Ewes and Stags get even

Well the Abbey Stadium is not going to be one of my favourites based on today's visit. Football wasn't too bad but I failed to find the car park so spent twenty minutes trying to find some street parking instead - along side the rest of the crowd by the look of things. The poeple were fine and the fayre pretty good. There was one particularly noisly child whose volume far outweighed the quality of his commentary.
I remembered the home team playing in plain blue but I was worng and the U's colours are yellow and black (though some describe this as amber and black). Whatever they came from behind twice to sucure a draw and the posiibility of progress in the cup.

The ground is distinctly nineteenth century, save for one new stand, and the ticket office was a portacabin. Given their recent return from non-league status the ground isn't bad. It has a perfectly decent capacity for any lower league side nearing ten thousand. For this second round cup match though the crowd only rose to a bit shy of four thousand. The various stands make up a motely collection and give a very open feel to the stadium.
It took me a good while to get out of Cambridge and back to the ring road (A14) and hence homeward bound. This may have been Christmas traffic all I know is that progress was slow for this first hour. I wish them luck in the replay and with their plans to improve the stadium.

FA Cup Fun Starts Here for me in 2014

In 2007 The Tigers lost their ground to quite a lot of water so this match was played at Whaddon Road. Fourth Qualifying round of the FA Cup and last gate before you get to the real thing!

I was with some six hundred Green Army followers and the family. It was a good match not decided until the final five minutes. Some two thousand came along to enjoy it; including roughly seven hundred fellow Rovers fans.
We enjoyed three goals in the first half and the Tigers were putting in a great effort.  And in the second half they continued keeping the match in the balance unti Norwood came onto knock two past their no. 1. Very enjoyable day out I must say.

Athletic or Batteries?

I remember Oldham Batteries - they seem to have been taken over now. I was late arriving at the ground and dropped on a park car park just as someone left. I then raced across Boundary Park, the playing fields, to the ground where eventually I entered through a cash turnstile (£20) to a seat next to the pitch.
They are building a new stand with was there in part, framework up and a few rows of concrete presumably for seating. So I visit two grounds in a row being redeveloped - ooh!

I didn't need fedding when I arrived as I had eaten out an hour earlier so just had a cold drink from the food bar.  It seemed to be selling long hot dogs that at least two youths were enjoying when I bought my Fanta. The ground lacked a scoreboard I could see and there were no programme sellers inside so I came away without a ticket stub or prgramme. Or memories of any goals either. It wasn't a terrible match but the finishing was poor. Still the poeple were friendly enough. I'd go back.

London's burning, well it is getting hot on the road

Peterborough are riding high this season and the poor visitors weren't really in it. Anyway. I got there plenty early, so early in fact they wouldn't sell me a ticket. And even after a helpful steward came over to tell me the ticket office ouwld have a ticket now they didn't. The joys of being an away fan! I had decided to cheer on my wife's team - The Valiants.
Anyway, once in the ground I enjoyed a decent view of the match with some fans determined to enjoy themselves whatever and they proceeded to bounce a beach ball around during various moments of the match.

The area I sat in had a lovely little refreshment bar to use where I was enticed to tea and some homemade shortbread for £2.80. Tea was a standard PG tips offering with those small milk cartons so drinkable. Ticket prices were on the high side for League One I thought at £26 but not ridiculous.
I parked on a nearby public car park and got way easy enough. I think it was £3 for all day parking.

Sunny Yorkshire Draws

Huddersfield looked very pleasant on Good Friday, nestling in the hills. John Smith's Stadium also has a stunning appearance. And the football started off rather well, for the locals at least. A lovely free kick got the Terriers ahead. They nearly went two up but Kusack pulled off a great save. Brighton did look worthy of their higher position and got an equaliser before the end.

The ground is a lovely modern design though I suspect in other seasons will be very cold as the corners are all open to the northern winds and rain. Food inside is nothing special but outside I enjoyed a lovely hot dog and tea from a local van. Staff in the stadium were also all very friendly and helpful.
I definitely recommend a visit. I parked in an open air car park near the centre and walked to the ground. I reached the motorway by 5:20pm, nice one. The fans in my stand, the Britannia Rescue Stand, were quite vocal and, as seen at many grounds, the singing contingent were at the end nearest the away fans. There was a good atmosphere and I very much enjoyed the match.

There be Dragons

Well I have been trying to get to this ground all year but a water logged pitched cancelled many a match. So what is Rodney Parade like then? Currently it is surrounded by building sites as they develop the river front. The turnstiles look a bit weird stood in open ground with temporary fencing around them. Inside the main stand all is new looking and clean. I was inordinately early it seemed as there was almost no-one else there.
Tea and a pleasant hot dog got me change from four quid and a decent enough snack. Staff were pleasant and helpful. The stands are a wonderful mis-matching set and the influence of the Rugby team that also plays at the Parade ground is seen around the place.

Parking meant a multi-storey over the river from the ground. Two pounds for 5 hours so decent enough and a short walk so no complaints there.
With Portsmouth bringing over a thousand the atmosphere was lively but good I thought. A nearby fan reckoned the ref was bias but I didn't think he was despite the two red cards and penalty against Newport. They played much better second half and without the numercial disadvanatage I think would have clawed back the deficit.
Decent day out despite paying to get into Wales (now costs you £6:40 for a car). Recommend a visit.

The Lawn is Green

We went back to the New Lawn again for some fantastic non-league football - great.  Preceded by egg and chips indoors watching the live TV footy.

 

...though this is my son's empty plate after fish an chips!

Pitch didn't look too bad after a few postponed macthes and the football was good though I doubt Cambridge agree! Come on Rovers!

Just Holding on!

The DW stadium looks impressive from the outside, less so from inside but still a decent ground.

I was there really early, a mere three hours before kick-off. Anyway I got a ticket for what turned out to be a poorly attended match; only 6,960. I was expecting three times that; the cup holders in the third round.
I managed to park easily on car park 4, no charge and then walk to the ground over a foot bridge and at the first booth got a ticket for a tenner!
Being so early of course you cannot get into the ground so I wandered around and then ate in Sharpys Sports Bar. Good service and reasonable food at great prices.
In the ground Tetley tea was £1.80 and seats were okay. The football was interesting as WIgan gave away a two goal lead in in two minutes before the half timje whistle and then they each score one in the seond half.
Recommend a visit.