Cambridge United FC- Abbey Stadium

Visits: 1
Cambridge United 1-0 Plymouth Argyle (League Two, August 9th 2014)
Stands I’ve Been in: Newmarket Road End
Ticket Price (1st Visit): £16
Attendance (1st Visit): 6,009

Transport

Loads of street parking right near the ground, and didnt take that long getting back to the A14, especially considering there were roadworks.

Welcome to Cambridge United

Food & Drink

Couple of bars on site at the ground, but its only a 15 minute walk or so and plenty of pubs in the city centre. Didnt have anything inside the ground.

The team lines up in front of the Main Stand as a League club for the first time in 9 years

Inside the Ground

Half and half standing and seating and all covered! Away fans get the newest all seater South Stand, as well as half the Habbin Terrace down the side if the demand is there. The all seater Main Stand runs down the other touchline, with the Newmarket Road End Terrace behind the goal.  

The Habbin Terrace

Atmosphere

It was a huge occasion for Cambridge, with it being their first game back in the Football League after 9 years away, but unlike a pretty sterile occasion at Mansfield for their first game back 12 months ago, the atmosphere more than matched the occasion. Plymouth brought a healthy number up with them, but not a clue how much noise they made because but for a little lull after they missed a penalty first half, it was pretty relentless from the Cambridge fans.

The Newmarket Road End just before kick off

Anything Else

Special moment when the winning goal was scored, coming from local boy Josh Coulsen, Ive seen very few goals that were celebrated as wildly as that one. It wasnt just a wild celebration, but one of those where you could just feel the relief all around the place, and that all the crap of the last few years was behind them and didnt matter anymore. Great moment.

Cambridge about to miss a penalty in front of the Plymouth fans in the South Stand

Overall

Its far from perfect, but a quality little ground with a great atmosphere. Good city to visit too if you can put up with all the cyclists!

Abbey Stadium Photos

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