Monthly Archives: April 2009

A brief distraction….

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I never like to miss an opportunity to see a new ground so when worked posted me off to Aberdeen for a few days on business I carefully studied a map to see where I could sneak a ground or two in my travelling time. 

So for your enjoyment please find my tour photos below.

Montrose
The club’s halcyon period was the mid 1970s when, under manager Alec Stuart, Montrose reached third place in the old First Division (one below the Premier League), and were a feared and respected cup side. In the second round of 1974-75 Scottish Cup, Montrose recorded their largest victory when they beat Vale of Leithen 12-0. The club won their first and only championship under the guidance of Iain Stewart in 1984-85, as they triumphed in the old second division. Relegation followed in 1987 as the part time club found themselves outgunned in a league largely consisting of full time teams. Under co-managers Doug Rougvie the former no-nonsense Chelsea full back Montrose won promotion to Division One in 1991, but were relegated after one further season in the higher league.

Montrose have spent the vast majority of their recent history in the relative obscurity of the Third Division. At the end of the 1994-95 season, they were promoted to the Second Division after finishing as runners up in the Third Division. However, the team’s first attempt at this higher level was not successful, and they finished bottom of the table and faced a quick return to the Third Division.

The club have remained at this level ever since, and have achieved little success in the league. Their most notable recent success was a surprising 5-1 win away at Second Division side Forfar Athletic in the First Round of the 2004-05 Scottish Cup.

Links Park is one of the few grounds in Scotland that can boast a new generation artificial playing surface. They are also one of the nicest clubs in the league to deal with. The stadium is a 10 minute walk from Montrose stadium which is located next to the inner bay. Simply walk up the hill into the High Street and take a right hand turn into John Street which becomes Union Street. The stadium is visible as you enter Links Park.

Arbroath
They were founded in 1878 and currently play their home matches at Gayfield, Arbroath, Angus. They play in maroon strips, and are nicknamed “The Red Lichties” due to the red light that used to guide fishing boats back from the North Sea to the burgh’s harbour. Arbroath share an old and fierce rivalry with local neighbours Montrose

Their most notable achievement is that they hold the record for the biggest victory in World senior football, when on 12 September 1885 they beat Bon Accord 36-0 in a Scottish Cup match with a further goal disallowed for offside. Jocky Petrie scored 13 goals in that game, also a record as the most goals by a single player in a British senior match. By coincidence, on the same day in another Scottish Cup match, Dundee Harp beat Aberdeen Rovers 35-0.

The team has had mixed success in recent years. In the 1996-97 season they hit the bottom of the Scottish senior football standard as they finished bottom of the Third Division. However, the following season they were promoted to the Second Division against all expectations. They spent three years at this level before winning promotion to the First Division – arguably the club’s greatest achievement in recent history. They finished 7th in their first season in the First Division, 13 points clear of relegation troubles, which was rather impressive for their first ever venture at this level. However, in the 2002-03 season, the team struggled badly, and finished bottom of the table, 20 points adrift of penultimate side Alloa Athletic. In the 2003-04 season, Arbroath narrowly avoided back-to-back relegations, as they escaped the drop on the last day of the season. In 2004-05, however, there was no such escaping, as a 3-0 defeat at Dumbarton on 30 April 2005 condemned them to the Third Division for next season.Arbroath finished 4th in Division 3 but went on to win the end of season play off and thus were promoted again to Division 2.

Arbroath’s ground Gayfield Park is the closest to the sea in Britain, a neat and picturesque old-style ground exposed to the elements, with terracing on three sides and enclosed stands on all four sides. On stormy winter days, waves can be seen beating on the walls surrounding the ground. Clearances in the teeth of the gale, let alone polished football, become impossible. Goalkeepers can find it hard to spot the ball to kick out and even then goalkicks occasionally fly out for corners. Throw in the ubiquitous seagulls and, in clement weather, the rides on Pleasureland next door, and Gayfield offers a unique, bracing and surreal spectacle with wonderful views when the game pales.

To reach the stadium turn right out of the stadium and take the right hand bend and follow this down to the sea – the stadium is straight ahead of you and is a ten minute walk at best.

And now, the end is near…..

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“….and so I face the final curtain”….not my words but those of Frank Sinatra, Ol’ Blues Eyes.  And what could be more apt for a final day game in the Blue Square Premier League than a trip back to one of my favourites, Lewes for their last game at this level.  Since seeing them beat Grays on the 22nd November (see When Two Blogs Collide) the team have played twenty five league games, winning three times and losing the remaining twenty two games.  Nine points out of seventy five is not really play off material so it comes as no surprise to anyone, including the Lewes fans that the team confirmed their relegation some weeks ago back to the Blue Square South.  Hopes were never very high for this season after the farcical events of last summer after promotion had been confirmed, and hadn’t been helped by the management of ex-Brighton & Hove Albion commercial manager (i.e no football management experience) Kevin Keehan being in charge of team affairs for most of the campaign.

Last April things were so different in this lovely little town in East Sussex.  The club has risen from Rymans League Three to the Blue Square Premier in just seven seasons, an amazing effort and I doubt that any visiting fan can ever have a bad word to say about visiting the Dripping Pan.  Then the owners of the club made some bizarre decisions and have reaped the rewards of their bad harvest this season.  Administration has been avoided, which appeared to be the only option a few months ago for the club.  So there are some positives for next season andI have vowed to adopt them as my second team from August and get to as many away games as I can in the Blue Square South to keep up our commitment at TBIR to cover non-league as much as European football.

But for this last horaahI was obviously going to be attending with Mr. Last.  The man who has taken his blog (EFW) to new levels of reporting by securing endorsement this season from the creator of Steptoe & Son (Alan Simpson), two Ashes winners (Jimmy Anderson and Jack Russell) and a comedy genius (Frank Sidebottom).  This would obviously involve a number of Harvey’s being sampled – when in Rome, etc so the train was the carriage of choice for this one.

York were the visitors for the last day, and after a bit of squeekybum time in the past few weeks they secured Conference football with a 2-1 away win at Weymouth on Friday night.  I had seen York on four occasions already this season and their performances had varied from solid (Histon), attacking (Burton Albion), defensive (Salisbury City) and woeful (Eastbourne Borough).  Of course there was always the passionate support to look forward to.  The York fans have supported their club through thick and thin over the past few seasons and are one of the only clubs to have a recognised “Ultra” following.  Some of their fans can be a bit exuberant to say the least (see February 2009′s post on “I do like to be beside the seaside”) but at least they care and show a bit of passion.  They have exceeded a number of expectations though this season.  The form of centre-forward Brodie has been nothing short of sensational at times, and with 18 goals this season he has been their shining light.  His goals also secured a first trip to the New Wembley Stadium for the club as they are due to play Stevenage Borough in the FA Trophy final in a few weeks.

With all four relegation places confirmed these two had nothing to play for.  I had some money on an outside bet for Oxford United to reach the play offs which required a Torquay defeat at home to Burton Albion and a Kidderminster draw or defeat at home plus the assumption that Oxford would beat already relegated Northwich Victoria themselves. So I would have one eye on the Blackberry and one eye on the fantastic bar at the Dripping Pan.

The sun was shining as CMF taxi’s pulled up in Brighton andafter an hour on the beach with the Little Fullers I was off up the road to meet Mr Last at the European Football Weekends HQ – aka The Lord Nelson, officially the darkest pub in the world.  Obviously a couple of Harvey’s were in order and after a discussion on the latest non-league gossip we were off to Lewes on the train.

Lewes 1 York City 1 – The Dripping Pan – Sunday 26th April 2009 4pm

The teams emerge to an almost San Siro welcome

The teams emerge to an almost San Siro welcome

The weather was so good in East Sussex that it seemed a shame to play a football match.  One good thing to come out of the relegation of the club is that next season they do not have to abide by the ridiculous rule that means that no alcohol is allowed to be served during the game from the bar behindthe goal will not be enforced.  The amount of revenue the club will see next season should make up for the lower number of away supporters.  This season the biggest attendances have been when the big clubs have come to visit.  York brought a couple of coaches with them and filled the small away terrace at the far end, enjoying the BBQ in full force.  Danny took the opportunity to induct a couple more people into the EFW fanclub, snapping Richard Brodie and Martin Foyle from York City into the gallery.

To tell you the truth the game was poor.  York City played witha number of squad players starting, with Foyle looking at likely candidates for their big Wembley appearance.  He had kept top scorer Brodie on the bench, and even Lewes chose to rest their teenage sensation David Wheeler for the first half.  I cannot remember one single chance in the first half, although you would have never guessed by the noise the few hundred Lewes fans made.  Scored kept filtering through from around the country.  Firstly Torquay scored against Burton, and then news came through that the divisions form team Northwich Victoria had taken the lead at the Kassam against Oxford United.

Half time came and another Harvey’s disappeared and it was touch and go whether we went back out onto the terrace.  But we did and both teams decided to take it a bit more seriously and on came Brodie and Wheeler.  York City eventually took the lead with ten minutes to play as Brodie headed a free kick across the goal for York captain Mark Greaves to turn the ball in, and the hopes of all home fans that there would be anything apart from another defeat.

But the team obviously wanted to give the fans something of a summer send off and from a Foreman free kick, Cullip knocked the ball on and top scorer Joe Keehan was on handto bundle the ball home with just two minutes left on the clock.  So a predictable result in the end, which is more than can be said from elsewhere in the Conference as Kidderminster Harriers, Stevenage Borough and Burton Albion all lost.  Now that could (and should) have meant that Cambridge United and Oxford United winning their home games to secure automatic promotion (Cambridge) anda play off place (Oxford United).  But with matters in their own hands they could not deliver and so Burton Albion won automatic promotion, and Oxford United fell short of the end of season shakedown.  And Lewes?  Well they will be looking forward to renewing acquaintances with Havant and Waterlooville, Bromley and Welling United next season.  Of course this will mean a few new grounds for the travelling Rooks including Dover Athletic.  One thing is for sure, this will not be the last time I visit the Dripping Pan….
 

The teams emerge to an almost San Siro welcome

Failing badly to stick the Blue flag…Parts 1 and 2

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The boy wonder Adam is a top chap…Every so often he produces a big of sporting gold from his invisible utility belt that makes you believe in the human spirit.  Two years ago it was a rather fetching rucksack that has seen its way around the world and has fired up a number of conversations with strangers.  Last year it was an invite to sample Club Wembley at Fabio Capello’s first game for England, against Switzerland.  Unfortunately I had to miss the private tour and lunch at Lords last summer but I was holding out for a Willy Wonka Golden Ticket for a personal tour of the Playboy Mansion.  I am sure he is still working on the latter, but in the meantime he came up with a cracker.  “How do you fancy a game against a team of ex-Professional footballers?” He asked a few months ago.  “Sure – as long as its not Chelsea” I told him….

So on this fine sunny April day I made my way down to the ground with (In)Active Matt in deepest Surrey to line up against the likes of David Beasant, Clive Walker, Ray Wilkins and Paul Canoville for the game against Chelsea.  I had swallowed my pride and agreed to play the Blues on the proviso that we would be allowed to win.  I think not.

A week before the game we were given the Chelsea Squad:-

Beasant, Pates, Langley, G Wilkins, R Wilkins, Walker, Canoville, Cundy, Monkou, Hall, Dublin, Chivers, Britton, Bumstead, Lee (as in David Lee the Rodney Trotter look-a-like) and Dublin

Hmm…some real blasts from the past there.  Adam used his motivational spin – “Come on guys some of these players were at their prime 20 years ago…”  Yes Adam, but so were we and it wasn’t as professional footballers!  My playing days really came to an end 7 years ago when I moved from Notting Hill.  I was the defensive lynch pin for Hole in the Wall FC in the Chiswick & Ealing League, and for a number of years enjoyed the banter of Sunday League football where I looked good without having to actually run around.  The toll of too much football when I was young had taken effect in my late twenties and I lost the yard of pace on the 21st November 1991.

I had played at a decent level, turning out for a number of non-League clubs before a bad ankle injury kept me out of the game for nearly a year on that said November day.  Eighteen months later whilst in a loan spell to Kos Town FC in Greece I walked through a plate glass window (no I wasn’t pissed, or thrown) and the resulting injuries to my knee required over 80 stitches and two operations during the course of the next year.  But even today I can still defend with the best of them – I just can’t run!  I have turned out for my country in representative matches for the England Fans team in Macedonia, Croatia and Vienna (to be featured in the soon to be published Passport to Football book) but the pace has now gone.  Was I bitter I hadn’t earned a fortune as a player?  Absolutely, and this was a chance for some retribution!!!

Chelsea Old Boys  8 The Active Allstars 0 – Chelsea Training Ground, Cobham, Thursday 23rd April

David Lee scores the first despite my challenge

David Lee scores the first despite my challenge

We rolled up at Cobham at midday and were allowed to pass into the inner sanctum, although we were kept very separate from the first team who were training on the main pitch.  Obviously they were getting ready for the hiding they would get on Saturday at Upton Park.  We had a roll call and determined who would play where in the car park (in a similar situation to Mike Reid’s Runaround…..All the defenders in disabled space…Naaaaw).  Our opposition where obviously taking this very seriously as they stood around in their shorts and flip flops, looking on scared at what they saw.

After our kitman handed the shirts out and I had the number five in my hand I knew I had made it into the starting XI.  We walked over to the immaculate pitch – one of 72 – YES 72 pitches they have on the complex.  The Chelsea starting XI were going through their warm up exercises with their fitness coach as we simply took pot shots at our goalkeeper.  Their starting XI was:-

Dave Beasant, Keith Dublin, Jason Cundy, Ken Monkou, Clive Wilson, Ian Britton, Trevor Aylott, David Lee, Gareth Hall, Gary Chivers and Graeme Wilkins

Ours included a bloke who works at Waitrose, a failed Policeman and a dozen overweight over 40 year olds.  We kept it tight at the back, working as a flat back four….until the referee blew the whistle to start and we went to pieces.  My plan of making them do all the running didn’t really work and we were immediately under pressure, with the smallest (and oldest?) player on the pitch Britton pulling all the strings.  After a few early scares, David Lee managed to beat our lame offside trap and despite my late tackle he managed to lift the ball over the keeper.  Somehow we kept it to 1-0 for nearly 20 minutes.  Richard Keys had somehow managed to wangle a game and thought he had scored on 30 minutes but his effort was ruled out as the ball had gone out before it reached him.  He wasn’t bitter at all and spent the remainder of the half complaining about the goal.

The second came whilst I was off the field having a little breather and two nil at half time wasn’t bad.  I suggested a tactical change at half time, with us switching to a back three and pushing our full backs wide.  Great idea in theory but we were ripped apart in the second half.  They brought on Clive Walker who was awesome.  He pulled all the strings and scored a couple of great individual goals.  Our issue was fitness, fitness and fitness as well as our wide men literally sticking to the touchline – we could hardly see them let alone kick the ball to him.  I was determined not to let Keys get a sniff and I did all that I could including scoring an own goal.  Walker’s ball was played across and with Keys unmarked behind me I tried to put the ball out for a corner only to see it hit my studs and the ball slowly roll towards the empty net.  Gareth Hall was a real gent and could have put the ball in but allowed me the honour of getting my name on the score sheet.

Goals came at regular intervals in the second half and our “special guest” John Terry obviously left once he saw that I was no longer a threat for his England spot.  The Veterans coach, Ray Wilkins, was so chuffed with the performance that he threw on Monkou up front.  But this gave us our one and only real chance as Adam made some space on the edge of the box and fired over the bar.  From our angle on the sidelines it looked like it skimmed the bar.  From behind the goal it looked like it skimmed the corner flag.

So 8-0 was a fair result.  We can blame it on the hot weather, the soft pitch or the fact we had never played before together.  In truth it was a far result when you put together a team of   over aged non-footballers playing ex-Professionals.  Over lunch in the restaurant (no chips here – booo) we chatted with Langley and Chivers about the game today.  Were they jealous of today’s players?  “Only the money they get – don’t fancy the grub they get here every day!”

So wind forward 48 hours and move the venue some 20 miles north east to E14.  Could West Ham gain revenge for this monsterous defeat?  Hiddink was quick to  put the game into perspective and stated with the Barcelona game coming just a few days later he would put a weakened team out at Upton Park.  And sure to his word he rested Drogba, Ballack, Alex and Cole amongst others.  Zola, fresh from signing his new contract did the same, leaving out Dean Ashton, Carlton Cole, Valeron Behrami, Jack Collison. Scott Parker and James Collins.  The fact that none of the six were fit is neither here nor there.  In fact if you take Ashton and Cole out of our team you essentialy take away the scorer of 60% of our goals this season.  Their replacements are David Di Michele and Diego Tristan – who between them have scored less than Ashton and he has been injured since 31st August!

Walking to the ground on a lovely sunny afternoon we were accosted by a group of girls outside the stadium handing out flyers for a new film.  Nothing wrong with that but dressing them in tiny white string bikini’s at a football match is probably not a very wise idea.  The amount of fans who were trying to “accidently” catch the knot at the side of their bikini bottoms was amusing to say the least.  Also I thought concealer was used by girls to cover up spots on thier face and not bikini line shaving rash…nice!

West Ham United 0 Chelsea 1 – Upton Park – Saturay 25th April 2009
We had our chances, that is the annoying part.  If Keiron Dyer had slotted away a one on one with Petr Cech or James Tompkins toe poke which was cleared off the line in the first half the game would have been very different.  Instead we had to put up with a dire first sixty minutes until Lumpard bounced free, crossed and Kalou poked the ball home at the far post for the only goal of the game.  Then of course we had the opportunity to draw level after Illunga was hauled down and Noble had his spot kick saved.

So two games in three days against Chelsea and two defeats….I will have my vengence whether in this world or the next said Russell Crowe.  As we haven’t beaten Chelsea for five years I think it will be the latter….

One to go and all to play for…

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 As a new twist to the family of football offerings from Fuller Inc you can now add Scouting.  Not the Baden Powell type but the “seeing what talented footballers are out there” type.  I had been asked by a certain football league club to have a look at Kidderminster Harrier’s Player of the Season in 2007 and 2008 Mark Creichton in their game at Stevenage Borough.  This suited me perfectly for three reasons:-

1. I hadn’t been to Stevenage for over 12 years;

2. I have always said I knew more about football than most of the people I have ever met in football.

3. I managed to persuade Football Jo to come, and to get her to drive me to and from the station

Let’s look at point one.  In November 1996 on a “country drive”, CMF and I stumbled upon a small farm called Tewin Bury.  At the time we were shacked up with Marc Oedipus in our love nest in Notting Hill (above Mike Atherton, opposite Lawrence Dallaglio and two doors down from Norman Lamont if you wanted to know) and in a rash moment of impulse we decided to get married there.  We were not engaged, nor had we ever really planned to get married but we (well she) was seduced by the beauty of the venue, and they had a space for our (her) preferred date in August 1998.  So we booked it and I paid a £2,000 deposit.  I thought it was a tad unfair that we had spent so much money on something I would get little enjoyment out of (don’t say I just said that!)  so I suggested we go into Stevenage so that I could look in PC World.  Thirty minutes later I had spend £1,000 (Remember this was pre-little Fuller’s and life was good) on a new PC and £400 on a new DVD player (at the time when they were like suitcases).  I noticed that a few people were parking on the retail park with football shirts on and threw in a request to go to the game, whoever the locals were playing.  The response I got chilled me to the bone:-

“Now that we are engaged that is fine”

Er when had I proposed.  Sure, I had just paid £2,000 as a non-returnable deposit on a wedding but that wasn’t the same as actually proposing.  Still I bit my tongue and we went off to find out it was an FA Cup 1st round game between Stevenage Borough and Hayes in the FA Cup. 

Anyway, back to the present.  Yes I went through with the wedding and yes I did the proper proposal (Amsterdam 9th February 2007 if you want to know) and yes I had never been back since.  Football Jo was at a loose end as her latest chap had decided to go to work so she wanted to come along and “advise” me on the best players to scout.  It was going to be an interesting evening.  So 20 minutes after being picked up in Harpenden we had parked across the road from the ground.

Inside the stadium hadn’t changed much – a new roof at one end but it still looked one of the better stadiums in the Conference.  Stevenage had been there or there abouts on a number of occasions at this level, coming mightily close in 1994/95 when they actually won the Conference but the stadium was not deemed fit to allow league football.  It took then nearly a decade, a few financial close escapes and an FA Trophy victory to get back into the play offs but they lost to Carlisle United in 2005.  This season their form had taken them from the bottom three (after a disastrous start which saw them lose 5-1, 3-1 and 4-0 in their first four games) to the situation in early 2009 when they won ten consecutive games.  In fact since the turn of the year the team had only lost once in their last thirty games and that was to tonight’s opposition just two weeks previous.

Kidderminster had also been in a similar position to Stevenage in that they had finished top of the conference in 1994 but were refused entry into the league due to the ground not being up to standard.  This was rich at the time considering the state of a number of grounds in the Football League.  Who can ever forget visiting grounds like Barnet, Blackpool or Cambridge United in that season and seeing the poor facilities on offer.  Ironically that season they hosted West Ham United in the FA Cup in front of 8,000 at the so-called unprepared stadium without any issues.  They eventually made it into the league in 2000 when they won the league at a canter.  If ever there was a title not to make the step up to league football it was 2000.  First went the revenues from ITV Digital, then the revenues from the deal to supply websites through Premium TV and finally the strength of the local Premier League teams meant that money was hard to come by.  They returned to the non-leagues in 2005/06 and have since failed to threaten the top of the league until this season when Manager Mark Yates has created an impressive attacking team.  Their home form for most of the season has been the impressive element so this game was to be a real challenge for them.

 Stevenage Borough 3 Kidderminster Harriers 1 – Broadhall Way – Tuesday 21st April 2009

Stevenage Borough 3 Kidderminster Harriers 1

Stevenage Borough 3 Kidderminster Harriers 1

 There was a fair size crowd in the stadium for his one.  Obviously the Stevenage public had been wowed by the style of football they had seen and the astounding results of the team.  Quite rightly the club can be proud of their performance in the second half of the season, but with up to six big games left it could all end in tears.  Step one was to beat Kidderminster Harriers, one place above Stevenage in the league in what would be a huge motivational boost for the team.

I was very keen to see how the Stevenage front two played.  I had heard good things about Morison up front, and being one of the leading scorers in the league where goals are often hard to come by was going to be interesting.  Lee Boylan on the other hand was a name from the past.  I first saw him in West Ham United’s youth set up in the late 1990′s, and was at the Youth Cup Final at Anfield when West Ham lost to Liverpool 2-1 in the second leg in a team alongside Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard (The Liverpool team on that day included Gerard and Michael Owen).  What did surprise me was that he had appeared to have scored many goals so far this season.  Kidderminster had an impressive front two themselves, with Barnes-Homer and Richards having scored 35 goals between them, making them the most prolific duo in the Blue Square Conference this season.  

So the game started on a lovely Bedfordshire (or is it Herftordshire?) evening and it was obvious that the man we had come to watch Creighton looked tired and unfit.  He seemed to make his way forward for early set pieces but left his team mates exposed as he was not able to get back in time to assist the defence on the break.  Stevenage attacked from the word go and right midfielder Drury impressed with his speed down the flank.  From his cross on four minutes top scorer Morison slammed the ball home after his initial shot was blocked.  Kidderminster were reeling and within minutes it was nearly two as Morison took a ball on his chest on the right hand side of the penalty area and hit a magnificent volley that dipped, curled and swerved over the keepers head before it smashed into the bar.

Stevenage were certainly playing impressively and it took a good half an hour before Kidderminster found their rhythm.  Their front two were certainly fast and the midfield engine Penn (who was rumoured to have been the subject of a £100,000 transfer approach recently) was instrumental in pulling them back into the game.  His pass found Richards 20 yards out and his quick feet found a space and a shot which ended up in the back of the net to make it one all.

The second half was a completely different story.  To tell the truth we had given up watching our friend from Kidderminster as he was simply being run ragged by Boylan and Morison although he was certainly “no nonsense” in his approach to defending, a characteristic that is essential at this level.  Just two minutes into the second half Boylan turned him around 30 yards out, took two steps and then rifled a low shot into the corner.  Fifteen minutes later he made it three one when he beat Creighton at the near post to turn in a smart cross from Mitchell Cole.

After this the game was never in doubt.  Stevenage have hit form just at the right moment and this win lifted them into the playoff places for the first time in a few weeks.  With just one game to go they now hold the upper hand over Oxford United, Torquay United and Kidderminster in the race for the final slot.  Kidderminster seem to have done enough to earn a spot, and with Torquay United hosting Burton who have to win they could still yet make it into the end of season shake down, and who knows a repeat of the 2007 FA Trophy final against Stevenage.

We exited stage left, winding our way through the non-league WAG’s (have to be seen to be believed), past the signs around the pitch for “missile defence systems” (I didn’t know it was so rough in the town) and crossed the main road.  Outside the car park was a Robin Reliant with the sign Boys2Men on the side – nothing like drawing attention to yourself…As I say – strange place Stevenage.

About the Broadhall Way
Certainly one of the better grounds in the Blue Square Premier and one which would not look out of place in the Football League. On one side is the all seated covered, Main Stand, that looks quite impressive. It is unusual in so much that at the back of the stand on either side of it, there are large gaps between the back of the roof and the stand below. Whilst in the middle of the stand at the back, there are a number of glass fronted areas to various Club offices. Opposite is the fair sized East Terrace, that is covered and is quite steep. Eventhough like the rest ground, the stand is relatively new, it does have a gable with a clock sitting on its roof above the half way line, which gives it a touch of character. At one end is the South Stand, which is another single tiered all seated covered stand. This stand given to away supporters. There is an electric scoreboard on the roof of this stand. Opposite at the North End of the ground, is a small covered terrace. A set of four new floodlights (one pylon in each corner) were installed for the start of the 2007/08 season.Thanks to Duncan Adam’s excellent site http://conferencegroundguide.co.uk/ for the above information

Getting to Broadhall Way
If you are driving you will undoubtably come via the A1. In which case exit at Junction 7 and take the A602 towards Stevenage. Go straight across the first roundabout and as you approach the next roundabout you can see the floodlights of the ground over on the right. However, if you go straight across the roundabout then you will see the entrance on the left to the large official car park which is free. You can also take the 1st left at the roundabout and park in Old Meg – not the local witch but an retail park.The nearest station is Stevenage which is about a mile away from the ground. Leave the station booking hall and turn left towards the town. Take the stairs on the right before the bridge over the dual carriage way and head along the A602, Lytton Way. At the roundabout which has the police station on the right, take the second exit into Six Hills Way. At the next roundabout take the third exit (south) continuing along the A602, Monkswood Way, passing a large Asda store on your right. After about 3/4 mile (McDonalds/Burger King etc will be on your right) you will arrive at a roundabout and the ground will be opposite you on the other side of the A602.

How to get a ticket for Broadhall Way 
It’s pay on the door for all games (bar any big FA Cup matches) at Stevenage.  Even the FA Trophy Semi-Final this season only attracted just over 3,000.  Pricing is relatively simple – £15 for a seat in the main stand or away end behind the goal and £12 for a place on the covered terrace.