Frozen out at St Marys

Well if Cheltenham Town were hoping for a warm welcome to Hampshire they didn't get it.  Instead St Marys was a very cold place and only the hopeful singing of the away fans gave the game any warmth.  Three-nil down with minutes to go and the cry went up "Let's pretend we've scored a goal, hooray!".
The ground was a nice modern affair with no columns blocking anyone's view of the pitch.  Less than ten thousand saw the match.  The Robins gifting the home team an early goal and from then on the result was in little doubt.
I used the Park and Ride for away fans; five pounds for a parking spot and safe ride to the ground and back.  We all got away before five thirty with no trouble.

The food bar was offering hot drink and a Yorkie for two quid; but I needed warm food first and indulged in a hot chicken pasty which was fine.  Because of the inclement weather I had decided on getting a ticket on the day which costs you two pounds extra but still £17 isn't bad.  I didn't see much of the town but it looked typical rather than special; the port being the main attraction.  Just a pity the game wasn't more of a contest.

Adams Family Horrors

Wycombe's ground, Adams Park, is very much at the end of an industrial estate but nice enough for all that.  I had a seat up in the gods to watch a match devoid of much goal mouth action but early on a lot of shooting from outside the box for the Chair Boys.

The early dark nights doesn't help you keep warm; and it is that time of year where extra layes of clothing are vital with those of with no body fat to keep us warm.
As recommended by their website I used the Park and Ride, walking back to the car to keep warm.  A brisk half hour walk did the job nicely.  The P&R is well sign posted and just off the M40 so easy to find.  With a petrol supermarket station the fuel costs were good too.
The facilities in the ground are the usual affair and the locals were saprse on this cold autumn game; the crowd a mere 4,077.  Bradford brought a impressive number of fans considering the distance and they generated some noise too.

Breezy football at the County Ground

The County Ground has four sides but, as I am finding, for lower league sides only three were occupied.  It was a feisty game ended with a ninetieth minute winner for the home side over the league toppers. I would not recommend the tea but otherwise nothing special to note.

The ground is nice and close to the train station though the car park seem to have spare places. The crow of eight and a half thousand wasn't big; the main stand look noticeably sparsely populated.

Brewers draw with Alex

The Pirelli Stadium is new, small and apt.  The food was excellent; many fellow fans were enjoying mushy peas and chips; I stuck with a burger.  I was too late for a car park place but found parking on a nearby road easy enough.  Tickets were the cheapest I have encountered £15 for an Adult seat.

The ground looked well filled but was half capacity; I guess because many sides are standing and they were comfortably spaced shall we say.   Another good lower league ground.

Three sides but four goals

The Kassam Stadium, home of Oxford United, is quite an impressive League Two ground - at least on three sides!  Parking was good and free despite the reasonably large crowd.  The tickets were average prices and the refreshments okay inside the stands.

Oxford played well excepting a bad period where Morecambe nearly got a goal that would have enabled a fight back but it didn't happen.  Instead Oxford added two late goals to flatter the scoreline after a sending off.  As I say often, worth a visit.

Oranje brings the blues to Huish Park

Not a big crowd but then the visitors would have had to travel a long way down from Hartlepool to reach this corner of Somerset. Still those few that did no doubt enjoyed the viewings with an easy two nil win.

Huish Park is tidy and has seated stands on three sides that today were fairly full. The fourth side, for standers, was empty.  The Glovers were not having a good day at the office.
I missed the first three minutes thanks to traffic on the M5 but parking was easy enough and I only needed to turn around twice when following the traffic sgins directing me to the ground.  The locals were pleasant even through the display put on by their team.  Well done to the crowd and the club; I am sure the players will improve.  Worth a visit.

Bully comes to Alex

Gresty Road is very much an unbalanced stadium. One stand is massive and dominates the ground.  We, in-laws and me, joined the away fans and enjoyed a lively season opener.  The half time fayre was average and the bonny girls serving caused some banter as one ambitious fan tried to elicit a phone number.  His colleagues didn't appreciate the extra queuing time and let him know.

 We stood most of the game because others around us did too; well they stood so we had too.  Small crowd for such a large stand which was a shame for the home team.  I am afraid Crewe never looked like getting much from the game but a good place for seeing some football.
Map to get there:

View Crewe Alexandra FC in a larger map

The plans they are a changing

Thinking Torquay a bad idea, given it is the summer vacation time, so now focusing on Crewe; not a usual holiday destination.  Thanks to the world cup it has come around so quickly.  Deep joy!

The friendlies are in full swing

Never actually been to watch a preseason friendly and this season looks no different.  I have started planning the first venues I hope to visit next month and it promises to be an interesting time if all goes well.  First should be a few train trips so no worries about parking.  One trip I hope to make it down to Torquay and the seaside.

Ashton Gate proves Bristol is always sunny!

Another trip to Bristol to see City play Derby and welcome Steve Coppell as their new manager.  The visitors were clearly asleep at the kick-off as the home team went one up in the first minute!
Twenty five pounds for a seat in the sun after an excellent burger and tea made for a good experience and the two mile walk from the city centre was pleasant and no problem.  The fans were a fair bunch though they were keen of giving Mr Savage, the Derby captain, some verbal abuse.  After the game I met my family in town for a pizza at the Millennium square Pizza Express.

Second half and a penalty to the home side followed by a Derby goal kept things interesting on the pitch for a pleasant spring time event.  Bristol is definitely worthy of a visit.

Pirates Ahoy!

Okay so there were no goals but there was action At the Memorial stadium on Saturday.  I stood, yes like old time, in the West Terrace to see Brentford just about deserve their point.  The ground was in sun but our side very much in the shade.  Easy ground to get to and a reasonable crowd.

Breaking a voodoo in Hereford

Edgar Street was the scene of my first time seeing Grimsby Town win a match! And what a delightful goal it was - nice one Jamie (Devitt). I didn't go to see the Mariners more the ground so to that then.
Next door is a large car park which did fill even though the crowd barely broke 2,100 - not big.  Still a pound to park was welcome and £15 for a seat wasn't terrible.  The view was good, the scoreboard clear and the Bulls fans were vocal. 

Pretty good atmosphere for game so close to the end of a middling season for them; though a desperate one for the 300 who travelled from eastern coast. I didn't try the local fayre or facilities but others seemed to be coping with no complaints.  Post match locals were complementary of the football and there was no trouble. Herefordshire is green and hilly countryside with little interruption.  A nice experience all around; try it yourself.

More misery for my teams in League Two!

Predicting for L2 Monday 5th April
1. Accrington 3-1 Grimsby (Home win)
2. Aldershot 2-0 Rotherham (Home win)
3. Barnet 2-0 Chestrf'ld (Home win)
4. Bradford 2-0 Macclesf'd (Home win)
5. Bury 3-2 Burton (Home win)
6. Crewe 1-0 Cheltenham (Home win)
7. Darlington 2-3 Hereford (Away win)
8. Lincoln 0-2 Morecambe (Away win)
9. Northmpt'n 3-2 Torquay (Home win)
10. Port Vale 0-1 Dag & Red (Away win)
11. Rochdale 2-0 Bournem'th (Home win)
12. Shrewsbury 0-2 Notts Co (Away win)

It's cold outside

No football - more health and safety lunacy ruining my entertainment. Get a grip (sic) its only a bit of snow; the pitch is fine everything else is just a minor inconvenience. I want football to watch!