First Impressions -- Around the ground -- Facilities -- The Stand -- Overall -- Pictures

First Impressions

This game fell on my 25th birthday so this game was paid for by my Dad as a birthday treat, and what a pleasant day out as North End picked up a very rare 3 points away from home!

Upon nearing the ground we were directed into a 'wasteland' car park where all the coaches parked and from there we had to walk through quite a big sports complex with numerous 5-a-side pitches as well as past an athletics track.

We had a good view of the ground from here and I was able to make my first judgments. The ground looked tidy and smart from where I was stood. i liked the floodlights but the ground didn't look particularly imposing.

Around the ground

As usual I was able to take a stroll around the ground and at the same time went round to the club shop to try and get my Dad a fridge magnet! Alas, the shop was packed full so I decided not to bother.

I was really particularly impressed with the ground at all - sure it was smart, modern and tidy but really wasn't very imposing to say the least and didn't leave a lasting impression. It was particularly boring with no actual feature to the design, apart from the floodlights.

It was immensely disappointing and I would have thought they would have had at least the main stand having an imposing feature. Sadly, it didn't and just looked like the rest of the stands.

Inside the ground it was much the same - both side stands almost similar (bar one or two things such as a press area etc) and both ends mirror images of each other. It just looked generally boring and had been built with no imagination whatsoever.

Facilities

This is certainly one thing the ground was good for. The facilities were excellent and just what I expected of a new ground.
The concourse was very spacious and plenty room to move around despite a 'healthy' following from North End and the service from the catering bar was excellent. I thought it was particularly helpful in my case that there were seperate bars for food and alcoholic drinks, although for those like like a pie and a pint, it probably hindered them a bit! It was good for me as I stopped drinking chemical piss a number of months ago (real ale all the way!).

The toilets were also of a good standard - there were plenty so I wasn't stood around for long waiting to have a slash.

The Stand

As said above, there was nothing particularly distinguishing about the stand both from the outside and from the inside and was basically a mirror image of the opposite end.

Having said that though, the view from the stand was actually pretty good, even sat low down. The leg room was also plentiful, but its one of those things you expect and want from a new stand/ground.

Plenty of noise can also be generated from the stand as I thought it had good acoustics. The North End faithful were in fine voice all afternoon and did the club proud.

Overall

I thoroughly enjoyed the day out, especially with North End getting a very rare away win on my birthday.

As fro the ground, its one of the most boring you'll ever come across although it didn't ruin my day out. I was pleased to get another ground ticked off my list and although I found the ground boring, I certainly wouldn't rule out a re-visit.

Ratings

Appearance: 6/10
Facilities: 8/10
Enjoyment: 8/10
Fans: 7/10
Stand: 7/10

Overall: 7/10

Pictures

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