Highbury Stadium - Fleetwood Town Stadium
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Last Update:
August 22, 2024
The stadium is modern having been completely rebuilt in the late 2000s and early 2010s. The renovation work was completed rapidly due to Fleetwood’s meteoric rise through the divisions during the same time period.
The work was completed when the very impressive-looking Parkside Stand was opened to spectators in March 2011. This 2,000-capacity all-seated stand was built at a cost of around £4m. It has a single tier of seating, whilst above are offices and a top row of executive boxes and a hospitality area, all of which have a small tier of seating outside. These are covered by a semi-circular roof, with large glassed areas to either side which allow light to get to the pitch. At the front of this stand are the team dugouts.
Opposite is the Highbury Stand, which is a small all-seated covered stand, which was opened in 2008. It is only six rows high, has a capacity of 550 and runs for only half the length of the pitch, meaning that there is a large open area next to it, although this area does feature some buildings. On the roof of the Highbury Stand is a small television gantry. For the ‘eagle-eyed’ then directly behind it you can see a small roof which is the roof of the old Main Stand which is still in existence having had the new stand built in front of it. It just shows how much the stadium has come on when you consider that at one time there was this stand and not much else at the ground.
Both ends are covered terraces, which are similar in size in terms of height. The Percy Ronson Stand is given to away supporters and runs for around 2/3rds of the width of the pitch. Whilst the home end, the Memorial Stand (named in memory of the service and trawlermen who have previously lost their lives from the port of Fleetwood) is larger extending the full width of the pitch and housing just under 1,500 supporters.
In one corner of the stadium beside the Percy Ronson Terrace (on the Highbury Stand side) is a large video screen. The stadium is completed with a set of modern floodlights.
Away fans are mostly housed in the Percy Ronson Stand at one end of the stadium, where 831 fans can be accommodated. This terrace which was opened in 2007, is covered, free from supporting pillars and affords a good view of the playing action.
Visiting supporters are also sometimes allocated 300 seats in the Parkside Stand and this can be increased if required. The facilities in this stand are far better than the terrace with alcoholic drinks available to purchase and there are large screens on the concourse showing Sky Sports.
Pub options nearby the stadium include:
- Queens – Poulton Rd, Fleetwood FY7 6TF
- The Kings Arms – 105 Lord St, Fleetwood FY7 6LB
- Three Lights – Herring Arm Rd, Fleetwood FY7 6NB
There is Jim’s Sports Bar at the ground, which admits home and away fans. The facilities in this bar are excellent but get there early as it is bound to be very popular on matchdays. It is located at the back of the Memorial Stand and can be accessed from the park pathway that runs along that side of the ground.
Food on offer inside the Highbury Stadium includes burgers, hot dogs and pies.
Away fans with tickets in the Percy Ronson Terrace can enter the stadium via turnstiles 1-3 at the junction of Hatfield Avenue and Highbury Avenue.
Meanwhile, supporters in the Parkside Stand can get into the ground via turnstiles 1-2 next to the club shop and ticket office on Park Avenue. Exeter City provided a detailed guide for away fans going to Highbury Stadium in March 2023.
Turnstiles are located at the other end of the Parkside Stand for home fans, while there are five additional entry points for supporters in the Highbury Stand.
Leave the M6 at Junction 32 and take the M55 towards Blackpool. Then leave the M55 at Junction 3 and take the A585 towards Fleetwood. On the outskirts of Fleetwood, you will come to a roundabout with Blackpool and Fylde college on your left. Continue straight on towards Fleetwood but after the roundabout take the first left into Copse Road.
After about a mile and as you pass Fleetwood Fire station on your left then branch left and turn left onto Radcliffe Road (going back on yourself but in parallel with Copse Road). Then take the next right into Stanley Road and the stadium is at the bottom of this road on your left.
There is no parking for away supporters at the stadium itself but there is plenty of street parking available in the area.
Post Code for SAT NAV: FY7 6TX
There is no railway station in Fleetwood itself. The closest is at Poulton-le-Fylde, which is just under seven miles away. However it is more likely that fans will head to Blackpool North Station which although is a little further away from Fleetwood, it has better public transport links.
Still, a taxi from Blackpool North Station to Fleetwood will cost you the best part of £20, which may be okay if there is a group of you. For smaller groups it may be better to catch a bus to Fleetwood, Service numbers 1 and 14, run from Blackpool.
If you have time on your hands and you fancy a trip along the seafront, then you could walk to the seafront in Blackpool and catch a tram that runs along the coast. Services to Fleetwood run every 20 minutes and the journey takes around 40 minutes. The nearest stop to the ground is Stanley Road, which is around 200 yards from the stadium.
For fans wanting to stay overnight in reasonably priced accommodation, here are a couple of suggestions.
- North Euston Hotel – The Esplanade, Fleetwood FY7 6BN England
-
Savoy Hotel – Fleetwood – 29 Esplanade, Fleetwood FY7 6HF England
- Adults: £24-28
- Seniors: £19-23
- Under-25s: £19-23
- Under-16s: £9-11
- Under-12s: £9-11
For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.
Record Attendance
6,150 v Rochdale
FA Cup First Round, 13th November 1965.
Average Attendance
2022-2023: 3,497 (League One)
2021-2022: 3,228 (League One)
2020-2021: N/A (Covid)
2019-2020: 3,130 (League One)
2018-2019: 3,165 (League One)
2017-2018: 3,140Â (League One)
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
Images
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
Fleetwood Town v Portsmouth
FA Cup 3rd Round
Saturday 4th January 2020, 5.30pm
Tony Davies (Portsmouth)
Fleetwood Town v Tranmere Rovers
League 1
Saturday 23rd November 2019, 3pm
David Sindall (Tranmere Rovers)
Fleetwood Town v MK Dons
League 1
Saturday 26th October 2019, 3pm
Peter Williams (MK Dons)
Fleetwood Town v Oxford United
League One
Saturday 7th September 2019, 3pm
George Hogg (Oxford United)
Fleetwood Town v Oxford United
League One
Saturday 7th September 2019, 3pm
Alex Barrett (Oxford United)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Highbury Stadium?
The fixture list had given us not one, but two, trips to the Northwest Coast in the early (summertime) part of the season. A family seaside trip, a new ground to visit and being so early in the season, not huge pressure on the result.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Stayed in Blackpool the night before so had a relaxed trip up to the ground on the tram (Stanley Road) walked two streets over from the stop and was right at the away turnstiles behind the Main Stand.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Spent time on Blackpool Beach in the morning but found arrived in enough time to grab a programme and a drink in the away end before finding a seat. Since we had played at Bloomfield Road only a few weeks before, not many had returned so the away end was not busy. Not much interaction with home fans but good chats with some of the Fleetwood Academy players who were also taking the tram after the game.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Highbury Stadium?
I was aware that the Main Stand was the principal feature of Highbury but the views from all areas appeared good. The pitch was immaculate and despite a silent away end, a drum and noisy home end kept some atmosphere going. Surely the smallest club shop in the Football League (enough space for a till and four shirts hung up on a wall!).
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Oxford have a pitiful record against Fleetwood and from the first minute it was clear that they weren't interested in changing it. 1-0 down without even trying, there was an element of fight once we crashed in an equaliser but the second half pattern continued and OUFC slumped to a 2-1 loss. The away end was not busy, so there was plenty of space to mill around both in the stand and outside (my four year old had great fun celebrating imaginary goals in the training goal stored by the side of the pitch). Usual fair on offer for food and drink though I didn't see an Ale choice so it was only lager or cider. The programme is only a few pages long and £1…tbh I wouldn't bother printing it as there was nothing of note in there. Stewards etc were all very friendly, but I don't think we were a testing afternoon for them. The highlight: the goal celebration music for Fleetwood is the theme from Captain Pugwash…it felt so out of place at a league football club, but also so brilliantly unique.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Back to the Stanley Road tram stop and back to town in good time. Watch out for slightly officious tram conductors. Despite a nearly empty tram pulling up to the stop we were all 'strongly encouraged' to wait for the 'football special' tram. Nobody listened and all got on fine.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Pleased to have visited the ground and to have done so in good weather. If Blackpool were not right next door, I'm not sure I'd be planning a return. Oxford's record there may put paid to that anyway.
Fleetwood Town v Bristol Rovers
League One
Saturday 27th April 2019, 3pm
Josh Ruck (Neutral)
Fleetwood Town v Gillingham
League 1
Saturday 2nd March 2019, 3pm
Simon King (Gillingham)
Fleetwood Town v Luton Town
League 1
Saturday 16th February 2019, 3pm
Ruth Lees (Luton Town)
Fleetwood Town v Charlton Athletic
League One
Saturday 2nd February 2019, 3pm
Ashley (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Highbury Stadium?
A new ground for me. I was originally going to go to Accrington Stanley, but when that match was postponed, I decided to drive a bit further to Fleetwood.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I drove from Sheffield and it was motorways all the way, until the last twenty minutes. There was a lot of parking available on local streets. I would suggest trying Hatfield Avenue, which is a long residential road that runs up to the stadium and has parking on both sides.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I arrived about 30 minutes before the game and so only had an opportunity to have a quick look around and then to go into the stadium. The programme is only £1, which is amazing value but doesn't take long to read.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Highbury Stadium?
It's a small ground. Fans were standing behind each goal, with seating down the sides of the pitch. There's one large stand (Parkside), which was where most of the fans sat. It's new, easily accessible, with decent freshments and toilets. This was where I sat and the only issue was that the sun was opposite us and set slowly over the Highbury Stand. This stand is so small that the sun shone directly in our eyes for about 60 minutes. I would recommend wearing a cap.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game took place two days after the transfer window closed and, whereas Fleetwood held on to striker Ched Evans, Charlton lost Karlan Grant. In the end, it was Evans who scored the decisive goal just after an hour. The Charlton midfield had Jonny Williams and Josh Cullen, who were the best players on the pitch, but the team had no cutting edge. Fleetwood deserved their victory.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It was the easiest getaway, I have ever had. I parked on Hatfield Ave, turning the car to face the right way and was off and away in a matter of minutes.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I enjoyed my day. Fleetwood is easier to get to than it might seem, it's a friendly place and the team always have some decent youngsters, working their way up the ladder, who are worth checking out.
Fleetwood Town v Wycombe Wanderers
League One
Tuesday 2nd October 2018, 7.45pm
James Walker (Doing the 92)
Grounds Visited: 126 (87/92)
Fleetwood Town v Plymouth Argyle
League Two
Saturday 10th March 2018, 3pm
David King (Plymouth Argyle fan)
Fleetwood Town v Portsmouth
League One
Tuesday 20th February 2018, 7.45pm
Lee Roberts (Portsmouth fan)
Fleetwood Town v Shrewsbury Town
League One
Tuesday 13th February 2018
Mark Ball (Shrewsbury Town fan)
Fleetwood Town v Carlisle United
Football League Cup 1st Round
Tuesday 8th August 2017, 7.45pm
Phil Armstrong (Carlisle United fan)
Fleetwood Town v Bolton Wanderers
Football League One
Saturday 11th March 2017, 3pm
Tom (Bolton Wanderers fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Highbury Stadium?
The Highbury Stadium was another new ground for me to visit. I adore smaller grounds, you get a better sense of atmosphere and you're closer to the play.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
My friend lives in Thornton-Cleveleys so after meeting up with him we just hopped on the tram to Fleetwood Ferry. Once we got off the tram, the ground was a short five minute walk away.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We had a few drinks beforehand in Cleveleys and following the tram we walked about 15 minutes to the Strawberry Gardens pub, which you can get to by walking along the adjacent park and then up a couple of streets. The pub itself was friendly – it's split up into to sections. As visiting supporters we were encouraged to drink on one side, where a few fellow Bolton fans had gathered. I've heard conflicting reports about the pub, but all in all in our experience it was friendly. Not that it matters, but it was a very warm pub so I had to quickly shed layers (down to my Bolton shirt, luckily no-one was bothered). We didn't really encounter any other home fans apart from there. No trouble at all though.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Highbury Stadium?
The Highbury Stadium was surprisingly lovely. We were sat in the Parkside Stand which was very modern but comfortable enough. We felt close enough to the field, enough to enjoy the game. When Fleetwood undoubtedly gain more investment, I can see them "filling in" the missing sections – turning it into one of the finest in lower leagues.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was a great one. We dominated for most of the game and cruised to a comfortable 4-2 win, something which us Bolton fans really aren't used to. As usual we were in good voice (we made up 25% of the attendance so it's to be expected). Also, hearing the home goal music is absolutely worth hearing if your team concede.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
No problems at all. A short walk back to the tram stop and it was quite jolly – the carriage had a few Bolton fans in there so we were chirping all the way back to Blackpool (or Cleveleys in my case).
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Fantastic day out at the Highbury Stadium. The weather was miserable but that didn' t stop the fans being in fantastic voice throughout.
Fleetwood Town v Northampton Town
Football League One
Saturday 25th February 2017, 3pm
Alex Compton (Northampton Town fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Highbury Stadium?
It was my son and I's first visit to the Highbury Stadium in Fleetwood.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey was very easy with the M6 behaving itself. Finding the Highbury Stadium was really simple, we parked our car within a 30 second walk of the away turnstile. There is lots of street parking around the ground which is not normally the case for most League One clubs.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went into the social club at the ground and had a quick pint before kick off which was reasonably priced. The home fans were very friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Highbury Stadium?
My first impressions of the Highbury Stadium was that it looked modern and obviously a few quid had been spent on it. It is a small ground with the away end terrace only holding about 800 but as we only took 400 so it wasn't an issue.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Unfortunately we lost 3-0. Had we taken our two early chances it would have been a different game. The atmosphere was quiet; but once Fleetwood had scored their third goal the home fans started to sing backed by an annoying drummer. The stewards were very helpful and even offered to help me put my flag.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It was really easy and we where back on the M55 in 20 minutes.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Awful weather, awful result and awful traffic going home on the M6, but apart from that me and my son enjoyed our first visit to Fleetwood Town.
Fleetwood Town v Bradford City
Football League One
Tuesday 14th February 2017, 7.45pm
Mark Stanhope (Bradford City fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Highbury Stadium?
This was mine and my sons first visit to the Highbury Stadium. Although it was Valentines Night and freezing cold we couldn't resist this "six pointer" game.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Travelling from Sheffield we encountered the usual traffic around Manchester but made it in around two and a half hours.Parking is really good around the ground with plenty of free street parking.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Went to a chippy called the Highbury Fish & Ship shop just behind the away end. Although Fleetwood is famous for its fish, this was one of the poorest fish & chips I have ever had. We then went to Jim"s bar to enjoy a beer and get the awful taste out of my mouth!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Highbury Stadium?
I love the old non-league vibe the whole place has with its clubhouse and friendly fans. The Highbury Stadium is clean and compact but it would struggle to cope in the Championship League.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Over 1000 Bradford fans in a 3500 crowd on a cold winters night the atmosphere was good with plenty of noise coming from both ends. I didn't eat in the ground but wished I had after those awful fish and chips.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We left 5 minutes early and got away no problem & were on the M55 within 15 minutes.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I would go again to the Highbury Stadium. Its a really friendly place but I wouldn't go near the Highbury chippy again!
Fleetwood Town v Oxford United
Football League One
Wednesday 17th August 2016, 7.45pm
Rob Pickett (Oxford United fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Highbury Stadium?
A new ground for me and, as a northern exile, an away game to get to. Plus early season after promotion. Feeling optimistic!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I journeyed from Sheffield by car and the Highbury Stadium was straightforward to find. Street parking is plentiful and given that Fleetwood are a smaller club, parking was no problem.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
There are no drinking venues in the vicinity and on a mid-week game, time is tighter. I had fish and chips nearby. The sports bar facilities, which have been lauded in other reviews, were not available to away supporters for this game.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Highbury Stadium?
The Highbury Stadium is a compact ground with some decent updating. Fit for purpose for a smaller club. Away end had no obstructions for view.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Facilities were fairly average here and stewarding was friendly. Fleetwood Town dominated the game and were good value for a 2-0 win.. Oxford United were out thought/played all over the park. Very disappointing form our perspective. I would not be surprised seeing Fleetwood challenge for the play-offs this season.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Very straightforward and, as this was late on during the week, very welcome.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Another ground ticked off and nice to see Fleetwood whom seem to be a well managed club. Oxford will need to improve quickly.
Fleetwood Town v Barnsley
Football League One
Saturday 19th March 2016, 3pm
Lee Mills (Barnsley fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Highbury Stadium?
I had never visited Fleetwood Town and it is always nice to tick another new ground off the list
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We travelled by car from Barnsley. We set off at 10am and arrived at 11:40. We parked on a street just behind the Main Stand.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went to Jims Sports Bar – It was a fantastic venue, with food served and away fan friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Highbury Stadium?
I was in the away fans seating area in the Main Stand, located down one side of the ground. This by far the best stand at the ground. Behind each goal is terracing and the stand opposite is very small but neat and tidy.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The first half very dull and boring. Even with over 1,000 Barnsley fans in attendance there wasn't much to shout about. In the second half Barnsley were much better and took the lead through a Fleetwood own goal. Josh Scowen scoring the second, seven minutes before time to secure the three points for us.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Brilliant. We were back on the motorway for 17:15 and home at 7pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It was great day out, especially with the positive result. The sports bar at the ground has more televisions than Currys! They even have them in the toilets. I hope to visit again one day.
Fleetwood Town v Walsall
Football League One
Tuesday 15th March 2016, 7.45pm
Thomas Inglis (Neutral Fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Highbury Stadium?
I live in Scotland and support Dundee United, but this to my 64th English ground visit. Also this was to be the first ground that I have gone to by tram.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Myself and the wife were staying in Blackpool for a short break. The tram stopped right in front of our hotel so I just jumped on this for the 20 minute journey. There were a few other fans on the tram and they kept me right with which stop to get off. A five minute walk through a park and I was at the Highbury Stadium.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I had a full meal in my Blackpool hotel before I left for this evening game, so when I got to the ground I just got myself a ticket. I then went into Jim's Bar for a pint and chatted to some Walsall fans who were convinced their team couldn't lose tonight. I then spoke to a couple of Fleetwood guys who were concerned that their team just can't score goals. Both sets of fans mingled freely in this bar and all seemed friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Highbury Stadium?
The impressive Main Stand is the first thing that catches your eye with its semi circular roof. I had a walk along the terrace of the Memorial Stand (behind the goal) and there seemed to be good views from here with no obstructing pillars in any parts of the ground. I then took my seat in the Highbury Stand near the halfway line. There was probably a couple of hundred Walsall fans behind the goal to my right in the Percy Ronson Stand.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Probably not the best of games, being decided by a quality goal from Walsall. The ball was played into Mantom who deceived the Fleetwood defenders with a cute backheel into the feet of the striker Bradshaw who fired high into the net from about 12 yards. The Fleetwod fans behind the goal tried to get a bit of singing going, along with a drummer. Walsall fans behind the other goal were in fine voice most of the game too. At half time the fans were allowed back in to Jim's Bar for refreshments. I just had a cup of tea to warm up from this cold night at the seaside.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
No problems in getting the tram back to my Blackpool hotel in time to see Tina Turner and Elvis Presley (on the same night, unbelievable!).
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A good night out, probably the cold and the fact this was a rearranged fixture kept the crowd down to 2,569, Another ground visited though.
Fleetwood Town v Doncaster Rovers
Football League One
Saturday 23rd January 2016, 3pm
Jordan Halls (Doncaster Rovers)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Highbury Stadium?
This was the first chance of doing a double this season. Plus I fancied going to a ground that has a terrace.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We travelled by supporters coach from Doncaster, so no issues there. However I would imagine that unless you have done your homework beforehand the ground might be easy to miss as you drive into town .
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
There was a chippy across the road from the away end, but it was absolutely packed so we decided not to go in there. There didn't seem to much else nearby.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Highbury Stadium?
Being a non league ground just a few years previous means that the Highbury Stadium is is rather small. The best part about it though is the rare chance to stand on a terrace.There is also a bit of a novelty with the old Highbury stand still standing behind the new one.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Even though the teams themselves weren't really entertaining (the game ended 0-0), us Rovers fans like to make an atmosphere away from home. The home fans put in a good effort considering their numbers. Not much choice in the snack bar and the prices were rather hefty, glad I took my own snack. Not much trouble with the stewards which was a welcome change.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
The coaches didn't have much choice but to park along the main road blocking off half the traffic off, but actually getting back to the coaches was easy as they were parked right outside the stadium. Once coaches set off it was easy to get out.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Was okay, could've been better if we could've taken more than a point, and if we'd have gone to Blackpool or somewhere beforehand.
Fleetwood Town v Burton Albion
Football League One
Saturday 17th October 2015, 3pm
Tim Williams (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Highbury Stadium?
As I live in London then this was one of the more tricky grounds to get to. So I'd put it off until it came down to this and two others to complete the 92. Arriving outside the ground on a tram is a pretty unique experience and the journey north along the coast out of Blackpool is interesting and pleasant.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The whole trip from London was varied to say the least. An early train from Euston got me into Preston by 9.30am and then I joined what seemed to be a party train full of Blackpool day trippers. I'd not been to Blackpool for years and had a few hours there before making my way to Fleetwood. Blackpool was great in a raw sort of way. People were drinking from early on and by the afternoon this was having an impact on the atmosphere around the place. The arrival of various stag and hen parties added to this. I thought Alan Bennett should have been around somewhere to write a gritty northern play.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I went straight to the Highbury Stadium. Fleetwood are not long out of non-league so everything seemed very friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Highbury Stadium?
Although its non-league roots are still evident, Fleetwood's ground is impressive, particularly the Main Stand with its arched roof. I stood on the terrace behind the home goal and, with the steps being deep, the view was good. I was intrigued by the stand in front of an old stand arrangement opposite the Main Stand.
If you look carefully at the photo below. Then you can just about see
the roof of the old Main Stand behind the newer stand, that was built in front of it.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was a bit of an upset. Fleetwood Town were towards the relegation places in the league while Burton were towards the top. So a 4-0 home win was unexpected. But Fleetwood were good value for their win.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting back to Preston and connecting for the London train was a challenge. To begin with, despite the recent non-league traditions of both teams, there was a it of unpleasantness on the tram back to Blackpool. One particularly vocal Fleetwood fan took it upon himself to wind the visitors up and they reacted in a predictable fashion. Fortunately it was swearing and threats rather than physical violence but it was a bit of a 1980's moment. So it was a tense set of passengers who arrived back in the now very lively Blackpool. But this was just the start of my problems.
On Blackpool North station I joined the early leavers from the town – mainly families with children. The first train's doors failed so we were told to get off and join the train on the platform opposite – which pulled out of the station just as we approached it. Fortunately a third train departed shortly after but I needed this to run on time otherwise I'd be stranded at Preston. Luckily it did; I sat opposite two young mothers whose language was appalling and I kept wanting to tell them not to swear in front of their young children but didn't dare. I managed to get the London train with a couple of minutes to spare and I'd advise anyone making this trip by train to give themselves plenty of time to make the connection. It's not good for the nerves otherwise.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A memorable and very full day out. I loved Blackpool, the game was good and it's one of the more difficult to get to grounds ticked off
Fleetwood v Crawley Town
League One
Saturday 24th January 2015, 3pm
Steve Herbert (Crawley Town fan)
Why you were looking forward to going to Highbury Stadium?
It's our longest league away trip of the season and it was a new stadium for me to visit.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Caught the train from London to Preston, 2hrs 10 mins. Then another train from Preston to Poulton about 25 mins. Finally taxi from Poulton to Fleetwood Town, 12 mins, about £16. Unfortunately Doctor Beeching closed railway the line to Fleetwood in 1963!
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Had a few drinks on the train up, so went straight into the stadium. There is a club bar behind the home end that admits both home & away fans though.
What you thought on seeing Highbury Stadium, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
Nice ground considering like ourselves they have only recently come out of non league. Nice new Main Stand. Interesting you can still see their old Main Stand on the far side of the ground hidden behind a new stand.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Poor game, between two poor sides on the day. Fleetwood just edged it and won 1-0. Atmosphere was good as it always is following Crawley Town away. If your going to travel over 250 miles to an away game, you might as well empty your lungs once you get there! We sat in the Main Stand where we found the stewards to be friendly. It had decent catering facilities, where you could buy alcohol. They also show live Sky Sports matches on big tv screens on the concourse.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Fortunately I managed to get a lift back to Preston station from a fellow red and was on the train from there back in London by 8.25pm. No problems getting away from the ground after.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
All in all, good day out despite the result. Nice stadium, I look forward to traveling to Highbury again in the near future.
Fleetwood Town v Bradford City
League Two
Friday, December 26th 2014, 3pm
Paul Wilkinson (Bradford City fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
Nothing better than a Christmas fixture and with it being Boxing Day, even better! Bradford had sold their allocation of tickets, so the usual good away day atmosphere was to be expected. Also, the Bantams were unbeaten in eight matches and Fleetwood were also sitting comfortably in the league.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Good run across from sunny Yorkshire. Parked up easily very close to the ground which is kind of hidden in amongst the surrounding resident housing.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Went into Jim's Bar at the ground. It had more tv screens than Currys/Dixons. They even had them in the toilets! Away fans were made most welcome. We sat with three Fleetwood fans (who were also ardent Blackpool fans, so shared various football stories of yester years). The Bar staff were friendly. As we left we wished each other a Merry Christmas, with hand shakes!
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
Highbury Stadium is a very compact ground, with the fans close to the pitch. The Bradford fans were in one end terrace behind the goal, plus a section of seating to the right of the away end in the Main Stand. There were also visiting supporters standing to the left of the away terrace on one side. Fleetwood had given nearly double the normal away allocation. Bradford could have filled the ground themselves!
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Bradford started well but Fleetwood came into the game and had the better chances in the first half but couldn't finish. City took the lead against the run of play in the 41st minute, through a James Hanson header at the back post. Had a rather expensive pie (same at Valley Parade but we always run out!) and a bovril at half time. Alas there is no alcohol available in the away end. The Stewards and other club officials very friendly and generally the atmosphere was good especially from the travelling Bantams, although I did hear 'Cod Army..' emanating from the home end at one stage.
Early into the second half and Fleetwood came closer to equalising when they hit the post. With this let off, Bradford raised their game and started to dominate. Several chances were created, before a sweeping move and a lovely Billy Knott dummy across the goal, left Morais to slot home the second for the visitors. As it was Boxing Day, obviously 'jingle bells, jingle bells…' was bellowed out by the 1,300 plus City fans.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground was fairly easy as there were only 4,500 in attendance (which was way above their normal average home gate).
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
All in all, another excellent away day performance and experience for the following masses of Bantam fans. Credit to Fleetwood, a friendly family club with a very tidy and professional set up. I wish them all the best for the remaining season.
Fleetwood Town v Southend United
League Two
Saturday, April 26th 2014, 3pm
John & Stephen Spooner (Southend United fans)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I had never visited this ground and Fleetwood had guaranteed themselves at least a playoff position, with Southend needing a point to ensure a playoff place with one game left to play, so a good game was expected. Fleetwood is only 90 miles from where I live in North Wales as a Southend exiled fan so a comfortable journey for me compared to our home fans long trip from Essex .
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
My son and I travelled to the game by car along the M56, M6 and M55 following satnav. The trip was easy enough and took about two hours. The ground was easy to find, and arriving early, we parked in the road adjacent to the ground entrance which has ample street parking.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
We had a reserved table in the Red and Whites diner within the Memorial Stand next to the popular Jims Bar. Being at the home of the Cod Army, so yes, we both opted for beer battered cod and chips with mushy peas, and the meal was excellent. The staff greeted us cheerfully, and the few home fans we met happily conversed whilst we waited to greet the Southend team arriving for the match. We then managed to get some of the Southend team to join in photographs as they entered the ground, including our Manager Phil Brown:
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The ground is neat and compact, clean and smart. We had tickets for seats in the end of the modern Parkside Stand, which provided good seats with ample leg room. The stands behind each goal are standing terraces. We opted to transfer to the standing area in the Percy Ronson stand behind the goal and from here you get a great view of the magnificent modern Parkside Stand. The views of the pitch are superb. The pitch was in great condition and a testament to the Fleetwood grounds man, who had been commended as the best in League 2. The quality of the pitch enabled both teams to play good football.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was played in warm sunshine. The stewards were relaxed and helpful. The food outlets provided the usual choice of pies for £3 and hotdogs at £2. The Percy Ronson Stand was nearly full and the noisy Southend fans made for a good atmosphere. Fleetwood took the lead in the first half which lifted the home supporters but Southend managed a fairly quick equaliser in the first half and both teams seemed content with the point. The match program of 70 pages was £3 and a reasonable read.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
There was no delay in getting away from the ground and we relied on satnav to take us on the short motorways journey back to North Wales .
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
This was a good day out to a pleasant ground, with a result that left Fleetwood and Southend looking forward to the promotion playoffs and a chance to win at Wembley.
Attendance 3,323 (500 + away)
Fleetwood Town v Rochdale AFC
League Two
Saturday, April 6th 2013, 3pm
Arthur Richardson (Rochdale fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
As Fleetwood are in their debut season in the Football League it was exciting to visit them for this Lancashire “derby” after hearing so much about their meteoric rise through non-league football. There are one or two ex Rochdale players on their books and it’s always good to see how they are getting on. Some of my partner’s family also originally come from Fleetwood, so she was excited to revisit the town to relive some of her nostalgic childhood memories of family visits there. After all the bitterly cold easterly winds and snow of recent weeks, it was a bright sunny day and perfect footballing weather with a very light breeze.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey from Rochdale is only 60 miles so it’s an “easy” away game in that respect. The sat nav took us straight to the ground where we arrived and found some street parking only two minutes walk from the main entrance. As we arrived about 2pm, this might have made the job of finding a parking space somewhat easier than it could have been later.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
As usual the indispensible AA Good Pub Guide proved a valuable asset as we found a rather bizarre place about 19 miles from Fleetwood called Guys Thatched Village in Bilsbarrow, which had all sorts of oldie worldie shoppes, and a pub that did good food in huge portions. It’s right beside the Lancaster Canal, with an assortment on canal boats moored by the pub. Well worth a visit if you’re on the way to the match. When we got to the ground, Jim Sport’s Bar was filled to the brim with home and away supporters getting on fine; so was a perfect setting for a couple of pints of Tetleys and the last 25 mins of the Reading v Southampton game on the 25 or so screens in there. I suppose I was the only one in the place really interested in seeing Saints win 2-0, Southampton being my home town!
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The ground is compact and the view from the Parkside Stand where we were sitting was good. It is good to be close to the action in my view, and this proximity gave full value to a hard tackling game! The covered Percy Ronson Terrace was full of Rochdale fans and the acoustics were excellent. In fact I have not heard our fans in such good voice all season! The Parkside Stand is excellent and gives an indication of how the ground can be developed in the future, assuming their continued success and funding.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was hard fought in midfield but I have to say that Rochdale dominated the match virtually from the first whistle and was one of their best performances that I’ve seen this season. Fleetwood, for a side pushing for the play-offs, were a bit disappointing and this is confirmed by their manager’s post match remarks that it was the worst he’d seen in 10 years. Maybe we were fortunate to encounter them on what was clearly an off day for them but is was pleasing to see us converting dominance into goals, something lacking in our performances of late. The stewards were friendly and helpful and very nicely ejected one of our fans who had clearly had one too many and was becoming a danger to himself. Done with smiles and shrugs; the sort of stewarding you want to see. Having eaten that “huge” pub lunch, I was in no position to sample the pies, but the facilities throughout were excellent with really friendly staff who did make you feel welcome.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground was no problem at all and we were home in just over an hour, leaving the cries of the Fleetwood seagulls lamenting, no doubt, the result.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A really pleasant day out. The trip from the Pennines to the Irish Sea was problem free, the weather almost Spring like and the result, one that has probably secured us in League Two for another season. It looks like Fleetwood won’t make the play-offs now so I look forward to returning next year (all being well).
Fleetwood Town v Exeter City
League Two
Saturday, March 9th 2013, 3pm
Steve Ellis (Exeter City fan)
1.Why were you looking forward to going to this ground?
This venue, as it has been for most League Two supporters is a new stadium to tick off, and also with both teams having play off and promotion hopes the fixture was massive.
2. How easy was your journey, what did you do before the game, pub/chippy?
Travelling with the supporters club by coach the trip was easy, leaving at 7am arriving at the ground just after 1pm. On arrival, some went to the Strawberry Gardens pub which does feature in the CAMRA good beer guide, whilst others including myself opted to go to Jims bar which is the club house attached to the ground. Inside it was very spacious, clean, comfy and drinks were averagely priced. There was also a choice of 25 screens showing either the Sky early kick off match or Sky Sports News. With that many screens you can't go wrong. There was also a good mix of home and away fans and the home fans that I encountered were friendly.
On arrival I had also purchased a match day programme for £3 which i have found to be a good read, as unlike some programmes I have come across there were relatively few adverts.
3. What were your thoughts on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
My first thoughts on seeing the ground were impressive for a small club in their debut league season. I opted to sit in the Parkside Stand, which is the newest addition to the stadium. It was a good view of the game from this area. The other stands are small and in time will need work done if they are to stay in the league.
4. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, refreshments, toilets?
The game itself was competitive and with both teams pushing for a play off spot but unfortunately neither team could find that break, ending in a scoreless draw. The atmosphere was excellent though, with good natured banter flowing between both sets of supporters, stewards were helpful and unobtrusive. The refreshments were averagely priced with a good range of food and drink,, there is also a licenced bar which only had Carlsberg on tap priced at £3.50 a pint. Toilets also clean.
Comment on getting away after the game?
Getting away afterwards was easy as the coach was parked just behind the East Stand. It took about 20 minutes to leave the stadium and get through the town before getting onto the motorway, leaving just after 5pm, back home at 11.00pm
Summary and overall thoughts of day out?
A great away day with friendly home fans, a good pub, new stadium, just a shame on the final score but still a good atmosphere on the journey home.
Fleetwood Town v York City
League Two
Saturday, December 29th 2012, 3pm
James Prentice (Doing The 92)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I had originally been looking at going to either Stevenage or Colchester on my next step towards completing the 92, but a combination of postponements and a hastily-arranged family gathering in the evening meant it would be easier to go somewhere in the north of the country. This really only left me with Fleetwood Town so I set off for the long drive to the Fylde cost.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
My journey up from Lincoln seemed pretty effortless once I had hit the M62, and despite the rain lashing down Radio 5 Live confirmed that the game was on. I used directions from this website to find the ground and managed to park up barely five minutes’ walk away. There is lots of on-street parking, although upon entering Fleetwood I had to go past a tram line, cross it at the traffic lights and then drive past it as if I was going back on myself, which one of the stranger things I have seen on my travels.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
I went and purchased my ticket from a booth just outside the shiny new Main Stand. I could not see that there were any cash-only turnstiles and fans might like to note that tickets are also available from outside the Memorial Terrace (home end) and the away fans’ entrance to the Percy Ronson Terrace. After having a quick look around I realised how hungry I was and went for a fish supper at the Highbury Chippy (a mentioned on this website). The fish was excellent, although how they can claim to serve ‘traditional fish and chips’ yet in turn provide customers with American-style fries is beyond me! I was going to go for a quick pint in Jim’s Sports Bar but with the game about to start I made my way into the ground. A lot of the home, and away, fans seemed pretty friendly, with both seemingly still on a high after winning promotion from the Conference in May.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
I took my place on the Memorial Terrace, which offered a really good view of the action, just in time for kick off. This is the home fans’ stronghold and opposite us was the smaller Percy Ronson Terrace, which housed the York fans who to their great credit had travelled in numbers for the clash. The side of the ground to my right housed a small family stand one side of the halfway line and a clubhouse with a small flat standing area on the other, which is a real reminder of Fleetwood’s non-league history. The new Main Stand on the other side is not particularly large but is sleek in design and houses a large selection of hospitality boxes for a League Two club!
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc…
The atmosphere was quite subdued given that York started bullishly and had some good chances throughout the game. Fleetwood on the other hand managed little and seemed out of sorts – just one of those days I guess with some perhaps suffering from post-Christmas malaise. The stewards themselves were very friendly, although upon entering I was jokingly asked whether I was a York fan – I think I immediately put on a completely duff Lancashire accent and probably sounded Indian! Fans on the Memorial Terrace have use of the toilets and facilities in Jim’s Sports Bar throughout the game, which meant a long procession of people just before half time and surely lots of cash in the till for Fleetwood. The food on offer was some of the most reasonable I have seen and there was a ‘drinks only’ queue as well as one for food, which helped serve people quickly, while the staff seemed helpful and switched on unlike at many other venues. The only grumble I have was that some of the Fleetwood fans seem to forget that they were playing in the North West Counties’ League just a few years ago, as some of their whinging at a disappointing performance was uncalled for. Sadly, many fans in Leagues One and Two these days seem to expect Premier League-standard football from lower league players.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
I made a run for it as soon as the game ended so I could beat the traffic, a plan which came off brilliantly as I was back on the main road and speeding home in no time. The streets around the ground are pretty cramped so I would recommend a hasty retreat unless you fancy hanging around afterwards until the traffic dies down.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall, a good day out and nice to complete another league ground. The football was disappointing but Fleetwood seems like a nice enough little place and is doing well to hold their own in League Two, especially with bigger clubs not far away. Having only been there for a few hours on a grey December day, however, I don’t think I have seen the best of the town so if I do return at any point I will aim for an August game so I can stay for the weekend by the seaside.
Fleetwood Town v Kidderminster Harriers
Conference Premier
Tuesday, September 21st 2010, 3pm
Morgan Nock (Kidderminster Harriers fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I wasn't massively excited about the game, with Fleetwood flying high near the top of the table and Harriers near to the bottom but it was early in the season and anything was possible. I'd missed the FA Cup replay at Highbury Stadium the previous season through illness (I was less annoyed about it when they got promoted), so I was looking forward to what I expected to be excellent northern food!
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking:
We shot straight up the M6 and arrived much earlier than anticipated, but we parked on the main road which goes right past the stadium, on the side of the away end. We did have to stop and ask for directions as there is a six-way island and the floodlights disappeared from sight!
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
Went to the chippy near the ground. Despite advertising traditional fish and chips, they served those horrible french fries but it was cheap so no massive complaints. There's a social club or something similar immediately next to the away turnstiles, but away fans aren't allowed in so we opted to go straight into the ground rather than amble about looking for a pub (though one was recommended by a passer by).
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The away end isn't bad at all – quite a steep terrace which is covered and has excellent acoustics. There's a cage/fence thing which they move up and down depending on how many fans they're expecting – a respectable 55 for a night game packed a small area of the terrace. At the opposite end was a packed terrace for home fans and on the left is a seated stand which is of adequate quality. On the right hand side, behind the dugouts, is a building site – where I'm told a large seated stand is being built. Home fans can walk behind the dugouts to change ends at half time (like in the good old days!).
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
The game was in large parts an enigma – we were dominated but were 1-0 down for much of the game. However we kept on singing almost non-stop for the 90 minutes and were rewarded with a 79th minute equaliser. The home fans were nowhere to be seen prior to the game – the home turnstiles must be at the far end as I didn't see a single scarf of replica shirt before entering the ground. Home fans were poor first half but in the second half when they moved next to us they sang a few songs, nothing special considering they outnumbered us probably eight to one on the terrace. Disappointingly they booed their man of the match. Stewards weren't noticed, which probably not a bad thing. I only bought a hot chocolate which I think was £1.20 (hot vimto is available but I think it's disgusting!).
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We were back on the road within five minutes of the whistle. The main car park must, like the turnstiles, be at the other end of the ground. We were quickly back on the motorway and motoring along before the M6 closed down to one lane suddenly and despite a close shave where a wing mirror was lost, we got home safely.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
An excellent evening as I wasn't expecting to return home with any points. We created a brilliant atmosphere and got a good result – what more can you ask for?!
Morgan Nock, Kidderminster Harriers supporter.
Fleetwood Town v Luton Town
Conference Premier
Saturday, August 21st 2010, 3pm
Steve Bailey (Luton Town fan)
Why you were looking forward to going to the ground?
Well, a weekend by the sea! I was certainly looking forward to it and to finding out what sort of ground the up and coming Fleetwood had.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Drove up as the trains didn’t work out for my journey this time but parked by the hotel I was staying in. However some friends I met before the game said they parked right by the away turnstiles and that the stewards were very helpful in answering queries about was it OK to park here etc. No restrictions at all from what I could see.
What you did before the game?
As I was at the sea front initially went to the CAMRA listed Wyre Lounge before going to similarly listed Thomas Drummond which is a typical Wetherspoons bar but OK – not much sign of home fans though but quite a few away visitors! This does seem to be the nearest pub to the ground, didn’t pass any on the way which took about 15 mins to walk. There are quite a few chip shops on the way as you’d expect from the home of the Cod Army!
The Ground:
The oddest thing about the ground is that they are building a new stand on one side without demolishing the old stand behind it yet! It is all very modern and functional but will be quite impressive when they finish the new stand. The away end is a decent covered terrace with toilet facilities at each end of it which is a pleasant change from some other grounds where the facilities are almost non-existent. As befits a club with a fair amount of a money, but virtually unheard of in non-league stadia, they have a video screen in one corner that shows Sky Sports News at half time! If they can get the team to go with the standard of the ground, then league status is likely in the not too distant future.
The game itself:
This was a game I expected to be much harder than it was, this was their first Saturday home game after promotion, but Fleetwood seemed in unnecessary awe of us as a “big” club and we ran out easy winners. The home fans generated a good atmosphere though and having roofs on both ends of the ground helped to amplify the sound both sets of fans made. I must add that contrary to some reports you have had, I found the stewarding friendly and unobtrusive which was pleasing when you consider the bad reputation we have gained due to those hideous scenes at the York play off last season.
Getting away from the ground after the game :
Getting out of the ground and away back to centre of Fleetwood was easy and hassle free.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Good day all round on and off the pitch. Had a good night in Fleetwood as well, a few decent pubs and I would recommend staying here and not in the nearby Blackpool if you prefer a more relaxed evening out!