This selection are all additions to previous sets. Just click on each ground to view them.
From Belgium there are some more from the exterior of the National Stadium, in Brussels:
The King Baudouin Stadium
And the new concrete stand at Royal Leopold Uccle, sadly replacing their old wooden one, which you can also see pictures of, by clicking here:
Royal Leopold Uccle Forestoise
From the Czech Republic some more pictures from Sparta Prague, ground now re-named the Generali Stadium:
Sparta Prague
From Finland a few more from the Finnair Stadium, home of HJK Helsinki:
HJK Helsinki
And here in England the new small stand and covered terrace Ryman One South side Horsham YMCA:
Horsham YMCA
That is my backlog of 'repeats'. My next posting will be of grounds you haven't seen before.
Sunday, 20 December 2009
Saturday, 12 December 2009
SK Dynamo Ceske Budejovice
SK Dynamo Ceske Budejovice was my Czech choice for Sunday 25th October. I was actually there an hour earlier than expected as I forgot the clocks went back an hour, and did a double take at the main Prague train station, and realised it wasn't even seven o'clock!
This photo set isn't the fullest, as I went to the ground to buy my ticket early on, so I knew where the ground was, but didn't take any exterior snaps. I planned to take them before the match, but ended up pushed for time, having done the tourist thing and strolled around a quite pleasant town.
All the photos were taken from the one side, as I was unable to walk round the ground.
The less said about the game the better! It was an awful nil nil against Viktoria Plzen. Luck of the draw, I suppose. The crowd was 3,128; substantially less than I the attendance at the ice hockey I was to attend immediately afterwards.
The hockey & football stadiums were only a few hundred yards apart.
This was the view of the ground from the car park I approached it from just before kick off.
One of the ticket booths, though i'd bought mine earlier. Not the queues I was expecting! ;-)
A plan of the ground. I was sat in the stand on the right of it.
This is the back of my stand, inside the perimeter fencing past the turnstiles. I'm not sure what the building is beyond it. It looks like some sort of old water tower.
Club legends Jiri Nemek & Karel Poborsky included on the huge banners on the side.
Under the stand is the staple Czech 'hot dog' called a klobasa.
Now in the ground itself, it looks quite modern, with this blue roof. This raised stand was behind the goal to my right.
The same design is on my side, and down the far end. This is the corner of my stand, which is the fenced in away section.
Here we look over to the main stand.
This is a full view of my stand down the side, from the front, where you can see the seating it 'two tiered'.
Moving along we look toward the stand behind the far goal.
This is up in my stand, looking down to the far end, from where my seat was.
And to my right, the rest of it.
At half time I wander along the length of the stand again, heading toward the main home end.
This is the teams coming onto the pitch before the match. Well I never said anything about the pictures being in any sort of chronological order!
Back at the away corner, I would guess they brought about fifty or so.
My stand along the side, once more, during the game, with many seats occupied.
Down at the other end, this one from the interval. This corner of the end is their hard core support.
This is the best shot I could get of this end, from the corner of my stand.
And from this corner we look back down our side.
Similar shot, but along the lower seats.
Despite being restricted to one side I still manage a corner flag shot!
The hard core home fans' flags at the front, behind the goal.
Back at the other end now, settling down to watch the second half. Glutton for punishment, it wasn't much better than the first period, but it couldn't have got much worse!
One final shot, across the pitch, it's starting to get dark, and the lights come on.
This photo set isn't the fullest, as I went to the ground to buy my ticket early on, so I knew where the ground was, but didn't take any exterior snaps. I planned to take them before the match, but ended up pushed for time, having done the tourist thing and strolled around a quite pleasant town.
All the photos were taken from the one side, as I was unable to walk round the ground.
The less said about the game the better! It was an awful nil nil against Viktoria Plzen. Luck of the draw, I suppose. The crowd was 3,128; substantially less than I the attendance at the ice hockey I was to attend immediately afterwards.
The hockey & football stadiums were only a few hundred yards apart.
This was the view of the ground from the car park I approached it from just before kick off.
One of the ticket booths, though i'd bought mine earlier. Not the queues I was expecting! ;-)
A plan of the ground. I was sat in the stand on the right of it.
This is the back of my stand, inside the perimeter fencing past the turnstiles. I'm not sure what the building is beyond it. It looks like some sort of old water tower.
Club legends Jiri Nemek & Karel Poborsky included on the huge banners on the side.
Under the stand is the staple Czech 'hot dog' called a klobasa.
Now in the ground itself, it looks quite modern, with this blue roof. This raised stand was behind the goal to my right.
The same design is on my side, and down the far end. This is the corner of my stand, which is the fenced in away section.
Here we look over to the main stand.
This is a full view of my stand down the side, from the front, where you can see the seating it 'two tiered'.
Moving along we look toward the stand behind the far goal.
This is up in my stand, looking down to the far end, from where my seat was.
And to my right, the rest of it.
At half time I wander along the length of the stand again, heading toward the main home end.
This is the teams coming onto the pitch before the match. Well I never said anything about the pictures being in any sort of chronological order!
Back at the away corner, I would guess they brought about fifty or so.
My stand along the side, once more, during the game, with many seats occupied.
Down at the other end, this one from the interval. This corner of the end is their hard core support.
This is the best shot I could get of this end, from the corner of my stand.
And from this corner we look back down our side.
Similar shot, but along the lower seats.
Despite being restricted to one side I still manage a corner flag shot!
The hard core home fans' flags at the front, behind the goal.
Back at the other end now, settling down to watch the second half. Glutton for punishment, it wasn't much better than the first period, but it couldn't have got much worse!
One final shot, across the pitch, it's starting to get dark, and the lights come on.
Friday, 11 December 2009
HC Mountfield Ceske Budejovice
HC Mountfield play in the top flight of Czech ice hockey, and for my visit on October 25th, lost 4-1 at home to Pardubice. The crowd was much bigger than the First division football match I had been to just before, with a crowd of 5,645 at the hockey.
I bought my ticket earlier in the day, as it was tight between the two, and got the cheapest, 100Kc, well under four quid, for the home terrace. After the first period I simply walked up to the seats, and sat in an epmty one! The visitors won 4-1, with three quick goals scored at the start of the second period, I missed two of them as I was enjoying my bowl of goulash at one of the food stalls outside!
Zimni Stadion is Czech for what we'd call the ice rink.
This is the main entrance.
Unsurprisingly the place is named after the local beer company!
On the left of this snap is one of the ticket booths.
A map of the arena. My ticket was section B5, the red bit at the front of the end on the right of the diagram.
Here we are out on the road, the building to the left is part of the arena. It is a small secondary rink.
I stuck my head through the door...
There's some sort of kids' public session going on.
There's no seating here, but there is is a balcony up above, bother behind the goal here..
And along the side, above the team benches.
Back outside, later in the day for the main match, this is the visitors' team bus.
Here we are behind the goal, terraced section behind us, as the game is about to face off.
Here is the game in progress.
To my left this small section is for the away fans.
Above them, up in the rafters, are club banners.
This is the side to my left, past the away section.
From this corner we look at the home terrace, behind the goal. This is where the noisy hardcore fans congregate. there is seating above them.
Still snapping away from roughly the same spot, we look across the ice.
Another look at the home terrace.
And down the left hand side again.
From the walkway, up in the seats above, we look down on the drummers, in between periods.
The seats on our left again, from the higher view.
And immediately down the ice.
This is the view of the away fans, from where I sat for the rest of the match.
This is the bank of seats down the right hand side.
And this is the ice from the other end, where you can clearly see the split between the seats up above and the terracing below, thanks to the white wall.
At this end there is less seating, due to the executive boxes at the back.
Here's a bit of a wobbly shot of this end.
Back down the other end now, and the game is over, home fans leaving, away fans waiting a few moments.
This is the seating above the terrace.
Which is the section above the drummers..and where the trumpeters were seated!
To our left, for the last time, with the crowd gone.
And to the right.
A last look down the ice, now empty, score still up on the board.
I bought my ticket earlier in the day, as it was tight between the two, and got the cheapest, 100Kc, well under four quid, for the home terrace. After the first period I simply walked up to the seats, and sat in an epmty one! The visitors won 4-1, with three quick goals scored at the start of the second period, I missed two of them as I was enjoying my bowl of goulash at one of the food stalls outside!
Zimni Stadion is Czech for what we'd call the ice rink.
This is the main entrance.
Unsurprisingly the place is named after the local beer company!
On the left of this snap is one of the ticket booths.
A map of the arena. My ticket was section B5, the red bit at the front of the end on the right of the diagram.
Here we are out on the road, the building to the left is part of the arena. It is a small secondary rink.
I stuck my head through the door...
There's some sort of kids' public session going on.
There's no seating here, but there is is a balcony up above, bother behind the goal here..
And along the side, above the team benches.
Back outside, later in the day for the main match, this is the visitors' team bus.
Here we are behind the goal, terraced section behind us, as the game is about to face off.
Here is the game in progress.
To my left this small section is for the away fans.
Above them, up in the rafters, are club banners.
This is the side to my left, past the away section.
From this corner we look at the home terrace, behind the goal. This is where the noisy hardcore fans congregate. there is seating above them.
Still snapping away from roughly the same spot, we look across the ice.
Another look at the home terrace.
And down the left hand side again.
From the walkway, up in the seats above, we look down on the drummers, in between periods.
The seats on our left again, from the higher view.
And immediately down the ice.
This is the view of the away fans, from where I sat for the rest of the match.
This is the bank of seats down the right hand side.
And this is the ice from the other end, where you can clearly see the split between the seats up above and the terracing below, thanks to the white wall.
At this end there is less seating, due to the executive boxes at the back.
Here's a bit of a wobbly shot of this end.
Back down the other end now, and the game is over, home fans leaving, away fans waiting a few moments.
This is the seating above the terrace.
Which is the section above the drummers..and where the trumpeters were seated!
To our left, for the last time, with the crowd gone.
And to the right.
A last look down the ice, now empty, score still up on the board.
Thursday, 10 December 2009
Haringey Borough
I visited Haringey Borough for a pre-season match in August on a Wednesday evening. It's got a old stand, which I would have thought would have been condemned if anyone had any money to build a new one! They compete in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division.
A couple of their fans chatted to me, and it was a very friendly welcome. Although not really an inner London borough, it has an inner London feel, the ground hemmed in on two sides by terraced houses, and-a bit more unusual-allotments on another side!
No turnstiles, just a chap selling programmes at the entrance. A nice effort, considering it was a pre-season game against a side from the local Cypriot Sunday League.
The entrance is in this corner of the ground. From here we can see the open hard standing behind the goal, but we're heading clockwise, in the other direction.
Open hard standing along this side, apart from the tall stand.
As we get closer to the stand you can see it's in need of a fair bit of 'TLC'.
Covered in cracks, but still structurally sound, otherwise it wouldn't be open, presumably.
Fenced, and bricked, along the front, parts of it either unsafe, or blocked off due to old outbreaks of vandalism, maybe?
Ugly, but neccessary, breeze block.
A club sign on the back of the stand, old fire damage clear, which is why it's boarded up?
Now up in the stand we see the bucket seats, in the club colour.
From the back row, where I sat & watched a lot of the match, we look over the seats, toward the far end.
In the other direction we look toward the other goal, with a plenty of car parking space.
And over the pitch, to the dugouts, across the centre circle.
Moving along the seats, we see over to the goal, view partly obscured by roof supports & a floodlight pylon.
Set back behind the stand is the club bar, which is more of a cafeteria really.
Now down pitchside, we see over to the dugouts.
And glance back at the stand, from the other side.
Moving onwards, it's simple hard standing to the corner.
With more of the same behind the goal.
A corner flag shot, across the pitch.
As we're now behind the goal we look back to the stand.
Behind the goal, from the other corner.
And down the far side. There's plenty of empty space, as if the ground is surrounded by a big car park. In fact one of their main revenue streams is a large Sunday morning car boot sale.
From the dugout side we look over to the main stand, as the teams are about to kick off.
Past the dugouts now, it's the same concrete hard standing.
Looking back down the touchline.
A bit of goalmouth action, with the stand as a backdrop.
Behind the goal, heading toward the entrance where we came in, and there is a small grass bank between car park & pitch. The only raised standing vantage point in the ground.
Behind this goal we look back down the dugout side.
As well as a corner flag shot, this time toward the main stand.
No spectators standing behind the goal, so the keeper gets the ball himself!
One last look at the stand, from right behind the goal, and we finish our tour of Haringey Borough FC.
I take my seat up in the stand, as the lights come on, & settle down for the rest of the game.
This is an easy ground to get to, a very short bus ride from Wood Green tube station. I don't know how much life there is left in the old stand, but I'd suspect not much. Get here before it goes!
A couple of their fans chatted to me, and it was a very friendly welcome. Although not really an inner London borough, it has an inner London feel, the ground hemmed in on two sides by terraced houses, and-a bit more unusual-allotments on another side!
No turnstiles, just a chap selling programmes at the entrance. A nice effort, considering it was a pre-season game against a side from the local Cypriot Sunday League.
The entrance is in this corner of the ground. From here we can see the open hard standing behind the goal, but we're heading clockwise, in the other direction.
Open hard standing along this side, apart from the tall stand.
As we get closer to the stand you can see it's in need of a fair bit of 'TLC'.
Covered in cracks, but still structurally sound, otherwise it wouldn't be open, presumably.
Fenced, and bricked, along the front, parts of it either unsafe, or blocked off due to old outbreaks of vandalism, maybe?
Ugly, but neccessary, breeze block.
A club sign on the back of the stand, old fire damage clear, which is why it's boarded up?
Now up in the stand we see the bucket seats, in the club colour.
From the back row, where I sat & watched a lot of the match, we look over the seats, toward the far end.
In the other direction we look toward the other goal, with a plenty of car parking space.
And over the pitch, to the dugouts, across the centre circle.
Moving along the seats, we see over to the goal, view partly obscured by roof supports & a floodlight pylon.
Set back behind the stand is the club bar, which is more of a cafeteria really.
Now down pitchside, we see over to the dugouts.
And glance back at the stand, from the other side.
Moving onwards, it's simple hard standing to the corner.
With more of the same behind the goal.
A corner flag shot, across the pitch.
As we're now behind the goal we look back to the stand.
Behind the goal, from the other corner.
And down the far side. There's plenty of empty space, as if the ground is surrounded by a big car park. In fact one of their main revenue streams is a large Sunday morning car boot sale.
From the dugout side we look over to the main stand, as the teams are about to kick off.
Past the dugouts now, it's the same concrete hard standing.
Looking back down the touchline.
A bit of goalmouth action, with the stand as a backdrop.
Behind the goal, heading toward the entrance where we came in, and there is a small grass bank between car park & pitch. The only raised standing vantage point in the ground.
Behind this goal we look back down the dugout side.
As well as a corner flag shot, this time toward the main stand.
No spectators standing behind the goal, so the keeper gets the ball himself!
One last look at the stand, from right behind the goal, and we finish our tour of Haringey Borough FC.
I take my seat up in the stand, as the lights come on, & settle down for the rest of the game.
This is an easy ground to get to, a very short bus ride from Wood Green tube station. I don't know how much life there is left in the old stand, but I'd suspect not much. Get here before it goes!
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
Feltham-Feltham Arena
This was all that remained of the former home of Feltham when I happened to be in the area, in May 2009. The club were plagued by vandalism here, & moved away as a result. They now have planning permission to redevelop the site, and presumably the clearance you see here is the start. Feltham currently groundshare at Bedfont.
I saw two matches here, one at the start of the eighties, when Dulwich Hamlet played here in a London Senior Cup tie. The other, game 'lost' in the mists of time, was in a bitterly cold snap in winter, when-due to their all-weather pitch, was the only game on in London. I do recall the small stream behind the ground being frozen solid.
There is a link to the old stadium here, with pictures, from a website which comprehensively lists running tracks.
There are just a few concrete steps left, with nothing else remaining. These ones presumably led up to the old stand.
The following snaps are across the area where the pitch used to be. You can clearly see 'work in progress'.
More steps, I am guessing, were at the front of the old stand.
Next to the old remains is another, newer running track, but also in a poor state. It has floodlights, but little spectator facilities. I hadn't been aware this was here, and have no idea if it's ever been used for senior football, which is a possibility, maybe Middlesex League?
The other side of this second track is an open field with this cage & mound in. Overgrown, but I am guessing, in years past, it was used by a local baseball side.
I saw two matches here, one at the start of the eighties, when Dulwich Hamlet played here in a London Senior Cup tie. The other, game 'lost' in the mists of time, was in a bitterly cold snap in winter, when-due to their all-weather pitch, was the only game on in London. I do recall the small stream behind the ground being frozen solid.
There is a link to the old stadium here, with pictures, from a website which comprehensively lists running tracks.
There are just a few concrete steps left, with nothing else remaining. These ones presumably led up to the old stand.
The following snaps are across the area where the pitch used to be. You can clearly see 'work in progress'.
More steps, I am guessing, were at the front of the old stand.
Next to the old remains is another, newer running track, but also in a poor state. It has floodlights, but little spectator facilities. I hadn't been aware this was here, and have no idea if it's ever been used for senior football, which is a possibility, maybe Middlesex League?
The other side of this second track is an open field with this cage & mound in. Overgrown, but I am guessing, in years past, it was used by a local baseball side.
Sunday, 6 December 2009
Oxford United
I had a wonderful day at Oxford United at the end of October. I was there because the Oxford United supporters' team Raging Fever FC were playing their counterparts from Belgian side
UR Namur, from where I have some good friends.
It's not very often I go to top flight non-league matches, so the opportunity to have my 'international debut' guesting for Namur, and then visit a ground I haven't been to before, was something I couldn't say no to. Truth be known, sad as it may sound, i was honoured to wear their shirt.
Although Oxford 'only' beat Altrincham 1-0 I have no doubt that next season they will be back in the Football League.
The ground is a little unusual, in that it is three sided, with a capacity of 12,500. Approximately 5,000 in either stand along the sides, & 2,500 in the main home end behind the goal. The stands themselves are quite bland, and remind me,in style, of Millwall.
The Kassam Stadium, named after a former chairman, is also home to a conference centre type facility. Next to the ground is also a bowling/hotel/leisure type complex, which is where the club shop is based.
The ground was opened in 2001, the highest attendance here was the 12,243; which was at the end of the 2005/06 season against Leyton Orient. This was the match where they lost their Football League place.
On 24th July 2006 17,500 people squeezed in for a pop concert by Sir Elton John.
This sign is tacked onto the outer fence of the open end...talk about 'non league...and you know you are!'
The front of the main entrance shows that they are certainly not 'nonleague' in terms of facilities!
Before the main match we headed to this pub, called 'The Priory', a few hundred yards from the ground. Outside, here, they sold delicious & cheap burgers. Well worth a visit if you ever go there.
Walking from the pub towards the ground you can see how close it is.
A bit closer and we look across the car park towards the ground. But we're not going there yet. turn left...
And we head towards the club shop.
In this shot you can see the stadium in the background.
They probably have more replicas shirts in stock than Dulwich Hamlet have supporters'! ;-)
I bought a mug, which had a picture of the stadium on it.
We're now going back to the ground, the others are returning to the pub, but I'm going on a circuit of the outside of the stadium.
We going to walk straight ahead here, and go round the perimeter in an anti-clockwise direction.
We ARE still outside the ground, I take this picture through a slight gap in the gates in the corner. We are looking over to the two tiered main South Stand.
This is from the same corner, but turning my camera toward the main home end.
This is the main home end, from outside. The East Stand, formerly sponsored by the local newspaper the 'Oxford Mail', & still referred to by many as that.
From this corner another shot, through a small gap in the fence, of the main stand.
Now onto the next corner, with burger van.
Presumably the local fun fair was shut today! The burgers at the pub were cheaper too!
Now we're on our way round, behind the main stand.
You're only as good as your position in the table, but what on warth are a club with facilities as smart as this doing in non league? Answer is probably they don't own the ground, and don't make a penny from it, apart from the gate money. The message from me is...buy your food and drink in the local pub!
Now we're back at the car park end, where this strange 'creature' was!
It's a week before Guy Fawkes Night, and it was the winner in the local 'wicker man' competition!
Another glance back across the car park, as i head back to the pub for a pre-match burger!
After that it's time to go into the ground, and we walk back to the car park, to head around the main stand, for our seats in the home end, £14 each.
On the way we pass this statue of an ox, which I, somehow, missed earlier. It was unveiled in March 2008.
I also spot this 'wall of bricks'. I didn't have a chance to look at it closely, as it was almost kick off, so am not 100% sure what it was for, presumably in aid of club funds, but with the shysters who own the stadium I can't be certain!
I did snap this close up, so you can see some of the names on it, but also for the 'little schoolboy' type graffiti at the bottom!
Queueing to get in at our turnstile.
Under the concourse were these food & drink outlets.
A 'Football League' attitude prevails! You don't see these posters at the non league grounds I usually go to!
Inside the ground now-at last! The main stand to our left.
Home fans in the 'noisy' end! If you're wondering about the man in the funny witches hat...the date was 31st October-Halloween!
The North Stand is to our right. Away fans down the far corner.
Here's another shot of it, higher up from my seat.
The main stand again, also from my seat.
And now looking across the pitch, where you see the empty open end, with the leisure/hotel type complex behind it. As we look the club shop is round the back of it, on the right hand side.
Looking over to the North Stand once more, with the visiting Altrincham fans in this shot.
At the back of our end were supporters' flags, like this one. Note the gap behind them.
This is just a disused void area. I have no idea as to why the seats do not go right to the back.
Here is the North Stand once more, from the top corner of the East Stand.
From the same spot we look along the East Stand.
Another look at the main South Stand. The photos here today are all a bit 'samey', but that can't be helped, when grounds like this are functional, but lacking in real character. But that was made up for by the passionate home support in the end I was in.
Here we look up into my end, from the front.
Another angle of it, further along.
Only a few more 'repeat' pictures to go, as the lights come on. The main South Stand again...
From behind the goal, at the front, looking over to the East Stand.
And another crowd shot of the main home end, to finish our visit to Oxford United.
Game over, one final look over the pitch as the players are on their way over to applaud the fans.
I cannot finish this post without expressing my thanks to John, who runs the Oxford United supporters' team. I continually pestered him with questions he must have heard untold times beofre, about what it's like for them in the Conference, but he answered them all with a smile, and not a hint of boredom. He isa true gent! And the rest were a great bunch of lads, who really looked after the touring Belgians, and three 'hangers on' from Dulwich Hamlet! From the game in the morning, played in a great spirit, won 5-1 by the hosts, through to the match, & pubs in the evening, they are a credit to Oxford United Football Club. A team I have no affinity to, but now I always check out their results, and wish them all the best as they endeavour to regain their Football League place. I wish them well.
This photo shows myself on the left, in Namur shirt, & fellow Dulwich Hamlet fan Lawrence Marsh in the middle. On the right is my good friend from Belgium, Nicolas Lucas. A loyal Paris Saint Germain & Union Royale Namur suupporter!
UR Namur, from where I have some good friends.
It's not very often I go to top flight non-league matches, so the opportunity to have my 'international debut' guesting for Namur, and then visit a ground I haven't been to before, was something I couldn't say no to. Truth be known, sad as it may sound, i was honoured to wear their shirt.
Although Oxford 'only' beat Altrincham 1-0 I have no doubt that next season they will be back in the Football League.
The ground is a little unusual, in that it is three sided, with a capacity of 12,500. Approximately 5,000 in either stand along the sides, & 2,500 in the main home end behind the goal. The stands themselves are quite bland, and remind me,in style, of Millwall.
The Kassam Stadium, named after a former chairman, is also home to a conference centre type facility. Next to the ground is also a bowling/hotel/leisure type complex, which is where the club shop is based.
The ground was opened in 2001, the highest attendance here was the 12,243; which was at the end of the 2005/06 season against Leyton Orient. This was the match where they lost their Football League place.
On 24th July 2006 17,500 people squeezed in for a pop concert by Sir Elton John.
This sign is tacked onto the outer fence of the open end...talk about 'non league...and you know you are!'
The front of the main entrance shows that they are certainly not 'nonleague' in terms of facilities!
Before the main match we headed to this pub, called 'The Priory', a few hundred yards from the ground. Outside, here, they sold delicious & cheap burgers. Well worth a visit if you ever go there.
Walking from the pub towards the ground you can see how close it is.
A bit closer and we look across the car park towards the ground. But we're not going there yet. turn left...
And we head towards the club shop.
In this shot you can see the stadium in the background.
They probably have more replicas shirts in stock than Dulwich Hamlet have supporters'! ;-)
I bought a mug, which had a picture of the stadium on it.
We're now going back to the ground, the others are returning to the pub, but I'm going on a circuit of the outside of the stadium.
We going to walk straight ahead here, and go round the perimeter in an anti-clockwise direction.
We ARE still outside the ground, I take this picture through a slight gap in the gates in the corner. We are looking over to the two tiered main South Stand.
This is from the same corner, but turning my camera toward the main home end.
This is the main home end, from outside. The East Stand, formerly sponsored by the local newspaper the 'Oxford Mail', & still referred to by many as that.
From this corner another shot, through a small gap in the fence, of the main stand.
Now onto the next corner, with burger van.
Presumably the local fun fair was shut today! The burgers at the pub were cheaper too!
Now we're on our way round, behind the main stand.
You're only as good as your position in the table, but what on warth are a club with facilities as smart as this doing in non league? Answer is probably they don't own the ground, and don't make a penny from it, apart from the gate money. The message from me is...buy your food and drink in the local pub!
Now we're back at the car park end, where this strange 'creature' was!
It's a week before Guy Fawkes Night, and it was the winner in the local 'wicker man' competition!
Another glance back across the car park, as i head back to the pub for a pre-match burger!
After that it's time to go into the ground, and we walk back to the car park, to head around the main stand, for our seats in the home end, £14 each.
On the way we pass this statue of an ox, which I, somehow, missed earlier. It was unveiled in March 2008.
I also spot this 'wall of bricks'. I didn't have a chance to look at it closely, as it was almost kick off, so am not 100% sure what it was for, presumably in aid of club funds, but with the shysters who own the stadium I can't be certain!
I did snap this close up, so you can see some of the names on it, but also for the 'little schoolboy' type graffiti at the bottom!
Queueing to get in at our turnstile.
Under the concourse were these food & drink outlets.
A 'Football League' attitude prevails! You don't see these posters at the non league grounds I usually go to!
Inside the ground now-at last! The main stand to our left.
Home fans in the 'noisy' end! If you're wondering about the man in the funny witches hat...the date was 31st October-Halloween!
The North Stand is to our right. Away fans down the far corner.
Here's another shot of it, higher up from my seat.
The main stand again, also from my seat.
And now looking across the pitch, where you see the empty open end, with the leisure/hotel type complex behind it. As we look the club shop is round the back of it, on the right hand side.
Looking over to the North Stand once more, with the visiting Altrincham fans in this shot.
At the back of our end were supporters' flags, like this one. Note the gap behind them.
This is just a disused void area. I have no idea as to why the seats do not go right to the back.
Here is the North Stand once more, from the top corner of the East Stand.
From the same spot we look along the East Stand.
Another look at the main South Stand. The photos here today are all a bit 'samey', but that can't be helped, when grounds like this are functional, but lacking in real character. But that was made up for by the passionate home support in the end I was in.
Here we look up into my end, from the front.
Another angle of it, further along.
Only a few more 'repeat' pictures to go, as the lights come on. The main South Stand again...
From behind the goal, at the front, looking over to the East Stand.
And another crowd shot of the main home end, to finish our visit to Oxford United.
Game over, one final look over the pitch as the players are on their way over to applaud the fans.
I cannot finish this post without expressing my thanks to John, who runs the Oxford United supporters' team. I continually pestered him with questions he must have heard untold times beofre, about what it's like for them in the Conference, but he answered them all with a smile, and not a hint of boredom. He isa true gent! And the rest were a great bunch of lads, who really looked after the touring Belgians, and three 'hangers on' from Dulwich Hamlet! From the game in the morning, played in a great spirit, won 5-1 by the hosts, through to the match, & pubs in the evening, they are a credit to Oxford United Football Club. A team I have no affinity to, but now I always check out their results, and wish them all the best as they endeavour to regain their Football League place. I wish them well.
This photo shows myself on the left, in Namur shirt, & fellow Dulwich Hamlet fan Lawrence Marsh in the middle. On the right is my good friend from Belgium, Nicolas Lucas. A loyal Paris Saint Germain & Union Royale Namur suupporter!
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