Last Update:
August 22, 2024
Although the football ground is officially known as the Alexandra Stadium, it is more widely referred to as Gresty Road, the street on which it is located. The opening of the 6m pound Main Stand in 1999 changed forever the look and feel of the ground. Before, it had always been small and homely, but the addition of the Main Stand has drastically changed the overall scene. The stand, which sits proudly along one side of the pitch, is a single-tier cantilever holding just under 7,000 people. It looks huge compared to the other stands and is probably three times the size of the old Main Stand. Â It is simply designed, sits well back from the pitch and has windshields to either side. Considering that the overall capacity of the ground is just over 10,000, one can understand how the Main Stand dominates Gresty Road, accounting for 70% of the available seating.
The other three stands are roughly of the same height, covered and all seated, but are rather small when compared to the Main Stand. So much so, that balls are regularly kicked out of the ground during a game. The newest of these smaller stands is the Gresty Road End, which is the home end of the ground. This replaced a former open terrace and seats around 900. Opposite is the Wulvern Homes Stand, which was previously known as the Railway End. This has some executive boxes at the rear, but the seating area is only open for the bigger games. The Whitby Morrison Ice Cream Van stands on one side of the ground and has an unusual television/press gantry on its roof. It almost looks as if part of a portakabin was at some point bolted onto the roof and it looks a bit precarious. In the corner between the Wulvern Homes and Whitby Morrison Ice Cream Van Stands is a large clock, whilst on the other side of the Whitby Morrison Ice Cream Van Stand is a Police Control Box, keeping a close eye on the away contingent.
An unusual feature is the absence of dugouts, the teams instead are given a section of seating at the front of the Main Stand. You will also notice that the pitch is slightly raised above ground level. The ground is completed with a set of modern-looking floodlights. I noted that on the Main Stand side of the stadium additional lighting is present halfway up the floodlight pylons. One assumes that the height of the new stand prevented enough light from getting to the pitch and hence additional lighting needed to be subsequently added.
Away fans are housed in the Whitby Morrison Ice Cream Van Stand on one side of the ground. The whole of this stand is given to away supporters and houses 1,680 fans, though if required the Wulvern Homes Stand can also be allocated to away fans. Entrance to the away stand is by ticket only, if you do not have one already, then they need to be purchased from the ticket booth next to the supporters club at the entrance to this stand.
I found Crewe to be relaxed and friendly, making for a good day out. There was a large away support on my last visit which boosted the atmosphere of the ground, however, I have heard reports that it can be a bit flat at certain games, even with the efforts of a drummer on the home end. There are a couple of supporting pillars in the Whitby Morrison Ice Cream Van Stand which if you are unlucky could affect your view of the playing action. There is a popular fish and chip shop just outside of the stadium, the smell of which, early in the game, wafts across the ground.
If you get there reasonably early before the game, the supporters club at the ground allows small numbers of away fans in. There are also several pubs within walking distance of the ground. The pick of these is probably the Corner Bar at the Royal Hotel on Nantwich Road.
As Barry Cutts a visiting Coventry City supporter adds; ‘I found the Royal Hotel to be a warm and welcoming drinking house. Turn left out of the railway station & the pub is 50 yards down this road on the right-hand side. There is also a fantastic chippie opposite’. Although the pub does not look that welcoming, with several bouncers on the door, once inside you will find it okay.
There are separate bars for home and away supporters, with away fans using the Corner Bar. Zane Alpine a visiting Walsall supporter adds; ‘We went to the Cheshire Inn pub a little further along Nantwich Road. It was popular with away fans, was showing the early kick-off on large television screens and offered very reasonably priced beer’. Also, a few doors up from the Cheshire Inn is the Brunswick, which also admits away fans and shows televised football.
If you park on the industrial estate just off Weston Road, then on your way to the ground you will pass the Brocklebank Pub, a Brewers Fayre outlet, which is very popular with away fans. It also has a large screen showing Sky Sports. You can also park in their car park which costs £2.50.
For those who like their real ale then further down Nantwich Road on the right-hand side just past the traffic lights is the Beer Dock, as Amber Edmonson explains; ‘The Beer Dock is not a pub or a bar – it’s a shop with a licence to drink. It’s only a small place and does get pretty busy, especially on a match day, but it is worth a visit as it sells real ale (four on draft), craft beer and decent European lagers and ciders. You can find out more information by visiting the Beer Dock website.
If you arrive early and have a bit of time on your hands then I would recommend a visit to the Borough Arms on Earle Street. The pub which, is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, is around a mile away (15-20 minute walk) from Gresty Road and has a large number of real ales, plus Belgian and German beers on tap. It has an impressive stock of continental bottled beers. Also in the town centre on Prince Albert Street is the Hops Bar, which also serves real ale.
Food on offer inside the stadium includes a range of Holland’s Pies; Chicken Balti, Potato & Meat, Cheese & Onion, Peppered Steak (All £2.90), Beef and Vegetable Pasty (£3), Sausage Rolls (£2.30), Hot Dogs (£3), Cheeseburgers (£3) and a ‘Alex Whopper’ Cheeseburger (£3.80).
Alcohol is available inside the stadium to away fans, albeit only plastic bottles of Carlsberg at £3 each.
Away fans are located in the Whitby Morrison Ice Cream Van Stand, and can accommodate over 1,600 fans. The old-fashioned turnstiles are located next to the away ticket office.
Entry points are then located at different points across the ground for home fans and have previously been described as “like tables, with a wide open space behind them,” according to Gibbo’s 92.
Leave the M6 at Junction 16 and take the A5020 towards Crewe. Follow this road right into Crewe. At the roundabout junction with the A534, Nantwich Road, turn left. Gresty Road is down past the Railway Station on the left. Just before you reach this roundabout on Weston Road, you will see a sign pointing to the right, which displays; ‘Away Supporters On Street Parking’. This directs you to an industrial estate on the right of the road (you will also see the Volkswagen dealership, L C Charles on the front of it). It takes about 15 minutes to walk to the ground from here. Otherwise at the ground behind the Main Stand is a pay and display car park which holds 560 cars and costs £3.50 for the day. This fills up quite quickly on matchdays.
Jonathan Niewiadomski adds; ‘On the A5020/Weston Road and just before the roundabout, there is a left turn signposted Weston Road car park, which is one of the railway station car parks. It costs £5 to park all day on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. There are plenty of spaces (even with the bigger-than-normal crowd today), is a short walk from the ground and was good for getting away after the game. There is also the option of renting a private driveway near the local area via YourParkingSpace.co.uk.
Post Code for SAT NAV: CW2 6EB
Gresty Road is only a few minutes walk from Crewe Railway Station. As you come out of the Railway Station turn left and Gresty Road is down the road on your left.
For fans wanting to stay overnight in reasonably priced accommodation, here are a couple of suggestions.
- Travelodge Crewe Hotel – Beswick Drive, Crewe CW1 5NP England
-
Premier Inn Crewe Central Hotel – Weston Rd, Crewe CW1 6FX England
Crewe Alexandra do not operate on a fixture-by-fixture basis, they just have one set price regardless of the opposition. Prices will change dependent on which stand you choose to sit in.
There is also a cheaper rate if you sign up to be a member with the club.
- Adult: £24-£28
- Senior: £19-£22
- 17-19: £19-£22
- Student: £14
- 12-16: £11.50-£13.50
- 11 and under: £1
- Wheelchair users: £19-£22
Gresty Road is a stadium name you hear and immediately think of Crewe regardless of how closely you follow the club; that’s what happens when a team plays their home games at the same stadium for so long. Crewe have been playing their matches at Gresty Road since 1906. Of course, there have been some major overhauls of the stands since then. The most notable is probably the rebuild of the club’s main stand, which happened in the early 1930s; this was forced upon them when what, at the time, was their only stand was seriously fire-damaged. Before life at Gresty Road, the club played games at Alexandra Rec and then across several pitches close to Crewe.
For any disabled supporters who wish to visit Gresty Road (Alexandra Stadium) please visit Crewe Alexandra’s official website to find all of the relevant information.
Record Attendance
20,000 v Tottenham Hotspur
FA Cup 4th Round, 6th January 1960.
Modern All-Seated Attendance Record
10,103 v Manchester United
Carling Cup 3rd Round, 26th October 2004.
Average Attendance
2023-2024: 4,531 (League Two)
2022-2023: 4,055 (League Two)
2021-2022: 4,523 (League One)
2020-2021: 174 (Covid) (League One)
2019-2020: 4,580 (League Two)
At some point in the future, the club hopes to replace the Whitby Morrison Ice Cream Van Stand (formerly known as the Popular Side) with a new two-tiered stand, which will also contain executive boxes. Beyond that addition, developments are limited with the main change of note being the potential addition of a bar in the South Stand; this was submitted to the local council for approval back in the summer of 2021.
In February 2023, the club announced plans to install 3,000 solar panels above spaces in the car park south of the main (Boughey) stand, with energy to be used to power the stadium or to bring in cash.
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
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
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
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..
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Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Crewe Alexandra v Barnsley
FA Cup 3rd Round
Sunday 5th January 2020, 2.01pm
David Crossfield (Barnsley)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Alexandra Stadium?
A proper old-style stadium. I've been twice before. I went in our 2015/16 promotion season and in 1967/8 season with my Dad. Barnsley struggling at the bottom of the Championship and Crewe 3rd in League 2 so it had the promise of a proper cup tie, plus it was nice to get away from our current relegation struggle for a game.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I travelled by train from Barnsley via Meadowhall and Manchester Piccadilly. No buses to Barnsley early on a Sunday morning so I walked the 2 miles. The journey should have been quick and simple, but there were problems due to engineering works. I won't bore you with the whole sorry saga, but I got to Crewe about 11.50 in time for the pubs opening. The ground is very close to the station. The town centre is 20 minutes walk away, but there are plenty of pubs near the ground on Nantwich road. All of them welcome away fans.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I had a chip butty from the chip shop outside the ground to line my stomach and set off to find the Borough Arms. It's a good 20-minute hike. It's worth the walk. 8 quality real ales and lots of continental lagers. It was quiet and friendly. Titanic Plum Porter and Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby went down well. Tom's Tap was recommended, but it doesn't open until 2pm on Sundays. I walked back towards the ground and couldn't resist calling in the Brew Dock. Great range of beers and great knowledgeable staff.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Alexandra Stadium?
I've been before so I knew what to expect. The huge stand opposite the away fans stand gives the ground an unbalanced look. My seat in the Ice Cream Van Stand was in row G. The view of the pitch was fine, but I was much lower down and closer to the pitch than I'm used to.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The stewards outside the away turnstiles checked everyone's ticket. The atmosphere amongst the 1200 away fans was good as we were packed together. The noisier element of Crewe fans with their flags and drum behind the goal tried to lift their team. Most home fans sit in the big stand, which will have some good views. Barnsley made 4 changes from the side that lost at Derby, but that didn't really weaken the team. It was initially confusing watching Barnsley playing in blue against a team playing in red and white. Barnsley started quickly and scored in the 3rd minute. A very un-Barnsley type of goal. A long clearance, headed on by Brown to Chaplin, back to Brown who volleyed in from 20 yards. Barnsley dominated for 10 minutes but couldn't score again. The rest of the first half saw Crewe playing neat football, but not really threatening.
Crewe scored an equaliser early in the 2nd half with their first attempt on target. A header after a couple of looping crosses weren't cleared. The game was fairly even after that, but Barnsley went ahead when the diminutive Chaplin managed to get between the keeper and defender to head in. Barnsley's 3rd goal in the 94th minute was farcical. The Alex keeper came up for the corner. The ball broke to Dougall who played it forward from his own box. Thomas won the foot race and tapped into an open goal from 10 yards out. Final score 1-3.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
I'd booked a seat on the 17.13 back to Piccadilly so I went back to the Brew Dock and had a pleasant chat with some Alex fans.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A good day out, apart from the outward journey. Some great ales. Some reasonable football with two teams who try to play football.
Crewe Alexandra v Mansfield Town
League 2
Saturday 14th December 2019, 3pm
Benji Castledine (Mansfield Town)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Alexandra Stadium?
I wasn't expecting much from the game due to our recent form before the match. With Crewe pushing for automatic promotion and Mansfield flirting with a relegation battle the result seemed decided before the game had begun.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
As I was on a supporters coach we were dropped off just outside the away end. However, there was car parking just by the ground, as well as the train station is only a five minute walk from the ground just around the corner.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Before the game, me and my mate had a wander down the High Street as well as going into the Corner Bar which seemed to be a spot for the away fans. Crewe fans seemed friendly enough, the stewards outside the ground were talkative and overall created a pleasant atmosphere.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Alexandra Stadium?
I quite liked the ground, three smaller sized stands and one large stand opposite the away end. The catering kiosk was easily accessible and the staff were polite.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was interesting going above and beyond my expectations, with Crewe scoring an early goal and us equalising soon after. Both teams had opportunities to score but neither team could put away another goal. The stewards were helpful and friendly. The atmosphere was good at times with the home team's main chanting area being the stand to the right side of the away end behind the goal, both teams sang and made a good noise. Furthermore one of my traditions is to always have a pie before the game and to be honest it did not disappoint, I went for a peppered steak pie which cost me £2.90 and I did enjoy it.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Following the game, the coaches were waiting where they dropped us off and although we crossed paths with the home fans no trouble or issues occurred.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
All in all an enjoyable day out and I will be returning to the ground when Mansfield and Crewe next meet. As I've said i am a fan of their ground and we bumped into no trouble whilst I was there.
Crewe Alexandra v Bradford City
League Two
Saturday 31st August 2019, 3pm
Harry (Bradford City)
Crewe Alexandra v Exeter City
League 2
Saturday 23rd February 2019, 3pm
John Baker (Exeter City)
Crewe Alexandra vs Oldham Athletic
League 2
Saturday 8th December 2018, 3pm
Rhys Gratton (Doing the 92)
Crewe Alexandra v Tranmere Rovers
League Two
Saturday 17th November 2018, 3pm
Martin Howard (Tranmere Rovers)
Crewe Alexandra v Swindon Town
League Two
Tuesday 2nd October 2018, 7.45pm
Harry (Swindon Town)
Crewe Alexandra v MK Dons
League Two
Saturday 18th August 2018, 3pm
John Dyson (Doing the 92)
Crewe Alexandra v MK Dons
League Two
Saturday 18th August 2018, 3pm
David Drysdale (MK Dons)
Crewe Alexandra v Fleetwood Town
League Cup 1st Round
Tuesday 14th August 2018, 7.45pm
Christopher Smith (Fleetwood Town)
Crewe Alexandra v Coventry City
League 2
Saturday 17th March 2018, 3pm
Frank Alsop (Coventry City fan)
Crewe Alexandra v Crawley Town
League Two
Saturday 16th December 2017, 3pm
Stephen Webb (Crawley Town fan)
Crewe Alexandra v Rotherham United
FA Cup 1st Round
Saturday 4th November 2017, 3pm
Ian Bradley (Rotherham United fan)
Crewe Alexandra v Bolton Wanderers
League Cup First Round
Wednesday 9th August 2017, 7.45pm
Matthew Bowling (Bolton Wanderers fan)
Crewe Alexandra v Barnet
Football League 2
Saturday 6th May 2017, 5.30pm
Joe Ferris (Barnet fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Alexandra Stadium?
The last game of the season is always a good day out and being a Barnet fan, it was a relief not to be involved in a relegation battle!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Travelled up on an early train from London Euston. The Gresty Road ground was easy to find, you can see the floodlights on your left as the train comes into the station. It is then only a five-minute walk.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
There was a large group of us so we looked for a good pub. We ended up in the Brunswick where we were treated very well by the bar staff. They had the football on television which made the pub very favourable with us all.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Alexandra Stadium?
The large home stand is very overpowering, but overall Gresty Road is a very tidy ground.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was very flat and we were hammered 4-1. The atmosphere was decent and there were 217 Bees fans who made the long trip despite the game being pretty irrelevant.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We stopped off at the at the Royal Hotel on the way back to Euston and we got back to London at around 10.30pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It was a great day out despite the result and I look forward to returning again to Gresty Road Crewe next season.
Crewe Alexandra v Colchester United
Football League Two
Saturday 18th March 2017, 3.15pm
Sam Batt (Colchester United fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Alexandra Stadium?
I have never been to Gresty Road before, so I was looking forward to going.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey by car was easy with no travel disruption. We managed to parked down a side road no more than a five minute walk from the ground. Parking in the immediate area surrounding the stadium is fairly relaxed so easily found a space to park.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went straight to ground to hear updates as to whether or not the game would be called off due to waterlogged pitch. Turned out game was delayed by 15 minutes after two pitch inspections, but home fans around the ground were coming up to us and keeping us up to date and being really kind and supportive. Excellent friendly staff in the club shop too.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Alexandra Stadium?
When I first saw the Main Stand as we were walking up to the stadium but was shocked that despite being massive and holding 7,000 fans, there was no club badge on the outside! The interior of the stadium was very dark and not the most comfy of seats but for an ageing ground it was probably what I was expecting. There were a few supporting pillars due to the age of the away stand, but they could be avoided without too much hassle.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Crewe were 2-0 winners against a visiting side who are going through somewhat of an injury crisis, with 13 first-team players out for lengthy spells on the sideline, most with season ending injuries. Atmosphere in the away stand was excellent with singing and drumming all game, but was disappointed with home crowd not cheering or singing until the final five minutes. Had to queue outside the stand for food which was certainly different! Thank goodness it wasn't raining hard. Burger was cold in places and came in a napkin, no thermal bag but was edible.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Quick and easy walk back to the car and were straight on the road immediately. No queues or congestion.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It was a good day out, shame about the result and the ageing stands but was good away supporters were given a stand along the pitch instead of behind the goal – makes a change! Will certainly come back in the future if the away stand is replaced with a modern stand or tweaks are made to make the experience/fan comfort whilst watching the game better. No half time entertainment whatsoever was disappointing but good music taste over the PA.
Crewe Alexandra v Stevenage
Football League Two
Saturday 25th February 2017, 3pm
James Walker (Stevenage fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Alexandra Stadium?
Gresty Road was my penultimate new ground to tick off for League Two this season as well as a ground where we have won all three of our previous games without even conceding a goal, so I had plenty of reason to be confident going to it.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I took the supporters coach as usual. A 9:30am departure from the Lamex Stadium saw us pull up outside Alexandra Stadium just after 1pm. This included a 30 minute stop off just before the M6 toll.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Before the game I went straight to the club shop to purchase my programme (£3) as well as a badge (£2.50) before going for a walk around the ground. I also came across a programme shop very near the club shop stocking a huge range of general programmes across all teams from this season as well as previous seasons for £1 each. As well as this there are also mystery bundles of ten random programmes for £1 each, so I purchased a couple of them. Finally I went across the road to the famous chippy that I have heard so much about, both from this site and from other fans who have visited there previously, and it did not disappoint! Large portions and fantastic prices makes this one I would recommend to anyone!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Alexandra Stadium?
The first thought I had about Gresty Road, was how the Main Stand opposite us completely dwarfs every other stand in the ground by comparison! A towering stand that stands tall among the three other relatively small stands, and would easily hold all fans who were at the game in just a couple of blocks.
The Alexandra Stadium
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Now where to even begin trying to sum this mad game up..we took the lead in the 7th minute when Matty Godden got his standard goal, before the madness really started! A ball put long by Crewe was caught by Jamie Jones before Chris Dagnall clattered in to him, causing Jones a bad injury. What happened next we couldn't see but later found out that Jones and Dagnall had thrown a punch at each other and therefore both received a straight red, albeit Jones left the field on a stretcher. Madness over, and in the 37th minute Fraser Franks doubled our lead, before Crewe had one ruled out just before Half Time for offside. An absolutely crazy first half that was not matched by the second half, a James Jones penalty for Crewe gave them a way back in to it but they couldn't follow up with an equaliser, meaning we held on for the three points. The stewards were very good and let us get on with our fun, and I didn't have any food in the ground although there were a wide range of choices available.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away after the game was simple, out of the ground and over the road straight on to the coach. A swift getaway saw us arrive back at the Lamex for 8.30pm. Who doesn't love travelling home with three points!
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall a fantastic day out with two good journeys, three points and an absolutely bonkers first half, what more could you as for? Overall a great day out and a ground I would definitely return to in the future.
Half Time Score: Crewe Alexandra 0-2 Stevenage
Full Time Result: Crewe Alexandra 1-2 Stevenage
Attendance: 3,547 (172 away fans)
My Ground Number: 71 of the 92.
Crewe Alexandra v Grimsby Town
Football League Two
Saturday 11th February 2017, 3pm
Kevin Dixon (Grimsby Town fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Alexandra Stadium?
Gresty Road is another new ground to add to the ever growing list, and relatively easy to get to. However we never seem to do very well there, so I was apprehensive to say the least.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
It took me a lot longer to get there than I had thought it would. I chose to go via the M62 and M6, but the cone brigade were out in force west of Leeds, north of Manchester and then on the M6 south of Manchester too, so in the end it took almost 4 hours to cover 164 miles. Fortunately, on arriving in Crewe, I found the nearby industrial estate mentioned on this website, which plenty of parking spaces available.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Had a ten minute walk to the Gresty Road ground, chatted with a couple of locals on the way, who told me the recent abuse accusations case seemed to have had an adverse effect on the team.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Alexandra Stadium?
The Gresty Road Ground is dominated by the Main Stand, which is a fine looking stand holding almost 7,000. We were housed in the Whitby Morrison Ice Cream Van stand, an all seater opposite the Main Stand, which holds around 1,600. The two ends behind the goals are both small all seated affairs.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Our 740 fans were in good voice before kick off, but that soon changed as we went behind in only the 2nd minute. It went from bad to worse, as we went 4-0 down after only 29 minutes, being totally taken apart by a team that hadn't won in eleven games, and only scored 4 times in that run. A number of our fans left at half time. The second half wasn't as bad, but we still conceded a fifth goal 3 minutes from the end. The stewards were friendly, food looked okay, and toilets were clean if a little on the small side.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
A ten minute walk back to the car, then I decided to go home via Stoke, A50 to Derby, then Nottingham and back up the A46. It only took me 2 and a half hours to get home, which was a big improvement on the outward journey.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Gresty Road is a friendly place to visit, and one I would visit again, hopefully for a better result next time.
Crewe Alexandra v Crawley Town
Football League Two
Saturday 10th December 2016, 3pm
Callum (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Alexandra Stadium?
I was looking forward to the game because it is a ground I had yet to visit for the 92 – this ticked off no.12 for me.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey was very easy. I am currently studying at Wolverhampton University, therefore the train journey was only 30 minutes long. Crewe's railway station is also just a few minutes walk away from the Gresty Road ground and is basically just a left turn out of the station and the ground is on the left.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I arrived roughly half an hour before kick off. So I decided to first collect my ticket then head to the club bar. The bar seemed to be only for home fans from what I could see despite the fact I had the decision to sit amongst the travelling Crawley supporters in the away end. I had a pint and it was a very pleasant atmosphere in the bar area.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Alexandra Stadium?
Gresty Road is quite unique for lower league football because of the fact that the Main Stand is very large and towers over the ground. Whereas the other stands are all fairly small. I was not that keen on the away end because I'm not really a fan of having an away end along the side of a pitch, I believe away fans should be housed behind one of the goals. It didn't bother me too much though, the facilities seemed decent enough so I'm not going complain.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game finished 0-2 to Crawley which was a deserved result. I believe Crewe made Crawley look like a much better side than what they are though. It wasn't exactly a thriller however I was kept nicely entertained for the 90 minutes and the travelling 73 Crawley fans were exceptional considering the number…. Crewe fans not so much. Yes, they didn't have too much to shout about but they didn't help the atmosphere at all from their end, I can only recall 1 or 2 songs which didn't really last very long either. The stewards were very friendly and helpful. I didn't buy food at half time however… I was going too but then realised they sold bottles of Carling which I went for instead!
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
I left the ground on about 88 minutes so I could catch my train and there was no issues at all. Very simple and easy to find the station yet again.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall the visit to Gresty Road was an enjoyable day and is a ground I would visit again but just not too soon. Hats off to the Crawley Town fans, management and players and I wish them well for the rest of the season. YOU REDS!
Crewe Alexandra v Plymouth Argyle
Football League Two
Saturday 12th November 2016, 3pm
Adrian (Plymouth Argyle fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Alexandra Stadium?
First time at Gresty Road and first game for while (I live up north and go to games within 100 miles) plus the confidence borne of recent good form.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Easy to find and we parked on a free car park only two minutes walk from Gresty Road (turn right by the Main Stand and its on your right).
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
The chippy right next to the away end of the ground were doing a roaring trade – and no surprise – fish, chips and peas, decent portion well cooked for £5. They must have shifted hundreds.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Alexandra Stadium?
The away stand is one side of the pitch. Great view and covered. We took more than 1,100 and we were well packed in. The big Main Stand opposite is quite smart and the small band (100 + a drummer) in the home end tried to create an atmosphere, but there were loads more of us than them. Most of the home fans were in the Main Stand and we only heard them when they scored or they felt aggrieved.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
It was an excellent game. Crewe scored a good early goal (by a Chelsea loanee) and they were on top for 30 minutes. Then our keeper saved a penalty. That gave us a lift and seemed to depress them. We equalised shortly afterwards and dominated the second half, to win 2-1.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It was a bit of a squash getting out of the ground, but once we were on the road it was pretty quick and easy – heading North when the majority were heading South.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Good day out. Excellent fish & chips, good performance and our seventh away win on the bounce – what's not to love.
Crewe Alexandra v Mansfield Town
Football League Two
Saturday 1st October 2016, 3pm
Jack Richardson (Mansfield Town fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Alexandra Stadium?
Having not visited Crewe for over 10 years when we got hammered in the FA Cup I was looking forward to it, as.my last visit was enjoyable despite the result and we were due to take a larger than normal following.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We took the train from Mansfield, changed at Nottingham and Derby before arriving into Crewe shortly after 12pm. I noticed that there was a car park right by the ground, as well as plenty of industrial estates to park on.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We headed straight out the train station and to the nearest pub, the Royal Hotel which is close to the stadium. It was full of Mansfield fans and generally a positive atmosphere, beer was cheap and had Sky Sports in place so we could watch the early kick off. The Chippy is over the road from the pub which was exactly how I remembered it from my previous visit… excellent! Didn't speak to any home fans as we didn't see many but no issues were encountered.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Alexandra Stadium?
Always liked going to Gresty Road. It is a tidy little ground, three stands all equal in size and the fourth is a huge one tiered stand. The view from the away section is good.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was a non event, Crewe fans generally quiet but don't think the game helped! Mansfield fans were pretty decent considering the game, we took the lead in the second half which improved the atmosphere hugely, Crewe equalized within a few minutes and the game fizzled out finishing in a 1-1 draw. Stewards were friendly and allowed us to stand with no issues. Didn't sample any food due to the chippy but looked well stocked and seemed popular in the 500 away following!
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
A five minute walk from the stadium and we were back boarding our train home, arrived into Mansfield shortly before 9pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
As always with Crewe, decent day out with all the things you need, pub/chippy and a decent ground! Will be heading there again next season!
Crewe v Exeter City
Football League Two
Saturday 10th September 2016, 3pm
Steve Ellis (Exeter City fan)
Why were you looking forward to going to the Alexandra Stadium?
This was the first meeting between Crewe and Exeter in 25 years and also another new ground for me to tick off the list..
How easy was your journey and finding the ground?
The journey to the ground was straight forward and as always, I travelled up on the supporters coach. We left Exeter at 8am, arriving in Crewe just before 1pm. The coach dropped us off right outside the stadium in Gresty Road.
What did you do before the game, pub, chippy….home fans friendly?
Having pre ordered my programme on the coach via a fellow Exeter supporter I purchased my match ticket. Most of our supporters went onto the Cheshire Inn, I opted for the Brunswick and the Ye Old Manor, both home/away fan friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end and then other sides of the Alexandra Stadium?
The Gresty Road ground is still very traditional but the stands have been updated over the years. Away fans are housed in the Whitby Morrison stand on one side of the ground, all the stands offer good views of the pitch.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, refreshments etc.
The game was a good match, with chances at both ends but we still went in at half time 1-0 down. Crewe eventually went on to win 2-0. The atmosphere was good, with both sets of supporters singing. The stewards were good and very low key. Refreshments were averagely priced, alcoholic beverages starting at £3. The toilets were also clean.
Comments on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away afterwards, the coach was waiting where it dropped us off. As you'd expect, traffic is slow when leaving the ground but once back on the motorway it was easy going. We got back to Exeter at around 10pm.
Attendance:: apparently 3896 (359 away fans)
Crewe Alexandra v Doncaster Rovers
Football League One
Saturday 30th April 2016, 3:30pm (Originally 3:00pm)
Jordan Halls (Doncaster Rovers fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Alexandra Stadium?
This game was Rovers last away game of the season, and it was also a good chance of getting closer to safety after beating higher up teams like Wigan and Coventry in previous weeks
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The Gresty Road ground is well placed, being locate right next to Crewe Railway Station for anyone coming that way. I personally came on one of the supporters club coaches, which dropped us off right outside the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Since the coaches got there so early, and it started to rain (it was heavy enough to delay kick off by half an hour!), we decided to find somewhere dry. I'd seen a pub on the corner about 20-30 yards from the ground. This bar was called the Number 7 bar. It was reasonably priced, with Strongbow around £3.20 a pint. It was basically a disco in there, and the DJ also kept us updated on the Blackpool v Wigan score, which was important for our survival chances, and also informed us of the half hour delay.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Alexandra Stadium?
The ground looks old fashioned, but it's well maintained considering age. Nice away end although the 'concourse' is open to the elements.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
I bought a chicken balti pie on my way into the ground, a bit spicier than the ones I'm used to back at the Keepmoat but still very nice. The game started well, with Rovers going in front after around 20 minutes. Unfortunately, Cedric Evina, our left back, decided to chest down a cross in his own 6 yard box, gifting it straight to their striker, 1-1 at half time. Another silly defensive error made it 2-1 to the Alex. And that brings me to the worst part of the afternoon. One of our fans collapsed about halfway through the second half and according to reports from one of her relatives, it took three attempts to get the stewards to attend, which was shocking. Fortunately the fan was okay in the end. Back on the pitch, the game ended 3-1.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Easy, coaches came back round for us although some fans who came by train complained about being hit and miss with their return journeys due to the delayed kick off.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out This loss more or less confirms relegation to League Two. How we can beat league leaders Wigan then get turned over by Crewe at the bottom, who are already relegated, two weeks later is hard to understand, but this is football. I'll defiantly enjoy going back to Crewe next season though, as we will both be in League Two.
Crewe Alexandra v Bradford City
Football League One
Monday 28th March 2016, 3pm
Arron (Bradford City fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Gresty Road football ground?
Crewe is a little bit further than we usually travel. But with good rail links (obviously) and with the match being held on a Bank Holiday, it was a good excuse to see another town and the Bantams in action.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Excellent rail links with ample trains even on the bank holiday. Gresty Road is around a five minute walk away from Crewe Railway Station.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We got fish and chips from TJS, which is located almost on the corner of Gresty Road. It was a massive portion and a good tasting meal. After that we went to the Cheshire Inn pub, which was a little further along the main Nantwich Road on the other side. It was full of Bradford fans and served a nice cold pint of Johns Smiths. We went to another pub, called the Brunswick, which was a bit further along the same road, as the Cheshire Inn. It was a bit overpriced but they did have a decent pool table.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Gresty Road football ground?
The massive Main Stand on one side, dwarfs the rest of the ground, it looks a tad run down but perfectly useable and well suited to League One football crowds.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was good, not as lively as others The home fans were fairly quiet, but that may be because we won the game 1-0. Stewards were very good, shame about no alcohol served but we got out before half time whistle for a Bovril which was hotter than volcanic lava! The queue for the little pie shop was huge at half time.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
An easy walk again to the station, unfortunately the train that arrived for Manchester Piccadilly was only two carriages long, I suppose they didn't expect 1500 city fans to be escaping Crewe at that time!
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Excellent day out, definitely recommended.
Crewe Alexandra v Blackpool
Football League One
Saturday 19th March 2016, 3pm
Matt (Blackpool fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Gresty Road Ground?
The game had been labelled by Blackpool fans as 'Oyston Out Day', so a good number of Blackpool supporters would be going to this match. Also I have never been to Crewe's Gresty Road ground.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Travelled by car straight down the M6. We found street parking very close to Gresty Road.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Didn't arrive that early so we went to a chippy located across the road from the ground, which was quality. We then headed straight into the stadium.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Gresty Road Ground?
Gresty Road is dominated by the Main Stand on one side, with the two ends behind the goal only about ten rows high. The away end is on the other side of the ground and is quite small, but at least covered.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was great with the Seasiders dominating from start the start before Redshaw found the net to put the Seasiders one up. However Redshaw then received two yellow cards in five minutes, that we were down to ten men and it wasn't even half time yet. From there we 'parked the bus;. We held out until the 85th minute as Crewe scored to level the scores. But Blackpool got a free kick straight from the kick off and scored again. The drama continued with Crewe being awarded a penalty deep into stoppage. However luckily they missed the penalty, which resulted in wild celebrations in the away end as the whistle blew for full time.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the Gresty Road ground was easy and we were on the motorway in about 15 minutes.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A great away day with a great atmosphere and a win for the pool.
Crewe Alexandra v Walsall
Football League One
Saturday, 13th February 2016, 3pm
Paul Stewart (Walsall fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Alexandra Stadium?
It was a local away day with my son. Plus we have never been to Crewe.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We travelled by car. The journey took about 50 minutes. Crewe wasn't far off the M6 and was easy to find. Parking was also easy on the Weston Road near the car show rooms and only a few minutes walk from the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went in one of the local pubs on the Nantwich Road called the Cheshire Inn. It was packed with Walsall fans, plus the service was great and the beer even better, so it was a good choice. We then went across the road to the chip shop called TJS Fish & Chip Restaurant for a bite to eat (although chips were good but they were more like fries).
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Alexandra Stadium?
The large but pretty basic Main Stand looked good, but seemed a bit out of place compared to the rest of the ground. The away stand was good, although it was not behind a goal but along one side of the ground. The view was also good unless you were not stuck behind one of the supporting pillars. The roof was also pretty low but you could see the pitch okay from the very back.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Walsall should have won the game in the first half. But with the help of the crossbar and an inspired Crewe goalkeeper, Walsall found themselves only one goal up at the interval. Crewe came back into it in the second half and drew level. The game ended 1-1. Fair play to Crewe on the result. Walsall's travelling support was in full voice as per usual, whilst Crewe had a drummer behind their to try and liven things up.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away was very easy. By the time we got back to the car the traffic had died down.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Great day shame about the result, would say we will be back but who knows what the end of season will bring.
Crewe Alexandra v Fleetwood Town
Football League One
Saturday 19th December 2015, 3pm
Antony Woodhouse (Fleetwood Town fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Alexandra Stadium?
I try to see as many Fleetwood Town away games as possible. Crewe was a reasonably short trip being about an hour and a half drive away.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Straight forward after getting off the motorway. The Alexandra Stadium is located very close to Crewe mainline railway station, which is not hard to find in Crewe. Arrived at ground with plenty of time to spare and parked in the car park located behind the Main Stand.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Had a snack in car, then made our way to the away stand.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Alexandra Stadium?
The stadium has a large Main Stand which dominates the ground, with the other stands being quite small. The away stand was compact, but had a good view of the pitch and we were sheltered from the elements.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
It was an even first half, with both teams scoring in the first ten minutes. In the second half Fleetwood battered Crewe but failed to convert our chances and the game ended in a 1-1 draw. The home fans were fairly quiet, although few in number ourselves the low roof enabled the Fleetwood supporters to sound quite vocal. The stewards were friendly and helpful.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
As to be expected the car park was difficult to get out of as it only has one entrance/exit. It took us around 20 minutes to leave and get back out onto the road home.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Good day, well worth a visit even though we should of won the match. Home fans were gracious in their comments after the game. Happily go again.
Crewe Alexandra v Sheffield United
Football League One
Saturday 31st October 2015, 3pm
Erik Williams (Neutral fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Alexandra Stadium?
I live in Cardiff and I'd decided to visit every League football ground within reasonable reach of Cardiff i.e. I can comfortably get there and back in a day.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I went on my own by train. You can see the Main Stand on the left as you approach Crewe station from Shrewsbury. It is massive. You can hardly get lost. The important things are on the left as you leave the station.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I had a good Italian meal at Giovanni's, which was the only restaurant open (as far as I could tell) and which was virtually opposite Gresty Road and on the pretentiously named Shopping Mile, which consisted mainly of takeaways and small shops. The local pubs looked tatty. There's a chippy in Gresty Road opposite the ground. I didn't talk to any of the home fans.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Alexandra stadium?
The Alexandra stadium is dominated by the Main Stand, in which I sat. I had an uninterrupted view of the ground. The other stands were much older and only seemed to have a few rows of seats. The home ticket office could have been better marked. At first I walked straight past it, before finding out that it's on Gresty Road next to the club shop.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Crewe Alexandra 1, Sheffield United 0. United could have been 2 up after ten minutes, such was their initial dominance. But things evened out a bit after that. I was on row G, facing the United half when the goal was scored. As they were at the bottom of the table (where they remained even after the game) I was expecting Crewe to lose. So I was pleased they won. I was surprised the attendance was as much as 5,227. Most people must have been sitting behind me where I couldn't see them! The stewards seemed friendly enough. Many of them seemed to be students from the local college. I didn't have a pie, drink etc. I find stadium food a little expensive for what it is.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
The police were understandably diverting the home fans away from the away fans' coaches. But that was only a diversion of a few yards. Not many people went to the station. Or perhaps I got there before the others. By chance, I could get a train immediately. So there was no massive queue, at least not for me. It's only a few minutes' walk to the station so you won't need to book a late train.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Crewe is a typical railway town – rows of Victorian terrace houses and not very attractive. Nantwich Road, the 'Shopping Mile', is the only main street. An enjoyable day out. A lively game of football even though there was only one goal.
Crewe Alexandra v Gillingham
Football League One
Saturday 17th October 2015, 3pm
John Scott (Neutral fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Gresty Road Football Ground?
I have visited Gresty Road before and I have to admit that I do have a soft spot for Crewe, having travelled through many times going back to Scotland. It was a bottom versus top clash so I did expect a goal fest!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I was staying overnight , you can't miss the ground from the station. I checked into hotel then walked to ground via the town centre, to have a pint.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I went into town to a brilliant small, pub called Hops, which is apparently similar to Belgian bars. Great choice of beer, good prices, very friendly. I saw there were a few Gillingham fans present who had obviously heard of this bar too.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Alexandra Stadium?
I cheated and sat with the away fans just for convenience. This is along the side of the pitch so view was good.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
As a neutral I found the game very interesting. Crewe deserved a point thanks to their resilience holding the Gills out , but as I was thinking it was a good 0-0 draw, Gillingham scored in the last minute with an excellent goal. They just about deserved three points, I know that doesn't make sense but they were the better team.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Walked back to hotel and had a pint. I did notice hotel opposite the station had a "residents only" sign on the door.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
As stated it was nearly an entertaining 0-0 draw! There are a couple of other good pubs in Crewe like the Borough Arms where I've seen away fans, so it was a good day out.
Crewe v Walsall
League One
Saturday 18th April 2015, 3pm
Zane Alpine (Walsall fan)
Why you were looking forward to going to Gresty Road?
I had never been to Gresty Road before and as it was only a short train journey away I thought I'd tick it off my list. My three mates I traveled up with had been before and had recommended it to me so we all decided to go!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We took the train up from Birmingham New Street which took about 45 minutes. The train station is round the corner from the ground and only a few minutes walk away.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went straight into a pub on the corner of Nantwich Road called Last Orders which was packed with Walsall fans watching the early kick off on a number of large TV's in the pub. At £2.10 a pint it had to be one of the cheapest pubs I'd been to while watching my team away.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
The away end was quite old fashioned with some of the oldest turnstiles I'd ever seen and the toilet facilities were quite poor and looked as if they had seen better days. The away stand itself was small but close to the pitch which made for a good atmosphere. However the huge 7,000 seater stand opposite, overshadowed the other three smaller stands which gave the ground an uneven look.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Crewe took the lead in the 14th minute through a Marcus Haber header and probably should have scored more before half time but in the second half we improved and Tom Bradshaw scored one of the luckiest goals I've ever seen and we came away with a very lucky point. The stewards were quite forceful and insisted on everyone sitting in their allocated seats, otherwise threatening to throw people out which seemed a bit over the top. Crewe fans behind the goal made a decent atmosphere at times and their atmosphere was matched by the Walsall fans who didn't stop singing all game. Overall it was a fairly good atmosphere from both sets of supporters.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We left the ground at around 5 o'clock and managed to get on the quarter past 5 train back into Birmingham. There were a large number of fellow Walsall fans already waiting for the train but thankfully it wasn't too packed and we managed to get back to Birmingham just before 6pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I enjoyed my visit to Gresty Road and I am looking forward to going back again next season and would definitely recommend it to other supporters.
Crewe Alexandra v Colchester United
Saturday, September 27th, 2014, 3pm
League One
Philip (Colchester United fan Fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I've lived in Thailand for 25 years and only get home once a year, usually around September/ October time. If my beloved Colchester United are playing somewhere that's easy enough to get to, I'll make the journey. I actually stay in Birmingham (my home town) so with the exception of the Bescot Stadium in Walsall, Crewe is possibly the easiest first division ground to get to. You might say the fixture list was kind to me this year!
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I traveled by train from Birmingham New Street and the journey was just under an hour. Interestingly, I had checked the UK train website the day before the game and the return ticket was quoted as being £13.50. When I turned up at New Street station, the ticket officer wanted 24 pounds! He then spun me a tale about needing to book the ticket in advance in order to get that cheaper price, but I had never had that problem before. I have always turned up on the day and got the same price as the one calculated on the website. I was not a happy bunny but I get so few chances to see Colchester play, I reluctantly parted with the cash.
Crewe's ground is literally a five-minute walk from the train station. Come out of the station, turn left and then left again – and there's the stadium. It couldn't be easier.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
I got to Crewe about an hour before kick off so didn't really have time to sample the delights of Crewe town centre. No disrespect to the fine people of Crewe, but the area around the ground is a bit grim and what pubs I saw didn't look particularly inviting. I had a quick walk around the ground and decided to buy my match ticket and enter the away end. The woman at the ticket office and the guys on turnstile duty were all super-friendly. Crewe F.C certainly make you feel welcome as an away supporter.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
It's a tidy little ground dominated by the large Main Stand which runs along the length of one side (opposite the section allocated to away supporters) The two goalmouth ends, with their low terracing, are a bit basic though. I suppose you might say it's a ground that looks at home in division one. I certainly wouldn't complain about my seat in the away section though – good leg room, an unobstructed view just a few feet from the half-way line. All in all, I had a fantastic view of the game.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
This was the classic early season six-pointer, with Crewe and Colchester occupying the bottom two positions in the division. Although the official attendance was just shy of 4,000, it felt like a lot less than that and the atmosphere was a bit flat during a goalless, uninspiring first half. It wasn't difficult to see why these two teams were at the bottom. I don't know what went into the Colchester half-time team talk but they came out in the second half and played like Real Madrid. They bossed every area of the pitch and eventually ran out easy 3-0 winners, much to the delight of the 300-400 travelling Colchester fans who started to really make themselves heard as the game wore on and the goals went in. I think it's going to be a long, hard season for Crewe and they'll do well to avoid the relegation trapdoor. Cries of 'sack the board' rang out in the second half from the more vocal supporters huddled behind the goal. With five minutes to go, and Crewe heading for another heavy defeat, I don't think I've ever seen a stadium empty so quickly.
As for facilities, etc. The stewards all kept a very low profile and did a good job. I had a very forgettable, dry balti pie before the game. The good-size toilet facilities were outside of the stand and there was also a small smoker's area for those wishing to indulge in a half-time puff.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
About as comfortable as it gets. A five-minute walk back to the station and a train to Birmingham leaving every twenty minutes. I was back in Birmingham at just gone 6pm. I also had a nice chat with some Liverpool supporters on the way back home. They had been to see the Merseyside derby (a 1-1 draw) which had kicked off at 12.15 that day. The conversation and banter certainly made the hour-long train journey pass quickly.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Brilliant! Win, lose or draw, it's always great to see the mighty U's. Believe it or not, this was the first time I had seen Colchester score a goal in NINE games. I was beginning to think I was a jinx. But you can't complain about a 3-0 away win. All-in-all, a very stress-free day out – an easy train journey, a friendly football club and the right result. Perfect!
Crewe Alexandra v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Pre-Season Friendly
Saturday, July 26th, 2014, 3pm
Jack Finch (Wolves Fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
It was my first opportunity to go and see Wolves since the end of last season, and at a very reasonable £8 a ticket, it promised to be a fairly cheap away day.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I caught a train from Wolverhampton to Crewe, for the price of £18.50, and as I had booked in advance, it was cheaper. The train took just over half an hour to reach Crewe, so it's probably quicker than going via car or coach. The ground is one of the easiest to find from a train station, once you leave the station, take a left, and then left again is Gresty Road. In fact you can see the ground from the train window as you approach Crewe Station.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
I had a brief walk around the ground, in search of something to eat, and found an excellent little chip shop opposite. It looks like a converted terraced house from the outside, so it would have been easy to miss, had it not been for the fans stood outside eating. £1.40 for a tray of chips seemed a little excessive to me, but they were very nice, and so warm that I imagine the tray they were in is still smouldering as we speak! The home fans seemed very friendly, although as it was a friendly match there weren't an awful lot of them about.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The ground is dominated by the main stand, which towers above the other three smaller stands. It's one huge bank, rather than a tiered stand, and also hosts the tunnel and dugouts. The other stands seem very small in comparison, with the two stands behind each goal comprising of only a few rows of seating each. The away stand was nice enough, and the toilets and refreshment kiosks are actually located outside of the stand, which I'd imagine lessens the risk of those half time crushes in a concourse! One thing I noticed straight away was just how close you are to the pitch, I would guess that sitting on the front row of the away section, you’re no more than 6 yards from the touchline. It allows you to hear the players communicating, which is always interesting! It also meant that the first couple of rows of fans were sprayed by the pre-match sprinklers, although on a baking hot day, I didn't hear any complaints!
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
A typical pre-season affair from both teams, played in very hot conditions, so much so that the referee decided to introduce a drinks break half way through each half, something he'd no doubt picked up on from watching the recent World Cup! Wolves controlled possession without creating too many clear cut chances, perhaps the best moments coming from new signing Rajiv Van La Parra, whose direct running down the wing did at least cause a few moments of concern within the Crewe defence. Both Leon Clarke and Danny Batth went close from corners, the latter having a header cleared off the line, whilst Michael Jacobs hit the wall with a free kick right on the stroke of half time. Crewe also threatened, notably when Kevin McDonald flicked the ball onto his own crossbar when clearing a corner, and Carl Ikeme was forced into a flying save to push a long range strike over the crossbar.
The second half continued in much the same vein, the absence of any real clear chances perhaps undermining some neat football from both sides. Clarke should have given Wolves the lead when he was left unmarked at the far post, but he could only nod Scott Golbourne's cross wide. Ikeme was again kept busy by a couple of long range strikes, one of which required an excellent low save to prevent the ball from nestling in the bottom corner. Ultimately, it was one moment of quality which won the game for Wolves. Substitute Nouha Dicko, last season's leading scorer, latched onto an excellent lofted pass from Lee Evans. He used his strength to muscle Thierry Audel of Crewe out of the way, before sidestepping the onrushing Scott Shearer, before squeezing the ball into the far corner. In truth it was a barely deserved winner, as there had been little in the game, but one can only hope that Dicko can provide those match winning moments in the League too.
The stewards were excellent, a visible but not overbearing presence, and the atmosphere was relaxed, with Crewe's stand barely half full, and the two stands behind the goal closed.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Very easy, a 5 minute walk from the ground back to the train station. The platform was a little crowded due to a couple of trains arriving before the one back to Wolverhampton, but the presence of thee British Transport Police meant there was no trouble.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A nice ground, which I imagine can create quite a noise when full. Obviously friendlies are always difficult to judge in terms of the quality of football, but as an away day, spending a couple of hours in the Cheshire sunshine was one of the more enjoyable ones in recent years!
Crewe Alexandra v Oldham Athletic
League One
Saturday, March 15th, 2014, 3pm
Tim Edwards (Oldham Athletic fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I had never been to Crewe before and with it being one of the closer away days for me, I didn’t want to miss the opportunity now Crewe are back in Oldham’s league (for how long remains to be seen!)
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I went by train and getting there was easy. The ground is a very short walk from the railway station, you can see the ground as you leave the station building. If that’s not enough for an away fan, the stand for away supporters is immediately in front of you as you walk down Gresty Road, leaving you in no doubt which part of the ground you should go to.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
After buying a ticket from the away ticket office (no cash accepted at the turnstiles), my brother and I wandered back towards the town and found a pub for a quick pint. There are a few pubs in the area to choose from, most showing sport on big screen, the one we chose was nice enough for a quick stop off.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The ground is nice enough, small, compact, with a good view of the pitch. The large Main Stand dominates and takes up the majority of the 10,000 capacity. It is rare to get a full side stand as an away supporter, so this was a refreshing change and sitting in Row C, I felt very close to the action. I imagine the ground looks a lot more impressive as an away fan facing that big stand, whereas if you were in the main stand yourself, the ground must look so much smaller.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Before the match I bought a Chicken Balti pie (several other types of pies were also available) which was nice enough, although there were no plastic forks on offer, that’s pretty much going to be my only complaint!
The first half was awful but the second much better. Oldham brought over 900 fans which made for a good atmosphere, although there wasn’t too much noise coming from the home fans (possibly due to the performance of their team!). Oldham were comfortable at 1-0 until a 94th minute equalizer stole an undeserved point for Crewe!
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
I was pretty gutted when walking out, due to the last minute goal, but everyone got away quickly and within a few minutes I was back at the railway station. Both sets of fans were by now mixing together, no problems whatsoever.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I really enjoyed my trip to Crewe and if we are to play against each other next season, this is definitely going to remain as a regular away trip for me. It’s very easy to get to, a nice little ground, friendly club, I just hope we hold on for a win next time!
Crewe Alexandra v Sheffield United
League One
Saturday, February 1st, 2014, 3pm
Sam Hodgson (Doing the 92)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
Gresty Road seemed like a nice ground and I was looking forward to my third ground on the journey to visit all 92. I was also looking forward to a tasty relegation battle, with Crewe in the top relegation spot and Sheffield one place above, both were level on points.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Caught a direct train direct from Birmingham New Street, and finding the ground from Crewe's station was easy, just round the corner of the station.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
We got there at 2.15 so we grabbed ourselves a drink and took many photos, including one with the mascot!
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
We were in the Main Stand, about halfway up and situated between the halfway line and the Gresty Road End. My first thoughts was how impressive the Main Stand was, which you could probably see from miles away. The rest of the stadium was very pleasant, with some small but neat stands all around. The away stand was small but pleasant, with a low roof and TV camera box on top of it.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was very intriguing and to begin with was very open with plenty of chances for both sides. But two superb finishes from Arsenal loan Chuks Aneke took the wind out of Sheffield's sails, just before half time. The second half saw Sheffield looking a bit tired and slow. There weren't many chances for United, and Crewe looked menacing on the counter-attack. Just before the end, Byron Moore put the game to bed by finishing a lethal attack, making the final score 3-0 to Alex. The atmosphere was decent with a bit of singing from home fans behind the goal and the away end. The stewards were strict, throwing many Sheffield and Crew fans out for the smallest of banter and gestures. Facilities were decent, especially the food stall which sold the best balti pie I've ever had!
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It was very easy getting out, many exits and just a five minute walk round the corner to the station..
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Very nice ground and an enjoyable game. All in all a good day out. Definitely a ground I would love to return to.
Crewe Alexandra v Walsall
League One
Saturday, April 27th, 2013, 3pm
Nathaniel Holland-Bright (Walsall fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
We Saddler's consider Crewe a bit of a derby in this League, as it is not too far away. It was also the last game of the season and as both teams were safe and had nothing to play for, we could relax, have a laugh and just enjoy the football, without worrying about the result.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I took the train to Crewe as did many other Walsall fans. It was a quick and easy journey, with just one change of trains in Birmingham. Plus the Crewe railway station is only a few minutes from the Stadium.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
As the train pulled into Crewe I could spot the stadium from the carriage window, so it didn't become a problem to find. I first went a small fish and chip shop called TJS and got my lunch there and then to the pub across the street called the Royal Hotel which had a sports bar. This where most of the visiting away fans were based having a pre match drink with a large projector and TV's showing the Man City vs West Ham match. Then I went to the Crewe club shop walking around to the main home fans area to go have a look around expecting a hostile response but their fans were very welcoming.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
Very similarly built to our ground, not new but all seater and the Main Stand over looked all the other stands imposingly. We were allocated both the away stand and the family stand bringing a large following and the seating was good giving a great atmosphere for away fans.
Our Fans In the Ice Cream Van Stand
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was intense, end to end football with both goalkeepers being tested, with Crewe having their entire academy team fielded against us. It was a great match to watch. Crewe took the lead from a dubious penalty. Later they got a second, this time with fortunate offside decision going their way. Normally this would have quietened our mood, but with nothing to play for the Saddlers fans kept on singing. much to the surprise of the Crewe supporters. The Crewe fans were relatively quiet even with their drummer and we out-sung them throughout. The stewards were friendly and nice and didn't ever block the view of the game as some do. And the food was great however only two inbuilt food areas per stand with the large attendance it was a long wait for any food. Although it was good quality they ran out of product quickly.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Coaches were parked along the road for away fans in clear sight and a car park outside the away fans stand so anyone who came in car could also leave quickly. The exit gates were large and open making for an easy exit. The very short walk to the train station was quick and even the police helped us find the correct platform for the train back to Walsall.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall even with a 2-0 loss, it was a fantastic day with locals being very friendly and the visiting supporters easily out singing the home fans so we revelled in the atmosphere we created. So overall I'll be definitely returning next season to Gresty road expecting more sound from the Crewe fans.
Crewe Alexandra v Crawley Town
League One
Saturday November 24th 2012, 3pm
James Scott (Neutral fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I know a couple of Alex fans from work who invited me along, so I tagged along with them. I was looking forward to it as I’d never been to Gresty Road before, so it was good to finally go.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
My mates picked me up and took me. We arrived at around 2.30pm and it was pretty busy outside the ground at this point, but we found a parking space with relative ease.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
I went to the chippy across from the ground, the chips from there are some of the best I have ever tasted.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The first thing you see when you arrive at this ground is the Main Stand. It dwarfs the rest of the ground and is pretty impressive. The rest of the ground is relatively small affair, three similar looking stands that’s clean and tidy and does the job. The stand opposite the Main Stand is the away end and with only around 100 Crawley fans in it, looked pretty empty.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The first half was pretty boring, nothing happened and the atmosphere was flat. Crewe probably edged it after they had a couple of good chances and Crawley hit the crossbar, but in all fairness both sides were poor. I had a pie at half time and it was one of the better pies I’ve had in while, but not the very best.
Second half was completely different and Crewe came out the blocks and dominated. Two goals in quick concession from Crewe’s Lauri Dalla valle (on loan from Fulham), ended Crawleys chances of getting anything out of the game. Crewe fans then found their voice, with the fans behind the goal making plenty of noise and even the Main Stand joining in at times making a good and lively atmosphere (better than any at my club – Bury this year!)
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
There was no issues when leaving the ground. Five minute wait getting out of the car park but apart from that it was fine.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Good day out, and nice little stadium and Crewe have really friendly fans! Good luck to them this season, bar when they play Bury!
Crewe Alexandra v Notts County
League Two
Saturday August 18th 2012, 3pm
James Spring (Notts County fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the ground?
Well it was the opening league game of the season, and despite going out of the league cup the previous weekend, expectations were high among Notts Fans. Eight Dorset based County fans were travelling up in a minibus so it was set to be a good day no matter what.
How easy was your Journey?
We left Weymouth and embarked on the 204 mile trip at 9am. Somewhat surprisingly, traffic on the motorway going north was almost non-existent, which allowed us time for a few comfort breaks along the way.
Once you’re into Crewe itself you tend to see a lot of football fans going in the direction of the ground so you could just follow them. Our driver had printed the route off the AA route planner before so he knew where he was going luckily.
Parking around the ground is very scarce so I would recommend parking somewhere along Weston Road, which is a 5 minute walk from the ground. Head towards the roundabout, go left down Nantwich Road, over a bridge, past the railway station and you see the ground on your left. You then get to Gresty road itself.
What you did before the game pub/chippy/home fans friendly?
We went straight to the ticket office. Despite being told by the Notts website that there was a young adults ticket costing £9.50, but when I asked for this I was told that they didn’t do this and was forced to pay the full adult price of £20. Not the fault of the girl in the ticket booth but it would appear the club needs to be a bit clearer with its ticket information.
Crewe operates a ticket only policy on the turnstiles as well so you’ll have to visit the ticket office which is near the away end if you don’t buy in advance.
The home fans seemed ok mostly although there were a few young lads behind the goal who looked about 12 years old giving it the big ‘un.
Brought the club match day programme named ‘The Alex’ for £3 which was a very good read.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end and other sides of the ground?
The first part of the ground you tend to see is the largest stand at the ground – the Air products stand. This stand really stands out from the rest of the ground and houses most of the home support. The away end (now named The Whitby Morrison Stand) is smaller but adequate. It housed the 1,236 travelling fans that day with a few spare seats. I wasn’t expecting much of a view but was pleasantly surprised to have no problem seeing the action. But there are two supporting pillars in the middle of the stand so if you sit near the back your view may be slightly hindered.
I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of legroom. Even if your quite tall you can stretch your legs out, rather than becoming cramped and uncomfortable as is the case at some grounds.
To the right of the away end is the Mark Price stand, where the noisier home fans seemed to congregate. They seemed like mostly young lads, one of which had a drum. They made plenty of noise all through the game.
Comment on the game itself, stewards, atmosphere, pies, facilities etc..
Being the first game of the season the atmosphere from both sides was electric. I was surprised at a slightly high Police presence, although they didn’t really enforce their presence which was good.
There is a food outlet inside the away end, although there was a big queue so I didn’t bother sampling it for myself. However from what people brought, it seemed to have the usual selection of pies, burgers, chips, snacks and drinks.
The game itself was an eventful one. Notts took a 1-0 lead towards the end of the half when Francois Zoko finished off an excellent flowing move sending the away fans wild. Yoann Arquin then put the visitors 2-0 up just before the hour mark after a cross deflected into his path. He went from hero to villain soon after when he rather stupidly kicked out at Ashley Westwood, who went down and rolled around as if he’d been shot to get Arquin sent off.
Shortly after Crewe pulled one back from the corner, and the last quarter of an hour was tense with Crewe throwing the kitchen sink at us. Just when we thought we’d survived, the fourth official signalled 6 minutes of added time! Lee Hughes of all people cleared a late effort off the line and that was Crewe’s last effort.
The full time whistle was greeted with relief and joy from the Notts fans. Overall, we deserved the win, and looked very comfortable until the sending off. Both sets of fans were in full voice throughout which was great.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Most fans seemed to head back towards the railway station and to Weston Road where we parked. There were some home fans that didn’t seem to take kindly to their first league defeat since February, shouting some abuse at Notts fans as we headed past the railway station. We stayed in the car having a bite to eat before setting off, by which point there was little traffic. We were back on the motorway home by about 6pm.
We arrived back in Weymouth at around half ten, in time for the Football League Show!
Summary of overall thoughts of day out:
One of the best days out I’ve had for a long time. A fairly straight forward journey, a good laugh on the way there and back, a nice little ground, a great atmosphere and all made even sweeter by 3 points to start the season. Good luck to Crewe for the rest of the season.
Onwards and upwards for the Magpies!
Crewe Alexandra v AFC Bournemouth
League Two
Saturday January 31st 2010, 3pm
Alex Jones (Bournemouth fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I was looking forward to the trip to Crewe as it presented a new ground for me. From what I had heard, it was one of the better away trips for a League Two fan, so I thought I might as well go seeing as we were in relatively good form. From what I heard the facilities were good and one stand wouldn’t look out of place in the Premiership.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey from Bournemouth took a fair while, around four hours, however it was relatively straightforward. I basically took the M27 up to Reading and then joined the M40 and turned off at Junction 16 of the M6 near stoke. From then on I just followed the well signposted routes to the ground. I was obviously aided with the programme notes I had with me. Finding the ground was rather easy as the main stand at the ground pretty much dominated the skyline, which is rather impressive for a league two club to say the least! Parking was easy, just outside the ground, which came in handy.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Before the game we decided to get a drink in at the nearest service station as I had been informed that there weren’t many pubs in the vicinity of the ground for away fans. With this in mind we also had a burger at the ground, which was well priced at what I reckon is the standard £2.50. The home fans were relatively friendly and didn’t make us feel intimidated at all.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
My first impressions of the ground were WOW! The stand opposite to the away section is truly magnificent for a club of Crewe’s nature, and would look alright in the premiership in all honesty. The other ends of the grounds compromised of one tier affairs, which were rather small. However I found the away stand to be rather good, with a nice view of the pitch. The only downside was the few sporting pillars, but with small away followings likely in this league, these were avoidable.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
The game itself was great from our point of view. We established an early lead, before grabbing a second with half an hour to go, but Crewe pulled one back. Despite a tense finish it stayed two one and we could all go home safe in the knowledge that we had 3 more points and promotion was looking a certainty. The atmosphere was okay we had about 300 away fans, but it was rather drowned out by the relative emptiness of the stadium. The stewards were fine not over zealous, while the pies made victory taste all the more sweeter, with a good range available. Toilets were pretty much standard.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground was no problem, with the M6 well signposted, and not too much congestion at all.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A great day out which I would recommend to any fellow League Two fan, fantastic stadium and if you get the result to go with it along with the beautiful sunshine (which did cause a few viewing problems), it’s a great place to watch your football. Especially considering the places us poor fans have to go to in this sometimes nasty and harsh league!