VENUE #121 SOUTHEND UNITED Roots Hall

ROOTS HALL STADIUM

     Roots Hall stadium is in Southend-On-Sea and is the home ground of Southend United who currently play in the Sky Bet league one in England.  It is the largest stadium in Essex and is the venue for the final of the Essex senior cup.  Plans are in place for a new 22,000 all seated stadium at Fossetts Farm though work has yet to begin on the new development.

GROUND LAYOUT

 A   MAIN STAND (EAST)

On one side is the East (Main) Stand which is a single tiered, covered stand, that has a row of executive boxes running across the back of it. At the front are some strange looking dugouts, which has the management team standing at the front leaning on a wall, with the players sitting behind. The ground has four tall traditional looking floodlight pylons. In other words a proper football ground!

 B   PAUL ROBINSON (WEST) STAND

The West Stand extends around to the North Stand so that one corner is filled with seating. It has a number of supporting pillars right at the front, which may hinder your view of the action. It also has the most precarious looking TV gantry that stands on stilts and is accessed by a long ladder.

 C   SOUTH STAND

At one end of the ground is the relatively modern South Stand. This stand which was opened in 1994, replaced a former open terrace and greatly improved the overall look. It is a small 'double-decker' type of stand, the upper tier hanging over the lower. It is all seated and covered but unfortunately has a few supporting pillars. On its roof is a small clock, dedicated to a former player, Director & Chairman, Frank Walton. There are a couple of blocks of flats that overlook the ground from behind this stand.

 D   NORTH STAND 

Opposite is the North Stand, which like the West Stand at one side of the pitch, is single tiered and has an old looking 'barrel' shaped roof (that dates back to the 1950’s), with the West Stand having a unique double-barrel roof.

Away fans are normally housed on one side of the North Stand (on the Main Stand side of the ground), where up to 1,200 away supporters can be accommodated. If demand requires it then the whole stand can be allocated bringing the allocation up to 2,000 seats.

FIRST MATCH AT ROOTS HALL STADIUM

SOUTHEND UNITED V ACCRINGTON STANLEY AT ROOTS HALL

     There have only been five competitive matches between these two clubs at Roots hall and the visitors have a slight edge over the Shrimpers winning 2 with 2 draws and one defeat.

SOUTHEND            ACCRINGTON

13th November 2010   League Two

                                     1                              1

                     Bilel Mohsni  65                     Jimmy Ryan  26

  10th March 2012  League Two

                                     2                              2

                     Luke Prosser  65                    Jamie Devitt  41

                   Elliott Benyon  76                   Padraig Amond  90

18th August 2012  League Two

                                     0                              1

                                                                 Karl Sheppard  61

21st April 2014  League Two

                         1                               0

                     Barry Corr  64

14th February 2015  League Two

                        1                                2

                     Barry Corr  72                         Piero Mingoia  53

                                                                  Terry Gornell  71 

SOUTHEND WIN THE BATTLE OF THE MOST OUT OF FORM TEAMS

IN LEAGUE ONE

     Southend win convincingly to end a spell were they hadn't won in the league since beating Scunthorpe 2-0 at the end of November.  Accrington have a similar record only sustaining two draws in league one in the last month.

     It was Stanley who started the game brighter but fell behind to a goal scored by Shrimpers Captain Sam Mantom in the 19th minute after Simon Cox had a shot blocked by Stanley keeper Connor Ripley.

     Four minutes later and it was 2-0 Stephen Hendrie's shot was parried by Ripley into the path of Taylor Moore who's effort was deflected into the net by Cox for his ninth goal of the season.

     The weather got increasingly bad with torrential rain and a swirling winds adding to the freezing cold temperature in the second half but Southend still played some skilful football despite the appalling conditions and managed to drive the final nail into the Stanley coffin in the 72nd minute, the Accrington defence moved too far up the field and were caught out when Cox stole the ball high in his own half and played a wonderful ball behind the defence for Theo Robinson to run onto and slot the ball past Ripley from the edge of the 18 yard area.   

VISIT REVIEW

     I'd like to be kind to Roots Hall but what I saw today from the West stand was appalling, the viewing conditions were atrocious with many supporting pillars holding up the the roof plus a step ladder which which runs up to the TV gantry on the roof, it is not good at all.

     There is talk of a new stadium being built at Fossetts farm which will seat 22,000 spectators plus a whole lot of new facilities in and around the build and work is supposedly going to start in the new year.

     Roots Hall is a lovely old ground and there ain't a lot left these days but I feel the sooner they move into the new stadium the better, we go to football matches to be entertained and how can that happen when you can't completely see what's going on.

     Apologies for the awful pictures I've taken this afternoon the weather conditions can take the blame for that as well.

MATCH DETAILS

    

                                                                                                      

VENUE #120 CARDIFF CITY Cardiff City Stadium

CARDIFF CITY STADIUM

After spending 99 years at their former Ninian Park ground, the Club in 2009, moved only a quarter of a mile away to the new stadium. Although with far superior facilities than Ninian Park, the design of the stadium itself was rather uninspiring.

GROUND LAYOUT

 A   NINIAN STAND

In 2014 the Club after being awarded the hosting of the UEFA Super Cup Final, set upon increasing the capacity by 5,000 seats chiefly by expanding the Ninian Park Stand on one side. This stand was originally single tiered, but has since had a small second tier and then an overhanging third tier added, making it the tallest and largest stand at the stadium. However, it's most striking feature is its roof, which is simply huge, elevating and extending quite a distance forward to provide cover to those below. A little reminiscent of the East Stand at Elland Road, the Ninian Stand is far more attractive having more of a distinctive look with clear windshields to either side.

 B   GRANDSTAND

Located opposite is the Grandstand. Named after the corresponding stand at the old Ninian Park, this stand is two tiered, with a small second tier of seating that overlaps the back of the lower tier. In this area at the rear of the lower section there is a row of executive boxes. Whilst at the back of the second tier there is visible a glassed frontage to and area used for corporate entertainment. The team dug outs are located at the front of this stand.

 C   CANTON STAND

Both ends are virtually identical, being single tiered, all seater affairs. The roofs above these stands are situated quite high above the seating areas, with a large back wall, part of which contains Perspex panels to provide more light to the playing surface. The stadium is completely enclosed with all four corners having spectator seating. Above each end there is digital video screen. In view of its multi purpose nature the stadium has in each corner a large access tunnel.

 D   GRANGE STAND

 E   AWAY SUPPORTERS

Away fans are located in one corner of the stadium, between the Ninian & Grange stands. Up to 1,800 fans can be accommodated in this area. The Club operates automatic turnstiles, where you have to put your ticket (which has a bar code on it) into a slot reader, which then allows the turnstiles to admit you.  As you would expect from a new stadium the view of the playing action and facilities are good. The acoustics are also good, with the stadium having a loud p.a. system. The concourses are spacious, have televisions to keep you entertained and serve the usual fayre of food. 

FIRST MATCH AT THE CARDIFF CITY STADIUM

 CARDIFF CITY V SOUTHAMPTON AT THE CC STADIUM

     Only two matches have been played between these two clubs at the Cardiff City Stadium and the honours are even.

                            28th September 2011   Championship                     

                      CARDIFF CITY                                 SOUTHAMPTON
                                  2                                                          1
               Kenny Miller  56, 63                                                  Steve De Ridder  90

26th December 2013   Premiership

                                        0                                                          3

                                                                                                          Jay Rodriguez  14, 20

                                                                                                          Rickie Lambert  27

THIRD HOME WIN ON THE BOUNCE HELPS CARDIFF MOVE UP TO 

FOURTEENTH PLACE

CARDIFF CITY ... 1   SOUTHAMPTON ... 0

     Neil Warnock's Cardiff City have found their home form which could save them from a return visit to the Championship while the new Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl who replaced Mark Hughes in the week tastes defeat in his first game and sees his side slip into nineteenth place in the table.

     Cardiff who dispatched Wolves last weekend on Sky Sports Friday night football found Southampton a different kind of opposition this afternoon as well as having to cope with the wet and windy conditions the Saints started brightly but the first real chance of the game fell to Cardiff's Harry Arter who's shot failed to trouble Alex McCarthy in the Southampton goal.

     In the 17th minute Josh Murphy had a chance to put the Bluebirds ahead but his effort was blocked by McCarthy and again seven minutes later when Paterson slipped Murphy through McCarthy took the ball from the Cardiff number eleven as he tried to round him.

     It seemed to be an on going theme as Nathaniel Mendez-Laing had a fierce shot tipped over the bar by the Southampton first half hero McCarthy just before half time.

     Southampton had a strong penalty appeal rejected by the referee in the 59th minute when Roberto Camarasa appeared to have tripped Stuart Armstrong in the Cardiff penalty area.

     But, as we all felt that the game had nil, nil written all over it the goal came out of nowhere in the 74th minute when once again a lapse in the Southampton defence this time by Jannik Vestergaard was seized upon by Callum Paterson who hit a tame shot which beat Southampton's saviour in the first half trickling into his bottom right hand corner of the net.

     Southampton looked resigned to their fate as they failed to show any signs of coming back into the game and nearly conceded another towards the end but Sean Morrison's free header was off target and so the game ended 1 - 0 to Cardiff City.

VISIT REVIEW

     Beautiful ground  the Cardiff City Stadium, plenty of leg and bum room in the seats although the pathways to the concourse get congested horribly, they are badly designed need a bit more thought to free up spectators time during the interval. 

     Speaking of long lines of people the club shop done a raring trade with the queue almost out the door, I haven't seen anything like it since the Etihad.

     Nothing to do with the football ground but I must say seeing that Cardiff is the capital of Wales their central station is a disgrace it's dirty, horrible looking and the information on the departures board is wrong more times than not.  GET IT SORTED!  

                                   MATCH DETAILS      

VENUE #119 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY Hillsborough

GROUND LAYOUT

Although the ground has not had the level of new investment some other clubs have recently received, it is still a beautiful ground oozing character. It has four large separate stands, all of which are all covered and are roughly the same height, giving a uniform feel to the stadium.

 A   NORTH STAND
     On one side is the North Stand. This large single tiered stand was opened in 1961. It was hailed as an architectural marvel, as at the time it was the largest cantilever stand ever built in Britain and only the second such type of stand to have been constructed

 B   SOUTH STAND
     The two-tiered South Stand on one side of the ground is the largest of the stands and is superb looking. It was originally opened in 1914 and was designed by the famous football ground architect Archibald Leitch. A second tier and new roof were added in 1996, to expand capacity for the European Championships, for which Hillsborough was a host venue. In keeping with the original look of the stand, a triangular gable incorporating a clock adorned with a copper football was placed on the new roof. The stand has a large lower tier with a small upper tier above. At the back of the lower tier is a row of executive boxes. The team dugouts and Directors Box are located on this side.

 C   SPION KOP
     At one end is the Spion Kop. This was previously a huge open bank of terrace that was at one time the largest in Britain. It gained a roof in 1986 and was made all seated in 1993.

 D   WEST STAND
     Opposite is the West Stand or Leppings Lane End. This two-tiered stand was opened in 1966, in time for the Club to host some World Cup games played that year. Like the Kop, it has a number of large supporting pillars. One corner of the ground is filled with seating between the North & West Stand, this area is uncovered. On the other side of the West Stand is a large video screen, under which is tucked a Police Control Box. Unusually for such an old ground, it doesn't have a set of floodlight pylons. Instead the stadium is illuminated by lights running across the front of the stand roofs.
     Away fans are normally placed in the upper tier of the West Stand (the Leppings Lane) end of the ground, where up to 3,700 away supporters can be accommodated. If there is a particularly large following (or for an FA Cup Tie) then the corner described above may also be made available, plus the lower tier of the West Stand. This can take the allocation up to 8,000. Alternatively, if a small away support is expected then the open corner between the Leppings Lane & North Stand is only made available.

FIRST MATCH AT HILLSBOROUGH

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY  V  DERBY COUNTY AT HILLSBOROUGH

     The last ten games at Hillsborough between these two sides lie slightly in the favour of the visitors with Derby winning 3, 5 drawn (3 of them 0-0 hope that's not an omen), whilst Wednesday only winning 2 but they were the last 2.

                      SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY                       DERBY COUNTY    Championship
23/09/06                          1                                                       2
                             Chris Brunt  62                                Paul Peschisolido  79
                                                                                   Steve Howard  90

22/01/08                          1                                                       1              FA cup 3rd 
                              Steve Watson  10                             Kenny Miller  47    round replay                                              Derby County win 4-2 on penalties 

11/04/09                          0                                                       1              Championship
                                                                                       Rob Hulse  45

20/03/10                          0                                                       0               Championship

09/02/13                          2                                                       2               Championship
                             Michail Antonio  51                            Jeff Hendrick  23
                             Miguel Angel Llera  57                       Jamie Ward (pen) 48

18/02/14                          0                                                       1              Championship
                                                                                    Patrick Bamford  78

16/08/14                          0                                                       0              Championship

06/12/15                          0                                                       0              Championship

22/04/17                          2                                                       1              Championship
                            Steven Fletcher  58                             Darren Bent  48
                            Gary Hooper 64

13/02/18                          2                                                       0              Championship
                            Lucas Joao  18, 47            

       WEDNESDAY'S DEFENSIVE FRAILTIES COST THEM THE GAME 

            SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY ... 1   DERBY COUNTY ... 2 

     Derby County can look back and count their lucky stars this evening.  They started the game poorly and so Wednesday took the initiative with star player Lucas Joao up front leading the way.  It was no surprise after twelve minutes when they took the lead, Barry Bannan's high ball to the right found Adam Reach who's shot beat Scott Carson from a narrow angle.

     Although Wednesday looked good going forward it was a different story at the rear and Derby who looked out of this game in the first 29 minutes found themselves level to the shock of everyone in the ground, Duane Holmes found Jack Marriott in the Wednesday box but his shot was blocked by Cameron Dawson and fell to Harry Wilson who fired home.

     Six minutes later and everyone around me in the Kop stand couldn't believe their eyes as Marriott found the net himself, put through by Florian Jozefzoon the Derby number fourteen got between two Wednesday defenders to slot the ball home totally against the run of play.

     Derby almost made it three at the end of the first half when Marriott's shot was flicked onto the bar by Dawson, if that had of gone in it would have been a travesty of miss justice.

     The second half consisted of Wednesday trying to find the cutting edge that fired them into the lead in the first half with Derby especially toward the final whistle quite content to hold on to what they had got three points gained by daylight robbery they definitely got away with one this afternoon.

REVIEW

     Very nice ground Hillsborough although you need to have the brain of a rocket scientist to find your seat as the arrangements aren't set out very good, well, in the Spion Kop stand anyway.

     If you've got big feet you won't like the steps in the stand and the seats are too close together, not enough leg room.

     It has been a brilliant visit best for a while as ever the football in this part of the UK is very entertaining and the atmosphere was second to none.

                        MATCH DETAILS

                                                 

VENUE #118 NOTTS COUNTY Meadow Lane

GROUND LAYOUT

During the early 1990's the ground was completely rebuilt, creating an attractive all-seater stadium. Although the ground comprises four separate stands, it is quite smart looking.

 A   DEREK PAVIS STAND

    Both sides are single tiered stands, the larger of which is the Derek Pavis Stand. This is the Main Stand containing the Directors Area and having the players tunnels and team dugouts at its front.  The stand comprises of 6,715 seats of which 385 are for VIP's and press.



 B   JIMMY SIRREL STAND (AWAY)

     Opposite is the Jimmy Sirrel Stand which has a gable on its roof reminiscent of those old grounds, where they were once a common sight. Home fans capacity for this stand is 2,040 seats.  Away fans are housed on one side of the this Stand, located on one side of the ground. The normal allocation for this area will be around 3,365, although this can be increased for cup games to 5,775 away fans only.


 C   KOP STAND

     At one end is the large Kop Stand, which can house up to 5,440 supporters, upper tier 2,020 and lower tier 3,416 seats. Again this is a newish stand with excellent facilities.


 D   HAYDN GREEN FAMILY STAND

     The other end is the smaller, covered Family Stand. This stand has one sizeable solitary supporting pillar, which may affect your view as it is situated right at the front of the stand in the middle.  There are 2,137 seats and 144 boxes in this stand.  This stand also has a small electric scoreboard on its roof.


FIRST MATCH AT THE STADIUM

NOTTS COUNTY V CHELTENHAM AT MEADOW LANE

There have been only six matches between these two sides at Meadow Lane, Notts County have won 4 whilst Cheltenham have only won once with just the one draw.

 3rd May 2003  Notts County  1 - 0  Cheltenham    League Div. 2
                           Danny Allsopp  40
  4th Sept 2004  Notts County  0 - 0  Cheltenham   League 2
12th Nov 2005   Notts County  2 - 3  Cheltenham   League 2
                           Julien Baudet  pen 45                 Brian Wilson 35
                           Mike Edwards 57                        Jamie Victory 78
                                                                               Grant McCann 84
  1st May 2010  Notts County  5 - 0  Cheltenham   League 2
                           Graeme Lee 21
                           Lee Hughes  22, 31
                           Ben Davies 25
                           Luke Rodgers 81
 11th Feb 2017  Notts County  2 - 1  Cheltenham   League 2
                           Jon Stead 24                               Manny Onariase 87
                           Richard Duffy 33
18th Nov 2017  Notts County  3 - 1  Cheltenham   League 2
                           Jorge Grant 30, 52                    Carl Winchester 35
                           Shaun Brisley 54

NOTTS COUNTY SLIP INTO BOTTOM TWO ON GOAL DIFFERENCE TO CHELTENHAM

NOTTS COUNTY ... 0   CHELTENHAM ... 3

     Manager less Notts County find themselves in the relegation zone behind their visitors today Cheltenham who won convincingly at Meadow Lane this afternoon.

     It was the home side who looked the more likely for the first half hour but Cheltenham stole the thunder when Luke Varney met Ryan Broom's cross with a looping header which found Ross Fitzsimons left hand corner of the net.

   Caretaker Manager Steve Chettle switched things around at half time opting for a back four instead of three for the second half but it didn't have the desired effect as Varney doubled his and the teams tally for the afternoon in the 66th minute with a well worked corner routine.

     To rub salt into the wounds Tyrone Barnett made it three with just three minutes of normal time left to play he seemed to have scuffed his shot but still found the back of the County net.

VISIT REVIEW

     Notts County may be the oldest league club in the EFL but their ground is is far from old looking, although the rebuild took place over twenty years ago it still looks fresh and far too good for their current status.  Let's hope they don't do what Tranmere did a few seasons back and have one of the most spectacular non league grounds in the National league Premier.  Hopefully they can find money to invest in the squad and keep them out of non league football and maintain their record of being the oldest league football team. 

                                      MATCH DETAILS