Last Update:
July 22, 2024
After spending ten years at Kellamergh Park, the Club moved four miles to the newly built Mill Farm Stadium in 2016, which is situated close to the M55.
The move surprised a number of people, as the Club had invested a lot of money in Kellamergh Park, transforming what was at one time an open field at the back of a country pub into a ground with modern facilities and one which could accommodate up to 3,000 supporters. However, the Club’s owners have aspirations of taking the Club into the Football League and felt that a new stadium was needed to match those ambitions. Certainly, the new stadium is of Football League standard but the club are yet to reach the promised land since making the move.
The thing that strikes you about the new Mill Farm Stadium, is that the build standard is of high quality; it certainly has not been built ‘on the cheap.
The stadium was originally built with just three stands but in 2022, the club developed the North Stand to add 1,850 to the capacity which means supporters can now sit/stand around the entire stadium.
The stadium is dominated on one side by the large Main Stand, which towers over the rest of the stadium. With a capacity of 2,000 seats, housed within a single tier, the stand is covered by a large roof, which is semi-circular in appearance. The roof is placed quite high above the seating area, as above the seating section, there are two floors fronted by large glass windows. These areas are surrounded by black cladding, whilst further above there is a large clock.
If segregation is in force then away fans are mostly housed in the South Terrace at one end of the ground. This covered terrace can house up to 1,000 fans. In addition, visiting supporters are also allocated seating in Block A of the Main Stand.
The Mill Farm Stadium also has electronic turnstiles, which means that you need to insert your ticket into a barcode reader to gain entrance. Although now common place in the Premier and Championship Leagues, AFC Fylde are one of the only clubs at this level to have them and this may confuse some visiting fans who have never seen these types of turnstiles before.
As you would expect from a modern stadium built to a Football League standard, the facilities within the stadium and view of the playing action are both good and normally there is a good atmosphere generated.
Food on offer inside the ground includes pies, chips, hot dogs and burgers. Alcohol is also served.
At the Mill Farm Stadium itself, is Bradleys Sports Bar, which normally admits away fans. Pub options nearby include:
- Stanley Arms – 8 Garstang Rd S, Wesham, Preston PR4 3BL
- The Royal Oak – 14 Garstang Rd S, Wesham, Preston PR4 3BL
- Lane Ends Hotel – Weeton Rd, Wesham, Preston PR4 3DH
Leave the M55 at Junction 3 and take the A585 towards Kirkham. After one mile you will reach the Mill Farm Stadium on your right. The entrance to the complex is just off the roundabout by the Aldi store. There is a fair sized car park at the stadium itself, which costs £5. Please don’t be tempted to park in the nearby Aldi Store as parking restrictions apply and you may end up with a parking fine for your trouble.
Post Code for SatNav:Â PR4 3BY
Kirkham & Wesham Railway Station, is situated around three quarters of a mile away from Mill Farm Stadium, or around a 15 minute walk. It is mainly served by trains from Manchester Victoria and Blackpool North. Although there are other less frequent services from London Euston, Huddersfield and Buxton.
With the main entrance to the station behind you, turn right and proceed along Station Road. Go straight across a mini roundabout and at the next mini roundabout turn right at the Wesham Chippy into Garstang Road North. Continue straight along this road for around half a mile, passing two churches on your right and Wesham Fire Station on your left. At the end of the road you will reach a roundabout. Mill Farm Stadium is located on the other side of the road and roundabout behind the Aldi Store.
AFC Fylde ticket prices 2023/24
- Adults: £12-23
- Under 18s: £7-10
- Under 12s: Free (North Stand only)
Official Matchday Programme £2.
Record Attendance (at Mill Farm)
3,858 v Chorley National League North, 26th December 2016
Average Attendance
2022-2023: 1,079 (National League North)
2021-2022: 1,183 (National League North)
2020-2021: N/A (Covid)
2019-2020: 1,470 (National League)
2018-2019: 1,655 (National League)
2017-2018: 1,801 (National League)
2016-2017: 1,962 (National League North)
If you require hotel accommodation in Blackpool then first try a hotel booking service provided by Booking.com. They offer all types of accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets from; Budget Hotels, Traditional Bed & Breakfast establishments to Five Star Hotels and Serviced Apartments. Plus their booking system is straightforward and easy to use. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will help towards the running costs of keeping this Guide going.
Official Web Site:Â www.afcfylde.co.uk
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, then please e-mail me at:Â [email protected]Â and I’ll update the guide.
Special thanks to Debbie Smaje and Chris Hartford for providing some photos of the Mill Farm Stadium AFC Fylde for this page.
Ground Layout
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
AFC Fylde v Notts County
National League
Tuesday 3rd March 2020, 7.45pm
John Watson (Notts County)
AFC Fylde v Dagenham and Redbridge
National League
Saturday 23rd November 2019, 3pm
Garry Procter (Dagenham and Redbridge)
AFC Fylde v Eastleigh
National League
Saturday 21st September 2019, 5.20pm
Andrew Wood (Neutral)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Mill Farm Ground?
This would be a new ground for me. I only need to visit three more National League grounds including this one, and I've done the set, as 2019-20 stands.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I had some time off work and fancied a game up North, so booked a few days in Blackpool and took it from there. The match was being shown live on BT Sport, so had a late kick off time thereby meaning I caught the train to Kirkham and Wesham at 15.00, arriving at approx. 15.30. Getting to Mill Farm is fairly straightforward. Turn right at the station exit and carry on in a straight line for just under a mile, until you come to a roundabout. From here, turn right again and carry on for about 500 yards up this road, and you'll see the ground and the trading estate it sits on. Instead of walking up this main road (that doesn't have a pavement), use a path alongside. This would be more obvious if someone had bothered to signpost the route to the ground. The locals know about it, but a visitor wouldn't be aware of this path, and where it takes you. The ground is on a trading estate with a KFC, a supermarket,, Greggs, a petrol station, and god knows what else. Doesn't seem to be signposted anywhere though.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Spent the morning in Cleveleys and Fleetwood before heading to the game. When I arrived I bought my standing ticket (only £14) and a programme (£3 for 52 pages and quite good) from the club shop/ticket office before heading to the giant 'Bradleys Sports Bar' which is situated behind the Main Stand. This is nothing like your average non-league clubhouse. There is a wine list on the tables, the staff dress in company uniform, waitresses will serve you a proper meal, the door staff hold the door open for you and even called me 'sir'. There is a fantastic variety of beer on sale, including 4 real ales. I bought a Golden Ale at £3.50, slightly pricier than you'd expect from a Northern non-league ground clubhouse, but I suspect you're paying for your surroundings. There were numerous tvs on the walls showing Sky Sports (ironic, as the game was on BT sport), Golf on BBC1 and a recording of AFC Fylde's previous season. One thing I did find annoying, was that the plastic beer glasses were emblazoned with 2022, which is the year AFC Fylde expect to be a league club. All the fans I came across were friendly, including a nice old Fylde fan who escorted an Eastleigh fan and his partially disabled girlfriend from the train station to the ground.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Mill Farm Stadium?
My first reaction upon entering Mill Farm ground was surprised that it's only really three-sided. The area directly behind one goal is a walkway and nothing more. Alongside one length of the pitch is a covered home terrace, and behind the other goal is the away terrace which is also covered. The pride and joy, however, is the massive grandstand alongside the other side of the pitch. This looks like a giant spaceship, particularly when the floodlights come on. It's only £18 to sit, so fair play to AFC Fylde for keeping their prices down.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
This was a non-league fixture, but the only non-league thing about it was the football. Fylde and Eastleigh were both expected to do well this season, but the early league table had both in the bottom third of the said table. Early signs were not good, but the game eventually picked up about 10 minutes from half time when Fylde took the lead. Eastleigh came out in the second half and immediately equalised from a set-piece which Fylde didn't clear. From then on though, it was all Fylde, who retook the lead with the games one bit of true quality, when attacking midfielder Jordan Williams curled in a beauty from 25 yards. Toward the end of the game, Fylde scored a scrappy third with the combined Eastleigh defence all falling over, but unable to keep a goalmouth scramble from going in. All in all, the right result.
The atmosphere was good. Only about 40 Eastleigh fans made the journey (men and women of the match in my book) but got behind their team. AFC Fylde fans were surprisingly vocal and witty too. When a linesman (sorry, assistant referee) went off injured, the chant was 'you're not fit to referee', although the pedant in me felt it should have been 'you're not fit to run the line'. Stewards were visible, friendly, but not needed. Loos were okay, reasonably clean, not worth mentioning really. Food varied. Pies were overpriced at £3.50- £3.75, as was the jumbo (?) sausage roll at £3. Annoyingly, you couldn't see the price list, as one was obscured by the queue, and the other was hidden away around a corner. Why put it where no one can see it? Burgers were reasonably priced at £3.25 – £3.50, and you could get chips at £1.75, with a choice of peas, curry sauce or gravy from 50p -75p. As a football foodie, I really couldn't understand the disparity in prices. My steak and ale pie at £3.75 was nice, but not nice enough to justify the price. You could also get drinks and crisps/chocolate from this outlet. Should you want a beer, this area had a door to Bradleys Sports Bar, so you were very well served. This refreshment hut was located in the Main Stand, so even if you only had a terrace ticket, you had to use this. It would then have been easy to sit throughout the match, as no one checked your ticket once inside the ground. There was another small outlet in the home terrace, selling drinks and crisps.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
A fairly easy walk back to Kirkham and Wesham Station, but unfortunately, the next 2 trains to Blackpool were cancelled. When an unscheduled one finally arrived it was packed to the rafters with Blackpool fans returning from Accrington, all in good spirits, and ready for a night on the pop, after their last-minute equaliser.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
This is a tricky one. Although you can't compare AFC Fylde to the odious MK Dons, there is something far too corporate and artificial about them. From the ground being on a trading estate, to the '2022' logo seemingly all over the place (which contrived to make me hope they don't make it into the League by 2022) and the American style bar/clubhouse. AFC Fylde are a league club in waiting and want everyone to know it. However, that said, everything about the ground and the fans' attitude seemed right (I even saw one old chap with a 'Kirkham and Wesham Wembley FA Vase shirt on, so there is an acceptance of what the club want to provide for their fans). At present, I shouldn't imagine AFC Fylde have many enemies, but the higher they go, the more traditionalists may find themselves somewhat needled by these interlopers. If ever I've sat on the fence about a club and it's structure, this is the time.
AFC Fylde v Harrogate Town
National League
Monday 27th August 2018, 5.15pm
Tony Smith (Doing the 134 + 24)
AFC Fylde v FC Halifax Town
National League
Friday 6th March 2018, 3pm
Michael Cromack (FC Halifax Town)
AFC Fylde v Bolton Wanderers
Pre-Season Friendly
Tuesday 18th July 2017, 7.30pm
Tom Harding (Bolton Wanderers fan)
AFC Fylde v Altrincham
Competition National League North
Saturday 28th January 2017, 3pm
Dave Stringer (Altrincham fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Mill Farm Stadium?
A different reason than most as I attended the game as a member of the Altrincham media team. However I love visiting new grounds. Having been to Kellamergh Park several seasons ago to see a North West Counties Football League decider against New Mills I was eager to see how the club have progressed with their new ground.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The Mill Farm ground is very close to the M55 but I still had a little difficulty because the post code was not recognised by my satnav. Need for better sign posting? Parking was free, near to the ground, very good quality and very well organised.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Just read the programme. No problem with home fans.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Mill Farm Stadium?
Mill Farm is a superb ground. A credit to non-league. Press seats were very cramped though. Would have felt very uncomfortable had more media been present. Little space between table and back of seat. Little breathing space.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Only 6 out of 10 for entertainment. Little atmosphere with just a few home supporters making any noise. Main Stand almost surreally quiet. Excellent toilet and bar facilities. Unobtrusive stewarding.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Simple and quick.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Would definitely go back even though there were a few hitches in the ticketing system
AFC Fylde v Chorley
National League North
Monday 26th December 2016, 3pm
Matt Miller (Neutral fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Mill Farm?
I was looking forward to visiting Mill Farm as it is a new ground. I attended with two friends who were Chorley supporters. As the game was segregated, I sat with the Chorley fans in the Main Stand.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Traveled by car from Lancaster, easy to find. Parked at the ground with no problems.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
No time for a snack. Noticed the club shop and bar outside the Main Stand. Very impressive. Very friendly atmosphere.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Mill Farm Stadium?
Mill farm is very impressive, obviously built with Football League standards in mind. Covered terracing and ample section of seating in the Main Stand. High standard and quality finish to the ground as a whole.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Good game which Chorley won with two clinical finishes. A huge crowd of nearly 3,900. I would estimate nearly 1000 away supporters. This contributed to a great atmosphere and gave the game a feel of being a league encounter.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Easy enough. No problems.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A great day out at Mill Farm. Will return one day for sure, when my team are not playing.
Brett Ormerod Testimonial
AFC Fylde Select v Ormerod's All Star XI
Friendly Match
Sunday 28th August 2016, 3pm
Andy Cleaver (Blackpool – All Star XI)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Mill Farm Stadium?
As a Blackpool Fan, Brett Ormerod is seen as a messiah to many fans and this was our way to say 'Thank You' for his contribution to our success in getting to the Premier League in 2010.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Living in Blackpool I had no problems getting there, being a short journey along the M55. Having been a given a lift, we stopped at a pub called the Fairfield Arms which is right by Junction 3 of the M55, which is the turn off for the road to the stadium. From there it was a ten minute walk to the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As mentioned we went into the Fairfield pub for a drink, however, I would not recommend this place as the prices were extortionate costing me just under £9 for a pint of Guinness and a pint of cider
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Mill Farm Stadium?
The Mill Farm Stadium is excellent and you can tell that it has not been built on the cheap. No restricted views and we managed to stand right behind the goal at the undeveloped North End. Plenty of space and I wasn't aware that at non-league grounds you are able to consume alchohol on the terraces/stands, which made a refreshing change!
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Typical fun testimonial match with a final score of 5-5. Fantastic to see many Blackpool fans turn up and for once have something to cheer about in view of the current turmoil at the club.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
No problems getting away but just be aware of the road leading away from ground back down to the A585, it is quite narrow and very busy. Decided to go back on the train so it was a 15 minute walk towards Kirkham for the train home to Blackpool
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Great day and will return again one day to give AFC Fylde a bit of support but will be giving the Fairfield Arms a miss.
AFC Fylde v FC Halifax Town
National League North
Saturday 27th August 2016, 3pm
David Stockwell (Neutral fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Mill Farm Stadium?
Its a new place to go, a new place I have never been to before and also a brand new stadium. We were lucky because we had booked this weekend to be in Blackpool months before the fixtures. So as my girlfriend, her sister and her boyfriend are Halifax fans, we said why not.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Went by train to Blackpool North. two stops, no change, easy journey. On leaving Kirkham & Wesham Station there were no signs for the ground, but it wasn't too difficult to find.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Ah now this is where it began. We were told by Halifax fans that buying in advance was a good idea because the club want you to buy the tickets from the box office then walk through the turnstiles. We were warned about queues as we were told that some Salford FC fans struggled to get in on a previous midweek fixture and some got into the ground 30 minutes late.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Mill Farm Stadium?
On the outside the new stadium does look impressive however just because its a new ground doesn't mean its good and this ground proves that. 1. You buy your ticket from the box office then move ten metres to the away turnstile. Its a joke. It causes queues and midweek games with large fan bases would be a nightmare. 2. Inside the stadium the stadium there are no barriers between the fans and the pitch. Twice during the match some away fans entered the playing area, however the ground design doesn't help. 3. The sprinklers hit the top three steps of the terrace drenching fans. 4. Poor stewarding. 5. No segregation.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was exciting 5 goals, one red card, a disallowed goal. Atmosphere was good, fun but again poor design of ground caused pitch invasions. A cheese burger. £2.99. Then you get charged 50p for onions, gravy, curry sauce or mushy peas.
Comment on getting away from the ground:
After the game I got a lift back and it was an easy getaway.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out It was a good day out:
The game was fun to watch. Fylde won 3-2. Personally a draw was a fair result but I have been going to non league grounds all over the country (as an Aldershot Town fan) and have been to better organised and better designed grounds. Hopefully AFC Fylde will get used to their new stadium and put things right.
AFC Fylde v FC Halifax Town
National League North
Saturday 27th August 2016, 3pm
Martin Atherton (Neutral fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Mill Farm Stadium?
My friend and fellow Preston North End fan visited Kellamergh Park on many occasions and always loved the atmosphere. I wasn't able to join him so when an early opportunity came to visit the brand new ground, I had to take it.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Only 25 minutes from home and one of the easiest grounds at any level to find. In terms of motorway access, on a par with Bolton and Scunthorpe. You probably shouldn't be driving if your eyesight is so bad that you miss seeing the Mill Farm Stadium it from the motorway and main road past the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As I hadn't travelled far, I just did my usual tour of the perimeter. The locals were friendly enough although I suspect a large number were also making their first visit. Inside the ground, there was a clear divide between those who were keen to loudly assert their status as long term fans and those who were trying to remember (or work out) which team was which during the warm-up. No animosity though but a clear hierarchy was being established.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Mill Farm Stadium?
The Main Stand looks impressive from the outside. Also the outside the pavement terrace of the sports bar, with its tables and chairs was a novel approach that probably however wouldn't receive Football League approval. Inside, it was interesting to see that despite entering through different turnstiles and paying different prices, for the Main Stand and terraces, thereafter there was free circulation between the terraces and the Main Stand. I wish I had known that before I had paid the higher Main Stand price! Two covered terraces and a flat open end are adequate for this level and offer plenty of scope for expansion, whilst the Main Stand would grace many a lower league club. As ever though, not much knee room for someone who is 6' 1" tall like me. The concourse underneath the Main Stand is very narrow and cramped and may well prove hard to navigate when there is a full 2,000 capacity. With around 1,000 in attendance for this game, it was cosy enough but still needed some patience to get to the various elements (toilets, tea bar, bar). I excellent views of the game, but the lack of windshields on either side of the Main Stand meant for a windy experience, which hinted at a need to wrap up well on colder days.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
How Halifax managed to lose 3-2 having dominated the majority of the game demonstrates why we go to watch football. In the end, one team missed a hat-full of chances and the other converted all three. Very entertaining for a neutral but not so for the partisan fans. In the Main Stand, the 'ordinary' stewards seemed a bit unsure of what their role was but the blazer stewards were more clued up. However, there was real potential for trouble when stewards at the segregated Halifax end inexplicably allowed many of them to changes ends at half time. This involved passing in front of the noisy element of the home support and the inevitable exchange of 'banter' that almost lead to violence. A group of away fans were then allowed to establish themselves on the side terrace and beer was exchanged more than once. It might be new to everyone but this needs addressing as a matter of urgency. Despite some concerns, being part of a club record crowd of 1,905 at this level was quite incredible.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
I had parked at the entrance to a new estate five minutes walk from the ground and I was home 30 minutes after the final whistle. Not everyone parked behind me was as relaxed about the abusive notice on all our windscreens but the locals will probably have to get used to having a football ground on their doorsteps. No one was parked illegally or causing an obstruction so the notices were a bit naughty really.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Excellent day out, good ground with a terrific atmosphere but the stewards need some urgent training on crowd control inside.
AFC Fylde v Brackley
National League North
Saturday 13th August 2016, 3pm
Kevin Wrenn (Neutral fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Mill Farm?
As this is a very local ground for me (just six miles away) and the first match at the new Mill Farm Stadium, it was a cracking way to start the new season. I've seen over the past months the building progress of the ground and always felt it was going to be something better than the modern trend towards 'Lego' type stadiums.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Mill Farm is incredibly easy to get to. For me, it's the dual carriageway from Preston, but away fans would MPs likely head up to the M55 and approach the area of the stadium that way. The parking was along the approach roads. I ended up being parked (for free) right outside the main entrance. It was a bit odd to be parked up for free at a football ground, but fair play to the club for that.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Well. Okay this was the first game at this stadium, and it is an ambitious project. The turnstiles are all automatic barcode readers and read season tickets in the same way as you see bus passes used (or Oyster cards for you Southern Softies;) . Trouble was, the ticket I bought (sold by a man stood to one side outside the ticket office, selling terrace tickets?) wouldn't scan. Instead of simply letting people in, the rather flustered staff had myself, and 10 or so others walk back to the other end of the stadium and wait for 10 minutes whilst they printed new ones. Not a great start but the opening of the stadium was incredibly tight. A friend of mine had worked on the stadium the previous day doing the finishing touches! Given that the cash point machines also didn't work (there is an Aldi right next to the ground for cashback) it was a very challenging day for the staff. All done with good humour from the fans, including those visiting from Brackley Town.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Mill Farm Stadium?
Mill Farm looks pretty spectacular from the outside. It dominates a flat and rural setting. The floodlights along the 'popular side' terrace are curved and unique. It is really well appointed, although obviously the landscaping will take time to be finished and bed in. There wasn't a discernible 'away' end, as for this game thee wasn't any segregation in force so fans were able to flow where they wanted. There is a very smart seater Main Stand on one side with the facilities and plush executive section to the rear. I do wonder if the lack of side-screens will make this a bit inhospitable in the winter, although the back of the stand points in the prevailing wind direction. I digress….. Behind the near goal,there is a flat tarmac area with a long metal bar for leaning purposes. This leads around the corner (an exit gate/toilet block still to be opened) to the pitch-length terrace populated by the home fans, complete with drum and noisy few in the dead centre. Away at the far end is a terrace planned for away fans, although, again, this was free-flow.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
There was a lot of staff who need to learn how to interact with paying public. The disorganisation around the ticket issue was badly managed by awkward staff. However, it was 'opening-day' so fair enough and I guess they are new to their jobs. The ground has a bar attached. This can be accessed from both inside and outside the stadium. However, inside it is an odd setup. There is one entrance (D) for the snack -bar which serves a full range of food. Chips, sausage rolls, burgers, beer, tea coffee Bovril and other bits and bobs. But there just isn't enough space! I do wonder if other facilities will open as the ground beds in. But the queue was very long. However, the main bar is accessible from this entry also, meaning those focused on beer can remove from the queue. But added to the traffic-jam of this area is the gents toilets. Exiting by the near door means that you are facing into the flow of people heading into this area. If there is a big crowd this area would be a nightmare. I look forward to seeing how this is managed as the club settle into their new home.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Very, very easy. Into the car, quick u-turn and away onto the main roads. Fab.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I am certainly going to return here regularly through the season. £12 to stand and enjoy football in a lovely setting with decent facilities. I will update later in the year and look forward to how the club improve things as they go. Well done all concerned.