Hereford FC- Edgar Street

Visits:1
Hereford 7-0 Bardon Hill (Midland Alliance Premier Division, March 26th 2016)
Stands I’ve Been in: Meadow End Terrace
Ticket Price (1st Visit): £8
Attendance (1st Visit):
Address: Edgar Street, Hereford, HR4 9JU

Transport

The ground isnt very well signposted, so take your satnav. The ground is very close to the city centre and railway station though, and there is plenty of paid or street parking nearby. I parked in the Blackfriars Street pay and display which is right behind the Main Stand, £4 for 4 hours and absolutely no traffic getting out afterwards.

The Main Stand

Food & Drink

There are two bars on site at the ground, in the Meadow End itself, only one small kiosk at the back. The pies are decent though.

The Len Weston Stand celebrates another goal!

Inside the Ground

Obviously a bit big for The Midland Alliance given the messy recent history and rebirth of Hereford! Its a lovely ground to look at, with large covered terraces at either end (the Blackfriars End currently out of use) the raised all seater Main Stand down one side, and the strange looking Len Weston Stand down the other, which is possibly one of the shallowest stands Ive ever seen with a road running directly behind it. This stand has a small terrace in the lower section, and seats in the upper. 

The unused Blackfriars End

Atmosphere

The Meadow End is great acoustically, great noise when it really got going. That wasnt a whole lot though until towards the end, as Hereford are pretty much romping through this League, so the crowd felt almost bored until the scoreline started to get silly. 

The Meadow End at full time

Anything Else

Hereford were reformed in summer 2015 after the previous incarnation, Hereford United went bust mid season thanks to some serious criminal mismanagement off the pitch. This was in their first season, where they also sealed a first visit to Wembley in the FA Vase with a win at Salisbury the week before.

Mike Symons celenrates the 7th goal!

Overall

One that was on my list for years, but always alluded me. Just glad the club have sorted their problems off the pitch and the opportunity to go there didnt go away forever.

Edgar Street Photos

VfL Bochum- Rewirpowerstadion

Visits:1
Bochum 3-2 Sandhausen (Bundesliga 2, February 27th 2016)
Stands I’ve Been in: Ost Kurve
Ticket Price (1st Visit): 12 Euros
Attendance (1st Visit): 12,209
Address: Castroper Strasse 145, 44791, Bochum, Germany

Transport

Another German city, another good public transport. The stadium is only 2 stops from the central train station on the tram.

Ground exterior

Food & Drink

The usual at German grounds, lots of beer and bratwurst. The bratwurst especially very good!

The West Kurve at kick off

Inside the Ground

The ground has had some redevelopment, and has four steep stands in a bowl shape. Three of the sides are all seater, with some away terracing in the corner, and a large standing area behind the Ost goal.  

The Nord Tribune

Atmosphere

Again, excellent. Even only just over a third full, the noise from the Ostkurve was pretty incessant, especially towards the end of the match as the game got more and more tight. 

The Sud Kurve

Anything Else

It seems Bochum have some sort of thing going with Leicester City, as they had a banner with both badges on, and quite a few of their fans were wearing Bochum/ Leicester half scarves which was a bit odd!

The Sud Tribune

Overall

Very relaxed place to visit, great atmosphere and a very enjoyable day.

Rewirpowerstadion Photos

FC Koln- Rheinenergiestadion

Visits:1
FC Koln 0-1 Hertha Berlin (Bundesliga, February 26th 2016)
Stands I’ve Been in: West Tribune
Ticket Price (1st Visit): 41 Euros
Attendance (1st Visit): 48,900
Address: Aachener Strasse 999. 50933, Koln, Germany

Transport

Like most German clubs, Cologne has excellent public transport all over the city. One of the city tramlines stops right outside the ground, and is easily accessible from the city centre. They get very busy though! The station guards were physically pushing people on to get the doors shut after the game!

Ground exterior

Food & Drink

There are several bars on the streets along the tram route, while there is also plenty at the ground. The food is decent, the German staple of bratwurst and brotchen being an obvious winner, as well as massive pizza slices for 4 Euros. They also sell beer of course, which you are allowed to drink in your seats...all of the bars and food outlets stay open all through and after the game to encourage people to stay around for a couple more and wait for the crowds to go down if they want.

  

The Ost Tribune during the club anthem

Inside the Ground

The ground is very 'English' in style. No running track around the pitch, the stands are very close and intimate, and the views are good all round, with four large two tiered stands. Unlike English grounds of a similar size of course, are the standing areas, the whole of the Sud lower containing the Koln Ultras, while a corner of the Nord is also terraced for the away fans.  

The Nord end of the ground

Atmosphere

Incredible. Ive been to other games in Germany before, but never as a home fan. The fans in the Sud Kurve never stopped all game, and the singing of the club anthem before kick off was something to behold. 

The Sud Kurve

Anything Else

Koln famously have a live goat as their mascot, Hennes. There is something very comical about playing the Rocky theme song and bringing out this little bewildered goat while the crowd goes crazy!

Hertha Berlin fans and players celebrate a narrow win

Overall

A beautiful city with loads to do, fantastic transport links, and just an absolutely brilliant place to watch football. Everybody needs to go there, now.

Rheinenergiestadion Photos

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