Memorial Stadium - Bristol Rovers
Last Update:
August 15, 2024
What Is The Memorial Stadium Like?
The Memorial Ground was originally the home of Bristol Rugby Club. Although the Rugby Club are no longer in residence and Bristol Rovers FC have been there for over 20 years, the odd-looking stands still make it feel as though football was not its first love.
On one side is the Your Electrical (West) Stand, which with its pavilion looks more like a cricket stand. It has a row of hospitality boxes across the top, with a few rows of seats in front. Below is an area of terrace. Just under this stand’s roof is a television gantry and a small electric scoreboard. The stand runs for about half the length of the pitch and straddles the halfway line. On one side of it, towards the Thatchers End is a small covered terrace, used as a family area, whilst the other side has a small covered area of temporary seating, called the South West Stand. Opposite is the Poplar Insulation (East) Stand, taller than the West Stand, but similar in length. This stand has covered seating to its rear and terracing at the front. It has open terracing to either side, one of which is given to away supporters. The team dugouts are located in front of this stand, although the dressing rooms are located behind the West Stand. This leads to quite a procession of players and officials at half time and full time.
At one end is the unusual looking Brunel Group (South) Stand. This was originally erected as a temporary stand, to fill the previously empty end but it is now being rebuilt and modernised after planning permission was granted.
Opposite is the Thatchers End, which is a covered terrace for home supporters.
What is it like for away fans?
Away supporters are mostly housed in an open terrace, located on one side of the Poplar Insulation (East) Stand. This area is open to the elements so you might get wet if it rains, plus it is difficult for away fans to really generate some noise from this area.
Up to 1,100 away supporters can be accommodated on this terrace. If the weather is poor then it may be a better bet to head for one of the seats that are made available to away fans in the Brunel Group (South) Stand at one end of the ground. Although the stand is of the temporary variety it is covered, but it does have a number of supporting pillars running across the front of it, that may impede your view.
On sale inside the stadium are Cornish Pasties, pies and burgers while alcohol is also served.
Pubs near the Memorial Stadium
There is a bar behind the clubhouse terrace at the ground that allows in away supporters. Not far from the Memorial Stadium on Gloucester Road is The Wellington. Other nearby pubs include:
- The Royal Oak – 385 Gloucester Rd, Horfield, Bristol BS7 8TR
- The Crafty Cow – 635 Gloucester Rd, Bristol BS7 0BJ
- The Drapers Arms – 447 Gloucester Rd, Bristol BS7 8TZ
Food and drink at Memorial Stadium
The English Football League is a wonderful institution when it comes to pre-match grub, and Bristol Rovers, like many, offer some fantastic options.
Here are a few examples of the type of scran you can expect upon your visit to the Memorial Stadium:
Churros at Bristol Rovers (@Official_BRFC)
💷 £5 pic.twitter.com/WCVifSnwCi
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) May 9, 2023
Jerk chicken loaded fries at Bristol Rovers (@Official_BRFC @burrowes_ashley)
💷 £8 pic.twitter.com/GVcwVG5KMq
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) February 1, 2024
Memorial Stadium Entrance
Bristol Rovers’ Memorial Stadium has four main turnstile entrances, three of which are located within the ground’s East Stand.
This section of the stadium houses an array of turnstiles, starting at number 9 and ending with number 29. If you are sat in the North Stand, you will want to head towards turnstiles 9-15, whereas if you are sat in the East Stand itself, your entrance will be located within turnstiles 18-23.
However, if you are instead sitting in either the West or South Stands, you will want to aim for turnstiles 1-8, which are located in the corner between the North and West Stands.
Directions and Car Parking
Exit M5 at junction 16 (Signposted Filton) and join the A38 (South) towards Bristol City Centre. The ground is about five miles down the A38.
You will pass the large British Aerospace works and further on, you will pass on your left the Inn on the Green and the Gloucester pubs. You then pass the Wellington pub on your right and continuing along the A38 Gloucester Road, turn left into Filton Avenue. The entrance to the Club car park is the second right down this road.
There is a fair amount of street parking around the sides and back of the Wellington pub.
Post Code for SAT NAV: BS7 0BF
Public transport
The nearest railway station is Filton Abbey Wood, which as is a half hour walk from the stadium. More likely though you will end up at Bristol Temple Meads which is about three miles away from the ground and is really too far to walk from, so you are probably best to jump in a taxi or get bus number 73 from the railway station.
Hotels near Memorial Stadium
One aspect in which the Memorial Stadium does fall a tad short is hotels near the stadium, with options far more limited than those of other clubs.
However, for those wishing to stay overnight in Birstol upon their visit, here are some suggestions of establishments with good reviews that are fairly close to the ground:
- Holiday Inn Bristol City Centre, Bond St, St Paul’s, Bristol BS1 3LE
- Future Inn Bristol Cabot Circus, Bond St, Bristol BS1 3EN
- Premier Inn Bristol City Centre (Lewins Mead) hotel, Lewins Mead, Bristol BS1 2NT
Ticket Prices
Bristol Rovers ticket prices for the 2023/24 season:
Adults: £15-36
Seniors: £10-32
Under 18s: £10-32
Under 14s: £5-20
Ground History
Since their formation, Bristol Rovers have played their home games at no fewer than eight stadiums. EIGHT! That’s a lot.
They started out at Purdown before a seven year spell at Three Acres and a short stint at at the Schoolmasters Cricket Ground. Durdham Down and Ridgeway were then rattled through in just four short years before the club settled at Eastville Stadium for an astonishing 89 years between 1897 and 1986. However, financial difficulties resulted in Rovers vacating the facility and migrating to Twerton Park in Bath for a decade.
In 1996 they then moved to their current, the Memorial Stadium, where they play their games today.
Disabled facilities
For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.
Fan songs
Here is a video of Bristol Rovers fans singing their famous ‘Goodnight Irene’ anthem at the ground:
Record and Average Attendance
Record Attendance
At The Memorial Stadium:
12,011 v West Bromwich Albion
FA Cup 6th Round, 9th February 2008.
At Eastville:
38,472 v Preston North End
FA Cup 4th Round, 30th January 1960.
Average Attendance
2022-2023: 8,907 (League One)
2021-2022: 7,292 (League Two)
2020-2021: N/A (Covid)
2019-2020: 7,348 (League One)
2018-2019: 8,320 (League One)
2017-2018: 8,933 (League One)
Latest Developments
After abandoning proposals to build a new 21,700-capacity stadium at the University of West England, on the outskirts of Bristol, the Club announced their intention to revamp and expand the Memorial Stadium.
In October 2023, the club’s new co-owner Hussain AlSaeed confirmed that the club intended to redevelop the existing stadium into a ground with a capacity of 18,000.
In December 2023, that redevelopment finally got off the ground when the club announced that they had received planning permission to modernise and rebuild the South Stand.
This initial renovation has now been completed and the temporary seating, which had been implemented in the South (Brunel Group) and South West Stands, has been replaced.
Bristol Rovers will likely make more improvements to the ground in the near future.
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
Bristol Rovers v Sunderland
League One
Tuesday 10th March 2020, 7.45pm
Dan Maguire (Doing the 92)
Bristol Rovers v Coventry City
League 1
Saturday 1st February 2020, 3pm
Steve Bolland (Coventry City)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Memorial Stadium?
I live just south of Bristol so this is always one of the closer away games for us. In addition, this was our third meeting in a month following an FA Cup 3rd round match and replay in January. I was hoping for a win after seeing City lose twice and draw once at the Memorial Ground, including a 4-1 whooping on Boxing Day a couple of years ago which ruined our whole Christmas.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Street parking close to the ground can be a bit tricky to find but I've found some good parking behind the Wellington pub which you can access via an alleyway, so it was all easy.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
The Wellington pub on Gloucester Road, a 5 minute walk from the ground, is our normal target but it was restricted to home fans only for this match. I guess this was because the Cov fans had overrun it (in a good way) ahead of the FA Cup tie a month earlier. I'd heard one Rovers fan lamenting that 'This is meant to be a home fans pub!' Still, I had no colours on so went in any way without a problem. If accents are any indication I was not the only away fan in there. Still, the Crafty Cow, just up the road, looks decent if you can't get in the Wellington.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Memorial Stadium?
Oh my word. This is a stadium to behold, using the word in the loosest sense of the term. There is a small stand at the Gloucester Road End (the Thatcher's Stand I think) which houses the Rovers Ultras by the sound of things and one decent stand which very nearly stretches halfway down one side of the pitch. The away fans terrace is situated next to this stand with another segment housed under a blue and white tarpaulin behind the goal opposite the Ultras. On the far side of the pitch opposite the away fans there is what looks like a cricket pavilion surrounded by an eclectic mix of terracing and stands. I can only imagine it's called the Memorial Ground in feigned commemoration of what a football ground ought to look like. I like it.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Inevitably, having had an earlier attempt saved, Jonson Clarke-Harris, whom Rovers had acquired from City last season, scored the opener in one of the rare moments when he wasn't throwing himself on the floor. He couldn't hit a barn door when he played for us. However, two goals from City before half-time raised the temperature in the away end and that was how it ended. A win for us at last!
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
The car was where I'd left it and it was an easy 40 minute drive home, avoiding the city centre which can be a bit of a nightmare.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
The split of the away fans always makes it difficult to create much of an atmosphere but we rose to the task on this occasion, aided by the sumptuous play by City. All in all, the Memorial Ground is interesting and worth a visit. However, be prepared to get wet if you're in the away terrace. It's very much open to the elements but it's still preferable to the away seating under the awning.
Bristol Rovers v Plymouth Argyle
FA Cup 2nd Round
Sunday 1st December 2019, 2pm
Bryan Davis (Plymouth Argyle)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Memorial Ground?
A close ground for us and again one that we hadn’t been to before. Cup ties always seem to be a bit different – there’s no next week if you lose!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
It was an easy dive, possibly helped by it being a Sunday, off the M5 at J16 and 4 miles towards Bristol on the A38. We turned off on to Kellaway Avenue and parked on the side of the road with no issues. It’s a half mile, 10 minute walk to the ground from here.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We arrived at about 12:30 and went straight to the ground along with plenty of Bristol Rovers supporters who were all fine. In the ground itself, there was a pleasant vibe.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Memorial Ground?
We made a point of going via the Memorial Gates, it was good to see that the Memorial is very well looked after. The stadium, which sits on a North West/South East axis, is a rather eclectic mix of styles and age. I counted 9 different “stands”/areas for supporters. The West Stand has the main hospitality areas and media area along with a terrace which was unused and two temporary covered seating areas, both also unused. The East Stand dominates the ground but only extends about a third of the length of the pitch, it has full pitch length terracing below the seating area, the Southern end of which is for away fans. The North end is the home terrace and the away covered seating is on the Southern end. This is again a temporary structure. The tunnel comes on to the pitch from under the West stand, but the dugouts are on the East side of the pitch.
We had tickets for the South Stand covered seating. Because of the temporary structure there are 9, albeit quite thin, supporting columns, so unless you are in row A the chances of having an unrestricted view are rather low. Seat number 25 is central behind the goal and the numbers start on the left if you are looking at the stand with your back to the playing surface. All of the away supporters areas are quite close to the touch line. Also, it must be noted that, although not classic old school design, there are still floodlight columns at each corner.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.
As I said at the start – cup games always seem different. Generally there is no settling for a draw (unless, maybe, it’ll get a big payday fixture in the replay!). The playing surface was good and the match was entertaining. I’d not looked to see how The Gas had been faring recently so I had no idea what to expect from them. As it turned out Argyle had the better of the first half although neither team really created may clear cut opportunities and it was 0-0 at the break. The second half started, rather strangely, at 3:00 and we were attacking the goal closest to where we were sat. Bristol Rovers came out with a different approach and a higher tempo causing a few nervy moments, but it was far from one-way traffic. However, with 15 minutes to go disaster struck (well as far as Argyle supporters were concerned, The Gas supporters I’m sure felt rather differently about it) as the ball was in the net at the other end.
Argyle didn’t give up and kept attacking and were awarded a penalty in the 84th minute after Danny Mayor was fouled in the box. After a short delay Antoni Sarcevic struck it well and we were at 1-1. So basically we now had a six minute match to decide who was in round 3. Although it turned out to be a 12 minute game as 6 minutes stoppage time were added. Frantic attacking ensued by both teams and in the 95th minute Argyle were awarded another penalty. Sarcevic stepped up again but couldn’t repeat his previous effort and sent a rather tame shot straight down the middle which the ‘keeper saved with his legs whilst diving to his right. Oh! An entertaining match with a cup tie ending, a replay awaits.
The atmosphere was pretty good with the noise rising and falling as the action moved about and each team had better spells. The stewards that I spoke to were all fine. There are two kiosks serving food for away fans, we enjoyed a Ginsters pasty whilst stood in the sun on the away terrace before going to our seats. The service was ok, but we were there quite early. £5.50 for a pasty and a hot drink. The facilities are a bit tired and of a temporary nature but seemed to be adequate.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It was reasonably easy getting away, no issues walking back to the car and traffic wasn’t too bad really.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
An entertaining game and almost a great result at a ground I’d happily go to again.
Bristol City v Reading EFL Championship Saturday 5th October 2019, 3pm Alex (Reading)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Ashton Gate Stadium?
I had never been down to Bristol before for football. As Bristol’s ground had been rebuilt in recent years it looked like a nice stadium to visit.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I travelled down with club supporter coaches being only 70 miles from Bristol it was a straight forward journey down the M4 and arrived at 1:45.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I had a KFC which is situated on a retail park more or less right next to the ground. The home fans were all friendly with pointing me in the direction of the away stand.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Ashton Gate Stadium?
The away end was okay but as you can imagine the other three sides looked a lot nicer but still reasonable.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was not terrible however we ended up losing 1-0 but we didn’t play that badly and I think we deserved at least a point but never mind. The home support was disappointing, I was expecting a lot more from Bristol City fans.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
After the game went straight back to our coaches and within half an hour we were on our way.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall a good day out aside from the result would go back if the opportunity arises and it’s not too far.
Bristol Rovers v Rotherham United
League One
Saturday 28th September 2019, 3pm
Chris (Rotherham United)
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We arrived by train at Montpellier station. It is actually a really long walk up to the ground from the station. I would advise anyone arriving by train to jump on one of the many buses along Gloucester Road to the Memorial Ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
There were a number of pubs near to the ground but all "home fans only". We walked back down Gloucester Road towards the city and eventually found the Bristol Flyer for a drink. On future visits, I will actually head into the city for pre-match drinks and then travel to the game.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
For away fans, there is a choice of standing on the terrace in the bottom corner of East Stand or seating behind the goal. The terrace is uncovered but fortunately, the rain held off during the game.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It was easy enough getting away from the ground although it meant a long walk back down Gloucester Road to the train station. After the game, all buses were full with supporters so we found it easier to walk.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
We were disappointed that we didn't find a pub nearer to the ground and the train station was quite a walk away, however, now we know what to expect, we can plan accordingly next time.
Bristol Rovers v Chelsea U21s
EFL Trophy Group Stage
Tuesday 24th September 2019, 7.45pm
Kevin Nash (Neutral Visiting Reading Fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Memorial Stadium?
I have not been to Bristol Rovers since 1999.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The traffic in Bristol is usually solid and was grid locked this evening. Not really any directional signs to the Memorial Stadium, so you need Sat Nav. The back roads around the ground were completely jammed. I was very lucky to find a gap at the top of Alton Road. It took me an hour to do the last 4 miles…..and I almost missed kick off so be prepared for traffic madness.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I only had minutes to spare before kick off so I ran to the ground.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Memorial Stadium?
I have been before and it does make me smile with all the different style stands. The Main Stand is similar to Macclesfield. I did sit with the Rovers fans this time around. The Memorial Stadium is quirky but I do enjoy a terrace to stand on.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was good. I don't know much about Rovers, but they along with the Chelsea U21 had some good players, Rovers had a decent crowd in, to see the home side win 2-1. The catering was nothing special.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Actually, not too bad. Parking where I did I expected a neighbour to have a rant or to find a ticket on the car, but was all okay, traffic still a bit sticky even at 10.00pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Well on my last visit as a Reading fan, Jamie Cureton tore us apart, so sometimes it is nice to be a neutral, although was rooting for Rovers. I was working in the area, but taking an hour and half to drive 7 miles from my hotel to the ground was hard going. I would like to attend a Bristol derby, because it has a good atmosphere just for an EFL game.
Well on my last visit as a Reading fan, Jamie Cureton tore us apart, so sometimes it is nice to be neutral, although was rooting for Rovers. I was working in the area, but taking an hour and half to drive 7 miles from my hotel to the ground was hard going. I would like to attend a Bristol derby because it has a good atmosphere just for an EFL game.
Bristol Rovers v Barnsley
League One
Saturday 4th May 2019, 3pm
Gary Bennett (Barnsley)
Bristol Rovers v Bradford City
League 1
Saturday 13th April 2019, 3pm
Chris Morton (Doing the 92)
Bristol Rovers v Blackpool
League One
Saturday 2nd March 2019, 3pm
Gazza Jarvis (Neutral)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Memorial Stadium?
Although I'm a Wycombe fan I have a soft spot for Blackpool mainly due to their well documented off the field problems, so before visiting friends in Bristol, I chose to attend their game with Rovers.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Getting from my home in Reading to Bristol Temple Meads was quick and easy by train. The Memorial Stadium is a fair distance from the station and meant a change of buses in the city centre. I bought a day Rover bus ticket for £5 which covered all of Bristol.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I spent an hour or so in the city centre beforehand having something to eat and a look around the shops before making my way to the ground. There is a clubhouse at the stadium but it was too busy and packed so after buying a programme I made my way into the away end. I didn't actually see any other Blackpool fans until I got inside.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Memorial Stadium?
The away terrace was very basic and fairly small and the only section of the ground that was uncovered, fortunately, the rain just about kept off, having said that the view was decent. The rest of the ground definitely had more of a rugby feel about it which I believe it originally was. Particularly the far pavilion type stand and the away canvas-covered seats, the more passionate Rovers fans seemed to be behind the far goal which looked a decent covered terrace.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Although Rovers won 4-0, it was actually a fairly even game, with Blackpool missing numerous chances. Rovers looked very sharp up front and I'm surprised they down the bottom of the table. There was a great atmosphere from the home fans particularly when they do the rendition of their theme tune "Goodnight Irene". There didn't seem to be any hostility between the fans apart from the usual football banter. The refreshments were of the usual football variety and were reasonably priced.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Made my way onto the main Gloucester Road to catch my bus back into the city centre. The bus stop was busy but there were plenty of buses coming along, the traffic was very heavy so it took about half hour to get back into Bristol where after having a quick pint I met my mates and travelled back to Reading the following day.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I felt as though Rovers have a lot of potential both on and off the pitch with their fantastic passionate support etc but their current ground is holding them back. Still some way to go for Blackpool, they seem to be getting sorted off the pitch and they can just put this game down as a bad day at the office.
Bristol Rovers v Oxford United
League One
Saturday 20th October 2018, 3pm
Jon Brown (Oxford United)
Bristol Rovers v Coventry City
League One
Saturday 22nd September 2018, 3pm
Robert (Coventry City)
Bristol Rovers v Portsmouth
League One
Tuesday 21st August 2018, 7:45pm
Paul Woodley (Portsmouth)
Bristol Rovers v Crawley Town
League Cup First Round
Tuesday 14th August 2018, 7:45pm
Steve Herbert (Crawley Town)
Bristol Rovers v Accrington Stanley
League One
Saturday 11th August 2018, 3pm
John Holland (Neutral)
Bristol Rovers v Charlton Athletic
League One
Saturday 7th April 2018, 3pm
James Butler (Charlton Athletic fan)
Bristol Rovers v Shrewsbury Town
League One
Saturday 3rd February 2018, 3pm
Mark Ball (Shrewsbury Town fan)
Bristol Rovers v Shrewsbury Town
Football League One
Saturday 1st April 2017, 3pm
Ryan Pugh (Neutral/Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Memorial Stadium?
Seeing as I missed the away game at here last season with my own team Exeter City, I wanted to visit the Memorial ground one way or another. I was hoping f or a few goals, due to the home form of Rovers, and Shrewsbury's league position.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I caught the train to the Redland Railway Station and arrived at 1:24pm. From there, it was virtually a thirty minute walk, mostly along Gloucester Road, straight to the Memorial Stadium.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I decided to go straight into the ground, bought a pasty and coke, and found a space to stand.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Memorial Stadium?
The Memorial Stadium is an odd ground. I was stood in the North Terrace, which was a decent sized stand, and had a good view. To my left, there was more terracing across the length of the pitch, with a seated stand that was almost looked to be in mid-air! The opposite side of that, was more terrace, with a seated stand behind the other goal.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
A 2-0 win for Rovers, which based of the first ten minutes of play, could have been a lot more. Shrewsbury withstood the early pressure and began to grow into the game. They had a player sent off in the 41st minute, and the game was 0-0 at half time. Relatively early into the second half, Rovers were awarded a penalty, which Bodin put away with ease. The game died down for the most part of the half, and Shrewsbury looked more threatening, even with 10 men. Luckily, Bodin scored again in the 83rd min to finish off Shrewsbury, who had the stuffing knocked out of them after that.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
After the game, I walked back to the Redland station, with a little difficulty due to the amount of home fans on the streets, but made it in time for the train back home.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It was an enjoyable day out, the weather made for a perfect day to watch football, and had a good game to go with it. I would definitely return to the Memorial Stadium, as a neutral, and especially when Exeter City next play there.
Bristol Rovers v Shrewsbury Town
Football League 1
Saturday 1st April 2017, 3pm
Clive Richards (Shrewsbury Town fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Memorial Stadium?
Shrewsbury in a relegation battle, Rovers with an outside chance of making play-offs. It was a recipe for a good game with both teams needing points for different reasons.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I came by train as I live on the Herefordshire-Welsh border. Knowing there can be parking difficulties around the area of the Memorial Stadium, as my stepdaughter lived in that area in the 90's when at university. I got off at Filton Abbey Wood station which is a gentle 25 minute walk away from the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I had fish and chips at the Bristol Fryer which were very good. A Rovers fan said the best in Bristol which I would have to agree with and very good value for money, then had a couple of drinks in the Drapers Arms where we mixed with Rovers fans who were very friendly and welcoming.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Memorial Stadium?
As I know the history of the stadium it was better than I expected. A good old fashioned ground with away fans on the open terrace. Lucky for us it was a nice warm sunny day. There are also seats available for away fans in an end that is shared with home fans. The locals call this temporary covered stand, the Gazebo.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was competitive in which Shrewsbury did have early chances but failed to take. On the day Rovers deserved their 2-0 victory so no complaints. There was a good atmosphere, stewards were friendly and polite. The facilities were reasonable and clean. I didn't have a pie but better coffee than Shrewsbury and catering staff were also very efficient.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
As I was walking to Filton Abbey Wood station getting away from the ground was easy.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Despite the result, I had a good day out at the Memorial Stadium. I will go again next season all being well.
Bristol Rovers v Bradford City
Football League One
Saturday 11th February 2017, 3pm
Wayne Glover (Doing The 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Memorial Stadium?
The biggest draw for me was to see Bradford Goalkeeper Colin Doyle play. I became quite the fan of his, ever since he was Birmingham City's perennial substitute keeper. So it is a real thrill to see him play and to be carving out a career as Bradford's number one.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We travelled by train going to Filton Abbey Wood station. It was then around a 25 minute walk to the Memorial Stadium. The ground is easily accessible from the station, although its clear to see that very few other fans access the stadium via this route.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We arrived at Fitton Abbey Wood station at around 2.10p[m, so we didn't really have a lot of time for pre-match food or drink once the customary pictures of the ground had been taken.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Memorial Stadium?
We were situated in the East Stand Terrace. I was surprised by the layout of terrace as there are very few areas for mass congregation and the terraces were already packed. So it took a few minutes for us to decide where we would be watching the game from. My advice for anyone else considering visiting is to get there a little earlier than we did as it's clearly evident that the Bristol Rovers fans arrive with plenty of time to spare.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The first half was pretty even an d I was impressed with how Bradford's wing backs were involved in the play and how they created width to enable Bradford to attack. Bristol Rovers took the lead through a sublime shot from the edge of the right hand box into the far left corner. Bradford equaliser was a neat one two, which Nicky Law expertly finished. Of the two teams, Bradford impressed me more and I felt they would have been deserving of the victory had it not been for some smart saves by Joe Lumley. Bristol Rovers went more direct in the second half, however Colin Doyle was largely untroubled. The queues for food were quick and I was able to get a hot chocolate at half time but was left disappointed by the catering facilities due to the lack of chocolate in my drink and the lack of sausage rolls.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We were well positioned on the terraces to leave the ground quickly and make the brisk walk back to Fitton Abbey Wood. It was once again clear just how few fellow supporters use this station.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A really enjoyable day out at the Memorial Stadium. It was great to experience a match on the terraces again and it impressive to see how well supported Bristol Rovers are. Bradford play an expansive game although they require a striker who demonstrates ruthless finishing. A lack of cutting edge may ultimately see them missing out on promotion this year. Bristol Rovers look well set up to achieve a mid-table finish this year and hopefully will be able to wisely invest some of the transfer money received from Matty Taylor into kicking on next season.
Bristol Rovers v Barrow
FA Cup Second Round
Sunday 4th December 2016, 2pm
Rob Dodd (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Memorial Ground?
The possibility of Rovers moving from The Memorial Ground had perhaps encouraged me to wait until the new ground had been constructed. However, it seems, as previously reported, that those plans have been shelved for the time being. So, a home draw in the Cup (and with Bristol City playing on the Saturday) meant I could take in the Barrow game as the second part of a double-header in the West Country, following my visit the day before to Home Park.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Having stayed overnight near Exeter, it was an easy drive up the M5 to Junction 16, from where the Memorial Ground is well signposted. It's about four and a half miles south on the A38 from the motorway and you can't miss the ground on the left. Parking around the ground seems to be a nightmare but I arrived quite early and parked on the A38 itself.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
It was sunny but cold so a steaming hot coffee and a pasty were a necessity! The stewards were very helpful and the lady in the ticket office, once she'd discovered where I hail from, was keen to tell me about her trip to Anfield in 1992. I missed that League Cup game as my wife had gone into labour and our son duly arrived just after the match finished!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Memorial Stadium?
I sat in the Dribuild East Stand; a good seat but row F meant I should have taken sunglasses and a cap as I was looking into the sun until late in the second half. A lot of Barrow supporters stood on the away terrace rather than in the stand behind the goal resulting in that stand being pretty empty. Given the issues of the proposed new ground, I'm not surprised that Rovers will not want to develop the Memorial. Unfortunately, parts of the ground seem to be temporary.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The view I got from the locals is that Rovers need to consolidate this season after the rollercoaster ride of the last three years. Rovers came into the match on an indifferent run, leaking goals for fun, whilst Barrow were on an unbeaten run going back to August. Rovers started well enough and took the lead within ten minutes but Barrow equalized within a few minutes. Traditionally, Paul Cox's sides are full of players with physical presence and Barrow fit the bill. Barrow played Bennett and Harrison up front and they ran themselves into the ground, tormenting the Rover's back line. As the game progressed, the confidence seemed to drain out of Rovers and the crowd became restive. When Harrison got what proved to be the winner with twenty five minutes to go, Rovers struggled to mount a consistent response. It was a deserved win for the National League team. Rovers have a recent habit of losing at home to non-league teams in the Cup and here was another one! The locals seemed to be reconciled to their lot and more concerned about the team getting out of it's bad run and solidifying the league position.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Ten minutes walk back to the car and headed straight for the M5. Yes, it was busy but manageable and I was on the motorway, heading for home, fifteen minutes later.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I enjoyed the day, four of the current ninety two to do now! However, my enjoyment was slightly tempered by the chap sitting next to me informing me that my lot had succumbed to three late goals at Bournemouth to lose 4-3! I hope Rovers sort out their ground plans in the near future as it can't be easy being in a state of uncertainty, particularly when their neighbours at Ashton Gate have invested heavily. As for Barrow, the future seems very bright and the team must have a fair chance of regaining it's league status. I've never been to Holker Street; at least it's not too far from Merseyside. I see that Barrow are at home to Rochdale in the third round. Rochdale will underestimate Barrow at their peril!
Bristol Rovers v Port Vale
Football League One
Saturday 24th September 2016, 3pm
Albert Griffin (Port Vale fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Memorial Stadium?
I had never been to the Memorial Stadium before. Plus with both teams doing really well in the League, I was hopeful of seeing a good game.
How easy wa s your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
It was an easy journey on first the M6 then M5 motorways, arriving at the ground an hour before kick off. However I had real difficulty finding parking anywhere, and must have spent around half an hour driving around side streets, before eventually finding a spot. I got talking to a a Bristol Rovers fan who was also parking up and he showed us the way to the Memorial Stadium. He also commented that parking on matchdays is always this bad.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As kick off was rapidly approaching we didn't have much time, so it was a case of just getting into the ground. The home fans we met were great
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Memorial Stadium?
The away end is covered, but by a plastic tent thing, which seemed quite temporary. The seats were right by the home Family Stand. Early in the first half a drain pipe on our stand was hit by a wayward shot from a Bristol Rovers player and it crashed to the floor. Luckily no one was hurt. The rest of the Memorial Stadium looked impressive.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
It was a good game. Port Vale dominated the first half going a goal up, but Rovers equalised just before half time. Port Vale never seemed to come out for the second half and Rovers took the lead through a penalty to make it 2-1 to the home side. That is how it finished and it was probably a fair result.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Once we got back on the Gloucester Road, it was then a straight run.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
If you are an away fan then I would get there a couple of hours early if you want to find somewhere nearby to park and go to a local pub. Next time I will go on one of the official coaches.
Bristol Rovers v Cambridge United
Football League Two
Friday 25th March 2016, 3pm
Sam Matthews (Cambridge United fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Memorial Stadium?
The Memorial Stadium would be a new ground for me, and as it was looking like Bristol Rovers might go on to gain promotion, it was going to be a case of a last chance for me with Cambridge a while!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I took the supporters coach leaving Cambridge at 9:30am. Journey on this bank Holiday Friday was hellish. We got stuck on nearly every motorway we went on, especially the M4 going into Bristol. Eventually we made it to the Memorial Stadium at about 2:30pm, which I'd rather have been arriving at 12:30pm, which often seems the case with coaches!
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc., and were the home fans friendly?
As we arrived quite late we went straight in, where I brought a nice Sausage Roll, which I had with a drink in the blazing sunshine.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Memorial Stadium?
The away section at Bristol Rovers comprises of a standing terrace side on and a few seats in a tent like structure behind the goal. Our ticket was for the terrace (along with the majority of our 400 strong away support). The away end isn't too bad, however the lack of a roof means you could be exposed to the elements. However the fine Good Friday weather meant this wasn't the case. The lack of roof does unfortunately also mean that little atmosphere can be created.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
As Cambridge and Rovers were both in with a shout of promotion, the game was well attended, with a very strong home support making plenty of noise throughout. As mentioned earlier it's a shame we couldn't do the same. But there wasn't much of a reason for us to do so, as we found ourselves 2-0 down within 20 minutes. The rest of the game was pretty much just Cambridge being dominated by an impressive Gas side.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away was a bit of a faff in the Coach, as the streets are quite narrow around the ground as anyone having been there will know, and the hordes of Rovers fans using the street as path meant that the coach took a while to reach the main road, but once we did we were away and back in Cambridge by 9pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Despite the rather shocking result (ending 3-0), it was a good day out at the Memorial Stadium. Obviously it's never nice having a four hour journey home after being comprehensively beaten but I would still recommend Bristol Rovers as it's a rather relaxed day out, just pray for good weather!
Bristol Rovers v Plymouth Argyle
Football League Two
Saturday 23rd January 2016, 3pm
Luis Hart (Plymouth Argyle fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Memorial Stadium?
It is one of the closer away days and some class this as a bit of a derby so I knew it would be a good game- especially with both teams high up in the league.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I got the train to Bristol Temple Meads and then onto another train to Filton Abbey Wood. The journey took less than ten minutes and we ended up not paying as there was no conductor on board nor tickets barriers at Filton Abbey Wood. When we got there as we came out of the station we cut through a walkway onto Nutfield Grove and then left onto Filton Avenue. From there it's about a 20 minute walk and fairly easy to find if you just stay on the same road, there is a few shops on the way but not many places to get a fast food meal.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We didn't really meet any of the home fans as it was me and a few mates and we just wanted to get there, so we didn't do to much before the game, but I believe the pub most of the away fans went to was 'The Wellington'. Most the home fans we saw gave us some smug looks but then again Rovers and Argyle aren't the best of friends.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Memorial Stadium?
The Memorial Stadium had a bit of character to it which I like, all parts of the stadium were very different, the away end included a small amount of sheltered seats and an uncovered standing area to the right of it where I was. It is one of the nicer stands and the view was better than I expected despite where we were, also if you went to get food or drink you didn't miss any of the action as it was just at the top of the stand.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was quite entertaining, either side could have won it and they like to play attacking football, it finished 1-1 and we equalised in the 89th minute so It was worth it and we had a good view of the goal. I didn't have anything to eat at the game but there was plenty on offer and the prices weren't too bad either. There was a load of police and stewards and they were a bit slow to react to the smoke bomb, but otherwise no problems.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting out of the ground walking wasn't too bad as both sets of fans came out together, there was a few Rovers fans trying to wind people up but we had no problem.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Top day out and I recommend it 🙂
Bristol Rovers v Leyton Orient
Football League Two
Monday 28th December 2015, 3pm
Mark Schleich (Neutral fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Memorial Stadium?
I was down in Bristol spending Christmas with my In-laws and fancied seeing a live game. It was always going to be a Gas game for me because firstly, my wife's family are from Easton so they are the 'local' club and secondly, as I am a Spurs fan, I'm not keen on any side that plays in a red shirt! I booked the tickets for me and the three lads online which was easy.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The Memorial Stadium is located a mile or two North of Bristol City centre. Dropped off near the ground by my wife.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Had a couple of pints in the Queen Vic on Gloucester Road. Got a few stares on entering from the locals as I was obviously a 'new face' and had my son and two of his cousins with me. That said I had no issues and felt comfortable in there.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Memorial Stadium?
A basic but nice little stadium. Any ground with a decent sized covered terraced end hits the spot for me. I also loved the quirky looking Main Stand that would be equally at home at Lords or the Oval.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
An entertaining match which the Gas won 2-1. The quality of the football was decent enough and the second of the two goals scored by Rory Gaffney was top drawer. We stood in the home end behind the north goal and the atmosphere was really good. The fans at the Memorial Stand certainly get behind their team.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Back to the Queen Vic for a pint and then picked up at 6ish.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
All of us thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The atmosphere inside the ground was really good. Next time I'm down if the Gas are at home we will definitely be their. Up the Gas Heads!
Bristol Rovers v Leyton Orient
Football League Two
Monday 28th December 2015, 3pm
Tim Williams (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Memorial Stadium?
The Memorial Stadium was another ground to tick off the list. I first saw Bristol Rovers as a visiting Nottingham Forest supporter at the old Eastville ground back in the 1970's. That ground was an old mishmash of a stadium and the Memorial Ground is a similar mixture of odd stands. I'd seen the ground on the TV and was intrigued to see what it looked like in real life.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey was straightforward down the M4 from London. It was a bank holiday so there was lots of traffic but it all kept moving. A car fire near Bristol came close to holding us up and another couple of minutes and the fire service would have been on the scene and the motorway closed. As it was I raced past hoping that the petrol tank didn't go up. The motorway exit for the ground is the same as for a superstore so that was a bit busy but I soon passed the desperate shoppers and easily found a parking place in the side roads near the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I first went straight to the ground to collect my ticket. I was hoping for a pasty but the queues were long and with kick off approaching, I sacrificed this for a place on the terrace behind the home goal. As this was a bank holiday game I think the cider had been flowing and the home fans were very boisterous. In the past I've never found Bristol supporters – either Rovers or City – particularly friendly but as a out of towner in the home end I felt fine.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Memorial Stadium?
The Memorial Stadium is an odd looking ground. Behind the home goal it's a traditional covered terrace end. To the side is a very tall but short stand that straddles the half way line. Opposite is a pavilion type stand that looks more like something you'd find at a cricket or rugby ground. Behind the other goal there is some temporary seating covered by what looks like a tent.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
It was a good game between two decent teams. There was an near 10,000 crowd and the atmosphere was impressive. Rovers scored midway through the first half and Orient equalised just on half time. Rovers got what turned out to be the winning goal early in the second half – a great shot from outside the area that curled just inside the post. The celebrations behind the goal were lively to say the least – staying upright was a challenge. But it was all good fun and reminded me of my youth standing on the Trent End at the City Ground. There were lots of choruses of 'Goodnight Irene' as the home side hung on for a win.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Despite the big crowd it was easy to get away. I was soon on the motorway and back in London at a reasonable time
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Great day out. Bristol Rovers have passionate fans -and lots of them – and really should be in a much higher league. Their ground might need some sorting out though; I think there are plans to move but it would be good if they took the vibrant atmosphere with them.
Bristol Rovers v Stevenage
Football League Two
Tuesday 24th November 2015, 7.45pm
James Walker (Stevenage fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Memorial Stadium?
I was looking forward to this away day as the Memorial Stadium would be a new one for me to tick off the list. Plus the game also looked very winnable owing to Bristol Rovers recent poor home form.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I went with my friends Ollie (driving), Matt and George for this one instead of taking the normal supporters coach. Especially as the last time we went by coach to a midweek game, it arrived late. Our journey was very good and it took us three and a half hours to reach Bristol in the evening (including a 20 minute stop in Reading). We were informed that we could not park in the club car-park as all the spaces were booked up, but there was a lot of nearby street parking available.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went to a fish and chip shop just a few minutes walk away from Memorial Stadium for a bite to eat (located right next to a Dominos) and bumped in to several home fans in there who were friendly. We then went to the ground and headed straight to the club shop (a portakabin outside) for programmes, which cost £3 each. We then attempted to go round to the players entrance, but were told that it's blocked off so we couldn't get round there. To pass some time, we went into the supporters bar and saw several other away fans in there with full colours chatting happily to home fans.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Memorial Stadium?
The away terrace is of a fair size and open, with toilets and a tea bar right at the top of it, so you can still get your food and enjoy the game at the same time. The rest of the stadium looked mismatched. The stand to our left looked like a temporary stand, whilst the Main Stand opposite us looks like it belongs at Ascot Racecourse. The other half of the stand we were in towered high above us so we couldn't even see the home fans sitting at the top.
View From The Away Terrace
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game started brilliantly for us, as we went 1-0 up inside 4 minutes thanks to a clever corner routine finished off by Steven Schumacher. Rovers looked fairly strong after that and equalised (fairly deservedly) on 38 minutes, though the lack of an offside flag stunned us! A half time pie was the order, and I was particularly interested in the meal deal. A pie/sausage roll, bag of crisps, chocolate bar and any hot/cold drink for £5.50. This was polished off in moments. The second half dragged for us, but we retook the lead on the hour thanks to a Chris Whelpdale screamer. Rovers threatened several times after that but only came close on a couple of occasions but we held on for our first away win of the season.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away was easy. we walked back to the car and were back on the main road within ten minutes of the final whistle, getting us back home around 1am.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
This was a fantastic night out for us with two very good journeys and three well deserved points. What more could we have asked for?
Bristol Rovers 1-2 Stevenage Attendance: 5,819 (101 away fans)
Bristol Rovers v Northampton Town
Football League Two
Saturday 8th August 2015, 3pm
Gary Robinson (Northampton Town fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Memorial Ground?
Well it was the first league game of the season and after the Summer break, renewed optimism for a good season was high. Plus I was looking forward to travelling by train to Bristol.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I split my train tickets so rather than travelling direct to Bristol, it entailed three rail journeys. First from Northampton to Birmingham New Street, then from New Street to Worcester Foregate Street and finally changing there for Bristol Parkway. Although this meant that the journey would take an hour longer then if I had got a direct service, it was not a problem as it saved me about £12 on the fare.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Arriving at Parkway I left the station and turned right into the village of Stoke Gifford. Bearing in mind it was a glorious warm day, The Beaufort Arms which is only about a ten minute walk away with outdoor eating and seating fitted the bill. From there it was bus 73 which previous research has shown stopped right next to the Memorial Ground. Catch it back at Parkway station forecourt Day ticket £4 although the wiser ones will just pick up PlusBus with their rail tickets.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Having been before I knew that we would be baked on the open terrace at the Memorial ground, on this August day. The ground hadn't changed from my previous visit over ten years ago. Still had the cricket pavilion like stand opposite and the tented away seats behind the left hand goal.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was played in very warm conditions. But the Cobblers just edged it and fully deserved their 1-0 win courtesy of ex-Gashead John Joe O'Toole's second half header. The atmosphere was good Rovers celebrating their return to the Football League and they got behind their team well. As did the travelling Shoe Army. I never eat at football grounds so cannot comment on the food and I don't remember anything about the stewards which point to them doing their job absolutely fine.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
After congratulating the lads after the game it was a brisk five minute walk back through the car park to the bus stop. Hopped on a 73 back to Parkway. On this particular day it took well over 40 minutes to get back because of matchday traffic. But Although the bus was extremely hot in the sun I had allowed plenty of time before my train back.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A good day, a decent pub, a great result and every single train was spot on time. Can't really ask for more than that!
Bristol Rovers v Grimsby Town
Conference Premier
Saturday August 9th, 2014, 3pm
Glynn Sharkey (Grimsby Town fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I had been to the old Eastville ground many years ago, but hadn't been back to Bristol since, so the Memorial ground was a new one for me to tick off. Plus this was the first league game of the new season, so one not to miss.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Due to the cost of train tickets, plus the fact we wouldn't get into Bristol much before kick off
we decided on the car. My old mate Chuckler who lives in Leeds city centre volunteering to pick up a hire car and meet up at Meadowhall Travelodge after work on Friday night, ready for an early morning start.
I blame the tram into Sheffield, copious amounts of real ale, Wetherspoons burgers followed by the obligatory kebab for the fact the morning start was delayed somewhat. Starting off an hour later than planned we hit every road works, accident, tailback imaginable and by the time we made the A42 were ready for brekky. We headed off the A42 towards Coalville, found a roadside greasy spoon and were soon back on our way again.
On hitting Bristol we hit the traffic again, gridlock and with only 70 minutes before kick off the chance of a pint slipping away. Crawling down the A38 with the ground about half a mile away we saw The Inn On The Green pub, swung down the side street next to it and parked up.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
With 25 minutes to kick off I dived inside and ordered a swift couple while Chuckler decided to go straight to the ground. 15 minutes later, the best part of eight notes lighter and with a churning belly I set off for the ground. Walking past the Wellington pub I headed down towards the ground and found myself amongst a large group of lads "swapping handbags". Luckily this was soon broken up as it had the potential to turn nasty. Well done the Police on that one.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
To be fair I thought it looked better from the car park outside, it's an odd little ground. We were on the open terrace to the left of the East Stand facing one of the weirdest side stands opposite that I've ever seen. A quite large (compared to the rest) and grand looking stand with two tiny covered stands each side, behind the goal to our left was a stand that wouldn't look out of place in your back garden when you have the BBQ going.
Come On You Mariners!
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
A large crowd of over 7,000 and a decent Grimsby following made for a good atmosphere, the stewards and police seemed very relaxed and happy to let people carry on and enjoy their selves. I was pleased to meet up with a few of the London Mariners and despite not making a beer together before kick off, we agreed on a few after.
With half the first team missing we weren't really expecting much so a point in the 0-0 draw probably saw us happier than the Bristol fans. Saying that whoever scored was going to win and our striker LJL missed a sitter from only 10 feet out, which cost us two points.
I didn't try any food but the burger stall at the back came in very handy for shelter from the torrential downpour just before half time!
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
A ten minute walk to The Inn On The Green and a few pints with some of the London Mariners made a perfect end, it's always good to catch up. After an hour the traffic had all but died and we were on our way with no problems.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A good start to the season, not too bad a ground and the area didn't seem bad either. It was great to meet up with mates but what spoiled it for me was our late arrival despite a 7.30am start. I do like to have a bit of a look around beforehand.
Bristol Rovers v Fleetwood Town
League Two
Saturday October 5th, 2013, 3pm
James Spring (Neutral fan)
1. Why were you looking forward to visiting the ground?
My local team Weymouth were away to Biggleswade and I couldn’t get to Nottingham to watch my beloved Notts County, but I was desperate to see a game this weekend. A quick look through the fixture list showed that Bristol Rovers were at home to Fleetwood. I did some research on this website to see how best to get there, and when I found that a train return would be £17 it seemed like too good an opportunity to miss.
Plus it would be another ground ticked off, and with the constant speculation about Rovers leaving the Memorial it might be my only chance, plus the match looked quite appealing so off I went.
2. How easy was your journey, finding the ground, car parking?
I caught a train from Weymouth that got me to Bristol Temple Meads just before 2pm. I had looked on Google maps at the route, but decided instead to just jump in one of the Taxis outside the station. The Taxi driver was actually a Bristol City fan, so we talked about the Bristol Derby which had taken place a few weeks earlier, and he reminisced about the City sides he’d watched in his youth. Friendly chap and I couldn’t complain at £10 for the ride. He dropped me off just outside the Memorial Gates.
3. What did you do before the game pub/chippy/home fans friendly?
Having got to the ground at roughly quarter past two I just went straight to the ticket office, which is directly in front of you as you go through the Memorial Gates which are behind the Blackthorn End. I met up with a mate of mine who recently moved to Bristol for work, and we decided to watch the game from the Blackthorn Terrace so we could sample the best of the atmosphere. £18 for an adult ticket (I managed to forget my student card!) wasn’t cheap, but it certainly wasn’t over expensive either. The match day programme cost the standard £3 and was a pretty good read.
One thing I really liked was that while the players were warming up, Rovers manager John Ward came over to the Blackthorn End and spent time saying hello to fans young and old, having photos with fans and signing autographs. I thought this was a really nice gesture, and it’d be nice to see more managers do that sort of thing.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impression of the away end and other sides of the ground?
The first thing I noticed was how odd the ground is, in that six stands make it up and none of them seem to match. The away fans are housed partly on an open terrace and partly in a temporary seated stand behind the goal, so I’d imagine it’s pretty difficult to get much atmosphere going in the away end.
As I said, the different stands make it quite odd but I liked the ground, I always prefer the old fashioned type grounds. The East Stand looked quite impressive, and looked very similar to the main stand at my local club Weymouth.
5. Comment on the game itself, stewards, atmosphere, pies etc
The first half was a bit of a non-event. Rovers tried to get the ball down and play but offered absolutely nothing in the final third, while Fleetwood’s tactic seemed to be to hoof it up to the big lad up front. The second half however was a lot better. Rovers came out stronger and had a golden chance to go 1-0 up when Andy Bond raced onto a through ball but could only shoot high and wide one v one with the Fleetwood keeper Scott Davies. Fleetwood then went close when Antoni Sarcevic had a long range effort tipped over the bar by Steve Mildenhall when it looked destined for the top corner.
On 64 minutes a goal finally arrived for the visitors when a run into the area was not stopped by the Rovers defence and Jamille Matt turned the ball home from no more than a yard out. The goal seemed to spark Rovers into life and just two minutes after falling behind, Andy Bond’s cross was headed home by John-Joe O’Toole, sparking jubilant scenes in the Blackthorn end, with many fans running to the front to give Scott Davies an ear full after the Fleetwood keeper had shushed the home fans after the first goal.
Rovers were now on top and the home fans were right behind their team. In the very next attack Rovers had another header cleared off the line, and from the resulting corner they saw another header come back off the post. Fleetwood weathered the storm and with just three minutes to go, Jamille Matt scored his second of the game to put Fleetwood on the verge of another away win. The home side tried to rally but couldn’t force another chance, and deep into added time, Jon Parkin sealed the game for the visitors with a wonderful volley from a tight angle. A frustrating day for Bristol Rovers who will wonder what might have been had they made their pressure tell after the equaliser.
I was a bit disappointed at the atmosphere which only really came to life after the Rovers equaliser, although to be fair the game had been quite flat up to that point. Mind you when the entire Blackthorn end sang “Goodnight Irene” it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, that sounded brilliant!
The food inside the ground is pretty good and quite cheap. I brought a coke and sausage roll for just £1.95 before the game, although half the pastry from the sausage roll ended up on the floor!
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
My mate knew where he was going so we got a bus back into town. Bus was fairly busy as you would expect, as were the roads, so it took a good twenty minutes to get back into town. From there I had to run back to Temple Meads as my train left at ten to six. The station is very well sign posted throughout the town centre so you’d do quite well to get lost. From the bus stop to the station is was about a twenty minute walk, and I got back with time to spare. There were a couple of Rovers fans on my train so we had a chat about the game and the season ahead. They were pretty friendly, if a little depressed.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of day out:
On the whole an excellent day out. Another ground ticked off, one decent half of football and not too expensive either. I hope Rovers pick up as the season goes on. They’re a decent sized club who shouldn’t be fighting to stay in the Football League.
Bristol Rovers v Southend United
League Two
Saturday, March 24th, 2012, 3pm
John Spooner (Southend United fan)
My son and I had never visited this ground and having dropped to 4th in the table after some poor home performances, we were anxious to get a good result to keep Southend in the promotion race. Bristol were mid table.
We journeyed by car from North Wales as exiled fans, expecting to drive south via M5 and A38 but due to a serious crash blocking the M5 en-route we had to divert through Wolverhampton, Kidderminster down toward Worcester before rejoining the M5. The ground was easy enough to find and we parked near to the Wellington Pub.
We enjoyed a quick home made snack in the car before walking down the hill to the stadium and noticed that both sets of supporters were happily enjoying a pint or two at the Wellington.
The ground on arrival is poor looking and the away covered end looks gloomy. The ground looks old fashioned with different size stands. We had decided to stand on the open terracing in a corner of the ground, and on a warm March day (22 degrees) sunshine was in our eyes for the entire game. The pitch looked okay.
The game was a scrappy affair with Freddy Eastwood, making a return to Southend, finding it hard to get goal scoring chances. Both teams struggled to find the target but with five minutes left we gave away a penalty and Matt Harrold (ex Southend) duly netted to consign us to another loss. A crowd of 6,258 only really came alive with the penalty and the 521 Southend fans were subdued by the lack of goal scoring chances and the hot sun possibly. Southend dropped down to 5th place with just seven games left but hopefully promotion via the playoffs.
I can recommend the huge Cornish pasties and the chicken curry pies looked tasty too. The stewards were friendly enough but it felt slightly intimidating to find by half time that there were about 20 Police and stewards behind us on the terracing and at the end we were stopped from leaving the ground for 20 minutes, despite there being no obvious problems.
Despite the delay in leaving the ground it was easy enough to get moving on the A38 towards the M5 motorway.
So overall, a disappointing day after a tiring journey to the game, although the sunshine was welcome. Hopefully Bristol will move to a proposed new stadium and both clubs will progress to higher levels.
Bristol Rovers v Wycombe Wanderers
League One
Saturday, January 30th, 2010, 3pm
Peter Radford (Wycombe Wanderers fan)
It was good to be back on the road again with Wycombe and heading West to what appears from photo’s to be a quirky unusual ground.
Getting to the M32 was easy however where there was a traffic jam for the IKEA store and the combination of this and a football match nearby made for heavy traffic so worth avoiding this route.
The ground was tough to find, hidden within a large area of housing at the top of a hill. With a modest crowd there was not even the usual flow of people to hint at where the ground was. Parking in nearby streets however was relatively easy within a 5-10 minute walk.
A strange but genuine ground which has, on either side, tall stands which run only half the length of the pitch. There is a classic covered terrace at the North end and only a temporary stand at the South end with a port-a-loo area in one corner. The away fans have a choice of sitting next to the loo’s or standing on a small terraced area in one corner.
Stewarding was friendly and the sun was out which made for a relaxed pre-match atmosphere – for a sunny afternoon game don’t forget to take a cap or sun glasses as the away corner looks into the glare throughout the first half!
Recalling a televised game in recent seasons, and given that Rugby is also played, I had expected the pitch to be poor but was surprised to see an excellent surface. A reasonably skilful League One game resulted from the good conditions and any neutral would have enjoyed an end to end game. For the committed fan the ebb and flow was as stressful as ever and at 1-0 up and then 3-2 up no Wycombe fan was confident of the outcome.
Being open to the elements it was difficult for the 400 away fans to make themselves heard from the terrace which detracted from the atmosphere.
On the day the dice fell our way and Wycombe registered their first win for over a month which was the basis for a happy if slow drive past IKEA out of the city and east to Berkshire.
A fun day out to an unusual ground and one that I’d happily return to, but armed with sunglasses next time!
Score: Bristol Rovers 2 Wycombe Wanderers 3 Attendance: 6,688 Ground No: 37 (of the 92).