Prenton Park draws another season to an end

While many could enjoy the FA Cup final some of us journeyed to Birkenhead to enjoy Tranmere's end of season run out. A bit of sun always helps to make for a happy event but the cold still took the edge off the day. The journey up was easy enough and I parked next to the ground in a nearby sports centre for £3 (the average so far has been a fiver).
With a ticket bought from the portacabin ticket office I entered the mainstand. I was surprised to be in a small area with both food and drinks bars, two tvs and toilets. This area did not connect to other areas under the stand but was quite small and served maybe a couple of hundred fans only.
The ground is an eclectic mix of stands, mainly of some age.

Each side managed a goal to keep both sides from great joy but also from end of season dismay.  I enjoyed the game and would happily visit again.

Raining Shots and Millers

Well Aldershot Town provided some good football in a ground that has character. It was a very wet day and I arrived early so parking was fine; using a public park near the ground as advised by the road signs.

I started my football standing to watch so chose the Central Terrace to watch the game and quickly sought some warming refreshment. Reasonable cheeseburger and tea set me back a fiver. And some good chips and tea at half time were also welcome in the the continuing rain.
The football was entertaining, especially considering the stage of the season meaning there was little hope the result would lead to anything of great note.

Needed more than a moat :-(

This match was amazing but unfortunately for the home fans not for the right reasons. I arrived at the Keepmoat Stadium whilst my team were still tussling in the FA Cup semi so superstitious as us football fans are I vowed to avoid the match until it was over.  This meant standing out in the wet and cold for an hour. Anyway to this game. The tea and pie were average but well appreciated. My seat had padding! More amazing Doncaster quickly went two up within 6 minutes. There was hope! Unfortunately some interesting refereeing in the second half and Portsmouth were given two penalties that they converted to level and leave Rovers with only ten men.

A brilliant third goal then gave Doncaster the lead back! Surely that was it but no, Portsmouth managed two late goals to clinch faint survival hopes and condemn Rovers. Sad end to the match.
The stadium is nice enough modern affair.  It lacks much in originality but no-one should hold that against it. I parked easily enough in main car park so had a short walk to find the ticket office and buy a (cheap) ticket for a decent seat and excellent view under cover from the elements.

Ram Raid

I never leave a match early but this time I was late. Late enough to miss the first goal but there were more to come as Derby won; one particularly strange and caused much angst amongst the home crowd.

 The ground itself is typical of new stadia, functionally fine but lacking any charm, still the staff were very friendly and helpful. I sat with some of the older fans but the banter was no less lively for that. One chap in front of me was very vocal and forthright in sharing his opinions on the goings on.
Despite my late arrival I parked next to the ground and getting in and out of town was straight forward and pretty quick.
Derby play some decent football and but for a little excitement at the end had an easy victory. The incident followed on from a 'back pass' from which the visitors took a very quick free kick or straight into the Derby goal to much complaints from home fans.  All made worse when they scored again to peg the Rams back to 3-2 but they held on for the win. A decent crowd of 25,222 saw a good match.

So Blue for Hornets

I was surprised that St Andrews is up a hill. Somehow I never think of Birmingham as being hilly or high up but I believe West Brom's ground is the highest League ground in the country. Anyway, not much of a crowd so easy to get a seat in the main stand. Sold out of pasties so I had to have a Balti Pie instead with my Fanta (robbed of its top by the refreshment bar staff).

The ground itself is unbalanced with the stand opposite me very much the odd one out.  Smaller and older it looked more nineteenth century than twenty century and definitely not twenty first century. Still a pleasant ground with reasonable atmosphere considering the cold and wind in the January afternoon.
The football itself was fair and the most memorable element was the abuse Zigic was getting from those around me and I would have to agree he had a bad match at least. The other strike wasn't much better but The Blues still managed to score three goals to Watford's none.
Fifty third English League ground for me; not the best but not the worst.

Back Again at the First and only Ground!

Managed to get a ticket to see the boys live.  Not the best football match but the event was brilliant, loved it. A good few years since I have been in the Anfield Road end; excellent view and good atmosphere.

There have clearly been some minor changes since my last visit when I held a season ticket (what you give up for love!). The ticketing system have been updated but the prices are still very reasonable for the Premiership.  The music still stirs the heart.

A Forest Girl's Dream Comes True

Pre match entertainment included talking to the match mascots.  One local girl had dyed her hair red and predicted the scorleine accurately, 3-2. The City Ground is a nice stadium beautifully situated next to the Trent and sat in the Brian Clough stand before the match I was bathed in sun.
I parked in the station car park and walked with the throng to the ground. Once in I enjoyed a beverage and hot dog; nice enough and not too bad at £4.80.

We lost sight of the sun as kick off arrived. While the temparature dropped the football did little to warm the hearts until Andy Reid came on late to turn the match in favour of the reds. The crowd was a good size and reasonably hearty if a little doubting in a good result (not without reason). I recommend a visit.

London Road Blues

I was joined by my brother-in-law for this one.  We stood on the terraces to see the local team lose to the League leaders as Southend visited Macclesfield Town. First gam I have been to where no ticket was issued. There was also confusion on where to get in and buy our tickets from but we managed it; joining the home fans standing along the side near the dugouts. This is definitely a lower league ground. Many features belong to the last century; and many of the spectators around us but friendly folk. The southerners ruined the day for the locals and we witnessed a rare home defeat but they then the visitors were league leaders.

London Road

Frattonising with the Enemy

A real old fashioned ground, which has clearly seen better days, that day enjoyed some football that was welcomed by the Blue Army. I parked just outside the gorund but it was costly; double the more usual fiver at ten quid! Still virtually in the ground. The stand where I sat was high and sunny but the roof impinged to make things seem very dark and kept the sun from warming us on this cold day. Refreshments were fine and easy to get before the match. Heathly atmosphere around me and the home fans enjoyed a rare victory.

The Real St James Park

I got to the ground really early as I hoped to bump into a friend but didn't so enjoyed a walk around town.  St James Park is a lovely ground.

I enjoyed good local fayre before the game and parking at a car park in town was easy if not cheap. The ground has a three sides feel to it with the side opposite me being more fence than viewing space. The main bulk of the home contingent occupied a large open plan stand to my right and were vocal in their support. I enjoyed the visit though seeing Huddersfield triumph away from home again did dampen it for the lcoals.

Some Say Meat is Murder

Earlier this month I went with relations to see Grimsby score a one-nil win over Forest Green Rovers.  The New Lawn is currently famous for serving no red meat at the ground.  This was certainly a cuase for many chants from the visiting fans, some amusing.

The football ground is a lovely non league ground with good stands on three sides.  We travelled by bus from the main town nearby, Stroud and thanks to crowded roads had to chase the bus down the road on the way because it failed to make the same stop we had disembarked from earlier.  Still the Cotswolds are nice to look at while you slowly inch down the hillside; the ground is on a hill top.  It was a reasonable match was fought out in excellent spirit.

No Cherry on the cake today!

Despite the furvent support of the home fans the Cherries lost this one after a red card lost them their man of the match.  Another of the three sided grounds in a leqafy part of the outskirts.  The ticket office was busy before the game but I made it into the North Stand with about 12 minutes to spare.

The ground is set in Kings Park and has recently been turned around.  Inside its nothing special but the fans are keen and loyal.   My first evening match for some time and pleasant enough for that.  Food and drink were fine and averagely priced.

Home Park welcomes The Millers

So Home Park is a ground of new and old. The old , the main grandstand, still has wooden seats - not too comfortable and my view of one goal was obscured by a stand pillar. The crowd were loyal, respectful and not impressed by their team on the whole; especially No2. who could dribble well enough but failed to get a single decent cross into the box - wasting the open space he had on Argyle's right flank.

 The Pilgrim Himself?

Tea and a burger was £5.30, PG Tips and a home made job with onions. Both okay and the staff were pleasant if slightly deaf.
The match was interesting if goalless for 45 minutes. Argyle were lucky to escape a couple of times and made no clear chances themselves. The second half was a different affair and goals came quickly. The Pilgrims opened the score with a solo effort from no.21, a new signing apparently. This only angered The Millers who quickly equalized and then just carried on scoring eventually running out 4-1 winners.
There is a construction site next to the ground for some Life Centre. Also nearby is park and ride car park free to football fans. The journey was easy enough, some delay on the M5 due to an accident and holiday traffic. Didn't take too long to escape the car park and back up the A38 and M5 was free flowing. Recommend a visit.

Sixfields - No Goals

Tidy little lower league round in amongst some industrial developments and close to other sports developments, Sixfields is a fairly standard affair.  The atmosphere was a bit limp for an opening season fixture but then Stanley only brought about fifty supporters.  Both sets of fans made some noise but then the match never really got going and lacked any goals.  The cobblers had a few thundering shots but all over the bar and Accrington had one attempt disallowed.
I sat in a family stand though it was difficult to tell.  Tea was an average two quid and the Chicken Balti - was it the famous one?  I couldn't tell but it was very edible for its £2.90.

I booked my ticket online and picked it up from a portacabin as advised by the football ground guide website but poorly advertised by the club itself (it did say once you got into the ticket office).
Thanks to my family enjoying entertainment in Milton Keynes I traveled up from there on the train and walked to the ground (25 minutes), no problems.

It's back, again

It always seems an age but finally Football returns and so does my quest!

Down in Essex for the Brewer's survival

The trip to Southend was my longest so far. Over three hours and over 150 miles including a trip halfway around the M25 (they are still widening it in places.

The away supporters enjoy their own cafe and the staff were very friendly and helpful. The game was as expected, some tension on the Brewers side, but eventually the points were shared; enough for Burton's safety.
I liked this ground it has character, friendly staff and reasonable facilities.

A Meadow Barren of Goals

So the Greenhous Meadow Stadium was a modern one on the outskirts of town and lacked much character or originality but does it job well enough.  I must say the catering was excellent. Tea with real milk you added yourself and a fresh tuna baguette to munch on, nice.

The match was a closely fought stalemate goalless affair and the home crowd were a quiet lot. Both clubs look likely to make the play-offs but no more. Shropshire is a real country county and we ha a pleasant day.

No Dons of Football today

So Milton Keynes Stadium and the Dons.  A scorching hot day and probably not one to bext enjoy from seats firming in the sun all game. Still the shelter of the wonderful concourse was available.  More interesting than some of the recent modern grounds I have visited.  Very obvious scope for expansion though on te day current capacity wasn't filled.  Padded seats, good visibility, easy access and clean facilities makes this ground a nice place to see football. The away fans, from Huddersfield, were a very happy and vocal bunch.  For most of the game they drowned out an local support but given their team were winning easily maybe not surprising.

 All in all definitely liked the ground and it was a pleasant experience.

Leafy Lamex

Stevenage Boro have a ground with modest pretentions from the road view.  Once in though it is a lovely little ground with very friendly locals.  The football was good, both home and away teams were playing vibrant football.

A definite feel of its non-league roots but nice enough, enjoy.  The ground has a convenient free car park over the road.  The team played some nice football.

Molineux Jollity

Great match and lovely fans.  Six goals and a draw but what a great game for Deano to be remembered by.  The ground was full and I enjoyed some good football to boot.
The locals joked about another victory but seriously hoped for a single point. The ground was full and the atmosphere was good. The view was good and those around me were jovial even after some lamentable defending cost them their lead and then again their draw.
Before the match in the stand facilities were cramp compared to more modern stadiums I visited this year. I had to queue for toilets and though I got my hot tea easy enough the refreshments bar was singular unlike the female loos.

Curiously one of the home songs seemed to be a jibe about the Premiership itself. The pitch seemed to play well enough but looked muddy in places. Half time entertainment was the best I seen.  Not just one kids team demonstrating their skills but simultaneously an adult competition too.  The away fans seemed to be in the lower tier below us in the east stand rather at one end.   Definitely recommend a visit.