Morecambe
Globe Arena
Capacity:
6,476 (Seating 2,173)
Address:
Christie Way, Morecambe LA4 4TB
Telephone:
01524 411 797
Fax:
01524 832 230
Pitch Size:
110 x 76 yards
Pitch Type:
Grass
Club Nickname:
Shrimps
Year Ground Opened:
2010
Undersoil Heating:
No
Shirt Sponsors:
Annapurna Recruitment
Kit
Manufacturer:Macron
Home Kit:
Red with White Trim
Away Kit:
All Yellow
After 89 years at Christie Park the Club have moved to a new purpose-built stadium. At a cost of around £12m, the Globe Arena (which is named after the company Globe Construction that built the stadium) was opened in 2010. The stadium is dominated by the Peter McGuigan Stand on one side. This stand which is named after the current Club Chairman has a capacity of just under 2,200 seats. This all seated, covered stand, has a box-like feel, with a corporate glassed area to the rear. It is free of supporting pillars and has windshields to either side, essential for a football ground located near the coast.
Opposite is the North Terrace, which is a very small open terrace that is only a few steps high. The terrace is split into two separate parts, with a large gap between them located around the halfway line. Behind this gap in the terrace is a service entrance, whilst above is perched a television gantry. Although reminiscent of the Car Wash Terrace at Christie Park, it does detract from the overall look and feel of the stadium. Both ends are covered terraces. The West Terrace is for home supporters and houses 2,234 fans, whilst the East Terrace is substantially smaller and is for the away support. In the North East corner of the stadium, adjacent to the away terrace is a Police Control Box. Also located in this area, attached to a wall beside the Control Box is a small electronic scoreboard.
Away fans are mostly housed in the beyondradio terraced stand at one end of the ground, where just under 1,400 supporters can be accommodated. In addition, the Club also makes around 300 seats available in the Peter McGuigan Stand, which is shared with home fans. As you would expect with a new stadium the view of the playing action is good. However the facilities are not that great, more to do with lack of space at the back of the terraced stand, more than anything. They also have separate queues at the refreshment hatch for food and alcohol, which is not great when you want something to eat with your drink and vice versa. However, if you get a chance then try one of the Club’s pies (£3.50), which are highly acclaimed and have won a number of awards. They also serve hot dogs which cost £2.
Rob Parker adds; ‘I sat with the Rotherham fans in the Peter McGuigan Stand. To gain entrance I had to edge through the tightest turnstile block I’ve ever known, and then proceed down a narrow four-foot wide open alleyway into the stand, passing the entrance to the toilets and the refreshments kiosk, where there was a small scrum of fans around the serving window, which is built into the back of the stand.
One thing of note was the apparent lack of segregation of home and away fans in the Peter McGuigan Stand – despite being sat in adjacent blocks there were no barriers, netting, or even any stewards between the two groups, even the facilities below the stand were shared. The beyondradio stand end is large enough for most League Two sides and is happily free of pillars, while the low roof makes it easy to make a decent atmosphere. It is actually raised above pitch level, so you have to walk up some steps to get to it, unlike the slightly larger home end. The overriding impression of the ground is that it’s a modern remake of Christie Park, complete with two covered terraced ends, the larger given to home fans, the open tiny terrace along one side, with the Main Stand dominating the ground. If Morecambe can develop the North Terrace, currently roofless and very open, this will probably be one of the better grounds in the division. Whether they do so remains to be seen.’
On the seafront, around a ten minute walk away from the stadium is a dedicated away fans bar called The Boardwalk. There is a BBQ and a rooftop terrace open exclusively for away fans with big screens showing the early kick offs and entertainment before and after the matches. Beer is reasonably priced at Carlsberg (£2.40) Tetleys (£2.20) Carling (£3) Double Smirnoff + Mixer (£3), plus 4 pint pitchers available too. Tea, coffee and soft drinks are also available as it’s completely family-friendly. There is also a bus stop located conveniently outside the bar which drops off outside the ground. The final bus before the match is at 14.35. For anyone making a weekend of it, there is music on the Friday night starting at 8.30pm and entertainment after the match. Plus the Boardwalk also has a number of hotel rooms available for £40 per night B&B if you want to make the trip to Morecambe. Call 07891813640 for more information. If arriving at the ground then with the entrance to the stadium behind you turn right and it is then a straight road up to the promenade. On reaching the seafront (where there are some great views across Morecambe Bay) turn right and walk along the front for about another five minutes you will reach the Boardwalk.
Just outside the stadium entrance is a modern Marston’s pub called the Hurley Flyer. Family-friendly and offering food too, it has its own car park which costs £10 before the game, but this can be refunded against a food purchase. Otherwise, the closest bar that admits away supporters is on the Regent Leisure Holiday Park. This is situated just a few minutes walk away from the stadium along Westgate (with the stadium entrance behind you, turn right, cross over to the other side of the road and the Regent Park entrance is down on the left). David Foster a visiting Chesterfield fan adds; ‘I had a drink across at the Regent Caravan Park. This was fully accessible, offered a decent pint and food, plus had Sky television on a big screen and generally had a good atmosphere.’ You can also park at the Caravan Park at a cost of £3 per vehicle.
Otherwise, if you turn left out of the stadium entrance then around a ten minute walk away (located opposite a Lidl supermarket on Westgate) is the William Mitchell pub, which also shows Sky Sports. If driving to the stadium from the direction of Lancaster you will pass a Toby carvery which offers reasonably priced food.
If arriving by train then you may care to try a Wetherspoon outlet in the town centre, called the Eric Bartholomew on Euston Road or on the sea front the Station Promenade pub, which also has a Wacky Warehouse for the young children. Anthony Yellop a visiting AFC Wimbledon supporter adds; ‘We stumbled upon the Kings Arms which is located right opposite the Eric Morecambe statue. The upstairs has 4 pool tables, 2 darts boards, 3 massive televisions and a table football game. It did a really nice breakfast and had great staff. It was only a £5 cab ride to the ground, a brilliant base camp for larger groups’.
Near to the old Christie Park is the York Hotel, which was popular with away fans visiting the old ground. It lays on a double-decker bus in matchdays to take fans to the new stadium from the hotel. Daniel Pemberton a visiting Lincoln City fan adds; ‘I parked at the York Hotel, it was very friendly and did a nice meal. The Hotel lays on a bus (Cost £1) to take you to the ground, however I walked it and only took 10 minutes. Come out the main entrance to the hotel, turn right then immediately right again and follow the road down, you come to a sports and social club “Trimpell” on your left, continue on down past some stables on your right. The alleyway brings you out right by the ground’.
Otherwise, alcohol is served inside the stadium in the form of 500ml plastic bottles of Carlsberg Lager, Tetley’s Bitter and Strongbow Cider (all £3.20).
After winning promotion into League One, Morecambe have set about improving their match day experience through changes to the concourses and other areas around their stadium. The club have spoken about their intention to keep enhancing the stadium but without detailing their exact plan.
Morecambe spent their inaugural year as a football club sharing Woodhill Lane with the local cricket team. Despite poor form, the crowds flocked to watch them play and a stadium move was on the cards almost instantly. They moved to Roseberry Park where they would remain until 2010; Roseberry Park was renamed long before that though to Christie Park. The name was taken from the former club president JB Christie. Plans for the new stadium were announced 14 years ago (2007) with the new Morecambe ground opening in 2010.
At long last the Lancaster Bypass is now open, so getting stuck in traffic going through Lancaster City Centre is a thing of the past.
Exit the M6 at junction 34 and follow the signs for Morecambe. After around five miles you will reach a crossroads (with a McDonalds over on the right) where you turn right onto the Morecambe Road. You will then reach a roundabout, (where there is a Toby Carvery) where you take the first exit into Westgate Road (signposted West Promenade, Sandylands). Continue along this road for about one mile and you will reach the stadium on your right.
Car Parking
Parking at the stadium is for permit holders only so it is a case of finding street parking. If you continue along Westgate passing the stadium on your right, then on the other side of the railway bridge there is plenty of street parking to be had in the side roads on either side.
Post Code for Sat Nav: LA4 4TB
Morecambe Railway Station is around a 25-30 minute walk away from the Globe Arena. As you come out of the railway station turn left down Central Drive past Frankie and Benny’s, a Morrisons superstore and a KFC outlet and you will reach the sea front. Turn left along the promenade passing the Ranch House pub on your left and then take the 5th left into Regent Road. Proceed straight up Regent Road and continue along into Westgate. You will reach the stadium on your left hand side, just over the railway bridge. Morecambe is served by trains from Lancaster.
David Foster adds; ‘From near Morecambe train station you can get a bus number 6 or 6A, from the bus stop located opposite Frankie & Benny’s or from the nearby Bus Station. This drops you right outside the stadium and takes about ten minutes. Coming back there is a bus stop outside the ground, the bus then goes into town along the seafront and then onto the railway station.’ A timetable for 6/6A can be viewed on the Stagecoach website (PDF file). Paul Legon adds; ‘It is also possible to catch a bus from Lancaster to the stadium. Lancaster Bus Station is around a seven minute walk away from Lancaster Railway Station. You can either get the 6A (half-hourly service) straight to the ground or a number 2X to the Battery on Morecambe promenade. Ask the driver to be dropped off at the end of Regent Road on the Promenade and then this is a ten minute walk away from the Globe Arena. Bus number 1 going to Heysham will also take you to Regent Road and is more frequent but is much slower. To get back to Lancaster after the game, either get a 6A (not 6) or retrace your steps to the promenade and catch bus number 2X or 1. (Cross over the prom to get the 1) To return to Morecambe Station you can get a 6 or 6A in the opposite direction (i.e. crossing the road) but trains from Morecambe to Lancaster are never more than hourly at match times and most terminate at Lancaster so you have to change there to get any further.’
Home Fans
Peter McGuigan Main Stand (Centre Premium*):
Adults £26, No Concessions Peter McGuigan Main Stand (Centre): Adults £24, Concessions £20, Under 19’s £11
Peter McGuigan Main Stand (Wings): Adults £21, Concessions £17, Under 19’s £8
Peter McGuigan Main Stand (Family Area): Adults £21, Concessions £17, Under 18’s £6, Under 14’s Free**
West Terrace: Adults £17, Concessions £14, Under 18’s £5, Under 14’s Free**
North Terrace: Adults £16, Concessions £13, Under 18’s £5, Under 14’s Free**
Away Fans
Main Stand: Adults £21, Concessions £17, Under 19’s £6
Beyond Radio (East) Terrace: Adults £17, Concessions £14, Under 18’s £5, Under 14’s Free**
Concessions apply to Over 65’s and Students (in full time education, proof of student status must be produced).
* Premium seats allow you access to a lounge with bar facilities.
** When accompanied by a paying adult.
Official Programme £3
Morecambe vs Accrington Stanley rivalry: Morecambe and Accrington are pretty closely situated with just 40 miles between them. On top of the close proximity, the two have faced off many times over the years. Morecambe’s hatred boiled up after their promotion to the Football League; eight years without beating your rivals will do that to you.
Morecambe vs Fleetwood Town rivalry: These two north west seaside destinations are closer together than Morecambe and Accrington; it’s not quite as intense though. That’s because the teams haven’t locked horns as much over the years. They duo still aren’t keen on one another though.
Morecambe FC fixture list (Takes you to the BBC Sports Website)
For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.
Regent Holiday Park
If you need comfortable accommodation in the local area, then look no further than Regent Leisure Park. Regent Leisure Park is just a few minutes from Morecambe promenade and beach. Whatever the season, on a clear day there can be no finer view in the whole of the country than that enjoyed from Morecambe Promenade looking out over The Bay to the Lakeland Hills beyond.
The holiday accommodation at Regent Leisure Park features a range of holiday homes to suit all the family. They have fantastic facilities which include our spectacular indoor swimming pool and sauna, outdoor sports arena, indoor children’s play area, bar and eatery.
Reggie the Regent Mascot is sure to be a hit with our younger guests! Regent’s entertainment complex offers a newly refurbished cabaret Hollywood themed lounge bar and separate sports bar showing all the latest sporting events. Rest assured there will always be something to keep you entertained.
Regent offer fantastic offers and deals on our holiday accommodation, visit the Regent Holiday Park website for more details.
The Berkeley Guest House welcomes travelling football fans to Morecambe FC. Situated on the promenade, it is only a five minute walk away from the Globe Arena. In fact in terms of distance it is the closest Guest House to the stadium.
Fans can claim a 10% discount off our normal room tariff, if booking over the telephone by calling 01524 418201. This discount is not available if the booking is made online.
Enjoying fine views across Morecambe Bay, this Guest House is well recommended by previous guests on trip advisor. Visit the Berkeley Guest House website for more information. We look forward to welcoming you soon!
Record Attendance
5,003 v Burnley
League Cup 2nd Round, 24th August 2010
At Christie Park
9,234 v Weymouth
FA Cup 3rd Round, 1962.
Average Attendance
2019-2020: 2,264 (League Two)
2018-2019: 3,134 (League Two)
2017-2018: 1,492 (League Two)
Official Web Sites:
www.morecambefc.com
www.globearena.co.uk
Unofficial Web Sites:
Supporters Club
Shrimps Voices Message Board
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at: contact@footballgroundguide.com and I’ll update the guide.
Morecambe v Rotherham United
League Two
Saturday, August 14th 2010, 3pm
Ryan Dunning (Rotherham United fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I was looking forward to this as soon as the fixtures came out, it transpired to be the first league game at the new ground. Also living ‘overseas’ I have to pick and choose games somewhat.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We travelled by train and arrived a few hours before the game. There were plenty of pubs and places to eat around the sea front near to the station, although the sea front itself has certainly seen better days. There were no other football fans in the town at the time other than those from Rotherham arriving on the train so I presume there are other options closer to the ground. As kick off approached we took a taxi to the ground which took 10 minutes and was approx £7.
3. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The ground itself is very smart, with a terrace behind each goal and a Main Stand down one side. The opposite side of the ground is a very bizarre affair resembling a brick wall with a few steps infront. One of the most apparent issues with the away end is the lack of space between the back of the stand and the perimeter wall. You could literally just walk past another person shoulder to shoulder it was so narrow, and considering this is where the food outlets and toilets are the congestion is severe. We had only brought around 600-700 that day so I’d be interested to hear comments from fans with a larger support.
4. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
The game itself was a lively 0-0 draw with both teams going close. A relatively good atmosphere was created by our travelling support and the stewards were very low key. I can't comment on the food as I’d eaten in town beforehand.
5. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Possibly the most bizarre in my 25 years watching football!. As we left the ground in search of a taxi, an open top bus was in the car park to take the home fans to their supporters club near to the old ground. However on asking we discovered away fans were also welcome and the driver offered to drop us at the station. A fare of £1 was charged and an enjoyable banter filled journey was had by both sets of fans. I'm not sure if this is a regular thing or a one off but it was a novel way of getting back (I'm not sure how popular this would be on a Tuesday night in November however).
6. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A good day out at a friendly club with a very nice new ground which has been built to meet a purpose whilst avoiding the concrete bowl design..
Morecambe v Cheltenham Town
League Two
Saturday, February 5th 2011, 3pm
Martyn Stimson (Doing the 92)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
This was the last ground for me from the current 92. At the start of the season I’d pick out games for each of the new grounds/teams for the season and this was one of the dates shortlisted for visiting the new Morecambe ground. Four gullible friends agreed to accompany me on this weekend so the cheap advance train tickets were purchased. Two of us had been to Christie Park a few years earlier and had a pleasant day out so we were looking forward to a good day out without the stress of watching Colchester.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We took the train. The 08.30 out of Euston dropped us off in Lancaster at 10.56 leaving 3 hours to sample the pubs of Lancaster. We then took a cab to Morecambe and walked from The York (near Christie Park) to the Globe.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
We had a fantastic time drinking in Lancaster. There are some excellent pubs for the discerning real ale drinker.
We started in the Sun on Church Street (only a few minutes from the station) which opens early. This is a smart and comfortable pub/hotel that had a wonderful selection of ales, mainly from the Lancaster Brewery, at a very reasonable price.
Next stop was the Water Witch on the canal tow path. Again, there was a good range of real ales on the canalside pub/restaurant. The rain put us off the outside seating area but I would imagine it is lovely out there on a fine day. We chose to eat here and can highly recommend the cheese board (a selection of 3 from 12 interesting and varied cheeses, accompanied by salad, pickles and about half a loaf of bread).
From there we walked along the tow path to the White Cross. This is a large canalside pub on two different levels that was presumably converted from a canal warehouse. It also served food and looked quite good as it passed us. There was also a good range of ale on offer too and outside seating for dry days.
Last stop in Lancaster was the Three Mariners, on Bridge Lane near the bus station. This was a smaller cosy pub with several ales and a real fire.
As there were five of us we grabbed a cab from the taxi rank across the road from there to the York pub in Morecambe which only cost about £8 and took us past the Sainsburys that is now on the site of the former Christie Park. The York is a reasonably large pub that supposedly acts as the Morecambe supporters’ club house. It was quiet but there were two Morecambe fans in there and they were happy to talk to five neutrals although somewhat surprised that we’d come all the way from Colchester/Ipswich to see Morecambe play. They explained that the usual open top double decker shuttle bus from the York to the ground wasn’t running because it had been booked for a wedding. However, they offered to show us a short cut along a footpath to the ground.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The ground is not in the most pleasant surroundings with a council estate on one side and a large caravan site on the other but the locals seemed friendly enough. The front view of the ground is quite impressive exterior view of the Peter McGuigan stand. There is covered terracing behind each goal, one end of the home fans and one for the away fans. The Main Stand, the Peter McGuigan Stand, is quite an impressive modern all seater stand with one block at the east end of the ground for the away fans and the rest for the home fans. The stand opposite is very different though. It appears to be about three feet of terracing separating the pitch from a Berlin Wall replica with the press box on the halfway line (good planning as this stand never gets shown of the TV).
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
Both teams had been in a bit of a slump in recent weeks but they both tried to play some free flowing, entertaining, attacking football. The game ended in a well deserved draw for both sides with Morecambe probably edging the game overall but they did have to rely on a number of fine saves from their goalkeeper. The Morecambe fans behind the goal were making plenty of noise and created a reasonable atmosphere. Cheltenham fans weren’t as vocal but seemed to be enjoying the game. Stewards were friendly and one was extremely helpful in giving us directions for after the game. I didn’t try the food but the pies looked quite appetising. The toilets were adequate for the game in question but would have struggled during a big match.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We walked from the ground back to the station which took about 25 minutes and involved us seeking out a narrow footpath from a housing estate to the back of the station (we had to ask locals for directions to find it).
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
We had a great day out, despite an early start. Lancaster is well worth a visit if you like your ale. The Globe Arena is not in the best of surrounding but Morecambe seems to be a friendly place.
Morecambe v Burton Albion
Saturday, April 9th 2011, 3pm
League Two
Neil Oakshott (Burton Albion fan)
Because Morecambe had moved into a shiny new stadium during the summer of 2010, this was one of the away games I was eagerly looking forward to.
The journey up from the Midlands seemed to take took forever due to heavy traffic on the M6 on what was an unfeasibly hot day for early April. Consequently we limped into the town at 2pm, having planned to be there much earlier. Rather than street park we decided to use the car park at Westgate Primary School, located in Langridge Way, about 200 yards on the right on West Gate before you hit the stadium. At £4 a car it wasn’t cheap, but it was off road and secure.
Because of the late arrival we went straight to the ground, past an unsmiling steward and through a narrow turnstile (not as bad as those at Hereford I might add) and into an empty ground. First stop was for food and the choice on offer wasn’t as we expected. Basically it was down to a choice of hotdogs (large or small) and meat and potato pies, all served up by more unsmiling staff. That was the sum of the menu, but we were so hungry we went for the pie and peas option and the kindest thing to be said is that it filled a hole.
Walking into the away end the first thing we noticed was the much talked about contrast on either side of the ground. The Main Stand is impressive from outside as you approach the ground, and from inside seems to be well designed, offering a good view in comfort. The few Brewers fans that chose to sit complimented the legroom. The other side just looks plain weird, almost as if the architect ran out of ideas and wanted to get home early on a Friday afternoon. On the day we visited it was probably the best place to be in the sun, but when the wind whips in from the sea on a cold January afternoon it isn’t anywhere I’d want to stand!
The game itself would be best summed up as a dour midfield struggle, with Burton gifting the hosts an early goal on 10 minutes. The second half was no better and Morecambe ran out deserved 2-1 winners, leaving Burton deeper in the relegation mire. The atmosphere was quite muted all round, other than amongst a group of Burton fans who whined throughout the game, looking to argue and fight with anyone who disagreed. The moral of the story – don’t drink and then go to a football match kids.
Getting out of the ground was easy enough and we decided to drown our sorrows with after match fish & chips on the promenade, so went the opposite way to most of the traffic. As with the Burton Albion performance these, too, were predictably a letdown, but at least we got to see the Eric Morecambe statue.
Despite everything I really enjoyed my day out. I like the Globe Arena and the small side of the ground is there to be developed should the fortunes of the club take an upturn in the future. The staff could do with smiling just occasionally though.
Morecambe v Northampton Town
League Two
Saturday, May 7th 2011, 3pm
Adam Long (Northampton Town fan)
I was really looking forward to visiting the Globe Arena as Northampton had just secured League Two survival by beating Stevenage the week before. It was also the final game of the season and the Northampton Town supporters were in a great mood and a party atmosphere beckoned. This was the first season that I had really started going to away games towards the end of the season mainly, as I felt the club could benefit from my own and others increased support in the battle for survival.
The journey was a long one, over four hours on the coach, with one stop off at a service station on the M6. The ground was signposted fine and speaking to the driver, he thought it was a tough trip due to traffic and congestion in Lancaster. However whilst driving alongside a coach full of Cardiff supporters on their way to Burnley we had a bit of banter and enjoyment which lightened the mood. The same could not be said for when we encountered some MK Dons fans who had stopped at the same service station as we had on the return when the banter got a bit out of hand between a few.
Before the game we stopped off along the sea-front for a while. The area along the sea front was a bit run down in places, but we found a small KFC to eat at along with a few fellow Cobblers fans. Didn't mix with many home supporters there, although the ground was fairly close to the beach. There were more home supporters nearer the ground who seemed friendly enough.
The ground looks fairly impressive on arrival, but there was a distinct lack of coach spaces for away fans in the car park which could be trouble for more popular games. The away end was functional, a nice terrace but not enough crush barriers for support. Some seats were made available in the Peter McGuigan Stand which some fans decided to sit in. Another 'stand' to our right was just a small terrace, just a few steps high, with a perimeter wall at the back. This terrace was for home fans. Behind that terrace was an AstroTurf area where training sessions for children were taking place. Overall the ground was clean, new, and fully functional.
The game was great! On the back of the previous victory and now looking confident and having nothing to lose, Northampton looked a changed team, taking the lead after 24 minutes through Kevin Thornton. The atmosphere created by the 950 away supporters mostly crammed into the away end was amazing. Many people had brought inflatable items and balloons to celebrate our success,. This was stark contrast to the lifeless home support who were silent throughout. Maybe we just couldn't hear them over our amazing noise! We then scored again after 85 minutes with a fantastic strike from on loan Ben Tozer from 25 yards. Morecambe pulled one back in the dying moments but we hung on for victory.
The toilets were sufficient and clean, but some away supporters did end up flooding them after the game, on purpose? I don't know. I didn't buy any food whilst I was there but friends commented on the good standard of theirs. The stewards were fine, joining in with our fun, throwing inflatables back to us when they had dropped onto the pitch perimeter. They were fantastic. When some supporters decided to run on the pitch however, the stewards were not so great, allowing one 'large' fan to run and kiss a player, get his shirt, then run back off whilst concentrating on one or two others who had attempted to hop the boundary on to the pitch. Then getting police to arrest them, leaving the other man 'Scott free.'
After the game had ended, it took us a long time to get out of the ground due to traffic and a police van blocking our exit trying to catch more troublemakers, but once we got away we traveled at a steady pace all the way back.
Overall a fantastic day, a good ground to visit, wouldn't hesitate in returning. A great turnout from the Northampton fans in bringing 950 fans compared to the 37 Morecambe brought to us, a great atmosphere, good result, nice place, good day.
Morecambe v Sheffield Wednesday
FA Cup 1st Round
Sunday, November 13th 2011, 3.15pm
Dan Brennan (Sheffield Wednesday fan)
This one was truly a spur of the moment trip. Having drawn what could be a potential banana skin game, I thought it would be a good battle. Plus with the Globe Arena being new and not probably having too many opportunities to go there in the future, we set off for Morecambe.
The journey up was simple. Morecambe is a remarkably easy place to find, it's motorway all the way there. Once there though, we parked about 15 minutes away from the ground due to the absolute lack of anything that resembled civilisation around the stadium.
We got there about 1.20pm and went straight to a burger van turned chip shop that is set up outside the ground. The prices were a little hefty for a 'chip shop', for a tight-fisted Yorkshireman particularly, but the food itself was nice. Then we went across the road into the Regents Hotel, which I would recommend to any travelling fan. A remarkable mix of Wednesday and Morecambe fans, coupled with a simply fantastic comedian and the cheap ale, meant that it was an hour well spent. It really did help add to the carnival atmosphere created my many Morecambe fans who were clearly looking forward to a historic tie for the club.
The Peter McGuigan Stand is very, very nice looking from the outside. It is clear that the ground is modern and is really nice to look at. Because of the smallish ends though, this is really all you can see as you would have to go for a walk around the ground in order to see the other stands. Underneath there is a small but nice club shop (although I found the merchandise to be extortinate for a League Two club!) and a bar which is to home fans only. The man on the door, however, did let me and friend run through to the toilet as there are none whatsoever in the surrounding areas.
Also outside the ground I met arguably the most friendly woman I've ever met at a football ground, who showed us where to eat after the match and even drove us there to show us the way. Thumbs up to the woman, and she was representative of Morecambe's people in general. Once inside, the Main Stand is equally nice looking and compliments the ground and the club well, with both terraces perfectly tidy and nice enough. One complaint about the away terrace is that there seems to be a dire lack of crush barriers to hold on to, which got frustrating in the second half. The other stand, however, cannot be ignored as it's a real eye-sore and brings down the whole look of the arena. It looks as if the architect either run out of money or run out of ideas, because it's simply a brick wall with a couple of steps in front. Once the club put something on that side of the ground, it'll bring the look of it as an overall stadium up dramatically.
The match was a typical David vs Goliath cup tie, with Wednesday playing the pantomine villan and winning 2-1. The Owls, buoyed by a fantastic away support as ever, controlled the first half and even a poor penalty decision in Morecambe's favour from the referee couldn't help save them from being knocked out.
The concourse at the back of the terrace was simply too small. People struggled to get down it in opposite directions and although this would be perfectly adequate for smaller League Two followings, it was simply not big enough for a larger one. Queues went quickly though, and the food was a lot cheaper than at Hillsborough! The stewards were fine, allowed us to stand all game! The atmosphere was good although I don't think it would be as good for a normal league game – Morecambe had a bumper crowd for the tie and coupled with free plastic hammers people were whacking together, I think this was a bit of a one-off atmosphere.
After the match we were away very quick, very simple, was back on the way down south looking forward to a tie against Aldershot Town or Maidenhead United within 15 minutes.
Really enjoyed my day out at Morecambe. Nice to finally see the Owls win on the road at the fourth attempt this season, and I found Morecambe to be a nice place. The ground was good, although the 'brick wall stand' as the Wednesdayite's called it was very disappointing and needs addressing, the rest of the ground is nice. I found the time spent before the game to be fantastic, with Morecambe's people being wholly friendly and are a credit to their club. Good luck to Morecambe this season but on the day, as was beautifully summed up by Chris Waddle, 'the big fish ate the little shrimp.
Morecambe v Macclesfield Town
League Two
Tuesday, February 14th 2012, 7.45pm
Shaun Conway (Macclesfield Town fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I'd never been to the Globe Arena but did attempt to go last season but the match was postponed due to a frozen pitch. It's always good to go to a new stadium, especially one I'd not been to before.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Straight down the M6 and off at Junction 34. Managed to park the car just beyond the stadium, it was over a railway bridge and by a housing estate. Plenty of parking and well lit and just a 10 minute walk from the ground!
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
I arrived early so decided to have a wander down to the seafront. As Morecambe is a coastal town it wouldn't be right to not have a look at the sea even on a cold Tuesday night! All home fans I came across seemed Ok and there was no trouble between either set of supporters.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
For a new stadium it looks really good but unfinished. Only the Main Stand is seated and the rest of the stadium looks like it is waiting to be expanded if the club move up the divisions. Macc took about 150 or so fans so we were put into the seated area of the Main Stand.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Morecambe won a dull game 1-0 despite Macc hitting the post 3 times in stoppage time; that's what happens when you haven't scored a point yet in 2012! The stewards were fine and we were allowed to stand all game without any problems. Morecambe's pie's are well known for being good so I treated myself to one before the game – I wasn't disappointed!
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A nice trip for a Tuesday night just a shame about the result. Will definitely be going again as it's not too far and a rather simple journey.
Morecambe v Swindon Town
League Two
Friday, April 6th 2012, 3pm
Max Springer (Swindon Town fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I'm a Swindon fan living in Blackpool so it seemed an easy away trip, you can practically see Morecambe Bay from where I live! It was my first ever away trip so I was looking forward to the match very much and couldn't wait to get there!
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We drove up the M6 and got off at junction 34, managed to follow the sat-nav to get us to the ground, we were met with heavy traffic but that's to be expected on a bank holiday weekend. The ground was easy enough to get to, only taking us around 15 minutes once we were off the M6.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
I got to the stadium around 20 minutes before kick off so didn't have too much time to mess about so I just went straight to the ground. I had to ask a Morecambe fan which stand was for away fans and where I could buy my ticket, he was very helpful and friendly.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
When you first see the stadium from the outside then it looks great! I loved it's look and just the new feel to it. The weather wasn't great so I had to get into the away stand quickly (Which involved going through the tightest turnstile ever!) It was your 'run-of-the-mill' terrace with a low roof, I'd always wanted to watch a match in a terraced stand and enjoyed it. The rest of the ground, however, didn't look that good at all. The Main Stand looked a bit small, and the other two stands just seemed incomplete and were lacking the new feel that the Main Stand had to offer.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Swindon were awful in the first half and should've been 2-0 down to be fair to Morecambe! We got going second half and a classic Paul Benson goal gave us the lead and he ended up being dragged among the celebrating Town faithful, we could've scored more but the final result was 1-0 to the Town. The stewards were lenient enough and didn't seem to get too involved with the fans which is fine by me. The atmosphere was incredible among our fans who were having our promotion party, and we sung the entire 90 minutes, with the low ceiling and terracing providing even more atmosphere. The food and drink kiosk was built into the stand, which wasn't the best and was in a very narrow alleyway behind the stand, service was fast though.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
There were only 3,000 fans there so it was quick to get away, not too much football traffic either and we were out of Morecambe in around 20 minutes.
Morecambe v Southend United
League Two
Saturday, October 20th 2012, 3pm
John Spooner (Southend United fan)
My son and I were looking forward to a first visit to The Globe Arena, with both sides having won their last games and hoping to climb the table.
The journey was easy for us Southend fans living in North Wales with a 90 mile trip compared to a near 300 mile journey for the majority of travelling fans from Essex. Using exit 34 of the M6 takes you easily to the ground. We looked at parking options and decided to park at the nearby school for £4 and a short walk to the ground.
Before the game we took the opportunity to drive along the promenade and see the Eric Morecambe statue and enjoy the stunning views of Morecambe Bay.
On arrival, the first impression of the ground is that it is new and obviously built with limited funding, with one side having a large all seater stand but opposite is a severely limited standing uncovered area. The away terrace was closed to Southend fans and we had to sit on one side of the all seated Main Stand which is comfortable and gives a clear view of what was a good looking pitch.
My only gripe is that it was £5 extra to sit and I felt a bit miffed that Morecambe had saved money on stewards by closing the away standing end and made took extra money by charging Southend fans who wanted to stand behind the goal. I guess that is the economics for most clubs at this level.
The game lacked atmosphere until the 2nd half when the home fans in a small crowd of 1,643 got behind their team and were rewarded with a late goal to settle the match.
The stewards were friendly and approachable, and the cafe area with a live Sky game is clean and roomy, the toilets were also clean and modern but the highlight has to be the pies. They are the best ever, I can recommend the meat and potato and my son said he had never tasted a better pie. We asked for gravy and it added to a superb treat. The pies were £3 but for and extra £1 you got a drink too, excellent.
After the game travel from the ground and local school was easy with traffic moving fairly freely.
Overall we enjoyed our day at Morecambe except for losing of course. It was a mild sunny autumnal day and although the game lacked sparkle both sides tried hard and it is always nice to experience a first time visit to any ground.
Morecambe v Fleetwood Town
League Two
Thursday, December 26th 2013, 3pm
Jamie Smith (Fleetwood Town fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
Having missed the 'sea food' derby as it has been christened last season through illness and our current good form in the League, I was highly anticipating a great atmosphere and taking 3 points home on Boxing Day.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I took the official supporters coach from Fleetwood. We left at 12 noon and got there at about 1:15pm, with no major traffic until we got into Lancaster.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
After I got off the coach I walked into the town center, got a KFC and met a few friends who had stayed over the night before at the Midland Hotel. We then went back up to the ground and went into the pub right to the stadium where we had a few pints.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The Peter McGuigan Main Stand is the first thing you see from the exterior, which makes the Globe Arena look impressive from the outside. However inside the rest of the stadium does not live up to the Main Stand which towers over the rest of the small looking ground. Talking of small, the turnstiles into the away end have to be the thinnest I have ever squeezed through and the concourse at the back of the stand is very cramped too. This made getting a pie at half time a very difficult task. The views from the Bay Radio Terrace at one end, which is given to away fans, are though very good as it is raised above pitch level. However, it is set back from the pitch.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The pitch was in a pretty poor state and the home side seemed to cope better with the conditions than us. Morecambe were fortunate to take the lead when a downward header deflected off the pitch in front of goal giving our keeper Davies no chance. The acoustics in the away end are superb and our fans were in fine voice to which the players responded and on any other day we could have scored two or three. but it was not to be and Morecambe won 1-0.
In my opinion the stewards were heavy handed with the away fans which led to some unpleasant scenes between the fans and stewards. Although it took a while to get served the pies were very good. I had a meat and potato pie which cost £3. Overall facilities weren't anything special but I've seen worse.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away was easy, got on the coach, got on the M6 and was home in no time.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Decent ground, good food, but a poor pitch and turnstiles. Good acoustics in the away end. It was though on the whole a good day out. My only wish was that the Morecambe fans had vocally got behind their team more.
Morecambe v Exeter City
League Two
Sunday, October 26th 2014, 1pm
Steve Ellis (Exeter City fan)
1. Why were you looking forward to going to this ground?
This was yet another new ground for me and one I've been looking forward to going to for sometime. I just missed out in previous seasons due to work or other reasons. As normal I travelled up on the official supporters coach, the journey was straight forward, leaving Exeter at 5am, arriving in Morecambe at 11am.
2. What did you do before the game, pub, chippy….home fans friendly?
On arrival at the ground we opted for a drink at the Hurley Flyer pub, which is located right beside the ground, with drinks starting at £3.50 a pint. From there we then went to the club bar and grill where they had their super Sunday offer on with drinks starting at £2 a pint. Home fans I spoke to were friendly.
3. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end and then other sides of ground?
On getting though the turnstiles we came into the bar area which was of a good size. Away fans are normally housed in one corner of the Main Stand, larger followings are also given the Bay Radio Terrace, behind the goal. The West terrace behind the other goal mirrors it and is the home end. Opposite the Main Stand is the North Terrace which is a small open stand. We were seated in the Main Stand which had good facilities and adequate leg room.
4. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, refreshments etc.
The game was good with Exeter running out as 2-0 winners. Atmosphere was also good between the home supporters and the 162 travelling Exeter fans. Stewards were helpful and low key, toilets were also clean. You cannot go to Morecambe and not try one of their famous homemade pies, for our game they had the meat and potato pie with added gravy if you want that. At £3 the pies are definitely worth it. Pints inside the ground started at £3.50.
5. Comments on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting way after was straight forward once clear of the post match traffic, eventually getting back to Exeter at 10pm. Long day but the result made the trip worth it.
Morecambe v Walsall
Johnstone's Paint Trophy, 1st Round
Tuesday 1st September 2015, 7.45pm
Zane Alpine (Walsall fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Globe Arena?
Walsall had been drawn away to Morecambe in the JPT after finishing as runners up in the competition last season, so we decided to see if we could repeat the miracle for a second year running. Also the Globe Arena was a new ground for Saddlers fans as this was our first ever competitive game with Morecambe.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We took the supporters coach up to the game which was a fairly straightforward journey and took around 2 hours and 45 minutes. However when we left the motorway to travel through Lancaster this took up at least 45 minutes worth of the journey due to having to slowly go through a number of narrow roads in rush hour traffic. However when we got through Lancaster we arrived at the ground around 5 minutes later.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
There is a pub right next to the Globe Arena which we spent a while in as we had around an hour and a half to spare before kick off. However other than this, there didn't seem to be nothing else to do around the ground. We asked a steward if he knew of anywhere we could go for something to eat/drink and even he said himself there's nothing other than the pub and pre game is usually quite boring for the away fans as the ground is too far away from Morecambe town centre.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
We were located in the all seated Main Stand, the rest of the stadium was comprised of terracing. The two terraces behind either goals looked quite impressive and the stand we were in was fairly new with a very good view of the pitch.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
We dominated the first half and missed a golden chance to go in front which seemed to spur on Morecambe in the second half as they scored twice in it to win 2-0. We did have more chances and shots and possession than them, but it was just one of those days where the ball wouldn't go in for us. The Morecambe fans made a fairly decent atmosphere from the home terrace behind the goal which was aided by a drummer.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It took us around 20 minutes to get out of Morecambe and back through Lancaster and after that it was a fairly simple two hour journey back down the motorway. We arrived back at Bescot Stadium at around 12.30am.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I was disappointed with the lack of pre game things to do and also the result, but overall it was a fairly decent, but frustrating game. Still I would definitely visit the Globe Arena again.
Morecambe v Cambridge United
Football League Two
Tuesday 24th November 2015, 7.45pm
Nick Harling (Cambridge United fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Globe Arena?
Cambridge were looking for their first win under new manager Shaun Derry – having lost our last three. This clash with Morecambe seemed a good chance to get our season back on track again. Plus I had heard a lot about Morecambe's legendary pies! Morecambe were running a special ticket promotion for the game which meant that me and my son watched the match for the grand total of £3 (including programme!). This made things a lot cheaper for the travelling fans.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
After getting off the M6 to the south of Lancaster it was another 20 minutes drive to get to the Globe Arena. Managed to get a parking space on the road right outside the stadium, and that was only 15 mins before kick off. There seems to be plenty of on-street parking around the area of the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
With little time to spare, it was straight to collect our seated tickets and then into the ground.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Globe Arena?
The stadium has a very impressive frontage. We popped into the shop for our bargain ticket which seemed very well stocked and modern. Entrance to the away seats in the main block is through a couple of narrow turnstiles (3 and 4) to the right of the main entrance. Once inside we visited the functional but clean toilet facilities. The away seats in the 'A' block of the Main Stand give a very good view of the ground. The 'away terrace' to the right is apparently rarely used unless there's an especially large travelling contingent. The 167 travelling U's fans were comfortably accommodated in the seated section, which is only separated from the home crowd by a couple of sheeted-over rows of seats.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game went as well as we could have hoped. Cambridge were 3-1 at half time, leaving the home fans a little subdued and the U's fans hungry for the local cuisine. The pies were popular and good value for their size (£3), they certainly lived up to their billing! A tea was a reasonable £1. Another Cambridge goal just after the restart really put the game to bed and despite a late Morecambe consolation, the game was won. The roof covering the stand gave our fans plenty of echo for the songs and chants. Total attendance was just under 1,700 which I believe is about average for the club. Stewarding was sensible and tolerant of the odd inebriated fan, who was dealt with firmly but fairly (i.e. not chucked out, but sat down close to where the stewards could keep an eye on him).
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Really straightforward again, 20 minutes back to the motorway – though be aware that you have to go to the Lancaster South junction of the M6 if you want to travel southwards, as the closer Lancaster North junction is currently undergoing major redevelopment that is going to last at least another six months.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
An enjoyable trip out to a modern and friendly ground. Obviously the win made it better, but the bargain ticket offer was a real bonus and no doubt encouraged more folk to turn out on a chilly November evening.
Morecambe v Oxford United
Football League Two
Saturday 13th February 2016, 3pm
Rob Pickett (Oxford United fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Globe Arena?
Annual lads away day out with overnight stay in Morecambe! It was also my first visit to the Globe Arena. There is always a bit more interest when you going to a new venue.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I drove with some Oxford friends who had come up to Sheffield. Without using Sat Nav, it was very easy to find the ground by following the signs upon arrival in Morecambe.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
It was easiest to park up at the Marstons Pub very near the ground. They serve food and a good range of real ales. I think they were taken by surprise by the number of fans visiting and were struggling to cope. That said, it seemed fairly friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Globe Arena?
From the outside the Globe Arena looks quite impressive. The layout inside is surprising, with very narrow corridors to the toilets and catering facilities. We stood on the away terrace and you get a good view.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was quite even with both sides pushing for three points. The critical moment was a sending off for Morecambe and then Oxford pounced with some well worked goals. As Oxford took a good following, it was a decent atmosphere. I would say the stadium staff are fan friendly.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Not too much of an issue. Inevitably a queue, but got away in good time.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Morecambe is a bit of a journey, but a scenic one at that. Clearly the club have made a lot of effort since getting into the Football League. I would certainly recommend a visit at least once from away fans. An enjoyable enough day.
Morecambe v Stevenage
Football League Two
Saturday 23rd April 2016, 3pm
James Walker (Stevenage fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Globe Arena?
I was firmly looking forward to todays game as we could finally relax and enjoy the run-in, having secured our survival with a 0-0 draw against Bristol Rovers in midweek. There was also mild optimism between us all that we could have an afternoon to remember as we had enjoyed a seven goal thriller against Morecambe at the Lamex back in November, and they had been battered in midweek away to Cambridge.
Globe Arena
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I took the supporters coach for the game. An 8.20am departure saw us arrive at the Globe Arena for 1.20pm. There's lots of parking available outside the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I went straight to the club shop (located right next to the away turnstiles) to purchase a badge (£2.99) and my programme (£3) then went into the ground. I didn't have much contact with the home supporters, except for a couple I spoke to in the shop who were very pleasant to talk to.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Globe Arena?
Normally you hear about the away fans being shoved away in the worst part of the ground, but it's a refreshing change here that the away fans are actually in the nicest stand. This Main Stand is a big deep seated stand running the length of the pitch with the away fans in one side of it. Behind the goal to the right of this stand is a small covered terrace that is for away fans but only when the seated stand is full so only our flags were here for the game. Behind the home goal is exactly the same, a small covered terrace, whilst running the length of the pitch opposite is a small uncovered terrace. The concourse is big and spacious with a bar at the end selling well priced food and beverages, as well as some fans standing around selling programmes and half time draw tickets. There is also a big screen showing the early kick-off.
The Teams Before Kick Off
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game started poorly with neither side looking to get forward but that changed when Morecambe took the lead. We continued to look poor until a flukey own-goal got us level followed by a fantastic team goal finished off by Dean Parrett just before Half Time. The second half livened up from our point of view as we missed several fantastic chances before a Dean Parrett second and Ben Kennedy strike saw us return south with a fantastic win. The pies here are simply magnificent, either Ham & Leek or Meat & Potato pies with a fantastic beef gravy, certainly one to enjoy if you're here in the winter months! At £3.60, it is a fantastic one to enjoy.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away was simple. Out of the ground, but firstly back in to the club shop next door to purchase a teamsheet for 20p, then turn the corner on the left to the car park where the coach was waiting for us. A good journey home saw us arrive back at the Lamex for 9.30pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Well who doesn't love an away day when you win comfortably! A fantastic day out followed by a fantastic result and one I will definitely be doing again next season.
Half Time Score: Morecambe 1-2 Stevenage
Full Time Result: Morecambe 1-4 Stevenage
Attendance: 1,129 (92 away fans)
Morecambe v Doncaster Rovers
Football League Two
Saturday 10th September 2016, 3pm
Antony Bendin (Doncaster Rovers fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Globe Arena?
For me primarily it was just another away game following my team Doncaster Rovers. However this was also to be my first ever visit to the Globe Arena, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I went on the supporters coach, so it was a three hour journey. On arrival at the Globe Arena the away coaches parked right next to the away end.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As soon as we arrived, we headed to the Hurley Flyer pub which is situated right by the entrance to the Globe Arena. It wasn't particularly large and as you would expect it was rather busy and cramped. However we did manage to get a drink, so it served its purpose.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Globe Arena?
The Globe Arena is a small modern stadium, but has a traditional football ground feel to it. The away end was okay, but I'm a big lad and the turnstiles were a bit tight! The facilities were fine and we had a good view of the pitch. The away stand itself was okay for League Two standard, we took around 800 fans with us so we pretty much filled it.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.
The game was amazing, Donny smashed them 5-1, and in truth it could have been more. On every attack we looked like we were going to score. The atmosphere from the away end was crazy, we sang and sang the whole game, the only time we heard something from the home supporters when they scored their goal to make it 2-1 before half time, other than that, we were the only ones making the noise. However considering the poor performance of the Morecamble team then this was probably understandable Stewards weren't the greatest, but like most other ground away supporters are not treated the best by them. Towards the end of the game they started to increase the numbers of stewards in the away end, which considering that Doncaster are not known for causing trouble seemed strange and only increased tensions. I did have a Hot Dog which cost £2.60, but it must have been one of the smallest you could buy. Other than that, it was a good time at the Globe Arena.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Straight from the away end, onto the coach, and straight out, little traffic at all.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Well it was a great away day, with a great team performance and result. Add in some food and drink, then what more can you ask for? Plus another ground ticked off the list!
Morecambe v Exeter City
Football League Two
Saturday 29th October 2016, 3pm
Ryan Pugh (Exeter City fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Globe Arena?
In all honesty, I wasn't expecting too much. Although our away form is very good, and Morecambe's home form isn't great, one would think we'd have a good chance of winning.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Traveled via the supporters coach as usual, which left Exeter at 7am .We got to the Globe Arena just after 1pm. The journey definitely dragged on towards the end, and we couldn't wait to get off the coach.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went to the ticket office so some of us could purchase tickets, and headed to the pub right outside the ground – Marstons Hurley Flyer. We left the pub around 2:15pm, and went straight into the stadium.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Globe Arena?
From the outside the the Peter McGuigan Stand looked quite nice, but the rest of the exterior was certainly nothing to shout about. Inside, we had a fairly good view, although we couldn't see one corner of the pitch as an executive box was obstructing our view.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Bought a hot-dog for £3 (complete rip-off for an average hot-dog), then a pie for £4, which was top notch, by far the best pie I've had at a football ground. We took 153 away fans, and we sung throughout the match, and the home fans had a drum which in all honestly drowned out their chants. The first half performance was as good a performance that I've ever seen, we fully deserved to be 3-0 up at the break, and could easily have been more. In the second half, we were more defensive, kept our focus well, and most importantly, got a clean sheet to go with our fifth away win this season.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
No problems getting out, got straight back onto the coach, and left pretty swiftly. There was quite a bit of traffic, but once we got onto the motorway it was fine.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
The whole day exceeded my expectations, that's for sure. A lovely pie to ac company the great performance was more than good enough for me. I would fully recommend the pies if you visit Morecambe FC, and I'll certainly be returning in the future.
Morecambe v Grimsby Town
Football League Two
Saturday 25th February 2017, 3pm
Kevin Dixon (Grimsby Town fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Globe Arena?
The Globe Arena in Morecambe was another new ground for me, and a not too distant trip.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
A steady drive via M180, M18 and M62, but then unfortunately the M61 was blocked by an accident. So I had to continue round the M60/M62 and then onto the M6. Once past Lancaster on the new bypass, the ground is well signposted as you enter the outskirts of Morecambe. I drove past the Globe Arena, over the bridge, and parked in the first side street on the left, just a five minute stroll back to the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Went for a pint in the Hurley Flyer right next to the Globe Arena. There were plenty of fans of both sides in there. It had a reasonable selection of real ales and the service was not bad considering how busy it was.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Globe Arena?
The Globe Arena looks very nice from the outside. We were housed in the Bay Radio Terrace behind the goal and it was nice to able to stand for a change. The Grimsby fans also had a section of seating in the Main Stand, located nearest the away end. The Main Stand is all seater, with executive boxes, and the opposite home end is a mirror of the Bay Radio Terrace. The fourth side of the ground is a four or five step terrace, backed by a concrete wall, which looks as though it could be redeveloped at some point in the future. Bizarrely, a fair number of Morecambe fans stood on this terrace in the wind and rain, rather than stand in the covered terrace behind the goal. Hardy or barmy, who knows?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
For the third time in the last four away games, we conceded a goal within the first four minutes and never looked like scoring. The game was spoiled by a gusty wind and squally showers, and the pitch deteriorated rapidly during the second half. Morecambe seemed to adapt much better to the conditions, and had two further goals ruled out for offside, as well as hitting the post and crossbar. The 600 or so Grimsby Town fans made plenty of noise as usual, but to no avail. The stewards were fine, food looked okay although I didn't try any, and the toilets were also okay.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
There was a bit of a queue to get away, but no worse than other places I have been to. I then got held up by an accident on the M6, but still arrived home by 8.30pm. I was also collared at Birch Services, along with another Town fan, by a Bradford City fan, who wanted his picture with us, as he loved the Sacha Baron Cohen "Grimsby" movie!
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
The Globe Arena is not a bad ground to visit, and I will probably go again. Everybody seemed friendly, and there was no sign of any trouble. One final point which was good, was a tweet from Morecambe Police, thanking the Town fans for their behaviour, and looking forward to us visiting again.
Morecambe v Mansfield Town
Football League Two
Saturday 25th March 2017, 3pm
Jack Richardson (Mansfield Town fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Globe Arena?
The Globe Arena is the only ground in League Two that I haven't visited. So in my quest to 'do the 92' I had to tick it off the list. Mansfield are having an exceptional second half of the season under Steve Evans so I was attending hoping to see our charge to the play offs continue.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We left Mansfield around 9.30am and arrived into Morecambe shortly after 12pm. We parked at the ground as we had been gifted a Directors parking space for the day. The Hurley Flyer pub which is located just outside the stadium, were offering parking at £10 per car however there didn't seem to be anybody taking the money!
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went into the Hurley Flyer pub which is located a stones throw from the away turnstiles, a family friendly pub offering a wide variety of beers/ales & ciders. Didn't seem many home supporters around and the pub wasn't very busy considering its location!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Globe Arena?
The Globe Arena is smart and reminds me of their former home, as it has a smiler layout with two terraced stands behind either goal, a Main Stand running the length of the pitch and a small open terrace on the opposite side. The away section in the Main Stand offered a large concourse area with SKY TV and good views of the pitch (avoid the back few rows as the directors boxes do restrict your view).
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game burst into life and it was 1-1 after seven minutes, Danny Rose opened the scoring for Mansfield before Paul Mullin leveled for Morecambe. Half time arrived and Mansfield were 3-1 up and it stayed that way until the end. A fantastic three points for Mansfield on our charge for the play offs and the 327 Mansfield fans went home happy. Stewards very friendly and low key, atmosphere from the home fans wasn't bad considering how poor their team played.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
With only 1,400 in attendance getting away from the ground was pretty easy, we arrived back into Mansfield shortly before 7.30pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A good day out made even better by three points to go home with. This was my 81st ground out of the current 92 and would happily return to the Globe Arena.
Morecambe v Exeter City
League 2
Saturday 17th March 2018, 3pm
Hugh James (Neutral fan)
Morecambe v Exeter City
League Two
Saturday, 11th August 2018, 3pm
Paul Willott (Neutral)
Whilst fortnighting in the Lake District with the family, and my beloved Preston North End far away in the depths of South Wales, a footy fix was needed and thus the fixture list was scoured to see what was practical and tempting. The stand-out winner was a trip to the Globe Arena, as it was within an hour’s drive, and more importantly, a ground I hadn’t yet visited. I had watched Morecambe play Bury at Christie Park one evening, so it was an encouraging thought to perhaps be able to once again ‘tick’ Morecambe off as having been visited.
Therefore, shortly after midday, the boys and myself left the missus and daughter to do girly things whilst we motored from our holiday cottage in Bowness-on-Windermere in gorgeous sunshine towards the M6. As the guide says, the relatively new Lancaster bypass makes the journey immeasurably easier, and I don’t think the journey took more than 45 minutes in total.
Being a good 90 minutes before kick-off, we were able to pick some very handy on-street parking in Langridge Way. We did notice match day parking being offered at Westgate Primary School with the proceeds (allegedly) going towards the education of the children, although it didn’t specify the cost.
We ambled the short distance to the ground, with the Peter McGuigan Stand dominating the walk up Christie Way and looking quite tidy for League 2 standards, modern and clean and flanked by two equally modern floodlight pylons.
External View
Situated in this stand, to the left as you approach, is the ticket office whereby I attempted to poach tickets for the home terrace behind the goal from the cheerful gent manning the window. This was the point at which the fun and games started, as when we then attempted to gain entry to the ground, the stewards pointed out that our tickets were in fact for the uncovered ‘North Terrace’, or as one of them also bluntly called it, ‘The Berlin Wall’. This was, however, after the automated turnstiles had actually allowed us in, so the stewards had to let us back out to try and get them exchanged at the ticket office. The cheery gent happily obliged us with a fresh set of tickets………..for the away supporters end…………so once again we walked back to Mr Cheery and it was a case of third time lucky for we finally had tickets for the home terrace behind the goal.
North Terrace
Once inside, the ground does give a slightly imbalanced feel, as the Peter McGuigan Stand that dominates the approach to the ground from the outside, is by some margin the biggest stand. It has quite interesting and novel looking VIP boxes situated in the middle. Both of the covered terraces behind the goals are of a modest size, whilst opposite the Peter McGuigan stand is the North Stand/Berlin Wall. As this guide says, it is reminiscent of the little Car Wash terrace at Christie Park, very small terracing split half way down the middle, a stark contrast to the edifice opposite. However, as I contemplated the North Terrace, it’s rather austere wall of chunky breeze blocks to its rear helped me understand why it has been nicknamed ‘The Berlin Wall’ by some. Quite a few of the home support settled down in front of said wall to soak up the sunshine in the build up to kick-off, but I would suspect it would be a bleak spot from which to spectate on a bleak cold mid-winters day with driving rain hammering in over the West Lancashire coast off the Irish Sea.
Peter McGuigan Stand
Perched on top of “The Berlin Wall” in the form of a very exposed scaffold is the TV gantry; likewise one must be prepared with some serious thermal clothing to be up there in less clement weather. Interestingly enough, my visit to Christie Park was on such a night complete with near horizontal rain, and the contrast wasn’t lost upon me as the little ground basked in the summer sun. As an aside, I also noted that it was the first time I had ever (knowingly) watched a game from the viewpoint of being 92nd in the football league; the Shrimpers having been hammered 6-0 by Crewe Alexandra in their first game of the season.
The matchday programme is not bad value at 66 pages for £3 with some interesting articles on players past and present, which I fully enjoyed. Of particular note was a topical article on the continued production of said programmes as the obligation on league clubs to produce programmes had been removed over the summer. Older fans such as myself align ourselves very much with the programme producer in hoping that they continue at all clubs.
An unexpected bonus was the appearance of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flying over the ground a few times; the boys being avid Air Cadets this really was a pleasing sight for them! It’s not every day you get to see ( and hear ) an AVRO Lancaster bomber flanked by a Spitfire and a Hurricane!
The overall feel of the ground is very much in keeping with the stature of the club as being one of the smaller clubs in league 2 , perhaps best represented with the sum total of cheerleaders ( or Shrimpettes ) that could be rustled up being two and a half !
As kick-off commenced, it became apparent that the Exeter City fans were all being sat in one section of the Peter Mcguigan stand, with the designated away terrace being used purely for them to string up their quite impressive collection of banners. With a little degree of sadness, I also noted that as the teams came out, there was no “Bring me sunshine!” by Eric Morecambe that I recalled from Christie Park
The game commenced with a rather flatter atmosphere that I may have expected, although it is entirely possible that the previous Saturday’s drubbing may have had some effect on the home faithful’s level of expectation. The visitors from Devon were however in fine voice, seeming almost as bright as their teams radioactive (almost!) green away strip !
Although the Shrimpers carved out a few good chances that they failed to capitalise on, the most glaring miss coming from their veteran Kevin Ellison, Exeter City seemed the better side with attacks down their right flank really causing problems for Jordan Cranston in the Morecambe defence. However, just when the game seemed destined to reach the interval at a stalemate, Cranston was wrongsided by ex Preston North Ender Lee Holmes and left it too late to make his challenge that was mistimed, and there could be little complaint about the decision to award a penalty kick, which was duly converted by Pierce Sweeney.
Great Show Of Flags From The Exeter Fans
Half-Time’s most notable incident was the apology from the public address announcer that he had omitted to play the classic Eric Morecambe tune prior to kick-off and a pledge to make amends shortly which he duly fulfilled
The second 45 started off pretty much as the first half, with Exeter looking the stronger although their Jayden Stockley’s antics at seemingly diving started to irk the home supporters. Oh so typically it was then that when, following a period of sustained pressure, that it was the same Jayden Stockley who pounced to double the Devonians advantage.
For a little while after the second goal the game seemed to go very flat, until the introductions of Messrs Leitch-Smith and Oates for the Shrimpers seemed to perk things up a bit both on the pitch and the atmosphere on the terrace. Towards the end of the match, it was the Shrimpers who finally started to pepper the opposition goal with dangerous looking shots , but it was sadly too little too late. The final whistle blew, and no-one could argue that Exeter City were not worthy of the three points.
The crowd of 1,654, relatively small even by league 2 standards, and having picked prime parking facing the right direction and being the right side of the ground meant that we were on the Lancaster by-pass in next to no time at all whizzing towards the M6 and our Lake District retreat in good time for dinner!r !
We had certainly enjoyed the day, and on a personal level for myself and the eldest ( who seems to have acquired the ground-hopper bug) it is always satisfying to have chalked off another ground on the “to do” list. The ground itself is more than adequate for League 2, and has a pleasingly distinctive feel to it, something that modern grounds often lack.
However, I couldn’t help but feel a certain degree of concern for Morecambe. Much as it is early doors, a record of played 2, lost 2, scored 0, conceded 8 must be of concern, especially on the back of the club’s struggles to maintain its league status the previous season. Scoring goals and converting chances is going to be the key area to focus on for the club on the training ground in the days and weeks to come.
Plus Points for the Globe Arena
1. Tidy Compact ground with individual flavour
2. Very friendly and helpful stewards
3. Good matchday programme, 8.5 out of 10 I’d say
Minus Points for the Globe Arena
1. Public Address system is often very woolly and difficult to hear
2. No sign of Christie the Cat, the club mascot !!!
Morecambe v Macclesfield Town
League 2
Saturday 22nd September 2018, 3pm
Thomas Inglis (Visiting Dundee United fan)
Morecambe v Tranmere Rovers
League Two
Saturday 6th October 2018, 3pm
Martin Howard (Tranmere Rovers)
Morecambe v Sunderland
Football League Trophy Group Stage
Tuesday 13th November 2018, 7.45pm
Alex Hendrikson (Sunderland)
Morecambe v MK Dons
League 2
Tuesday 12th March 2019, 7.45pm
Peter Williams (MK Dons)
Morecambe v Grimsby Town
League 2
Saturday 13th April 2019, 3pm
Ian Bradley (Neutral)
Morecambe v Wolves U21's
EFL Trophy Group Stage
Tuesday 1st October 2019, 7.45pm
Josh (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Globe Arena?
As I only have 20 grounds to now visit of the 92 and my Dad 12 all done with Wolves, the opportunity to tick another one albeit in the EFL Trophy was too good an opportunity to pass up.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
It took two hours and was very easy. We parked at the pub next to the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went into the pub and had some food before the kick off. Due to the nature of the game, there were very few fans milling about.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Globe Arena?
The Globe Arena is similar to a number of grounds. It reminded me a lot of Telford United which is local to us.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was impressive from our youngsters who looked very accomplished and deservedly took the lead. Wolves eventually got pegged back but won on penalties. The stewards were very relaxed but that may be a result of that there were only 62 Wolves fans. The facilities were basic but nothing to complain about. The atmosphere was poor but the attendance was about 500 people because of the EFL devaluing the competition by allowing our U21’s in.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Easy! Back in the car within two minutes and back on the M6 within 10 minutes!
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Another ground ticked off! Probably more needed in this competition to finish off watching Wolves at the lower league grounds.
Morecambe v Leyton Orient
League 2
Saturday 2nd November 2019, 3pm
Graeme Whitton (Leyton Orient)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Globe Arena?
I now live in Edinburgh so don't get to many Orient games. This was a good opportunity to see my team and visit a new town and ground.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
A nice easy train journey from Edinburgh to Lancaster then a short hop on a second train to Morecambe. It took about 20 minutes to walk from the railway station to the ground but it was very easy to find.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I had a couple of drinks and some food at The Station. This is a Greene King pub based in what was the old Morecambe Railway Station building. The pub was nothing out of the ordinary but decent beer and food. The big attraction for me was the location as they've retained parts of the old station building. I also had time for a quick trip across the road to the Midland Hotel. This is a lovely art deco building. First opened in 1933, it's been restored and reopened in 2008. If you walk around the right-hand side of the building you'll find The Rotunda Bar, which is open to the public. I can't say you'll find a vast range of drinks but if you want to sample some faded English seaside grandeur this is the place for you. And if you get a nice day the views are spectacular. I didn't really have any interaction with home fans but the whole day seemed pretty peaceful.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Globe Arena?
The Globe Arena is a pretty standard modern stadium. The away seats were fine and had plenty of legroom. The rest of the stadium looked neat and tidy but, like most modern stadia, a bit lacking in character.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was dire. Two sides struggling for form but Morecambe were well worth their 1-0 win. Their winning goal was the one bit of outstanding skill in the whole game. I didn't sample any of the catering so I can't comment and the stewarding seemed okay.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Easy enough to get out after the game and only a short walk back to the main road as I decided to get the bus into Lancaster. There was a bit of a queue of traffic to get out of the car park but it cleared in about 15 minutes.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall, I enjoyed the day out but not the actual game.
Morecambe v Crewe Alexandra
League 2
Saturday 29th February 2020, 3 pm
Matt Goodall (Crewe/Doing the 92)
Game Attended
Morecambe vs Sheffield WednesdayCompetition
EFL League 1Date
28/08/2021Kick Off Time
15.00Team Supported
Sheffield WednesdayWhy were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
Was keen to visit a new ground to see if our good start to the season could be continued.How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Travelling north on the M6 on Bank Holiday weekend is not to be recommended! Setting off at 7am we eventually arrived 6 hours later with only a minimal but necessary stop en-route. The ground was easy to find and was well signposted - and there was lots of unrestricted off street parking.What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Having seen previous reviews we walked down to the Boardwalk - as did what seemed like hundreds of other SW fans. The place was full to the rafters and it took almost 30 minutes to get served, so it was a quick beer before making the return walk back to the ground. Stopped at 'Kennedy's Bakery and Butchers' on the walk back where we got the most amazing pies, along with beetroot and gravy - can well recommend! Have to say that there was large police presence, but they seemed very friendly and helpful and could happily engage in a bit of banter.What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Although tiny the ground looked smart and tidy from the outside. The turnstiles where the automatic bar code scanner type and these seemed to be working quite well. Inside the ground there was a narrow walkway behind the terrace and the gents, ladies and snack bar were in this area. There was also a large walkway in front of the terrace allowing fans to easily walk across from one side to the other. I was surprised that despite it being a sell out and record crowd for that ground there seemed lots of room on the terrace which could have accommodated a significant number of additional supporters without a problemComment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was quite dour and was summed up perfectly when the only goal was an unfortunate deflection for an own goal from a corner. The atmosphere was generally very good and the locals enjoyed their version of David and Goliath! The stewarding was visible but low key. Can't comment on the food or drink as I had neither, but the toilets were as good as any other ground that I have been toComment on getting away from the ground after the game
Following the game there was no segregation and I didn't see any evidence of any aggression between rival fans. Our car was no more than 3 or 4 minutes walk away and although busy the traffic was moving away swiftly with the result that within about 20 minutes of the game ending we were back on the M6 heading southSummary of overall thoughts of the day out
Enjoyed the day despite the traffic issues heading towards the game and the result. This was a nice, warm, sunny August day - not sure that it would be as pleasant on a cold Tuesday night in February with the wind, snow and rain blowing in across Morecambe Bay!Images
Game Attended
Morecambe v Wigan AthleticCompetition
League OneDate
18/01/2022Kick Off Time
7.45Team Supported
NeutralWhy were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
Never visited the stadium before. I love football stadiums so a new stadium and I’m like a kid at Christmas. I went with a Wigan supporting friend and was looking forward to a keenly contested Lancashire Derby.How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Absolute doddle. No traffic on M6 or roads into Morecambe. Parked on Westgate Primary school at £5 but copious amounts of street parking available without the dreaded residents only signs.What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Time constraints did not allow a per match pint. Walked short distance from car to stadium. All very friendly atmosphere.What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Stadium was typical lower league new stadium. Decent sized main stand. Two small terraced covered ends and a small uncovered terrace opposite the stand. I thought it was very tidy, and compact.Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Great game. Great atmosphere. Both sets of fans singing. Late Wigan winner sent fans in my section home happy. Delicious pies with gravy . Sat in away section of main stand and it was a superb view.Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Short walk back to car. Slight delay , 10 mins or so, getting off car park, but nothing too bad, and away and home.Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
I liked the ground. The locals seemed like a friendly bunch who got behind their team. I’d highly recommend a visit.Images
Game Attended
Morecambe vs. PortsmouthCompetition
League 1Date
18/04/2022Kick Off Time
3pmTeam Supported
PortsmouthWhy were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
Last away game of the season for me, and another new ground to visit. Plus, who doesnt love a trip to the seaside?How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Very easy to find using the postcode. The ground suddenly appeared before us so turned around and found a primary school nearby which offered parking for a donation in its secure car park.What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Went to the Hurley Flyer just in front of the ground as Away fans were not allowed in the bar at the stadium which seemed unusual at League 1level, especially with no rivalry between the teams. Both sets of fans mingled happily in the Flyer, where we sat outside in the sunshineWhat you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
The main stand looked fresh and modern and had a larhe inflatable outside for kids with music pumping nearby. The away end was a pretty standard terrace exvept for being set back a big distance from the pitch. while the stand to the right was almost amusing - literally 6 concrete steps with a breeze block wall behind.Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was quite dull but the atmosphere was pretty decent. Morecambe claimed it was a sellout although only the home terrace opposite seemed full. With Morecambe in danger of relegation they fought hard and scored a late equaliser for a 1-1 draw. At halftime I had a superb meat pie with gravy. Stewards were absolutely fine and special mention to the friendly staff in the ticket office who easily swapped my seated tickets (mix up with the supporters club) for standing.Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Bit of a nightmare tbh. Although there were only around 4000 fans at the game the traffic took ages to clear nearby - it was over 40 minutes to get from the car park onto the nearby main road.Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
All in all it was a pleasant day - nice weather, decent atmosphere and a pretty fair rrsult to the match. I would definitely return.Images