Watching Palace away from SE25, 109 grounds visited, as of 15/4/2023.
My Rules- non competitive games do not count, including minor competitions like the Surrey Senior cup and friendlies. Wimbledon and Charlton away when they were using Selhurst Park for home games do not count as ‘away from SE25’.
Update – July 2023. One new ground ‘with’ Palace ticked off last season. Ironically my closest to home league ground of ‘The Kassam Stadium’, as Palace played them in the League Cup in August 2022. a ground I visit 3/4 times a season, but the first ever competitive meeting between the clubs at first team level at that ground.
Update March 28th 2020 – With the current global pandemic and no footy to watch, I thought it long overdue to update this blog. One new ground added since my last update below, being a visit to the first ever game at the new rebuilt Tottenham stadium for the game v Palace in April 2020. In my book a new stadium, so now I’ve seen Palace at 108 different grounds in competitive away fixtures ‘away from SE25’ and have seen Palace away on 67 of the current other 90 (89 if one counts Coventry at Birmingham City’s St Andrews) grounds being used in the four divisions, Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two.
Reprise again! Not for a new ground with Palace. But an unusual tick, on November 5th 2017 for a league game v Spurs (Game 510 away from SE25) at Wembley whilst White Hart Lane is rebuilt. My 15th away match v Spurs. Looking forward to the new rebuilt White Hart Lane.
Away Game – Burnley v Palace at Turf Moor in the Premier League on Sunday September 10th 2017… Only my third visit to Turf Moor, 3 defeats and no goals scored yet! Bogey ground! The results being 0-1, 0-1 and 0-1!
Reprising this blog once again.
The London Stadium was added to my ‘Palace’ list this January for a visit to WHU, a 3-0 defeat topped off a thoroughly miserable day, only enhanced by meeting a couple of friends for pre-match drinks. Anyone considering visiting as an away fan, I’d strongly recommend trying to get a seat in the lower tier, the upper tier is very distant from the pitch. With a big gap between the upper and lower tiers.
Previously….
26th December 2015 – A visit to the ‘Vitality Stadium’ of Bournemouth FC for a Premier League fixtures, a virtually full house of 11,218 watched a rather drab 0-0. This took my total of Palace away grounds to 106. Although technically the new stadium was built over some of the old Dean Court ground, the pitch was rotated, and four new stands built, as my Bournemouth friend confirmed to me;
Dean Court was completely rebuilt and the pitch turned round 90 degrees in 2001.
All that’s left of the old ground is the bank where the narrow terrace opposite main stand stood and the wall behind. The murals on the wall behind the away stand are where the back of the old away (Brighton Beach) end was.
So, that’s good enough for me, like the New Wembley this counts as a new ground.
| September 2015 – Last Sunday, Sept 27th, I visited Watford FC at Vicarage Road for the first ever Premier League fixture between the two clubs, but my 16th visit there as an away fan. This is my most visited away venue since I first ventured there for a Div 3 fixture in the 1974/75 season. Edging out 15 visits to ‘The Valley’ of Charlton Athletic. |
May 2015- My 11th visit to Anfield on May 16th and my 496th away from SE25, Stevie Gerrard’s last game at Anfield, and a 3-1 victory for Palace, resulted in a fantastic day out for our travelling 1,883.
Jan 2015 -Last Sunday I added the historic ‘Crabble Athletic Ground’, ‘Crabble’ or if you prefer ‘The Crabble’ of Dover Athletic FC, to bring my current total to 105.
For all Palace ground hoppers this was a fantastic FA cup draw, and the first time we’d been drawn against a non league club in the cup since 1982 when we visited Southbury Road, Enfield FC for a third round tie (won 3-2). This being our first ever competitive game in Dover.
Palace were given a healthy allocation of about 2,500 tickets, and at games kick off, an overall total of 5,645 packed the terraces and stands. For Palace fans more used to large stadiums and fancy prices in the Premier League, £20 to stand up, to shuffle ones feet and have a good old sing song, was too good an offer to turn down, what is it about standing that brings out the terrace wits? The same sort of banter doesn’t seem to translate into seated areas of grounds for some reason.
I expected Conference Premier (Nationally, level 5), Dover to give us a hard competitive game, sadly for them, they appeared to freeze on their big day, and Palace eased to a 4-0 win.
The football ground was opened in 1931, and is known locally as the ‘Upper Ground’, and was built because the lower ground (opened in 1897) also hosted cricket, and the football club had to wait until the cricket season had finished before having access to it. In fact, the lower gound has some history, having hosted over 100 Kent CC cricket matches up until 1976. Palace fans had a good lofty view of that, as our access was by a path that looped around a bank overlooking it.
Half and half football scarf’s are a horrible invention of the Premier greed corporate tourist football fan era, who for instance wants a Palace scarf with the words Chelsea defacing it? I’m sure Millwall fans would say the same about a Palace/Millwall half and half scarf. However, for a NL v Premier League encounter in the FA Cup, they seem entirely appropriate and what, surely, they were invented for? So, I was happy to hand over £10 for my commerative scarf and match day badge. 🙂
Ground 104 with Palace, The Libery Stadium, Swansea City FC.
This blog will list by club/ground, and how many times I have watched Crystal Palace FC at that venue, in a competitive game. Entry in () indicates how many games I have watched Palace at that venue.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Palace_F.C.
Competitive games entail any league match, FAC (FACup), LC (League Cup), FMC (Full Members Cup/Simod Cup/Zenith Data Systems Cup), AIC (Anglo Italian Cup).
League competitions are abbreviated by the following;
Prem – Premier League or Premiership (from 1992-93), D1 (Before 1992), ND1 (Since 1992, the old D2), Championship, D3 (Palace only played in this in the 70s when it was still the old third tier).
‘Away’ games against Charlton and Wimbledon whilst they were ground sharing at Selhurst Park (SE25), have NOT been included in the list below.
(2) Aldershot – The Recreation Ground – 74-75 (D3), 75-76 (D3).
(11) Arsenal – Highbury Stadium – 79-80 (D1), 80-81 (D1), 89-90 (D1), 90-91 (D1), 91-92 (D1), 92-93 (LC), 92-93 (Prem), 94-95 (Prem), 97-98 (FAC), 97-98 (Prem), 04-05 (Prem).
(2) Arsenal – The Emirates Stadium – 13-14 (Prem), 19/20 (Prem).
(12) Aston Villa – Villa Park – 79-80 (D1), 80-81 (D1), 89-90 (D1), 89-90 (FAC S-F v Liverpool), 90-91 (D1), 91-92 (D1), 92-93 (Prem), 94-95 (Prem), 94-95 (FAC S-F v Man Utd), 94-95 (FAC S-F Rep v Man Utd), 04-05 (Prem), 14-15 (Prem).
(6) Barnsley – Oakwell – 81-82 (D2), 83-84 (D2), 86-87 (D2), 96-97 (ND1), 97-98 (Prem), 99-00 (ND1).
(9) Birmingham City – St Andrews – 80-81 (D1), 86-87 (D2), 88-89 (D2), 91-92 (LC), 93-94 (ND1), 95-96 (ND1), 96-97 (ND1), 99-00(ND1), 04-05 (Prem).
(9) Blackburn Rovers – Ewood Park – 77-78 (D2), 78-79 (D2), 83-84 (D2), 86-87 (D2), 87-88 (D2), 88-89 (D2), 88-89 (Play Off Final 1st Leg), 97-98 (Prem), 00-01 (ND1).
(1) Blackpool – Bloomfield Road – 02-03 (FAC).
(3) Bolton Wanderers – Burnden Park – 79-80 (D1), 80-81 (LC), 96-97 (ND1).
(2) Bolton Wanderers – The Reebok Stadium – 97-98 (Prem), 04-05 (Prem).
(2) Bournemouth (AFC) – Dean Court – 87-88 (D2), 88-89 (D2).
(2) Bournemouth – The Vitality Stadium – 15-16 (Prem), 16-17 (Prem).
(2) Bradford City – The Odsal Stadium – 85-86 (D2), 86-87 (D2).
(2) Bradford City – Valley Parade – 87-88 (D2), 96-97 (ND1).
(1) Brentford – Griffin Park – 77-78 (LC).
(12) Brighton & Hove Albion – The Goldstone Ground – 74-75 (D3), 76-77 (FAC), 77-78 (D2), 78-79 (D2), 79-80 (D1), 80-81 (D1), 83-84 (D2), 84-85 (D2), 85-86 (D2), 86-87 (D2), 88-89 (D2), 90-91 (FMC).
(2) Brighton & Hove Albion – The Amex Stadium – 11-12 (Champ), 12-13 (Champ P-Off S/F 2nd Leg).
(7) Bristol City – Ashton Gate – 78-79 (LC), 79-80 (D1), 88-89 (LC), 93-94 (ND1), 07-08 (Champ Play Off S/F), 10-11 (Champ), 17-18 (LC).
(1) Bristol Rovers – Eastville – 78-79 (D2).
(1) Bristol Rovers – The Memorial Ground – 07-08 (LC).
(3) Burnley – Turf Moor – 82-83 (FAC), 01-02 (ND1), 17-18 (Prem).
(1) Bury – Gigg Lane – 86-87 (LC).
(4) Cambridge United – The Abbey Stadium – 78-79 (D2), 81-82 (D2), 82-83 (D2), 89-90 (FAC).
(1) Cardiff – The Millennium Stadium – 03-04 (ND1 Play Off Final v WHU).
(7) Cardiff City – Ninian Park – 78-79 (D2), 79-80 (FAC v Swansea), 81-82 (D2), 84-85 (D2), 05-06 (Champ), 06-07 (Champ), 08-09 (Champ).
(5) Cardiff City -The Cardiff City Stadium – 09-10 (Champ), 11-12 (Champ), 11-12 (LC S/F), 12-13 (Champ), 13-14 (Prem).
(2) Carlisle United – Brunton Park – 83-84 (D2), 85-86 (D2).
(15) Charlton Athletic – The Valley – 77-78 (D2), 78-79 (D2), 81-82 (D2), 82-83 (D2), 83-84 (D2), 85-86 (LC), 85-86 (D2), 93-94 (AIC), 93-94 (LC), 95-96 (ND1), 95-96 (Play Off S/F), 96-97 (ND1), 99-00 (ND1), 04-05 (LC), 07-08 (Champ).
(13) Chelsea – Stamford Bridge – 75-76 (FAC), 75-76 (FAC S/F v Southampton), 81-82 (D2), 82-83 (D2), 83-84 (D2), 88-89 (D2), 89-90 (D1), 91-92 (D1), 92-93 (Prem), 94-95 (Prem), 97-98 (Prem), 04-05 (Prem), 17-18 (Prem).
(1) Chesterfield – The Recreation Ground – 76-77 (D3).
(2) Colchester United – Layer Road – 99.00 (LC), 07-08 (Champ).
(8) Coventry City – Highfield Road – 79-80 (D1), 80-81 (D1), 90-91 (D1), 91-92 (D1), 92-93 (Prem), 94-95 (Prem), 97-98 (Prem), 03-04 (ND1),
(1) Coventry City – The Ricoh Arena – 06-07 (Champ).
(4) Crewe Alexandra – Gresty Road – 98-99 (ND1), 00-01 (ND1), 01-02 (ND1), 03-04 (ND1).
(5) Derby County – The Baseball Ground – 79-80 (D1), 83-84 (D2), 86-87 (D2), 90-91 (D1), 95-96 (ND1).
(2) Derby County – Pride Park – 97-98 (Prem), 11-12 (Champ).
(1) Doncaster Rovers – Belle Vue Ground – 81-82 (LC).
(1) Dover Athletic – The Crabble – 14-15 (FACup).
(1) Doncaster Rovers – The Keepmoat Stadium – 08-09 (Champ).
(1) Enfield – Southbury Road – 81-82 (FAC).
(6) Everton – Goodison Park – 79-80 (D1), 80-81 (D1), 89-90 (D1), 90-91 (D1), 93-94 (LC), 97-98 (Prem).
(1) Exeter City – St James Park – 12-13 (LC).
(11) Fulham – Craven Cottage – 73-74 (D2), 77-78 (D2), 78-79 (D2), 82-83 (D2), 83-84 (D2), 84-85 (D2), 85-86 (D2), 99-00 (ND1), 00-01 (ND1), 04-05 (Prem), 13-14 (Prem).
(5) Gillingham – Priestfield Stadium – 75-76 (D3), 00-01 (ND1), 01-02 (ND1), 02-03 (ND1), 03-04 (ND1).
(5) Grimsby Town – Blundell Park – 83-84 (D2), 84-85 (D2), 86-87 (D2), 96-97 (ND1), 01-02 (ND1).
(1) Hartlepool United – Victoria Ground – 91-92 (LC).
(1) Huddersfield Town – Leeds Road – 84-85 (D2).
(2) Huddersfield Town – McAlpine Stadium (Now Galpharm Stadium) – 95-96 (ND1), 99-00 (ND1).
(3) Hull City – Boothferry Park – 85-86 (D2), 86-87 (D2), 97-98 (LC).
(1) Hull City – KC Stadium – 07-08 (Champ).
(11) Ipswich Town – Portman Road – 79-80 (D1), 80-81 (D1), 86-87 (D2), 87-88 (D2), 88-89 (D2), 92-93 (Prem), 95-96 (ND1), 96-97 (LC), 96-97 (ND1), 02-03 (ND1), 06-07 (Champ).
(10) Leeds United – Elland Road – 79-80 (D1), 80-81 (D1), 83-84 (D2), 86-87 (D2), 87-88 (D2), 91-92 (ND1), 92-93 (Prem), 96-97 (FAC), 97-98 (Prem), 12-13 (Champ).
(12) Leicester City – Filbert Street – 78-79 (D2), 80-81 (D1), 81-82 (D2), 82-83 (D2), 87-88 (D2), 88-89 (D2), 91-92 (FAC), 93-94 (ND1), 94-95 (Prem), 97-98 (Prem), 99-00 (LC), 00-01 (LC).
(3) Leicester City – The Walkers Stadium – 02-03 (ND1), 14-15 (Prem), 21-22 (Prem).
(6) Leyton Orient – Brisbane Road – 77-78 (D2), 78-79 (D2), 81-82 (FAC), 81-82 (D2), 90-91 (LC), 01-02 (LC).
(1) Lincoln City – Sincil Bank – 92-93 (LC).
(12) Liverpool – Anfield – 79-80 (D1), 80-81 (D1), 90-91 (D1), 91-92 (D1), 92-93 (Prem), 92-93 (LC), 94-95 (Prem), 94-95 (LC S/F), 00-01 (LC S/F), 04-05 (Prem), 14-15 (Prem), 16-17 (Prem).
(7) Luton Town – Kenilworth Road – 77-78 (D2), 78-79 (D2), 81-82 (D2), 90-91 (D1), 91-92 (D1), 93-94 (ND1), 06-07 (Champ).
(8) Manchester City – Maine Road – 79-80 (D1), 80-81 (D1), 80-81 (FAC), 83-84 (D2), 88-89 (D2), 91-92 (D1), 96-97 (ND1), 99-00 (ND1).
(1) Manchester City – Eastlands – 04-05 (Prem).
(10) Manchester United – Old Trafford – 79-80 (D1), 80-81 (D1), 85-86 (LC), 87-88 (LC), 90-91 (D1), 94-95 (Prem), 97-98 (Prem), 04-05 (LC), 04-05 (Prem), 21-22 (Prem).
(3) Middlesbrough – Ayresome Park – 80-81 (D1), 88-89 (FMC), 93-94 (ND1).
(1) Middlesbrough – The Riverside Stadium – 04-05 (Prem).
(7) Millwall – The Den – 77-78 (D2), 78-79 (D2), 84-85 (FAC), 85-86 (D2), 86-87 (2), 87-88 (D2), 89-90 (D1).
(5) Millwall – The New Den – 93-94 (ND1), 01-02 (ND1), 02-03 (ND1), 03-04 (ND1), 11-12 (Champ).
(4) Newcastle United – St James Park – 87-88 (FAC), 94-95 (Prem), 01-02 (FAC), 04-05 (Prem).
(1) Northampton Town – The County Ground – 84-85 (LC).
(13) Norwich City – Carrow Road – 79-80 (D1), 80-81 (D1), 81-82 (D2), 85-86 (D2), 89-90 (D1), 90-91 (D1), 90-91 (FMC), 94-95 (Prem), 96-97 (ND1), 00-01 (ND1), 02-03 (ND1), 03-04 (ND1), 04-05 (Prem).
(14) Nottingham Forest – The City Ground – 79-80 (D1), 80-81 (D1), 86-87 (LC), 88-89 (FMC S-F), 89-90 (LC), 89-90 (D1), 90-91 (FAC), 90-91 (FAC), 91-92 (D1), 91-92 (LC), 92-93 (Prem), 94-95 (FAC), 00-01 (ND1), 22-23 (Prem).
(3) Notts County – Meadow Lane – 77-78 (D2), 84-85 (D2), 93-94 (ND1).
(5) Oldham Athletic – Boundary Park – 77-78 (D2), 81-82 (D2), 84-85 (D2), 87-88 (D2), 92-93 (Prem).
(4) Oxford United – The Manor Ground – 84-85 (D2), 88-89 (D2), 93-94 (ND1), 96-97 (ND1).
(1) Oxford United – Kassam Stadium – 22-23 (LC).
(2) Peterborough United – London Road – 93-94 (ND1), 11-12 (Champ).
(12) Portsmouth – Fratton Park – 76-77 (D3), 82-83 (LC), 83-84 (D2), 84-85 (D2), 85-86 (D2), 88-89 (D2), 93-94 (ND1), 96-97 (ND1), 99-00 (ND1), 00-01 (ND1), 02-03 (ND1), 04-05 (Prem).
(1) Plymouth Argyle- Home Park – 88-89 (D2).
(1) Port Vale – Vale Park – 96-97 (ND1).
(2) Preston North End – Deepdale – 78-79 (D2), 02-03 (ND1).
(13) Queens Park Rangers – Loftus Road – 81-82 (D2), 81-82 (FAC), 82-83 (D2), 89-90 (D1), 90-91 (D1), 91-92 (FMC), 91-92 (D1), 92-93 (Prem), 94-95 (Prem), 96-97 (ND1), 99-00 (ND1), 00-01 (ND1), 07-08 (Champ).
(2) Reading- Elm Park – 87-88 (D2), 96-97 (ND1).
(9) Reading – Madejski Stadium – 02-03 (ND1), 03-04 (ND1), 05-06 (ND1), 08-09 (Champ), 09-10 (Champ), 10-11 (Champ), 11-12 (Champ), 15-16 (FAC).
(2) Rotherham United – Millmoor – 01-02 (ND1), 02-03 (ND1).
(1) Scunthorpe United – Glanford Park – 10-11 (Champ).
(8) Sheffield Wednesday – Hillsborough – 81-82 (D2), 83-84 (D2), 89-90 (D1), 91-92 (D1), 97-98 (Prem), 01-02 (ND1), 07-08 (Champ), 09-10 (Champ).
(4) Sheffield United – Bramall Lane – 78-79 (D2), 85-86 (D2), 96-97 (ND1), 99-00 (ND1).
(11) Southampton – The Dell – 77-78 (LC), 77-78 (D2), 79-80 (D1), 80-81 (D1), 88-89 (FMC), 90-91 (LC), 91-92 (D1), 92-93 (LC), 92-93 (Prem), 94-95 (Prem), 97-98 (Prem).
(5) Southampton – St Marys – 04-05 (Prem), 07-08 (Prem), 13/14 (Prem), 15-16 (FACup), 22-23 (Prem).
(4) Southend United – Roots Hall – 90-91 (LC), 93-94 (ND1), 95-96 (LC), 96-97 (ND1).
(2) Stockport County – Edgeley Park – 98-99 (ND1), 00-01 (ND1).
(6) Stoke City – The Victoria Ground – 78-79 (D2), 79-80 (D1), 80-81 (D1), 85-96 (D2), 88-89 (FAC), 93-94 (ND1).
(3) Stoke City – The Brittania Stadium – 02-03 (ND1), 13-14 (Prem), 17-18 (Prem).
(2) Sunderland – Roker Park – 80-81 (D1), 85-86 (D2).
(2) Swansea City – The Vetch Field – 79-80 (FAC), 83-84 (D2).
(2) Swansea City – The Liberty Stadium – 13-14 (Prem), 15-16 (Prem).
(7) Swindon Town – The County Ground – 87-88 (D2), 88-89 (LC), 88-89 (D2), 88-89 (PlayOff S/F), 96-97 (ND1), 98-99 (ND1), 99-00 (ND1).
(14) Tottenham Hotspur – White Hart Lane – 77-78 (D2), 79-80 (D1), 80-81 (LC), 80-81 (D1), 86-87 (FAC), 89-90 (D1), 90-91 (D1), 91-92 (D1), 94-95 (Prem), 97-98 (Prem), 03-04 (FAC) 04-05 (Prem), 13-14 (Prem). 15-16 (FAC).
(1) Tottenham Hotspur – Wembley (also see Wembley below) – 17/18 (Prem).
(1) Tottenham Hotspur – THFC Stadium/White Hart Lane 18-19 (Prem).
(3) Tranmere Rovers – Prenton Park – 93-94 (ND1), 96-97 (ND1), 99-00 (ND1).
(2) Walsall – The Bescot Stadium – 99-00 (ND1), 02-03 (ND1).
(18) Watford – Vicarage Road – 74-75 (D3), 81-82 (D2), 88-89 (D2), 93-94 (ND1), 94-95 (FAC), 95-96 (ND1), 98-99 (ND1), 00-01 (ND1), 01-02 (ND1), 02-03 (ND1), 05-06 (Play Off S/F), 07-08 (FAC), 09-10 (Champ), 10-11 (Champ), 12-13 (Champ), 15-16 (Prem), 18-19 (FA Cup), 21-22 (LC).
(5) Wembley Stadium (Old Wembley)- 89-90 (FAC Final v Man Utd), 89-90 (FAC Final Replay v Man Utd), 90-91 (FMC Final v Everton), 95-96 (ND1 Play Off Final v Leicester), 96-97 (ND1 Play Off Final v Sheff Utd).
(5) Wembley Stadium (New Wembley) – 12-13 (Champ Play Off Final v Watford), 15-16 (FA Cup S/F v Watford), 16-17 (FAC Final v Man United), 17-18 v Spurs (Prem League game, see above). 21-22 (FAC S/F v Chelsea).
(9) West Bromwich Albion – The Hawthorns – 79-80 (D1), 80-81 (D1), 88-89 (D2), 93-94 (ND1), 95-96 (ND1), 96-97 (ND1), 99-00 (ND1), 01-02 (ND1), 04-05 (Prem).
(7) West Ham United – Upton Park – 78-79 (D2), 83-84 (FAC), 91-92 (D1), 94-95 (Prem), 97-98 (Prem-Abndnd 65 mins), 97-98 (Prem), 03-04 (ND1).
(1) West Ham United – The London Stadium – 16-17 (Prem).
(4) Wimbledon – Plough Lane – 84-85 (D2), 85-86 (D2), 89-90 (D1), 90-91 (D1).
(10) Wolverhampton Wanderers – Molineux – 79-80 (D1), 80-81 (D1), 82-83 (D2), 93-94 (ND1), 94-95 (FAC), 95-96 (ND1), 96-97 (ND1), 96-97 (Play Off S/F), 05-06 (Champ), 18/19 (Prem).
(2) Wrexham – The Racecourse Ground – 78-79 (D2), 81-82 (D2).
(1) Yeovil Town – Huish Park – 10-11 (LC).
A total of 516 competitive away games (Up to and including April 15 2023).
I have seen a Palace competitive away game at 68 of the ‘current’ in use other 91 grounds (up to end of season 2022-2023).
I have also seen Palace at 28 ex league club grounds, not now in use, either built over, or not used for football – (Last, the old White Hart Lane Stadium).
I have seen Palace at 1 Non League ground no longer in use (Enfield/Southbury Road).
I have seen Palace at 3 National Stadiums (The Old Wembley, The New Wembley and The Millennuim Stadium Cardiff).
So I have seen Palace at a total of 109 different grounds in competitive games (Up to April 2023).
I need the following clubs ‘current’ grounds with Palace away to add to my total of 68> And these will be the clubs I will keeping an eye out for in away cup draws in the LC and FAC in 23/24 if that season starts!!
2023-24 Season, I now need 23 of the ‘current’ grounds ‘with’ Palace…..to complete the 91 with’ Palace. So 68 of the ‘current’ 91 visited with Palace for competitive games.
I need….
The Premier League (1) > Brentford.
The Championship (2) > Rotherham, Sunderland.
League One (8) > Burton Albion, Cheltenham Town, Fleetwood Town, Northampton Town, Shrewsbury Town, Stevenage, Wigan Athletic, Wycombe Wanderers.
League Two (12) > Accrington Stanley, AFC Wimbledon, Barrow, Colchester United, Crawley Town, Forest Green Rovers, Harrogate Town, MK Dons, Mansfield Town, Morecambe, Newport County, Salford City, Sutton United.
Out with the old
Saturday December 28th 2013, kick off 3pm. 
Calor Gas Southern League D1 South & West Division.
At ‘The Spiers and Hartwell Jubilee Stadium’.
Evesham United (Red’N’White Stripes/White) 2-6 Wimborne Town (Yellow/Navy Blue), Att 183.
Admission £9, programme £2, jumbo hot dog £2.50, coffee £1.
For my last game of 2013 I made the 86 mile journey west and north-west to the new home of Evesham United to re-complete again the South & West Division of the Calor Gas League (The Southern League to us old timers). My enthusiasm for the ground was low, having heard and read of a similar design to the new (ish) home of Thame United. Actually I was pleasantly surprised. Yes like Thame, the main stand has been frustratingly built far too many yards from the edge of the pitch, and the cover behind one of the goals could have been enhanced by a few steps of terracing, but it is the wrap around of the local hills that gives some character and a pleasing outlook and ambience, and why I’d left this one for daylight.
By chance I had been at Evesham’s last ever league game at the old ground at Crown Meadow in 2006. The long running dispute over who pays for the new access road (from the main ‘a’ road roundabout, which runs alongside the new ground) had rumbled on, seemingly for ever, before the Robins could take full ownership of the jubilee stadium, which they opened in the Summer of 2012. Arriving after a hassle free drive, and parking my bum at a table in the clubhouse, I felt a warm feeling for the club when an official came round handing out team sheets, a nice touch, one which I wish more clubs would think about.
What ensued was a very eventful match, which turned on one major decision a minute or two before the half time break. There was no indication of a goal fest as early end to end exchanges did not result in clear-cut chances until the 5th minute when Lance Smith put the Robins ahead deftly turning in a left-wing cross. The game remained pretty even until after 29 minutes another cross from the left fell to the head of Griffin who looped a well placed header over the keeper into the far corner to level it up at one each. And a few minutes before the break debut making Robins keeper Louie Barnfather got in a mix up with a defender, crucially hesitated and had the ball taken from him by Magpies striker Mark Gamble who rolled the ball into an empty net, 1-2. Just a minute later Gamble followed a ball into the box and was, according to the referee taken out by the keeper Barnfather, penalty, and a red for Barnfather, a debut to forget! From my position on the other side of the penalty area it was impossible to see if the decision had been correct. But, as you would expect, the Evesham fans did not believe it was. The ref left the pitch at HT to dogs abuse after Gamble converted the penalty with Evesham keeper coach Gary Baines taking over in goal, 1-3 ht.
I hadn’t expected an early second half goal from Evesham, but only a few minutes after the break, a very tidy finish indeed from that man, the impressive Lance Smith again, gave fresh hope for the 10 men, 2-3. For a while it looked like Evesham may get back in the game, but on a sticky pitch the extra pair of legs started to tell, and two great strikes from George Webb, and another goal, and hat trick from man of the match Mark Gamble, gave a slightly flattering scoreline of 2-6. The last third of the game however was spent admiring the heroics of stand in coach/keeper Gaines who made a string of great reaction saves, and left most of the crowd around me in the main stand wondering why he had not started the game rather than the unfortunate Barnfather.
To finish 2013 wth eight goals was an unexpected bonus, as was the warm welcome from the car park to the clubhouse. A friendly club who will hopefully flourish at their long awaited new out of town venue.
A bad day at the office
Saturday December 21st 2013, KO 15:00.
Barclays Premier League
Selhurst Park Stadium – Official Attendance: 24,936
Crystal Palace (RedNBlue/Blue) (0) 0 Newcastle United (Yellow/Blue) (2) 3
Admission – Season ticket, programme 3.00, Balti pie 4.00 and coffee 2.20.
Maestro on the Palace BBS ……”One goal was a deflection, one was an O.G and one was a pen”
Kevin W on Tony Kempster Forums, ‘where did you go’ …..”I blame the weather”
Hopticklist says….
The difference was that Newcastle had two world-class performers on the day in Johan Cabaye and Fabricio Coloccini. Cabaye dominated the midfield highlighting our lack of quality in not being able to consistently pass to a red and blue shirt. And Coloccini, a Puyol lookalike gracefully and seemingly effortlessly sweeping everything up at the back. I expect both to make an impression at Brazil 2014 for France and Argentina.
Our lack of strength in-depth was evident today, which hopefully will be partly rectified in the January transfer window, whether by permanent or loan deals, Wilf Zaha please? Although a raid on Stoke by Tony Pulis may be more likely scenario?
Following on the back of an encouraging and battling 1-2 defeat at Stamford Bridge last Saturday, in this game, we were never really in it as the football gods, lady luck, call it what you like, turned away and did not smile on us. A couple of square pins in round holes did not help with Joel Ward having to switch from right full back to cover centre midfield for the injured KG and O’Keefe, and Dean Moxey returning from injury at left back but not looking match fit, and having to be replaced at half time by Jonny Parr. As a result we looked weak down both flanks when defending in the fist forty-five.
An early fifteen yard snap shot from Cabaye took an unfortunate deflection and wrong footed Speroni. And then Danny Gabbidon stuck out a foot and diverted at a hopeful cross swung in from the right to again wrong foot Speroni, and firmly left us with the proverbial ‘mountain to climb’.
An improved second half performance couldn’t hide our deficiencies although sub Bolasie added some much-needed pace and trickery. But overall Newcastle just had too much quality and composure on the ball.
This again was emphasised when they were able to bring on the skillful Ben Arfa for a ten minute maestro performance, his encore being a well struck penalty late on. And so the SE25 faithful dolefully trooped out into the wet and windy night contemplating a tough Xmas with away games at Villa and Man City, closely followed by the massive six pointer against the Canaries on New Years Day. A ‘fussball team’ we hope will not be of the same quality as Newcastle!
The only real positive of the day was the return from injury of fans favourite Jonny Parr, his first game since early spring, calmly filling in at left back at half time, and already looking a potential stronger long-term proposition than Dean Moxey.
On borrowed time at the Stadio Vincente Calderon
Sunday December 15th 2013, at the ‘Stadio Vicente Calderon’, KO 9pm, La Liga.
Atletico Madrid (RedNWhiteStripes/Blue) 3-0 Valencia (White/Black)
Ht 0-0, att 46,200. 
Admission 50 Euro (central area in the middle tier opp main stand). Programme n/a, badge 3 euros.
It’s only five stops from the centre of Madrid using the blue line on the Metro system (from Gran Via to Pirimedes), before you disembark for a mere ten minute walk to the historic Stadio Vicente Calderon in the Arganzuela district of Madrid. Well when I say historic, in reality it was opened in 1966, but it feels and looks older. The steep rake of the stands hang over the pitch, but concrete is evident everywhere, particularly when climbing the steps to the upper tiers and the outside of the stadium looks rather like the Camp Nou, which in reality means it’s rather ugly.
In 2016 they plan to leave the wonderful Vicente Calderon stadium and move into the re-built La Peineta Stadium, which is planned to have a capacity of 70,000, an increase of 50K from its current 20,000.
Atletico were formed in 1903 by students from Bilbao living in Madrid. They are a team currently threatening to become one of the European biggies and certainly under ex Argentina player, coach Diego Simeone, they have been gaining respect and kudos after their Europa league win a few years ago. And their current form that sees them pushing their bitter rival Real and Barcelona all the way this season for the La Liga title. Because of the Bilbao connection Atletico also wear the same Red and White Stripes, and are nicknamed ‘The mattress makers’ because of the similarity with old-fashioned striped mattresses, apparently! The stadium has the Manzanares river running alongside, as well as a motorway, neither apparent or visible from our position high up in the middle tier.
Whatever their long term ambitions, today, certainly in the first half Atletico looked far from a European giant. Valencia had the edge all over the pitch, and shaded the half. Action in the penalty areas was very thin on the ground, and I was starting to worry that our wonderful sunny weekend (to celebrate my 51st) in this great city would be spoilt by a dull nil all to take home to England. I needn’t have worried, as I suspect some harsh Argentinian Spanish were spoken at half time, as Atletico looked a different proposition in the second half. Diego Costa looked a very fine player, very direct with the ball at his feet. Apparently he has been linked with a move to England (which he has denied any interest in), and on this performance displayed a very English type of game, and he was the dominant performer.
It didn’t take long, just fourteen minutes into the second half as Costa ran towards and into the Valencia box before cutting a shot across Diego Alves into the net, 1-0. With the Ultras now enthusiastically urging the rest of the crowd and team on, just five minutes later it was two as Raul Garcia, took advantage of a mis hit defensive clearance to snap a shot from 10 yards into the back of the net, 2-0. Not long after this, Costa had the chance to make it three from the spot as Victor Ruiz conceded a penalty, but a good save from Diego Alves kept it to two, at least for the time being.
Nine minutes from time, another penalty was conceded, and this time Costa made no mistake by blasting the ball into the roof of the net, 3-0. A scoreline we really had not expected at half time. Valencia coach Miroslav Djukic was relieved of his job after this defeat, and the points sent Atletico joint top with Barcelona. Only time will tell if they will be able to sustain the challenge and break the domination of Barca and Real. The game finished at 22:50 local time, and such was the efficiency of the local metro system we were back in our central hotel by 23:30 🙂
A League of Nations
Wed 30th Oct 2013, 20:00 – Group D
Attendance: 7,247 – Venue: Memorial Stadium, Bristol.
USA 32 (20) VS. Cook Islands (12) 20
Admission 10.00 (standing), group programme 4.00.
Sat 16th Nov 2013, 20:00 – Quarter Finals.
Attendance: 22,276 – Venue: DW Stadium, Wigan.
England 34 (26) VS. France (6) 6
Admission 30.00 (seated), programme 5.00.
Sun 17th Nov 2013, 15:00 – Quarter Finals.
Attendance: 12,766 – Venue: Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington.
Samoa 4 (0) VS. Fiji (18) 22
Admission 20.00 (standing), programme 5.00.
Sat 23rd November, 13:00 – ‘The Big Hit’, Semi Finals Day.
Attendance 67,545 – Venue: Wembley Stadium.
New Zealand 20 (8) VS. England (8) 18
Admission 50.00 (seated), programme 6.00 (covered both games).
Saturday 23rd November, 15:00 – ‘The Big Hit’ Semi finals Day.
Attendance 67,545 – Venue: Wembley Stadium.
Australia 64 (34 ) VS. Fiji (0) 0
Admission- as above- programme as above.
I’ve had a month since the Final on Nov 30th at Old Trafford to reflect on this wonderful tournament. During the Autumn of 2000, the last time we had the World Cup on these shores I had dipped my toes in and watched two England games at Twickenham and Leeds Headingley. Both of which were thoroughly enjoyed, and I had made a vow at the time to make more of an effort to watch Rugby League live.
As it has turned out, since, I’ve only actually watched two live games, one at Castleford (v Halifax, 2002), and one at London Broncos (v Leeds, 2013). The main reason I guess being the time and effort I’ve spent visiting new football grounds and also collecting the Speedway tracks of England/Scotland and Europe. So for me personally, this WC tournament was a real wake up call to get my finger out, and dedicate some serious time and effort to visit the Rugby League and even possibly some new Rugby Union grounds of our fair islands.
The final itself was a disappointment. Whether NZ had given too much of themselves in the ‘battle of Wembley’ v England in semi, or whether the Aussie team were just man for man too strong, is hard to say. But Australia regained the trophy they had lost to New Zealand in Brisbane in 2008, winning 34-2 and in the process Old Trafford recorded an international record crowd of 74,468. A more fitting final would have been the NZ/Eng Semi.
But the tournament for me had started at a windy and drizzly dark night at the Memorial stadium in Bristol. Home to Bristol Rovers FC and Bristol RFU, so hardly a Rugby league heartland. Yet 7,500 turned out to watch the minnows of ‘The Cook Islands’ and the debut making ‘USA’. The vast majority of the crowd, who created a carnival atmosphere were backing the Cooks. After they performed their version of the Haka the game started with them on the front foot, but as the game progressed the USA grew stronger, and early in the second half they took a stranglehold on the game to eventually win by 12 points. Did it make the back page of USA sports pages? I doubt it, it should have though.
Although my next games were not until the Quarter final stages, I was reading and hearing of great games and very good crowds at unlikely places such as Rochdale, Workington and Wrexham. Huddersfields John Smiths Stadium recorded its first ever full house for a sports fixture for England’s group game against Ireland and Rochdale FC’s ‘Spotland’ had a full house and the locals backing Fiji! The Scots took up residence, bag pipes an all at Derwent Park, Workington. But my next game was at Wigan’s ‘DW stadium’, the home of Wigan Athletic FC and Wigan RFL team, a super league giant. Although not a complete sell out, it was close to it, and although our seats were a little disappointing with a poor view, being down by a corner flag, England cantered to a fairly easy 34-6 victory over France, job done, a Wembley SF guaranteed.
The following day, I had a terrace ticket at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington for the South Sea Island QF match up of Samoa v Fiji. Ros decided on the day, as the weather was too gloomy to visit anywhere else to purchase a terrace ticket as well. As a ground collector, I only had one word to describe the HJ Stadium, ‘Wow’. Purpose-built for the Warrington Wolves and opened in 2004, it is exactly what all new build football grounds ‘should be’, were it not for the Taylor reports insistence on all seater stadium. Frankly the stadium knocked spots off the rather soulless DW Stadium. The 15,200 capacity HJ has one side of a steeply raked covered terracing, where we stood at the back, one end behind the goal is also terraced, with the main stand opposite, with another stand of seats off to our right. The crowd created a fantastic atmosphere.
It’s hard to describe how emotional one (I) can (did) get about two countries you’d struggle to pinpoint on a map, but pre-match, we were treated to the national anthems of both countries. With muscle toned fit athletes standing and holding each other shoulder to shoulder blasting out their anthems whilst gently swaying side to side. The Fijians in particular have a very jaunty anthem, that seems to confirm their Island as being deeply religious. Then the Samoan’s got into position, the crowd hushed, as they performed their war dance, called ‘The Manu Siva Tau’ in front of the Fijians, mikes placed on the pitch to pick out their guttural chants. An enormous round of applause followed it, before silence again, and the Fijian’s get in a circle, and blast out their hymn, like they were a professional choir. At the end, I admit to having wet eyes, I looked at Ros and she was beaming from ear to ear, this was pure theatre, ‘pure sport’ and you just knew these two teams would give everything they could to make it to the Semi Finals at Wembley Stadium.
For a flavour of the haka’s/wardances and hymns performed by NZ/Samao/Tonga and Fiji at the WC, see;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFkuUE9TXOk
What ensued was as I’ve told people since, one of the most enjoyable sporting events I’ve ever witnessed. The Samoan’s who had been based in Warrington had the backing of the locals, who regularly chanted ‘Whoaaaaa Samoaaa’. Due to my ignorance of League, I had expected Samoa to be too strong for Fiji. How wrong I was. It would seem that Samoa are a stronger ‘Union’ playing nation. Fiji were the keenest, quicker and sharper in their passing. The physicality of the game was a sight to behold, no holds barred tackling, which a couple of times threatened to get out of hand, but didn’t. Fiji won the respect of the local crowd and won many new fans with their display. In summary, great venue, great theatre, great game, great crowd, enjoyment factor 10/10 🙂
Sat 23rd Nov, a rare ‘non football’ Saturday for me, as I took the train and tube to Wembley Stadium. I’d splashed out on a fifty pound ticket for the ‘Big Hit’ Semi Finals, and was chuffed to find I was in the Club Wembley area. Not the area opposite the TV cameras, but the Club Wembley on the camera side. Very spacious concourses with so many more places to buy food and drink, a diner style cafe, it really was very nice indeed. My friend Steve had also purchased a ticket and was a block down, and after finding I had a seat free next to me, nearer the half way line in the middle tier, he joined me for the second half of the England game. And what a game it turned out to be, as holders NZ were still ‘slight’ favourites to beat England, but England after a shaky opening minutes looked determined to be at Old Trafford, Sam Burgess was dominant, Hall and Charnley impressive on the wings, and Graham a rock in the middle. The atmosphere was amazing, with many New Zealanders in the crowd. After a phenomenal game of RL which you couldn’t take your eyes off, with 1 minute to go, yes just 1 minute away from the World Cup final, England were 18-14 to the good. A try 15 mins from the end from Burgess and a conversion from Sinfield, and the crowd were on the edge of their seats anticipating celebrating reaching the final.
Then with 20 seconds left on the clock, NZ after some serious last five-minutes of pressure in the England last quarter finally scored a try from Shaun Johnson, all around could be seen England fans with heads in hands, New Zealanders dancing around like they had just won the world cup. Sport can be very cruel as well as life affirming. That man again Johnson kept his cool and converted the kick, 20-18, all over, England out. The mood around Wembley had changed in a matter of minutes.
It didn’t hurt me as deep to my soul as it had when I was at Wembley in 1996, when England lost on penalties to Germany in the Euros in ‘my sport’, but I was never the less absolutely gutted. The England players stood, sat, drained, unbelieving, they had given so much on the day, and probably deserved to have gone through on the balance of play.
What followed was a procession, as Australia dumped Fiji 64-0, in such a one-sided game of sport, that of the 67,000 who’d been present for the Eng v NZ Semi, only about 15-20,000 remained at the end. A real case of ‘After the Lords Mayors Show’, it’s a shame the draw hadn’t fallen the other way round with the Eng game being the main course of the day.
On reflection, in some ways I rediscovered so much in watching the Rugby in the WC that I feel has been lost in football, especially at the higher levels of the professional football game. Honesty, committment, a feeling that the players were giving their all, but that they had a deep respect for their sport (and the referees), and if they lost, yes they might cry (as some of the Samoan’s did at Warrington and England players did at Wembley), but ultimately they knew, that their Sport, and this competition was the winner. Hopefully the BBC exposure of the tournament turned many new fans onto RL. Especially with it being such a Northern dominated code. There is such a deep ingrained intolerance to League in Union territories, personally as a spectator sport I believe it’s miles ahead of Union, with its continual stoppages and scrums. So, I shall keeping a close eye on the progress and attendances of the likes of the London Skolars, Oxford and Hemel Rugby League Clubs, and live in hope that the re-emergence from administration of The London Broncos with their new venture of ground sharing at ‘The Hive’ with Barnet FC, will be a positive one. And I shall be stepping into more Rugby League grounds during the Spring/Summer of 2014, if you haven’t experienced it as a live sport, you should.
As sung in Warrington, and at Wembley…..
Blessing grant oh God of nations on the isles of Fiji
As we stand united under noble banner blue
And we honour and defend the cause of freedom ever
Onward march together
God bless Fiji
CHORUS:
For Fiji, ever Fiji, let our voices ring with pride
For Fiji, ever Fiji, her name hail far and wide,
A land of freedom, hope and glory, to endure what ever befall
May God bless Fiji
Forever more!
Blessing grant, oh God of nations, on the isles of Fiji
Shores of golden sand and sunshine, happiness and song
Stand united, we of Fiji, fame and glory ever
Onward march together
God bless Fiji.
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