Salford City
Peninsula Stadium
Capacity:
5,106 (Seats 2,240)
Address:
Salford, M7 3PZ
Telephone:
0161 792 6287
Ticket Office:
0161 241 9772
Pitch Type:
Grass
Club Nickname:
The Ammies
Year Ground Opened:
1978*
Undersoil Heating:
No
Shirt Sponsors:
Super6
Kit
Manufacturer:Kappa
Home Kit:
Red and White
Away Kit:
White and Black
The Moor Lane football ground is now unrecognisable from what it was like just a few years ago. The old ground has been completely replaced by four new stands, with the corners enclosed, effectively making it a new stadium. Considering that this was all done in just ten months, it is a remarkable achievement. The last stand to be opened was the new South Stand on the Nevile Road side of the ground. This mainly all seated stand, replaced the former Main Stand and is a fairly simple affair with six rows of seats. Oddly at the back of the stand, there is a small area of standing, towards the East Terrace, which I can only think was placed there to replicate a traditional standing area from the old ground, as otherwise, you would expect it to be all-seated. At the very back of the stand, there is quite a tall retaining ‘wall’ going up to the roof. The team dugouts are located at the front of this stand. On either side of the Nevile Road Stand located in the corners are elevated boxes, which serve as security control and a television/press area.
Although this stand on Nevile Road replaced the old Main Stand, it is the new Moor Lane Stand opposite that has more facilities, with glassed corporate areas at the rear of it. It too is all-seated and is of a similar height to the Nevile Road Stand. Both ends have newly covered terraces, with the West Terrace, being the first of the new stands to be constructed of the new stadium. The East Terrace opposite is almost a replica of the West Terrace and this terrace is allocated to away supporters. The pitch has quite a noticeable slope going down from the Moor Lane Stand towards the Nevile Road Stand opposite. This can also be seen in the angle of the West Terrace roof, which also slopes.
Overlooking the ground at the North Eastern corner is the tall spire of St Pauls Church and generally, there are a number of tall trees on view outside the stadium perimeter giving it a leafy look. Probably the most memorable part of the stadium are the floodlights. Shaped as the Club badge, they are particularly eye-catching with an illuminated red outline around the light panels. The teams emerge before kick off to the Pogues song ‘Dirty Old Town.’
In October 2017 the new Moor Lane ground was officially opened by Sir Alex Ferguson. It was also renamed the Peninsula Stadium in a corporate sponsorship deal.
Away fans are mostly housed in the East Terrace at one end of the ground, which has a capacity of around 1,200. This terrace comprises of 12 steps and is covered. The acoustics of this terrace are quite good, meaning that a relatively few numbers of fans can make themselves heard. It also helps that as the stand is prefabricated, that fans can bang the panels at the back of the stand, to make some more noise. Although above them below the roof the metal panels are mesh-like with holes in them, which certainly let the wind through, which I can only assume is to help the pitch grow at the expense of spectator comfort.
In addition, 200 seats, spread across six rows are made available to visiting supporters in the Moor Lane Stand, at no extra cost to the entrance fee. Both the seating and terraced areas are accessed via the same turnstiles and stadium entrance. Away fans are separated by the seated home fans by a small area of tarpaulin and a row of stewards. At some grounds, this would attract an element of the home support to take up the area closest to the away fans to taunt and berate visiting supporters at every opportunity. I am pleased to report that this is not the case at Salford.
With the stadium being erected so quickly then the facilities for fans have yet to fully catch up, with only basic temporary facilities in place, such as small portaloos. Food on offer inside the ground includes; a selection of Pies (all £3), Pies with peas and gravy (£3.50), Double Burgers (with cheese and/or onions £4.50), Burgers (with cheese and/or onions £3.50), Plain Burgers (£3), Hot Dogs (£3.50), Sausage and Chips (£4), Cone of Chips (£1.50) and Tray of Chips (£2, with curry or gravy £2.50). For those of you who have watched the ‘Class of 92 Out of their League’ documentary about the Club, then you will recognise the lady running the food area as Babs. In fact, judging by the sight of cameramen wandering around filming the crowd, during the game, they must be working on a new series.
Although outside the back of the stand is open to the elements, the Club does not allow smoking to take place. This is monitored by cameras with stewards being dispatched to politely ask for people to put out their cigarettes. Generally, I found the club staff and stewards to be both welcoming, polite and helpful. Away coaches are parked in Moor Lane right outside the away entrance. There was also a burger van parked outside the ground on my visit.
There is a club bar at the ground, but this is for home supporters only. Although the Peninsula Stadium is situated in a largely residential area, there are surprisingly no pubs close by. Although there is a large bar inside the ground behind the Nevile Road Stand, this is for home supporters only. Alcohol is available to away fans from a unit behind the away end. It has draught Boddington’s Bitter (£3.50) and bottles of Carlsberg Pilsner, Somersby Cider, Strongbow Dark Fruits and cans of Guinness. This area behind the stand is open to the elements, so don’t complain that the Club have been watering down the beer if it is raining!
Chris Shiel informs me; ‘There is the Fairways Lodge on George Street in Prestwich is around half a mile, or a ten minute stroll on foot, along pleasant public footpaths that go through Prestwich Golf Course and over the moor, a ten minute stroll. If the weather is bad the route along the road is more preferable and is about one mile. Fairways Lodge, sometimes known locally as ‘The Village’ (from a previous name) is a hotel with gym facilities and function rooms but there is a public bar that is frequented by a few locals. It is normally fairly quiet as it’s slightly off the beaten track down a long cul de sac but it is the closest to Moor Lane’.
Jim Simpson informs me; ‘Probably the nearest pub to the Peninsula Stadium that welcomes away fans is the Star Inn on Back Hope Street in Higher Broughton. It’s a 10 to 15 minute walk from the ground. It can take a bit of finding but is well worth it. It’s a traditional old-style boozer which is co-operatively owned after being bought by its regulars 10 years ago.’
Just over a mile way off Bury New Road (A56) is the Friendship Inn. This Joseph Holt pub offers real and also does food. Whilst a couple of miles away in the Prestwich area is the CAMRA Good Beer Guide listed Church Inn on Church Lane (again off the main Bury New Road – not far from Junction 17 of the M60). The pub which is literally outside the gates of St Mary’s Church (which is handy if you want to also say a quick prayer for your team) offers up to four real ales, a couple of which are normally local beers. Opposite Church Lane on the Bury New Road is a Joseph Holt pub called the Red Lion, which also shows Sky Sports.
With Salford City’s quick recent rise up through the non-league pyramid and with ambitious owners in place, who have targeted the Club achieving Football League status by 2020. Then the Club are now showing their ambitions off the pitch as well as on it. by commencing with the building of a new stadium at Moor Lane, which will meet Football League membership criteria. This will see the construction of four new stands at the ground, as well as new changing rooms, social club, club shop, media area, plus Directors and Sponsors boxes. Both ends are to be covered terraces, with seated stands running down both sides. Work has already commenced on two sides of the ground at both the West End and North Side, with works to the other sides set to begin at the end of this current season. Once completed the ground will have an overall capacity of 5,106 capacity, including 2,240 seats. You can watch a video showing a computerised mock up of the new stadium on YouTube.
Moor Lane is located just over two miles away from Junction 17 of the M60. The ground is not located in Salford itself, but in the nearby area of Kersal.
From the M60 at Junction 17 take the A56 towards Manchester City Centre. Keep straight along the A56 and after passing a Lidl stare on the left with a Carphone Warehouse on the opposite side of the road, then take the third turning on the right (at the traffic lights and signposted Oaklands Hall/St Pauls Church) into Moor Lane. For the main entrance take the next left into Nevile Road and you will reach the ground down on the right, after the school.
There is no parking available at the ground for visiting supporters, plus the streets around most of the ground have a residents-only scheme in operation (although I noted on my visit that a number of Salford fans seem to have acquired residents passes, judging by the number parking up). So please check signage on lamp posts for details of parking restrictions, as wardens out on patrol in force on matchdays. However, there is street parking to be had on Moor Lane itself (the same road as the away entrance) and other streets located a little further away from the ground, such as Kersal Moor Road. Parking here also has the added benefit that you can get away pretty easily after the match, as at the top of Kersal Moor Road, you can turn right towards Prestwich (for M60 North) or left towards Swinton (for M61 and M60 South).
Park & Ride
For most matches, the Club operates a Park & Ride service from the IT Lab premises, on the Agecroft Industrial Estate (M27 8SJ). The cost is £2.
The nearest Metrolink Tram Stop is Crumpsall Tram Station, which is on the line to Bury. However, it is around 1.5 miles away from the Peninsula Stadium and is a good 30-35 minute walk. At the top of the stairs at Crumpsall, take a left onto Station Road and then turn right onto Seymour Road. Follow this road to the end and then turn right onto Bury Old Road. Follow this road until you see a white sign on your left saying “City of Salford.” Turn left here onto Singleton Road. Follow this road for about a mile (slight right at Upper Park Road) until you come to a set of traffic lights. Continue straight over onto Moor Lane. The ground will be on your left-hand side, right outside the away end. The tram can be caught from Piccadilly or Victoria Stations in Manchester City Centre.
Thanks to Giles Lawrence a visiting Northampton Town fan for the walking directions above.
Although there are some smaller railway stations that are slightly nearer to Moor Lane, it is not worth travelling out to them as you’ll still be almost three miles away from the ground. Manchester Victoria is the closest mainline station, which is just over three miles away and probably too far to walk. Either take a taxi up to the ground or from the Victoria Station approach you can catch First Bus No: 97 or 98 along Bury New Road towards Bury. This bus stops just after the end of Moor Lane (the road not the ground), just past the Hazeldean Hotel. The journey time is around 18 minutes. There is also the X43 Witchway Bus that also goes along Bury New Road towards Skipton. It runs every 15 minutes on Saturday afternoons. It can be caught from Manchester City Centre at Chorlton Street (Stop EZ) or at Princess Street/Arora Hotel (Stop SG). In addition from Chorlton Street (Stop EZ) you can get the Red Express X41 (destination Accrington) that drops off at the end of Moor lane on Bury New Road. The cost for an adult is around £4 return. More information can be found on the Transport For Greater Manchester website.
Andrew Beverton a visiting Leyton Orient supporter adds; ‘We took a taxi from Manchester Piccadilly to the Salford City ground which cost £12.50. We were unable to get a taxi after the match had ended and so we walked up to the main road and caught a bus into Manchester City Centre which cost £2.50 each’.
The nearest Metro Tram stop to the Peninsula Stadium is at Crumpsall, which is approximately one and three-quarter miles away to the east and would take about 35 minutes to walk.
Booking train tickets in advance will normally save you money! Find train times, prices and book tickets with Trainline. Visit the website below to see how much you can save on the price of your tickets:
Although Salford were founded back in 1940, they didn’t move into Moor Lane until some 38 years later. The stadium remained largely untouched for decades but a major revamp in 2016 took the capacity of the Salford stadium up to 5,108.
Adults £10
Concessions £5
Under 5’s Free*
Concessions apply to those who are aged 60 and over, Under 16’s and Students with ID.
*When accompanied by an adult.
Tickets for the home areas are available to buy online at: http://bit.ly/
Official Matchday Programme £3 (It is also available as a free download from the Salford City website).
Salford City FC fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website).
Salford vs FC United of Manchester rivalry
The rivalry between these two clubs has been ‘created’ somewhat but it still attracts a fair bit of attention – especially in Greater Manchester – when meetings occur. Salford are owned by a number of the famous ‘Class of 92’, who shot to fame with Manchester United. FC United of Manchester meanwhile was a club created in protest of Man United. As such, there are plenty of little subplots to the game albeit with Salford now operating at a much better standard. The game has been dubbed a ‘mini-Manchester derby’.
Salford vs Curzon Ashton rivalry
Salford and Curzon Ashton formed what is best described as a friendly rivalry in their shared non-League days. Salford have pulled well clear in the pyramid now but with just 12 miles between the two clubs, any meetings – friendly or otherwise – will always pull in a decent and banter-full crowd.
Salford City FC fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website).
Record Attendance
4,518 v Leeds United
League Cup 2nd Round, 13th August 2019.
Average Attendance
2019-2020: 2,997 (League Two)
2018-2019: 2,489 (National League)
2017-2018: 1,611 (National League North)
Official website: www.salfordcityfc.co.uk/
Unofficial website: Fans Forum
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, then please e-mail me at: [email protected] and I’ll update the guide.
Thanks to Will Moorcoft of Salford City Football Club, Dave Hollands and Dwayne Owen for providing the photos of the new stands at the Peninsula Stadium Moor Lane Salford City.
Salford City v Southport
National League North
Monday 28th August 2017, 3pm
Stephen Calvert (Neutral fan)
Salford City v Leyton Orient
National League
Saturday 4th August 2018, 12.30pm
Jeremy Gold (Leyton Orient fan)
Salford City v Maidstone United
National League
Saturday 9th August 2018, 3pm
Brian Scott (Neutral)
Salford City v FC Halifax Town
National League
Tuesday 14th August 2018, 7.45pm
Michael Cromack (FC Halifax Town)
Salford City v Hartlepool United
National League
Tuesday 25th September 2018, 7.45pm
Tony Smith (Doing the 134 + 24)
Salford City v Shrewsbury Town
FA Cup 1st Round Replay
Wednesday 21st November 2018, 7.45pm
Danny Davies (Shrewsbury Town)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Peninsula Stadium?
This was a new ground and indeed it's now put me onto 81 out of the 92, so getting there.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I travelled on our away travel coaches and it took around 1 hour 40.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
There isn't really a lot near to the stadium, so ventured straight into the ground. The floodlights are pretty cool and very noticeably in the shape of Salfords club badge. There was temporary food and drink bars at the rear of the stand. I had a pie and a tea which did the job.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Peninsula Stadium?
The whole ground was new, but all very modular. You could see how it was constructed in such a fast time. The terrace floor was steel rather than concrete, so each segment of the stands was pre-made before installing it on a concrete base. The atmosphere was pretty good, better than some much larger grounds I've visited.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was a proper cup tie, Shrewsbury won 3-1 so the 500 hard-core travelling fans went home happy after just sacking their manager days before.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We had no problems leaving the stadium and we were home just before midnight.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A cool little ground that I imagine will improve over time.
Salford City v Bromley
National League
Saturday 30th March 2019, 3pm
Richard Mackey (Bromley)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Peninsula Stadium?
Manchester is a great city for a football weekend away, and I have a friend who lives there and is willing to give me a bed for the night – so I was always going to travel up for this match and then stay over.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
A train from London into Manchester Piccadilly. Then a twenty-minute walk through the city centre to the bus stop on Great Ducie Street. Got off at Moor Lane, then it's a short walk to the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I had a beer and then some food beforehand in Central Manchester. I was surprised not to see any fans at all on the bus I got, but there was a reason for this. There are hardly any facilities near the ground as it's in a residential area, but there are a range of bars and food options behind the home end, and clearly, the home fans get to the ground early to use these facilities. What was on offer looked pretty good and was notably cheap for a football ground. If I visited again I would eat and drink here rather than in the city centre.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Peninsula Stadium?
I was impressed by this ground – Salford City have a lot of money behind them but they've spent it well in constructing the best non-league venue (discounting clubs that used to be in the league) I've been to. It's a compact 5,000 at the moment, but there's enough room around three of the sides for the ground to be expanded if the club continues to prosper. The away end has a roof to help fans make some noise, and seats were available too along the side as there wasn't really any segregation for this match. I particularly liked the floodlights in the shape of the club crest – touches like that show the architect has put some thought into the design and hasn't just churned out an identikit box of a ground.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Salford were on top for a lot of the game as expected, but Bromley defended well to keep the score goalless. Strangely it all went wrong for Bromley after scoring in the 85th minute – we immediately shifted into ultra-defensive mode, invited a lot of pressure and let Salford score an 88th minute equaliser and then a 93rd minute winner. Had Bromley not taken the lead they probably wouldn't have lost the game.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
The away end is at the 'right' end if you're getting a bus back into town, so I managed to get near the front of the bus stop queue. Lots of buses go down Bury New Road so you wouldn't have to wait too long in any case.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I'd happily visit again, but Salford are clearly heading for the Football League and will stay there when they arrive, so the chances of future visits with Bromley are slim. I'd expect this to be a popular trip for other away fans.
Salford City v Stevenage
League 2
Saturday 3rd August 2019, 12:30pm
James Walker (Stevenage)
Salford City v Stevenage
League 2
Saturday 3rd August 2019, 12:30pm
Andrew Bartlett (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Peninsula Stadium?
Along with the new Spurs stadium this was all I needed to complete the current 92. I took a cruise along the Manchester Ship canal last year and had a brief glimpse of the stadium so wanted to see it close up.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Living in the Midlands it was an easy trip via the M6 and M60. We arrived very early for the 12.30 kick-off and parked on Kersall Road. It was deserted when we arrived, but packed when we got back after the game.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
There is literally nothing to do around the stadium. So after getting in for a very reasonable £10 adult and £5 concession we eat and drank inside. Had very nice curry and chips for £5. Sadly the craft beer concession was shut. So had a pretty good pint of Tetley's for £3. Didn't really speak much to home fans – there was a large contingent of people like us though doing the 92.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Peninsula Stadium?
It is a bit of a shame that the ground is totally fenced off – so before the turnstiles open you couldn't access the ticket office or club shop. Once inside we found it a pleasant, modern if modest stadium, well suited to league football especially as it has cover on all four sides.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was rather low key, Stevenage might have had two penalties early in the game. But once the home side took the lead it was an easy victory. Not fantastic football, but I have seen worse.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
As suggested on this website, after the game we headed away from the stadium by turning right out of Kersall Road and then left at the roundabout. Eventually, after missing one poorly marked exit, we were back on the M60 and home in the Midlands in just over two hours.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A very pleasant day out at a new stadium. The only negative comment is that Salford City didn't seem to recognise that there would be a good number of neutrals attending. For example, you couldn't buy a ticket before the day, and then they shut the ticket office at 10.00 am. We were told that all seats were sold out. Looking around during the game they clearly were not. Will be interesting to see how they handle the arrival of Leeds in the League Cup.
Salford City v Stevenage
League 2
Saturday 3rd August 2019, 12:30pm
John Scott (Doing the 92)
Salford City v Stevenage
League 2
Saturday 3rd August 2019, 12:30pm
Thomas (Stevenage)
Salford City v Leeds United
Haribo cup or whatever it’s called!
Tuesday 13th August 2019, 7:45pm
Shaun (Leeds United)
Salford City v Port Vale
League 2
Saturday 17th August 2019, 3pm
Alex Thomson (Port Vale)
Salford City v Port Vale
League 2
Saturday 17th August 2019, 3pm
Ian Bradley (Neutral)
Salford City v Leyton Orient
League 2
Saturday 31st August 2019, 3pm
Tim Scales (Leyton Orient)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Peninsula Stadium?
A new ground to tick off for me and there is something of a rivalry between Orient and this lot after we beat them to the title despite the money that they have spent.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey from my house in Norwich was a long but relatively plain-sailing one. The A47 and A17 are among some of the worst roads known to man but they were clear. Up the A1 until Leeds, then M62 pretty much all the way to the ground. Car parking was difficult as there was little street parking on matchday but we did manage to find a space not too far from the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We visited the Friendship Inn for a pint before the game and it was decent enough. The home fans were more often than not converted from Manchester United to Salford and it showed in this pub. We didn’t really speak to any of them but they were harmless enough.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Peninsula Stadium?
Having been practically rebuilt in the past few years, Salford’s ground is clean and tidy enough but lacking in character and it is very uniform. It feels slightly makeshift – built so that it can be expanded easily should Salford continue to improve and add to their fan base.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
It was a game of two halves as it has been on several occasions already this season for Orient. Salford started out the stronger side, scoring the opener on 13 minutes when no defender closed down Ritchie Towell and he thundered home a volley from the edge of the box. Dean Brill made a huge save to keep the East Londoners in it and Orient improved after half time. Louis Dennis squandered the best chance for Orient when he blazed over a rebound despite an unguarded net. Orient weren’t to be denied, however, and it was a howler from Salford keeper Chris Neal that gifted a point. James Brophy drove down the left, put the ball into the danger area and Neal failed to claim before swiping a leg at the ball to attempt to clear, only to put it into his own net. It was a delightfully ugly yet beautiful goal for Orient and the point was well-earned.
The atmosphere was distinctly lacking from the home end, although Salford’s seemingly most vocal support was at the other end of the ground. I’m not sure that made too much difference and the ground was hardly rocking when they scored either. The facilities at Peninsula Stadium aren’t great in the away end, with barely anyone in the one kiosk for food and drink. I went down 5 minutes before half time but gave up as the queue had barely moved.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
There was a bit of commotion outside the away end which I stayed well clear of and I’m not sure what caused it. After picking up a burger from a stand outside the ground and walking back to my car, there was not too much traffic on the road as I headed to my hotel in Salford Quays.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A good point from a goal down at a tidy enough ground.
Salford City v Forest Green
League 2
Saurday 4th September 2019, 3pm
Steve Smytheman (Doing the 92 again)
Salford City v Cheltenham Town
League 2
Saturday 14th September 2019, 3pm
Ian Howitt (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Peninsula Stadium?
With Salford’s promotion to the Football League, it was needed to re-complete the 92 (Again)!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
A simple journey from my home in Essex. The ground itself is surrounded by houses and no parking areas, however, the club runs a fairly good park and ride scheme. This costs £2 to park in what appears to be a factory car park and a bus then ferries you to the ground which about 8 to 10 minutes away. Collected at the end of the game and dropped back for 2 quid was not to be sniffed at. A warning, however, the premises is not that big, I was there just prior to 2 and got one of the last spaces.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As stated the area by the ground is residential with little in the way of watering holes, cafes, take always in the vicinity. However, within the ground there is a good selection of drink, eats etc. All reasonably priced. Whether this extends to the away end I don’t know as I was in with the home fans. The home fans seemed friendly enough although there is not really a huge hardcore fan base as would be expected from a side that has flown through the leagues. Many of those present were sporting the colours of other local sides, big and small.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Peninsula Stadium?
The ground is a very tidy ground, a lot of though I think has gone into its design. As stated the facilities behind the home end are highly impressive, all made from containers with one being the club shop. Both sides are seated although there is a smattering of standing space behind the seats on one side, both ends are terracing with a decent rake to allow for a good view.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was okay, and the visitors, Cheltenham won comfortably with a goal in each half. The atmosphere was more akin to a pre-season friendly as although Salford’s younger element behind the goal tried to make a noise it generally was snuffed out by apathy. To be fair their side's performance would not have helped. It was all friendly to be fair, and a pleasant environment. Stewards were more of the type to smile and say hello and were hardly noticed.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
A 5-minute wait for the bus, ten minutes to the car and I was away heading southbound.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I enjoyed it. A lot has been written about the owners and their ‘Project’ and I understand why. I am not a fan of smaller clubs being bankrolled through the leagues in a similar way to Rushden, Fleetwood, Forest Green etc but Salford I feel are a little different. Mai lay as the guys putting the money up are footballing people and some of the vast amounts swilling around at the upper echelons has filtered down, albeit indirectly. What impressed me the most, however, is the admission price of £10 has not increased since the Conference North days of 2 years ago, with concessions only £5. That has to be applauded and I think is commendable. It was noticeable how many parents were in the crowd with youngsters, with a visit here being so much more affordable.
Salford City v Swindon Town
League 2
Saturday 16th November 2019, 3pm
Peter Pleasants (Neutral Visiting Barnsley Fan)
Salford City v Swindon Town
League 2
Saturday 16th November 2019, 3pm
Erik Williams (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Peninsula Stadium?
This was the last of the 92 for me. Now I can relax a bit.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I arrived at Piccadilly station. I'd bought a PlusBus ticket with my railway ticket. I took the tram to Shudehill (on the way to Rochdale and Bury) from Piccadilly. Then I got a 97 bus to Moor Lane. The bus journey time was about 25 minutes. As the stadium isn't far down Moor Lane, there's no point in waiting for a 93 particularly. The Hazeldean Hotel sign, although large and red, isn't easy to read, so keep your wits about you or ask the driver to put you off.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Although I got there at 13:10, there were already people milling about. The turnstile gates were marked 'tickets' or ' cash'. There was no sign of a ticket office. But perhaps I'm unobservant. Some people had tickets. Two other neutrals and I were directed to the Neville Road entrance. I stood with the Salford supporters in the West Stand. I'd have preferred to sit, so I should have gone in through another gate. I'll have to read the signs more carefully in future. The turnstiles opened at 13:30. The few home fans I talked to were friendly enough. If non-Midlands teams are playing, I support the home team, at least notionally.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Peninsula Stadium?
I can believe that the ground was constructed in 10 months. It's a rectangular, metal structure and looks the same on all sides, especially inside. This fact, the steel fences, and the containers used as food outlets gives the whole stadium an impersonal, industrial appearance. There's none of the quirky scruffiness other stadiums have.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
There were pies, hot dogs, pasties, and beer. A steward let me through the gate to use the toilet in the North Stand area even though there were toilets in the West Stand area, which he presumably didn't know about. I could see inside a ladies' cubicle. So be careful, girls. The East Stand was full of Swindon supporters. Most seats were taken. Rooney scored an early penalty for Salford after a foul by the Swindon goalie. Doyle soon equalised with a shot from the left. He scored a penalty soon into the second half Then Yates scored for Swindon after the Salford goalie dropped the ball. Rooney scored a from a penalty with literally the last kick of the game. So 2-3. Swindon were now top of the League.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
I walked along back along Neville Road, which leads into Moor Lane. The first two buses on the main road were full. I finally got a 97. Buses seemed reasonably frequent. Traffic in central Manchester was heavy. It took me about 70 minutes to get from the stadium to Piccadilly, although I could have shortened this by getting a tram from Victoria (towards Newcastle-under-Lyne) instead of Shudehill.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A decent game of football after some confusion getting into the stadium. A sense of achievement having done the 92. I've been to places I wouldn't normally have gone to. I like to have a look around a town if I have time rather than just go to a football match. So I've seen quite a bit.
Salford City v Wolverhampton Wanderers U21's
EFL Trophy Second Round
Tuesday, 3rd December 2019, 7.45pm
Josh Gripton (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Salford City v Exeter City
League 2
Saturday 14 December 2019
Steve Ellis (Exeter City)
Why were you looking forward to going to the Peninsula Stadium?
As for so many this year this was a new ground and for me completed all the League 2 grounds for another season.
Peninsula Stadium How easy was your journey and finding the ground?
I travelled up on the supporters coach for this fixture, leaving Exeter just at 7.30am and arriving just before 2pm
What did you do before the game, pub, chippy….home fans friendly?
On arriving at the ground we had opted to go straight through the turnstiles and make use of the bar area behind the stand, not ideal with a cold wind. Unfortunately, the club shop cannot be accessed pre-match as that is beyond the home turnstiles so only accessible post-match if you have time. Programmes are on sale just inside the turnstiles.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end and then other sides of the Peninsula Stadium?
From the outside, the ground looks like a do it yourself job, inside it’s all under one roof, the view is excellent with no supporting pillars. Leg room is also good if you choose to sit.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, refreshments etc.
The game was good to watch with Exeter running out as 1-0 winners in what was an entertaining end to end match. Plenty of noise was made from the away end but did not hear much from the home end. The stewards were friendly and helpful. Beer is available in the away end priced at £3.50, there is choices of pies with peas and gravy for £4 which I was told were tasty. As for the toilets, they are cabins, small, cold and not very clean nor pleasant to walk in.
Comments on getting away from the ground after the game.
Getting away afterwards was easy as I was on the supporters coach, an easy run out to the motorway and back in Exeter just after 11 pm
Attendance: 2,992 (692 away fans)
Salford City v Exeter City
League 2
Saturday 14th December 2019
John Baker (Exeter City)
Salford City v Crewe
Alexandra League 2
Thursday 26th December 2019, 3pm
Roger (Crewe Alexandra)
Salford City v Walsall
League 2
Saturday 4th January 2020, 3pm
Gazman (Walsall)
Salford City v Port Vale
EFL Trophy 3rd Round
Tuesday 7th January 2020, 7.45pm
David Adams (Port Vale)
Salford City v Crawley Town
League 2
Saturday 8th February 2020, 3pm
Clive (Doing 92)
Salford City v Crawley Town
League 2
Saturday 8th February 2020, 3pm
Stephen Webb (Crawley Town)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Peninsula Stadium?
Like most fans, a new ground and club to the league and on paper two well-matched teams should have made for a good game.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Straight forward train up to Manchester then taxi to the ground. Taxi's were pre-booked using the Street Cars app and cost around £8 each way. The Taxi journey was about 20 minutes from and to the Printworks.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Met up in Manchester at the Printworks as there is nothing near the ground. I didn't come in contact with any home fans at all.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Peninsula Stadium?
On first appearances, it looked quite a nice ground in a rather posh leafy suburb of Manchester. Definitely not in Salford. The stands are small and just aluminum though at least they are covered. The pitch is sloped towards the dugouts.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself didn't live up to expectations, a 0-0 bore draw, though the lack of any noise or atmosphere from the home fans probably didn't help. The 290 away fans were making all the noise. The stewards and staff were all friendly and helpful. As for the facilities, the toilets are the worst I've experienced, housed in containers. Even Gillingham's trench is better. The pies were awful. I had a meat and potato pie. It weighed a ton and could have used it as a brick. The filling was just mashed, well not sure what it was, but certainly couldn't find any meat. My daughter had chips that were cold.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away from the ground was fine as we'd pre-booked a taxi.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall we had a good day out, but as for going back, it's ticked off now, so probably won't bother. A ground to forget, not remember.
Salford City v Crawley Town
League 2
Saturday 8th February 2020, 3pm
Dan Maguire (Crawley Town & Doing the 92)
Salford City v Plymouth Argyle
League 2
Tuesday 11th February 2020, 7.45pm
Colin (Plymouth Argyle)
Salford City v Plymouth Argyle
League 2
Tuesday 11th February 2020, 7.45pm
Ivor Ough (Plymouth Argyle)
Salford City v Plymouth Argyle
League Two
Tuesday 11th February 2020, 7.45pm
Kevin Nash (Neutral)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Peninsula Stadium?
I have been to the ground before to watch my local non-league team Maidenhead United when they were both in the National League. I was working in the area and fancied watching an evening game.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I stayed at a local hotel just a mile or so away, the drive was simple. Parking last time was a nightmare but this time I managed to park in St Pauls Road, which is a turn off Bury New Road just before the Moor Lane. You don't need a permit and its as close to the ground you can get.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
The queues at the ground put me off eating there this time, but the food at the ground looked good.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Peninsula Stadium?
I have been before and was a bit underwhelmed. As this was an evening match it was cool to see their floodlights which are shaped like their club badge. It is a very tidy and smart stadium, it just seems so anonymous. There is no mention that I could see of Salford FC, inside or out. Just the Peninsula Stadium which could be any sort of sports complex.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
I decided to stand with the Plymouth fans. I was amazed and applaud their fans, a 600 mile round trip on a freezing February evening. They filled the stand and must have had half of the total attendance. It was a fantastic atmosphere and a fabulous game. At one point Plymouth went 2-1 up and it was total chaos in the stand, but amongst all that Salford equalised within a minute. One of the Salford stewards seemed to annoy some of the Plymouth fans and it became very heated. It was only calmed down when this particular steward was deployed elsewhere in the ground. The other stewards kept order well in that powder keg of emotion.
Plymouth scored the winner in the 92nd minute and it was complete pandemonium, it was one of the best-celebrated goals I have ever been amongst, fans hanging off the barriers – Excellent game & atmosphere! We had high winds, snow, hail, everything really. Both teams played well, but after that, I hope that Plymouth get promoted. I still can't believe how many fans they brought up midweek. I had thought as a League Club and a wealthy one, that they would have installed a scoreboard, but it is still great to be so close to the action.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It was easy, I ran back to the car and drove back to the hotel.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
As a neutral, it was one of the best games I have ever been too – The atmosphere generated by the Plymouth fans was fantastic. As on my last visit, the Salford fans seemed very quiet and only made noise when they scored. They didn't sing at all, I have seen the Class of 92 TV show and thought that they would be more noisier, they do have good support though and a decent team.
Salford City v Plymouth Argyle
League 2
Tuesday 11th February 2020, 7.45pm
Thomas Inglis (Neutral Visiting Dundee United Fan)
Salford City v Plymouth Argyle
League 2
Tuesday 11th February 2020, 7.45pm
Tony MacRae (Plymouth Argyle)
Game Attended
Salford v Forest Green RoversCompetition
League 2Date
05/03/2022Kick Off Time
3pmTeam Supported
Doing the 92Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
I was looking forward to updating the "92", after Covid interruptions... This was to be my 91st club/stadium!How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
About 50 miles from my house in Wakefield, but what a trek... The journey there went well! Train to Manchester Victoria (packed but on time). Bus 93 from outside the station. I was at the stadium in two-and-a-half hours! Thanks to the Football Ground Guide for hints and tips!What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Arrived 12.30, but no entry until 1.30pm... I went across Moor Lane and had a lovely stroll over Kersal Moor, in the sun! Entered the South Stand and went straight for lunch: pie, chips, mushy peas and gravy, washed down with tea. Beautiful! Cost £7. Then I went in Bucks Bar where a pint of Carlsberg was £4, and chatted to some friendly fans. Salford are moving to a new stadium next season!!What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
I had a great view from the new South Stand. The stadium as a whole is nice but compact. To progress upwards, Salford do need to upgrade. Eating from a van, with a wheelie bin as a table, was ok today, because it wasn't raining. And half the bar was closed off as it was a makeshift gym!!Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
A poor game overall, but some good singing from both sets of fans. Rovers were dominant but Salford took a shock early lead. Rovers stayed calm and controlled, and went home with a point from a 1-1 draw. Forest Green Rovers look certainties for promotion based on this performance.Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
An incident occurred during the match. A supporter needed medical treatment in the home end. I think he was ok in the end, but it added 10 minutes to the game. I headed off at 4:45 to find a bus and begin my trek home... By 5:30, no bus... I headed down the Moor Lane hill to the main road of Littleton Street, hoping for more buses. Eventually, just before 6pm, I was on a bus. By 6:30 I was on a train back to Yorkshire.Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
It was sunny but another very cold Saturday. I'm glad I went, and I can now cross Salford fc off the list. I'll probably visit the new stadium one day, but it's a difficult journey. It took me nearly 4 hours to get home!!Images
Game Attended
Salford v Forest Green RoversCompetition
LeagueDate
08/02/2022Kick Off Time
1500Team Supported
FGRWhy were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
RoB Edwards, FGR manager, is my nephew and I attended with his Dad.How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Sat navy took us straight there.What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Went straight into ground and greeted warmly and made to feel at home.What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
I was struck by what an attractive small ground it is and how practical it is given the space available.Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Enjoyed the game which was clean and competitive. Result was fair but in the end I thought FGR were the better team.Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
A doddle. we waited for FGR manager and took him to the team hotel before driving home.Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Super day out! Great hospitality and we were made to feel very welcome.Images
Game Attended
Salford V HarrogateCompetition
League 2Date
09/04/2022Kick Off Time
15:00Team Supported
NeutralWhy were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
Ticking off 80/92, got free tickets through Sky Bet and thought it would be a good tick, also 2 of only 4 of the 92 I hadn’t seen in the fleshHow easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Me and my daughter drove up from South Lincs, Took approx 2.5 hours with a stop. Took a look at the Mark E Smith mural which is close by as I’m a massive Fall fan, then street parked at St Paul’s Street approx 10 min walk away. There was parking by the church on Moor Lane which has no restrictions (most of that road does have them though)What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Went to The Star Inn which was excellent, not much near the ground re. food so we went in pretty early and had a drink/food at the back of the terrace. Everyone friendlyWhat you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Feels like a top level non league ground but perfectly pleasant. Fanzone good but got pretty crowded.Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Game want great but Salford won to keep their play off charge up. Their ultras were boisterous and tried to get things going. Food decent and a good choice.Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Very easy we took the scenic route back via Sheffield, was out of Salford on the main road in minutes.Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Great day, friendly people well worth a visitImages
Game Attended
Salford City V Tranmere RoversCompetition
League 2Date
17/09/2022Kick Off Time
1500Team Supported
TranmereWhy were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
This was a local away game for most Tranmere fans and having been to Salford last season for a midweek game I was interested to see what it is like on a SaturdayHow easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I travelled on one of the club official coaches. Very easy journey arriving at the ground at 1 o`clock the journey itself taking just over a hour and a quarterWhat you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I together with a number of other Rovers fans off the coaches took the scenic walk through the trees and across the moor to the Fairways Lodge. Has to be one of the more bizarre strolls to a pub at an away game in my travels especially as several of us got lost and had to ask a local walking for his dog for directions. The pub itself which was more like a large bar attached to what looked like a hotel was pleasant enough with outdoor sitting and it got quite busy as more Tranmere fans arrived. Didn`t have any food but what I saw looked pretty good. The usual pub grub burgers etc. After an hour in the pub took another scenic route back to the stadium via the golf course. Can`t comment about Salford`s fans as I didn`t actually met any.What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
The ground itself looks fairly modern although the construction materials used, metal terracing and red wire walls, are unusual. It also has unique floodlights which are shaped like the club`s badge. Quite a nice touch IMO. It looks neat enough but looks tiny for a FL ground but given Salford`s currently small fanbase it is adequate enough.Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was reasonably good but without a great deal of goalmouth action with Tranmere controlling much of the play despite Salford having the ball for the majority of the game. Rovers took the lead in the first half though Josh Hawks and could have added to it in the second when denied by the width of the cross bar and 2 good saves from the home keeper, whereas Ross Doohan in the Tranmere goal didn`t have a shot of target to deal with for the entire game as Salford created very little due to excellent performances from both Tranmere centre backs. Most of the atmosphere was provided by the thousand or so Rovers fans who, as usual, were in good voice for the full 95 minutes. The home fans it had to be said were extremely quiet. Didn`t really notice the stewards other then seeing a number of them at the turnstiles patting people down before entering the ground and standing across the front of the away end during the game. They seemed friendly enough and I didn`t see or hear of any issues. Having had a late breakfast prior to travelling and taking some food with me for the return journey I didn`t have any food or drink in the ground but the single refreshment kiosk did had a long queue both times I passed it. The toilet facilities at the away end, which consisted of a converted shipping container, were somewhat inadequate for a large away following and this led to a long queue at half time.Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Getting away after the game was extremely easy. It was a case of walking out of the stadium going up a few steps and getting back on the coach which was parked right outside. There was some traffic on Bury New Road heading back to the motorway but once out of that it was a quick return journey back to the Wirral and we arrived back at Prenton Park at 6.30Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
All in all a pleasant enough visit although I feel Salford should consider doing something about those away end toilets and to provided more facilities for visiting fans especially given the lack of pubs etc near the ground. There was talk since the turn of the year of them moving to the City`s much larger Rugby League stadium which is near the huge Trafford Park shopping centre but how that would benefit the club given their lack of support other then allowing more away fans and those fans having a larger choice of match day parking and refreshment opportunities is beyond me. Maybe the owners think that given Moor Lane`s lack of parking and public transport access that local support will increase with such a move . It will be interesting to see if this actually happens and the effect it has on the club`s attendancesImages