Cheltenham Town
Jonny-Rocks Stadium
Capacity:
7,066 (3,912 seated)
Address:
Whaddon Road, Cheltenham, GL52 5NA
Telephone:
01242 573 558
Fax:
01242 224 675
Pitch Size:
111 x 72 yards
Pitch Type:
Grass
Club Nickname:
The Robins
Year Ground Opened:
1932
Undersoil Heating:
No
Shirt Sponsors:
Mira Showers
Kit
Manufacturer:Errea
Home Kit:
Red and White
Away Kit:
Sky and Royal Blue
At one end of the ground is the newest addition to the stadium. The Hazlewoods Stand which was opened in December 2005 and has a capacity of 1,100 fans. It is particularly steep in its design, has a perspex windshield to one side and perspex panels incorporated into its roof, to allow more light to reach the pitch. The stand is unusual in the respect that it has a couple of more rows of seats on one side of it. There is also a small electric scoreboard on its roof. On one side of the ground is another relatively new stand. the Colin Farmer Stand (named after a former Vice Chairman of the Club) was opened in November 2001. This stand sits proudly at one side of the pitch and houses 2,034 supporters. It is a covered, all seated, single tiered stand, part of which is given to away supporters. The ground is now enclosed in one corner where the two new stands meet, although it is not used for spectators. On the other side of the pitch is the Autovillage Main Stand, which was opened in 1963. It has seating to the rear and terracing at the front. Straddling the halfway line, it does not extend the full length of the pitch, having open spaces to either side. At one end is the small covered terrace, called the Prestbury Road Stand, which is the home end of the ground. Currently, this is named the Speedy Skips Stand in a sponsorship deal, which for some reason always makes me chuckle…
In 2018 the Whaddon Road ground was renamed the Jonny-Rocks Stadium, in a three-year corporate sponsorship deal with a Gloucestershire chauffeur & executive car service.
Away supporters are housed in the Hazlewoods Stand at one end of the ground, where just over 1,100 supporters can be accommodated. The view of the playing area from the Hazlewoods Stand and the facilities inside are good, plus it has good leg room. If demand requires it, then part of the Thomson & Bancks Stand can also be allocated to away fans. The food on offer within the ground is not bad; you can choose from Burgers (£2.80, including for those with a bigger appetite a half pounder with cheese £4), Hot Dogs (£3), Home made ‘Gourmet’ Pies (£3.20), Bacon Rolls (£3), Cornish Pasties (£3) and Sausage Rolls (£2.50).
I found Cheltenham itself to be quite pleasant and the supporters friendly. The picturesque Cotswold Hills around Cheltenham can easily be seen from inside the ground. The atmosphere is also pretty good and there is a drummer in the home end. I did find the p.a. to be a bit deafening though.
Paul Stillwell a visiting Luton Town fan adds; ‘There is a Fish & Chip shop called the Royal Fish Bar which is just a two minute walk from the ground on Whaddon Road itself (at the junction with Thames Road). The Robins Bar at the ground welcomes away fans and serves hot food but was already busy when we arrived at 1pm. Overall Whaddon Road is a nice ground, with a friendly welcome and if your team are not playing well you can always admire the view of the Cotswolds behind the stand.’ Peter Llewellyn informs me; ‘Don’t go on race day like I did – it’s worse than getting away from Old Trafford!’
In the spring of 2018, Cheltenham Town announced that their stadium, fondly known as Whaddon Road, would be renamed as the Jonny-Rocks Stadium. The Cheltenham ground has actually seen a lot of name changes, especially recently. The ground was originally known as the Victory Sports Ground until it was renamed the Abbey Business Stadium in 2009 for sponsorship reasons. In 2015, Cheltenham signed a three-year sponsorship deal and the stadium had to be renamed to the World of Smile Stadium. This name itself didn’t last long though; the three-year deal ended in just one year with Whaddon Road stadium being renamed the LCI Rail Stadium. It is unclear how long the name “Jonny-Rocks Stadium” will last. Only time will tell.
There is a club bar at the ground called the Robins Nest which allows in small numbers of away fans for a £1 admittance fee. Neil Le Milliere a visiting Exeter City fans recommends the Kemble Brewery Inn on Fairview Street. This pub which is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide serves up to six real ales.
Around a ten minute walk away are the ‘Sudeley Arms’ and ‘The Conservatory’ on Prestbury Road on the outskirts of the town centre. There is even a decent fish & chip shop situated in-between the two. To find these pubs, turn right out of the club car park, and then turn left at the end of the road. Go straight over the roundabout, and The Sudeley Arms is on your left and the Conservatory is further up on your right. It is no more than a ten minute walk from the ground.
Otherwise very near to the ground is the Parklands Social Club, where you can also park your car (£5). Simply go down Whaddon Road, passing the ground and the bowling club on your left. Take the first left hand turn and the entrance to the social club car park is a short distance down on the left. Robert Middleston a visiting Nottingham Forest fan adds; ‘The Club had a friendly welcome, and the locals we met were all happy to chat football. The club has a number of TV screens including a very big screen, on which the Sky Premier plus game was broadcast, a nice way to pass time over a sandwich and pint before the match’.
Chris Clarke informs me; ‘A good alternative is The Hewlett Arms which is a bit more cosmopolitan than other pubs in the local area, it can be found at the top of Hewlett Road which is about a 10 minute walk from the ground’. Also further along Hewlett Road is the Fairview Pub.
From The North
Leave the M5 at junction 10 and take the A4019 towards Cheltenham. Keep straight on through the traffic lights, until you come to large roundabout (there is a McDonalds on the left), at which you turn turn left. Continue up this road going over a double mini roundabout. Keep going for about 300 yards and then turn right into Swindon Lane. Go over the level crossing and straight over the next roundabout (signposted Prestbury) passing the race course on your left. Turn right into Albert Road (signposted Gloucestershire University) and at the bottom at the roundabout turn left into Prestbury Road, (the ground is signposted from here) and then further down Prestbury Road, turn right into Whaddon Road. The ground is down on the left.
From The South
Leave the M5 at Junction 11 turning right towards Cheltenham. Go across 1st roundabout – GCHQ is on your left. Turn left at the next roundabout, into Princess Elizabeth Way. Go straight over the next roundabout, (the exit is over at about “1 o’clock”). Keep on up this road, and you will come to a big roundabout, where you will see a McDonalds on the corner. Go straight across this roundabout and continue up this road going over a double mini roundabout. Then as North.
Car Parking
There are a limited number of spaces available in the Club car park at the ground which cost £5. However, these can be pre-booked by calling the Club on 01242 573 558. The Parklands Social Club does allow some parking at £4 per car (See Where To Drink). If arriving a couple of hours before kick off then there is street parking available on streets running off Whaddon Road itself.
Post Code for SAT NAV: GL52 5NA
Cheltenham Railway Station is over two miles from the Whaddon Road ground, so best to jump in a taxi. Phil Truscott advises; ‘I caught Bus Service D from the Station Car park to the Town Centre (Clarence Street). On Saturdays Service D runs every 10 minutes. It costs £3.90 for a ‘day-rider’ ticket with unlimited travel in Cheltenham. From the Town centre it is a short walk to Whaddon Road down Prestbury Road. For the return journey you can catch Bus D (going in the direction of Hatherly/Warden Hill) from Pittville Street in the town centre (at the side entrance of Marks and Spencer). It stops opposite the railway station outside a Tesco Metro’. Bernard McCall a visiting Accrington Stanley fan adds; ‘If you catch Bus D from the train station and do nor get off in the town centre, then it continues to the racecourse where you can get on the free Park & Ride shuttle bus to the ground’.
If you are going to embark on the 35-40 minute walk then thank Dave Lucas for the following directions; ‘Turn right out of station car park and follow Queens Road for around half a mile. At end of Queens Road and turn left into Lansdown Road. At the next (Montpellier) roundabout, turn left into Montpellier Walk (which later becomes the Promenade). At the end of the Promenade, turn right into the High Street. Go along High Street for around 100 yards and then turn left into Winchcombe Street (by a branch of the Cheltenham & Gloucester Building Society). Continue straight along Winchcombe Street and into Prestbury Road. Straight across the next roundabout and then first right into Whaddon Road. The entrance to the away end is down on the left’.
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:
Before Cheltenham Town had a nailed on home, they held trials at the East Gloucestershire Cricket Ground; that dates back to around 1887. The club then went on to play their earliest home games at this ground. Subsequently, Cheltenham Town bounced around a couple of places like the Agg Gardner’s Recreation Ground, Whaddon Lane and Carter’s Field with all three grounds located within half a mile of their current stadium. In 1927, The Robins relocated to Whaddon Road, where they have played up until today. There have been very few changes of note over that time.
For regular fixtures prices are as below. For some more popular games these prices are increased by £2.
Home Fans
Thomson & Bancks Stand: Adults £21, Over 65’s £15, Under 19’s & Students £7
Main Stand: Adults £20, Over 65’s £14, Under 19’s & Students £7
Prestbury Road Stand & Paddock Terrace: Adults £16, Over 65’s £12, Under 19’s & Students £5
Away Fans
Hazlewoods Stand: Adults £21, Over 65’s £15, Under 18’s & Students £7
Please note that Juniors who become Club Members can gain free admittance.
Official Programme £3.
Cheltenham vs Forest Green rivalry: With both teams being from Gloucestershire, meetings between these two are nicknamed “El Glosico”; that’s tongue in cheek, of course. The clashes between Cheltenham and Forest Green have become more heated in recent years with Forest Green arriving in the football league.
Cheltenham vs Gloucester City rivalry: This rivalry isn’t exactly a humdinger with the sides playing at different levels but it’s a derby that does still attract a bit of fan fare locally in terms of cheap jibes; the sides haven’t met competitively for nearly a quarter of a century though.
Cheltenham vs Bristol Rovers rivalry: Encounters between these sides are called the West Country derby. This is because both teams are among the nine teams based in the West Country of England. Rovers in particular, however, have much bigger rivalries to worry about.
Cheltenham Town 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.
Record Attendance
At Whaddon Road:
8,326 v Reading
FA Cup 1st Round, 17th November 1956.
At The Athletic Ground:
10,389 v Blackpool
FA Cup 3rd Round, January 13th, 1934.
Average Attendance
2019-2020: 3,424 (League Two)
2018-2019: 3,134 (League Two)
2017-2018: 3,172 (League Two)
Official Web Site:
www.ctfc.com
Unofficial Web Sites:
Cheltenhamtown-MAD
Robins Nest Forum
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at contact@footballgroundguide.com and I’ll update the guide.
Cheltenham Town v Gillingham
League Two
Saturday March 17th 2012, 3pm
Martyn Beadle (Gillingham fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case maybe):
I was really looking forward to going to this ground. We had booked our train tickets six weeks before the game to get a good deal. Me and a couple of friends were really looking forward to a boys day out and we decided to do Cheltenham because compared to most other teams in the League it is not that far to travel. Also it was a play-off six pointer really so the atmosphere was gonna be great!
2. How easy was your journey/ finding the ground/ car parking?
The journey was pretty easy we got the 9:00am train from Orpington and we arrived in Cheltenham by 11:50am and as we had a few hours to kill we went to the local bookies to have a little flutter on the match and mixed in with the locals in the bookies and had a bit of banter.
3. What did you do before the game pub/chippy….Home fans friendly?
We arrived at the station and opposite is the Midland Hotel. So as we had a couple of hours to kill we thought we would try a few bevvies in this hotel and despite a couple of dirty looks because we walked in with our Gillingham shirts on the locals seemed friendly enough. We left the Midland Hotel around 1ish and decided to take a walk up to the ground and passed a few more pubs along the way until we came to a pub called The Hop Pole which was surprisingly very quiet considering it was the same weekend as Cheltenham Gold Cup and St Patricks day. After we left The Hop Pole it was still about 20 minutes walk to the ground.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The ground looked small from the outside and it was quite small on the inside too, but looked very smart. We got in the ground about 20 minutes before kick-off and the only disappointment was that no alcohol was served inside. I thought our away stand was the best stand in the stadium, plenty of leg room and a fantastic view of the playing action.
5. Comments on the game itself, Atmosphere, Stewards, Pies, Facilities etc..
The game was brilliant and has a fantastic atmosphere. Considering we won 3-0 on the day, us Gillingham fans were making loads of noise as we do when we travel away from home every week. Had a bit of banter with some Cheltenham fans who were giving as good as they got. The stewards were a bit strange we arrived at the ground singing some Gills songs and then couple of stewards stopped me and my mate asking us to be quiet while walking into the ground and asking us how much had we had to drink. We said only a few and they said ok they will be watching us through-out the game and they did exactly that, but shook hands with them at the end and they seemed ok. We got out 3 points to put us in the play-off places so i was bound to be happy. I didn't taste none of the food but my friend said it is better than what we get at a home game and i said they aint that hard to beat is it. The toilets were nice and clean and there wasnt that much queing up to do.
6. Comments on getting away from the ground after the game:
It was pretty straight forward getting away from the ground the ony down pointer was while we were walking back down to the station it had started chucking it down with rain but when you win 3-0 I couldn't of cared if it was snowing. I was in a really happy mood, it was a safe journey back to the Midland Hotel where we waited and had a few more beers because our train didn't leave until 7pm so we then got a few cans from the local Co-Op for the train journey home.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day:
A really fantastic day out in all, a brilliant atmosphere a few beers, a bit of banter, plus my friend won £102 on predicting Gillingham beating Cheltenham 3-0. I would recommend Cheltenham as a fantastic day out.
Come On You Gills!
Cheltenham Town v Mansfield Town
League Two
Sunday December 29th 2012, 3pm
Jeff Beastall (Mansfield Town fan)
An unusual fixture this one on the last Sunday of 2013. We decided to make a two day visit of this one, hoping to catch the game on the Sunday and then have a look around the town on the Monday.
We stayed at the Central Premier Inn on Gloucester Road which isn’t really central but located at the diametrically opposite side of the town to the ground on the south west side. Directions to the ground are the same as for on foot from the station which is close to the hotel but we chose to take the car having fortunately the available services of an alcohol free driver. Halfway to the ground in the town centre are two Wetherspoon outlets, The Bank House on Clarence Street and The Moon under Water on Bath Road. I’m not over fond of club houses and pubs next to the ground which are sometimes a 10 deep scrum for the bulk buying of limited brands in plastic pots. These are two optionals for the visiting fan; I would recommend personally The Moon (Post code GL53 7HA) which has a short stay public car park virtually next door. This was £2.60 for two hours which is ample if you are doing a pub lunch too. From there it’s about a mile to Whaddon Road.
We found the ground easily given the directions and parked on the nearby side streets. Being a mature student, the club had a reduced admission which was very welcome too. Catering was pretty much as expected and the toilets clean and modern -ish in appearance.
The game itself was end to end stuff and would have been entertaining for even the most cynical of neutrals. Without a win for 13 games, the Stags had slipped steadily down the league from promotion contenders towards the abyss of becoming potential relegation fodder. Two goals in the first half and Mansfield appeared to have the game in the bag, but a second half resurgence from the Robins saw them grab one back with 10 minutes left. 5 minutes of added time stretched agonisingly towards some 12 minutes of “Fergy time” but still the Robins couldn’t grab a late equaliser and The Stags took away all of the much needed 3 points with extreme gratitude.
Only fly in the ointment of the day was the suggestion / accusation made by a steward to one of our more prominent fans that they had been allegedly consuming alcohol in the stadium; this at end of the game as everyone was leaving through the central exit in, well, good spirits, so to speak. Poor choice of phrase but there you go. I certainly couldn’t comment either way but as this “quiet word in the ear” began to attract increasing interest, it might have been a bit more prudent had the Steward either made a move (with some back up both in the from of evidence and physical presence ) before then, or as in the Ronan Keating song, “[did] it best when you say nothing at all.” I’m all for ground security but come on, there’s a method, a time and a place for safety and the top of a staircase in the midst of a bustling crowd at the end of a match isn’t it.
Bottom line, great day otherwise and hope we’ll be back next year and at a time when the fixtures don’t mean we return here in the depths of winter.
Cheltenham Town v Torquay United
League Two
Saturday March 15th 2014, 3pm
Sam Hodgson (Neutral fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case maybe):
I was looking forward to this game as I'm new to the groundhopping scene, and Cheltenham was the fifth on my 92 and at the start of this journey I look forward to all of them. Also I have a soft spot for their opponents Torquay who were rock bottom at the time with a few games to go, so despite being in the home stand I was secretly hoping I'd see the visitors win and attempt the great escape!
2. How easy was your journey/ finding the ground/ car parking:
Simple journey by train from Birmingham and a long 30 minute (albeit) pleasant walk to the ground.
3. What did you do before the game pub/chippy….Home fans friendly?
On the way we grabbed some food in the town centre, then made our way into the ground after buying tickets. Both fans seemed friendly accept for Torquay's drummer who (for some unknown reason) gave me a dirty look as I walked past the away end!
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
I liked the ground, a mix of old with the terrace behind the goal and the main stand on one side and a mix of the new with two very modern stands, one of them being the away end behind goal. I was in the modern stand on the side, and what I found unusual was that the new stands were very close to the pitch.
5. Comments on the game itself, Atmosphere, Stewards, Pies, Facilities etc..
The game was decent, with both sides playing well in the first half. Not many chances, although Cheltenham had two great chances which should have put them ahead. However neither found the net. Second half was quiet until Cheltenham opened the scoring in he 75th minute from a corner. Torquay piled on the pressure to try and find a point that they hoped would try and keep them up, but the pressure came to nothing in the end. Final score 1-0 to Cheltenham. Torquay fans sang all game (although not much variety of songs) and were a credit to their team. Not much noise at all from the home end unfortunately. Wasn't much choice on the food menu unfortunately but the toilets were decent. Hardly noticed the stewards all game, probably had nothing to do!
6. Comments on getting away from the ground after the game:
No problems as we were on the train, and we go to the station on time (especially since the train home was delayed surprise, surprise!). We were back in Birmingham for 6.30pm so a good journey.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day:
Average game in a nice stadium and I enjoyed the day overall. Another ground off the list!
Attendance: 3,105
Cheltenham Town v Southend United
League Two
Saturday April 5th 2014, 3pm
Tom Raffan (Southend United fan)
I was looking forward to this one as we had just come away from a thirteen game winless streak and were looking to make it three wins on the trot and ensure that we were favourites for the play-offs.
I went on the supporters' bus which left Essex at the civilised time of 9.30am and after an uneventful journey along the M25 and A40 we arrived in Cheltenham at about one o'clock. After hanging around for a bit I had to go back out if the car park and walk past a bowling green to find entrance to the Hazlewoods Stand. The steward said that we could sit where we liked so if found a seat next to the unnecessary netting which cordoned off the end of the stand (closest to the in2print Stand).
I liked this ground, it was a blend of modern and old, with the Main Stand having seating up high and standing in a paddock area below. Opposite is the modern stand, similar to the away stand, which was peculiar in that for most of the length of the pitch there were no advertising boards and it would have been possible for spectators to have walked on the pitch.
Our stand was one of the better away stands in the league, plenty of leg room, good views with no obstructions and a great capacity to make some sound.
The stand was quite full and when a fellow supporter put the drum on the netting the steward had an absolute fit which led to all of us planning to generate some atmosphere moving to the other end of the stand.
The game itself okay, in a first half of few chances Cheltenham took the lead against the run of play in injury time. Throughout the entire game a short, quiet song after the goal was all that we heard from the home supporters, though we had no trouble making plenty of noise throughout the entirety of the match.
The half time entertainment was quite poor, merely a few children from a local football team taking part in a crossbar challenge. Nice idea, it just didn't work.
The second half was much more enjoyable from our perspective, with two goals in the space of three minutes following an inspired substitution from Phil Brown. Cheltenham scarcely threatened our goal for the remaining thirty minutes, and we were able to enjoy a happy trip home with another three points.
Attendance: 2,949 (471 away fans)
Cheltenham Town v Mansfield Town
Football League Two
Saturday 7th March 2015, 3pm
Jack Richardson (Mansfield Town fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Whaddon Road?
Always look forward to Cheltenham for some reason, it's not exactly close to us! Every visit I have had it's always provided a good game, we tend to do w ell down there so as always I made the trip!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey was straight forward, drove from Mansfield and arrived in just under two and a half hours. There was plenty of street parking available providing you arrive early enough.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Headed into the town centre which is around 15 minutes walking distance from Whaddon Road, as you can imagine there are plenty of pubs in the town which all welcomed away fans. Oddly I didn't see any home fans anywhere!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Whaddon Road?
Whaddon Road is a tidy little ground, modern on three sides with the more traditional main stand running along side the pitch. View from the away end is good, around 15 rows high it's not the biggest away end but gives a clear view.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
On the back of 2 wins we were feeling confident, the first half was pretty even, the home fans were decent enough with a drummer behind the home goal. The 283 Mansfield fans gave a decent account of themselves as well. Cheltenham took the lead shortly after half time before Billy Kee equalized for us shortly before the final whistle. Stewards were relaxed despite the heavy police presents (no idea why!). Pies were decent and toilets clean.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Only a five minute walk back to the car, bit of traffic getting out but we did park only a short distance from the stadium. Safely arrived back into Mansfield for 7.30pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Enjoyable day out as always, good point, will be going back to Cheltenham at my next opportunity.
Cheltenham Town vs Plymouth Argyle
League Two
Saturday 28th March 2015, 3pm
John Bonney (Plymouth Argyle fan)
Why you were looking forward to going to Whaddon Road?
This was to be my first visit to Whaddon Road. Plus Argyle needed a win and three points.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We went by train from Plymouth. It took two and a half hours to reach Cheltenham. That's a short journey for Plymouth fans. It's easy to get into the town centre from the railway station by bus and the Whaddon Road isn't that far from the centre.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We met up in the Spectre pub, located on the High Street in the town centre. An excellent pub, spacious, served food, nice bar staff and had TV screens showing the early kick off game. There were a mix of home and away fans in the pub. Generally it was a nice atmosphere.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
The ground is small, but with a nice mix of old and new stands. It was a good view from the relatively new covered away end. We had a lot of away fans, 1300+ and stewards were pretty good.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game started with both sides tentative. Reuben Reid scored for us to make it 1-0 at half time. Cheltenham had their chances to equalize before the break, but in the second half, Plymouth dominated and we ran out 3-0 winners.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
I chose to walk through the town to get a bite to eat before boarding the train back to Plymouth. Found a cafe and got a meal for £5 – bargain. Cheltenham is a nice town, with regency architecture. The railway station is well signposted.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
All in all I had a pretty good day out. A win always makes you enjoy your day but Cheltenham is well worth a trip. Will go again if Argyle are in town.
Cheltenham Town v Leyton Orient
Football League Two
Saturday 6th August 2016, 3pm
Donald (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Whaddon Road Ground?
This was to be my 70th league ground visited – ideal for a visit as I was on holiday and my team Sunderland were not playing. It's a long way from my home in Durham so a good one to tick off the list while I was on holiday and had time on my hands.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I travelled to Cheltenham from my home in County Durham on the Friday evening before the game. From my Holiday Inn Express hotel in central Cheltenham the Whaddon Road ground was very easy to locate. But beware, if you arrive at Cheltenham Spa by train then it is a very long walk!
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I'd visited Cheltenham's Wilson Art Gallery and Museum on the morning and then walked over to the ground after getting some lunch. It was a glorious summer's day and so I did a spot of sun bathing in one of the small parks on the way to the ground. On arrival at the Cheltenham Town Stadium I visited the club shop to buy a badge but was disappointed to learn the programmes had sold out – couldn't get one anywhere grrrrr. Only disappointment on the day.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Whaddon Road?
The LCI Stadium is it is now known, is one of the better lower league English grounds I've visited. I had purchased a ticket for the Wyman's Stand via the club's webpages. The Wymans is the side stand located opposite the Main Stand. However accessing it was a bit of a faff involving a trek around a few streets of housing. When walking from the town centre access to the Main Stand would have been far easier. I was sat close to the Leyton Orient away fans – the away end was very good, all-seated and quite full. The Wymans Stand is comfortable with a excellent view of the action.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was quite good – with Orient starting the stronger and scoring an early goal. I was 'neutral' but used to live/work in East London and visited Brisbane Road a few times. So I've a bit of a soft spot for Orient and I was pleased they'd taken the lead as they deserved it at that point in the game. Cheltenham were a little off the pace during the first half – they appeared to still be in pre-season mode. But Orient didn't make the most of their opportunity. Cheltenham eventually improved and got the equalizer. A draw was just about a fair result on a very hot day. The atmosphere was good largely due to the away fans – the home fans were fairly quiet but a nice bunch. The stewards were very good and helpful. The food was the usual fayre – I rarely eat the food at games but it looked okay. I'd actually eaten at 'the Brewery' a retail centre with some good bars and cafes only about a 15 minute walk from Whaddon Road.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
It was easy – I walked back to my hotel and had decided to leave and head back to Durham that evening. I arrived home after a routine journey at 11pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Very enjoyable and another ground ticked off the list. A beautiful sunny day helped but Cheltenham is a lovely town with lots of regency architecture – so well worth making a weekend of any trip. This was the first game of a new season and I suspect Orient will finish higher in the table. But good luck to both clubs.
Cheltenham Town v Doncaster Rovers
Football League Two
Saturday 20th August 2016, 3pm
Graham Grainger (Doncaster Rovers fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Whaddon Road Ground?
This was my first visit to Whaddon Road ground or now called the LCI Stadium.
How eas y was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Stayed the night before at my brother in laws, who lives in the area. I drove to the ground and managed to find some street parking which was just five minutes walk away from Whaddon Road itself.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
A went for a beer in The Robins Nest Bar at the ground. Away fans were welcomed, at a cost of £1 admission. The bar had a good selection of beers. It was a draught Tetley's for me!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Whaddon Road Ground?
The away end was all seated with cover. Fans were allowed to sit anywhere. The stand holds 1,100, and we half filled it. Whaddon Road is a 'Tidy' little ground but certainly no more that Football League Two 'standard'.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Doncaster won the match 1-0, after a goal not long after half time from John Marquis. The stewarding was low key. The Cheltenham fans made some noise in opposite stand behind goal.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Back at my car in not time and no problems getting way from the ground.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A good win away for Doncaster. Plus Cheltenham is a very pleasant town to visit and certainly in 'chocolate box' country.
Cheltenham Town v Portsmouth
Football League Two
Saturday 19th November 2016, 3pm
Dan Frostick (Portsmouth fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Whaddon Road?
I am determined to go to as many local grounds this season as I can, so a trip to Whaddon Road was the next stop for Pompey.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I went up the A3 to pick up my friend Gemma from Godalming then went via the A31, A3016, A287, M3, A339, M4, A419 & A417. We parked up at the Parklands Community Centre which can be found turning right just before the ground then the first left turn takes you to the community centre it cost £4 to park there arriving around 11.45am.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Gemma and myself ventured into the city centre which is a 10 minute walk (for us) but probably a 15 minute walk for someone who is older and grabbed a KFC. We then got a message from Rob Morris who recommended to us to try "The Kemble Brewery Inn" on Fairview Street which is 10 minutes from the ground. It's like being in someone's house which has been converted into a pub! It had plenty of character and had a great atmosphere with both Cheltenham & Pompey supporters being friendly. Rob had some food and I must looked very tempting! We arrived at the ground about 2.20pm.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Whaddon Road?
The Whaddon Road ground itself has a old school approach which I love! Nice and close to the players & a good view from the Waddon Road End. The ground has three small, but smart looking sides, while the Main Stand has terracing in front with seating above in the upper tier. It certainly has plenty of character.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game ended up being a 1-1 draw, Cheltenham leading before Michal Smith got Pompey level, there were chances for both teams with Pompey having the better of them, a smart save from the goalkeeper to deny Gary Roberts & Kyle Bennett hitting the post. The stewards were very friendly to the 1,600 traveling Pompey supporters & enjoyed a laugh and joke with us!
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
After the match Gemma and myself chatted with more Cheltenham fans behind the Main Stand who looked at the game as a good point to pick up as they had a big match against Colchester on the Tuesday night. We waited to see Portsmouth Manager Paul Cook and the team, while the traffic was busy but soon was free flowing again in no time!
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
An enjoyable day out at Cheltenham & I hope they can survive relegation after coming up from the conference last season. They just might have a say in who goes up from League two this season as we host Cheltenham in our last game of 2016/17.
Cheltenham Town v Plymouth Argyle
Football League Two
Saturday 21st January 2017, 3pm
Bryan Davis (Plymouth Argyle fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Whaddon Road Ground?
Although I support Plymouth Argyle as they are my home town team, Whaddon Road Cheltenham is the closest League 2 ground to where I live, so great to have a short drive to the match.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We drove into Cheltenham from Junction 10 of the M5 (the traffic on the main road in was rubbish) and parked in the pay and display Europarks car park in North Place. There is on-street parking in Pittville Lawn, limited to 4 hours but free. I'd probably park here on any future visits.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
The idea was to have a walk and lunch in Pittville Park before going to the match. We had lunch from the very popular Central Cross Cafe (outside seating only) the food was good. From here it's only a ten minute walk to the ground. We didn't see many home fans until we got close to Whaddon Road, but everyone seemed okay, even on the way out after we had won!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Whaddon Road?
The entrance to the away end is separate from the main entrance area with the shop shop etc. and is quite good. Inside the Argyle fans had the whole of the quite steeply banked Hazlewoods Stand at one end, plus a bit of the adjacent Wymans Road stand which is very close to the pitch. The other end is a covered terrace for the home fans which looks a bit out of place with the other three sides of the ground. The Main Stand is quite short so doesn't go the full length of the touch line. One thing to note is there is quite a down slope on the pitch away from the Hazelwoods Stand towards the home end. Sitting or standing in the front means you can see even less of the game than normal as you are looking down the slope.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
There was some doubt about the match being played due to a frozen pitch and the go-ahead didn't come through until about 1 o'clock. It was a bit of a scrappy match, not helped by a rather bumpy pitch, with both teams having chances. Argyle took the lead via a Sonny Bradley header on 26 minutes in front of the home fans. Argyle held the lead at half time after the referee waved away Cheltenham's appeals for a penalty for hand ball. After the break Argyle had a few opportunities and should have had a second goal but indecision by Garita with only the 'keeper to beat saw the best chance squandered. Cheltenham pressed, probably played the better football & created more chances which they finally converted into a goal after a goal-mouth scramble at 85 minutes.Argyle didn't give up and a free kick, in time added on, taken by Fox from 10 yards outside the box was floated to Bradley at the far post who headed home the winner in front of the 1,512 Argyle supporters – who promptly went wild. The atmosphere was quite good, plenty of noise from our end making it difficult to hear anything from the other end – except when they scored of course! Stewards were quite hands-off, I got the impression they were not about to get involved with the away supporters unless they really had to. Facilities were fine, the food looked ok but we didn't try any as we'd already eaten.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Easy getting out from the ground, about 10-15 minutes walk back to the car and we took the Evesham Road out which was much better than the way we came in.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A crisp, mainly sunny winters day, not far from home, watching my team win – all rather enjoyable. I'd happily go to Whaddon Road again.
Cheltenham Town v Plymouth Argyle
Football League Two
Saturday 21st January 2017, 3pm
David King (Plymouth Argyle fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Whaddon Road?
This was to be only my second visit to Whaddon Road, the last around 15 years ago.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I traveled up on Friday and stayed in Gloucester. Knowing that parking is difficult in Cheltenham on Saturdays I parked my car at the main car park near Gloucester Bus Station (£4 all day) and caught the Stagecoach Gold service number 94 to Cheltenham for the price of a £5 day ticket.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I arrived around late morning at the Promenade and walked for around 15 minutes to the Kemble Brewery Inn in Fairview Street. The Wetherspoons pub in the town centre on Clarence Street was very busy but I decided to give it a miss. If you do use this pub Stagecoach service "A" stops right outside and goes past the ground on the way to Prestbury. The selection of beers on offer at the Kemble brewery Inn wasn't as varied as some places but it is a rather small pub. The welcome was good from the staff was good and included a free hot-dog! Fans from both clubs mixed and the atmosphere was friendly and relaxed. As I was driving there was no beer for me but I enjoyed my visit and left around 1.45pm to walk the relatively short distance to the ground..
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Whaddon Road?
The Whaddon Road ground is small and has a non-league feel to it although I do not mean that in a negative way. Argyle fans had all the Hazlewoods Stand behind the goal and the view was unobstructed with no pillars. The pitch was poor (but not quite as bad as the one at Newport) with lots of sand and both goalmouths badly cut up. The game only just survived a late pitch inspection after an overnight frost.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Refreshments were available from a small hut at one end of the away stand. Food was reasonably priced although there were long queues near kick off time. The stewards were friendly and helpful although there was some criticism from Argyle fans as some were not sitting in their allocated seats and there seemed to quite a few standing in the aisles during the game. The low roof over the away stand meant that the 1,000+ fans made lots of noise. The poor state of the pitch meant that a good football was not possible. Plymouth Argyle took the lead after around 25 minutes after edging the early part of the half. Cheltenham were unlucky the referee did not award them a penalty after a Argyle handball late in the first half. Cheltenham played the better football in the second half and got what they must have thought was a point after an equaliser five minutes from time. Plymouth snatched the win in injury time with a well worked free kick headed in past the keeper much to the delight of the Argyle fans behind the goal.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
I walked leisurely back to the town centre which took around 25 minutes and caught the bus back to Gloucester. From there I headed back down the M5 and A30 without any problems.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A good day out and great to mix with the friendly Cheltenham fans in the pub before the game.
Cheltenham Town v Crawley Town
Football League Two
Saturday 12th August 2017, 3pm
Thomas Inglis (Neutral Dundee United fan)
Cheltenham Town v Colchester United
Football League Two
Saturday 16th September 2017, 3pm
Philip Williams (Colchester United fan)
Cheltenham Town v Mansfield Town
Football League Two
Tuesday 26th September 2017, 3pm
Andrew Wood (Mansfield Town fan)
Cheltenham Town v Maidstone United
FA Cup 1st Round
Saturday 4th November 2017, 3pm
Phil Back (Doing the 134)
Cheltenham Town v Morecambe
League 2
Saturday 7th April 2018, 3pm
Stuart Waring (Morecambe fan)
Cheltenham Town v Tranmere Rovers
League 2
Saturday 12th January 2019, 3pm
Ben Castle (Tranmere Rovers)
Cheltenham Town v Cambridge United
League 2
Tuesday 19th February 2019, 7.45pm
Edward Trafford (Cambridge United)
Cheltenham Town v Scunthorpe United
League 2
Saturday 10th August 2019, 3pm
Matthew Waddingham (Scunthorpe United)
Cheltenham Town v Leyton Orient
League 2
Saturday 15th February 2020, 3pm
Tim Scales (Leyton Orient)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Jonny-Rocks Stadium?
After a win in midweek, Orient are on a run of 11 points from 5 games. I was hoping we could continue that run here. I had also never been to Whaddon Road.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
It's a long old poke from Norfolk, especially after having to drive an extra 20 miles out of my way to pick up my mate before the game. That said, despite some horrendous weather, it wasn't that bad of a journey. Once within a mile of Whaddon Road, we searched for street parking. Be warned – most of the streets around the ground are permit holders only on matchdays. However, we found a side-street to park on without too much hassle. The ground is pretty easy to find too.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Before the game, we visited the Kemble Brewery Inn, which is a superb pre-match pub with home and away fans mingling without hassle. We did get talking to some of the locals who were really friendly – the barmaid was trying to wind everyone up by saying the game was postponed, which would've been totally unamusing! Despite it being a small pub, it is the best I've visited on my travels this season.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Jonny-Rocks Stadium?
Whaddon Road is a tidy ground – a little like Grimsby with the bottom half terraced, top half seated Main Stand. It is only small with a capacity of just over 7000 and the away end is only a few rows deep.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was something of a disaster for Leyton Orient. It was all going well when The O's took the lead after 17 minutes as Owen Evans's clearance hit Conor Wilkinson and flew into the back of the net, but Orient's lead must've lasted all of about 20 seconds of actual game-time before Alfie May drew the hosts level. While it wasn't a hammering on the scoreline, in the second half, Cheltenham bossed the game as Orient were attacking into the wind. The hoof-ball was unlikely to be effective at the best of times and with the weather taking its toll on the game, Cheltenham were repeatedly gifted possession by Orient's direct tactics. The Robins bombarded the Orient box with crosses and eventually found a way through 2 minutes from time with substitute Reuben Reid the Cheltenham hero, heading home from Ryan Broom's cross.
The atmosphere at Whaddon Road is very good, with a small block of ultras to the right of the away fans making plenty of noise throughout the game, aided by a drum. I had a hotdog in the ground and it wasn't great – the bun very much letting down a decent sausage! The stewarding was really relaxed and very friendly.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
After walking back to the car, it wasn't difficult at all to get out of Cheltenham. Most people weren't idiotic like me and avoided going outside thanks to the weather warnings.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A very good day out in all aspects… apart from the result.
Game Attended
v ITFCCompetition
L1Date
17/08/2021Kick Off Time
19:45Team Supported
Ipswich TownHow easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Just to let you know that I've pre-booked parking at the ground for the Ipswich game and it now costs £8 to park, not £5 as per the site.Images
Game Attended
Ipswich TownCompetition
League OneDate
17/08/2021Kick Off Time
19.45Team Supported
Neutral (Norwich City fan!!)Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
Went whist staying with friends who support Cheltenham Town, plus this is a new ground for me. Had added interest that they were playing our arch rivals.How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Easy, as only 10-15 minute walk from friends accommodation. There is a small car park at the ground but not sure of cost. All I could say is that it must have taken ages to get away from here after the game as there was only one entrance/exit and cars appeared to be held back until after everyone had left. The ground is only a short 10-15 minute walk from the town centre offering cheaper parking and a speedier exit. There are also many side streets a short distance away offering free parking.What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Simpsons Fish & Chip bar on Priors Road - short walk from the ground at end of Whaddon Road. Excellent food also offering a dine in option - some of the best fish & chips I have had in a long time, if not a little on the pricy side. There is also another chippy, kebab shop and convenience store closer to the ground (also heading away from the town centre) on the Whaddon Road.What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Ticket collection and organisation was a complete shambles. There were a large number of late arrivals, along with a high percentage of fans that had opted to collect prepaid tickets or buy tickets on the day. This resulted in 3 or 4 very long queues to the 2 separate portacabins There were separate queues depending on what you needed but no signage advising which que to join. To make matters worse none of the stewards controlling the queues had a clue which queue was for which transaction. We were directed to the "chief steward" and even he sent us to the wrong queue!! ABSOLUTE CHAOS!! As a consequence, despite getting to the ground 50 minutes before kick off we only got to the turnstiles as the ref started the game which eradicated the chance to have a look around or visit the club shop. The programme sellers had also long disappeared! With pending visits from the likes of Sunderland, Portsmouth, Oxford etc they really do need to sort this out as tempers were starting to get pretty frayed!Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The ground capacity is apparently just over 7,000 so with an attendance of 4,746 this compact ground was getting pretty full. The tractor boys had brought a good support of almost 1000 fans for what is a fairly lengthy journey on a Wednesday night, no doubt buoyed by this being a new ground for all as this was the two clubs first ever competitive game. I stood with the home fans in the brilliantly named Speedy Skips stand which is a fairly shallow covered terrace behind the goal that Cheltenham defended from kick off. Having eaten prior to the game I didn't try any of the food available from the kiosk at the back of the stand, however the food that passed by did look good and prices seemed pretty reasonable. Ipswich scored very early on and totally dominated an entertaining but completely one sided first half. It would have been no injustice had they finished the half 3-0 up. However they failed to capitalise further with Macauley Bonne somehow missing an open goal from 3-4 feet out, and you always felt that Cheltenham would be more competitive in the second half. This proved to be the case with The Robins reversing the domination and deservedly running out 2-1 winners in front of an fervent noisy home support.Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Getting away from the ground on foot was quick and easy and we were soon back to our accommodationSummary of overall thoughts of the day out
They need to get the ticket situation sorted but this issue aside I really enjoyed my visit to Whaddon Road. A chance to see Ipswich get beaten (yet again!) especially from such a favoured and dominant position, would obviously cheer up any Norwich fan, but all joking aside, this was an entertaining game enhanced by the compact nature of the stadium and a decent crowd. The home support was fantastic, especially during the second half creating a great, almost FA Cup giant killing atmosphere, making this a great night of football.Images
Game Attended
MK DonsCompetition
League OneDate
04/09/2021Kick Off Time
3-00Team Supported
MK DonsWhy were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
Another live game following Covid and also I had never been to Cheltenham.How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Went on an official coach and apart from waiting approx 45 mins outside Buckingham for traffic works, the journey was goodWhat you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Visited the Robins Nest Bar at the ground and after paying my £1 entrance fee, enjoyed an excellent pint or two of Tribune together with a cheese roll. Good value as well. The only gripe is that whilst plenty of staff the queues seemed to take ages to clear. When I came to pay I discovered the reason why. Only one card reader for the whole bar which meant the bar staff had to wait for it to be available. The home fans very friendly and I had a good chat with a number of them.What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
I would call it a typical League 2 ground but I like that. Good views and legroom at our end with a covered roof which created plenty of noise from our fans. The other sides of the ground looked small but it all added to the atmosphere.Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
We looked a bit rusty at the beginning and missed a number of chances to open the scoring. We then fell behind and the rest of the first half was pretty uneventful. The second half we totally dominated (73% possession) but it needed a late goal from us to claim a point which was the least we deserved. Stewards were fine and the chips I had were also good value. I did hear that the kiosk card reader played up but it was sorted by the time I came to pay. Very good Gents toilets with plenty of room, warm water and looked quite clean..Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Apart from normal delays after a match the journey home was goodSummary of overall thoughts of the day out
A good performance by the Dons with a point makes for a great day out. A great beer also helps. I would certainly visit again and would recommend it to any other away supporters..Images
Game Attended
Accrington StanleyCompetition
League OneDate
16/10/2021Kick Off Time
3pmTeam Supported
Doing to 92Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
A new ground and managed to drag along a few mates, who'd not been the ground before either.How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We parked at the Breweries NCP car park about 15 mins walk awayWhat you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We had some pies from a kiosk near the car park (steak & ale and Homity pie!). Then we went into the club bar and had a beer. The home fans were very friendly, chatting to us, and happy to helpWhat you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
It's a small ground, with three sides which are quite similar in style and one with a larger stand. The unusual thing for us was that we stood, which an enjoyable (and slightly) retro experienceComment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
It wasn't a good game. The home side won it with a single goal near the end, but generally the two sides, both playing 3-5-2, cancelled each other out.Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Easy to get away. Once back to the car, it was also easy to get out of townSummary of overall thoughts of the day out
An enjoyable game out. Shame the game wasn't more exiting, but it was an important victory for the home side and so the fans were quite bouyant at the end.Images
Game Attended
Cheltenham vs Sheffield WednesdayCompetition
EFL League 1Date
30/10/2021Kick Off Time
15.00Team Supported
Sheffield WednesdayWhy were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
Another new ground and a relatively local game from my South Wales home.How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Travelled by train for this game which meant a 40 minute walk from the station.What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Stopped at the Wetherspoons in the town centre for a couple of drinks and food. Both sets of fans mixed well.What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
A typical small division one ground in quite a nice part of town. There was ample leg room and there was a good view.Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Another frustrating away day - once again conceding a late equalizer to draw the game. The stewards seemed friendly enough, and it has to be said that a small number of our fans should have behaved better. Tried to get a pie at half time but they had sold out, so I just had a cup of tea at a cost of £2. The toilets were adequate for a stand holding around 1000 fans.Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
My son drove to the game so we jumped in with him for the return journey. He parked on Westbourne Drive which is just a couple of minutes walk across the Whaddon Recreation Ground. From there it was an easy drive to the M5 and home.Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
A pleasant awayday, spoiled slightly by a small number of our fans coupled and yet another later goal conceded. Just one other point, other contributors have referred to going into the Sudeley Arms for drinks before games, but today there was a sign saying 'home fans only' when we walked past on the way to the ground.Images
Game Attended
Cheltenham Town V M K DonsCompetition
EFL League OneDate
04/09/2021Kick Off Time
15:00Team Supported
M K DonsWhy were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
We came to Cheltenham two seasons ago and thought why not, The Dons were on a good run and it's only a two hour drive.How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey to Cheltenham is an easy drive from Milton Keynes and we parked on street a 2 minute walk from the ground. There is plenty of free on street parking so anyone travelling don't bother with looking for carparks you just have to follow your sat nav to the ground and you will find plenty of parking.What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We arrived 45 minutes before kick off so went straight into the ground to get something to eat.What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
The Johnny-Rocks is a tidy little ground with good away facilities. This is one ground I will always return to.Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was a bit of a boring affair finishing 1-1. The atmosphere in the ground was good and the Stewards were very friendly & helpful. The only downside on this visit was the catering. When we got into the ground they weren't ready at all I was given possibly the rawest and greasiest tray of chips I have ever had the misfortune of paying for. Thinking this was, perhaps bad luck, I tried the burgers at halftime only to find a cold burnt piece of something in a hard bun.Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Getting away afterwards, if anything, was easier than it was parking up on arrival. The traffic moved really quickly and we were out of Cheltenham in no time.Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
All in all I'd definitely recommend a visit here, but eat in the chippie up the road.Images
Game Attended
Cheltenham Town v Plymouth ArgyleCompetition
League OneDate
26/12/2021Kick Off Time
1500Team Supported
ArgyleWhy were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
This is Argyle's local derby at a mere 320 mile round trip. Plus it was Boxing Day and there was much uncertainty over whether we will be able to attend games in the near future. We had sold out our allocation of just over 1500 tickets so looking forward to a cracking atmosphere.How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Came off the M5 at Junction 11A and approached Cheltenham from the south as previous experience has told us that it avoids the Boxing Day sales traffic in the town centre you meet using Junction 11 and it is easier to park in the residential streets south of Whaddon Road. Managed to get a spot 5 minutes walk from the away turnstiles.What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As we had eaten a 'Spoons breakfast before leaving Plymouth we went straight to our seats after buying a programme in the lobby behind the turnstile. Never met a nasty Cheltenham fan and all of the staff at the ground were very friendly.What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
The descriptions of Whaddon Road range from 'homely' to Non-League'. Although it does have a certain charm, it is certainly not really suitable for League 1 football particularly for visiting teams that have a large following. The playing surface does seem to be very narrow. However, as there is no room and I suspect, no available money to expand, things are not likely to improve. Leg room in the away stand is adequate but seemed most fans only sat down at half time anyway.Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was not the greatest and I feel the narrow pitch suits Cheltenham's style of play which is certainly from the 'Give it some welly' textbook. Argyle were guilty of getting caught up in the head tennis and it was very scrappy. Then in the 42nd minute a moment of brilliance! A Cheltenham corner was headed out and fell to Panutche Camara 10 yards from his own goal line, 8 players and some 15 seconds later he appeared 10 yards from the Cheltenham goal line to put Argyle 1 up. Cheltenham made a better start to the second half until that man Camara was again involved in a flowing move from midway inside Argyle's own half which saw Jordon Garrick score the second for a 2-0 win. The away fans kept up a constant wall of noise and the home supporters were very subdued which was a shame as their biggest crowd for over 2 years (5703 with 1512 away fans) but I suspect their 5 games without a win did not help matters. The catering facilities are of the 'burger van' type situated in the corner of the ground and were very busy and from observing the fans around us who did brave the queues seemed to serve huge portions of chips!! Mention must be made of 'John' an Argyle Fan who was summoned by the PA announcer to contact a steward midway though the First Half as he 'was in trouble' John was clearly visible as he headed shame-faced out of the stand to chants of 'John is in the s**t'. Turned out his wife had dropped him at the ground and he had got out of the car with the key meaning she could not stop the car or lock the door. John reappeared a few minutes later to chants of 'We've got our John back'Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Very slow exiting the stadium as all the away fans exit through one narrow tunnel. Plus beware the step that is there at the end of the tunnel to trip the unwary. Once we cleared the stadium area it was a short walk back to the car and once we had crawled through all the traffic lights onto the A46 plain sailing back to Plymouth via the M5 with a stop at Michaelwood services for our traditional Boxing Day Burger King dinner. Back home by 8:30 pm which is pure luxury for an Argyle fan.Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Always enjoy Boxing Day away games. A Relatively short trip, great result and apart from an overturned vehicle which slowed traffic on the way to the game no transport dramas. Great Day!!Images
Game Attended
Cheltenham v Peterborough UnitedCompetition
League OneDate
30/07/2022Kick Off Time
15:00Team Supported
PeterboroughWhy were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
First game of the season and a new ground to tick off. Was actually thinking could win the first game of the season for once!!How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Was planning to take the train but the strike put paid to that so an easy drive down with no issues. No problem finding the ground easy walk from the centre of town.What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Went to the Bank House Wetherspoons and then the Yates round the corner met plenty of home fans with no problems at all. Ate in the Spoons and as we knew no alcohol in the ground grabbed some tinnies on the way.What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Small compact ground but tidy away end and we had sold it out so good atmosphere and the gents was roomy which always helps!!Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Stewards were brilliant. Had to cope with a lot of grief with fans wanting to stand where they really shouldn't but they dealt with it in a sensible manner and all credit to them. Posh were two nil down at half time and it could have been more. Came out second half with three changes and deservedly won the game with three second half goals. Didn't eat at the game but stewards let people out at half time for a smoke.Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
No problems getting away and nice to be going out smiling.Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
A good away day. Easy to find, no problem getting a pint before the game and good sensible stewards who if they'd really wanted to could have put their foot down but let us enjoy the game. Would happily visit again.Images