground and the station, but a little row of shops that at least has a couple of cafes and chippies on. Being an ex-non league ground too, the ground has a really good sized club house too where away fans were welcome, and with Sky TV as well. Cheap too and they served Coke in glass bottles, so cant go wrong really! Food inside the ground was a decent selection too, though cant comment on the quality.

Both teams huddle up in front of the Carling Main Stand

Inside the Ground

The ground isnt bad at all really, with all seater on two sides, and terrace on the other two. The away fans get the best stand in the house, in the Traditional Builders Stand, a brand new all seater stand behind the goal with no pillars and is even raised above pitch level so even at the front it wouldnt be too bad. The Caling Main Stand is also unobstructed, though a small stand, with the odd little Barking & Dagenham College Stand filling in the gap at the end of the stand, as the Main Stand only covers 3 quarters of the pitch. Then the terraces, which are joined in the corner, so you can ‘swap ends’ as such. The North Terrace is covered and runs the lengths of the pitch, while the Bury Road End (or Clock End) is the only stand that looks like it needs a bit more work, being small, shallow and uncovered.

The Clock End celebrates Dagenham's second goal

Atmosphere

Not the best to be honest, picked up a bit later on in the second half, but still pretty poor. They had a drum…I was stood at the opposite end of the North Terrace to the drummer in the first half, and all I could hear was banging every now and then with no singing to go with it!

The North Terrace

Anything Else

Dagenham about to score from the spot in front of the Traditional Builders Stand

Overall

Easy to get to, relaxed, not bad at all really all round!

Victoria Road Photos