VENUE #77 LLANDUDNO Maesdu Park

DAFABET WELSH PREMIER

Sunday 28th August 2016

@Maesdu Park, Llandudno

Ground Capacity:  2,000

Kick Off:  15:00

Entry Fee:  £8

Programme:  £2

Venue 77

     Arrived in Llandudno on Saturday afternoon after a horrendous train journey which saw the Wife and myself board the seaside bound train at Wolverhampton.  The train was formed of 4 carriages but was packed full of passengers although we managed to get a seat, well, that is as far as Shrewsbury where we were told that the carriage we were seated in wasn't going to Llandudno and that only the first 2 carriages would be continuing the journey and the back 2 would be uncoupled and be staying at the Shropshire town. So an already cramped train got even more claustrophobic as passengers, including us had to make our way to the first 2 carriages.  Needless to say there were people standing from top to bottom of the carriages in the aisles and crammed into the doorway areas which meant every stop took at least 3 times the normal amount of time to allow people to retrieve their luggage and make their way off the train and of course there were still people trying to get on it.  We managed to get a seat at Chester where a vast amount of people got off but still more wanted to get on.  It got to the stage that people were being declined access to the the train until we passed the main points on the journey, Rhyl and Prestatyn where the train got down to a manageable amount of people till eventually when passed Colwyn Bay and made our way down to our penultimate destination, Llandudno junction where all was seated and able to manoeuvre around the train without stress.  From the junction we caught the train to take us to Landudno a mere 10 minute journey but a good hour later than we anticipated.

     We stayed at the Brigstock B&B which was situated in St. David's place and just a 5 minute walk from the station and shops and was ideally positioned for us both.  It was in a quiet area away from the bustle of the town but near enough to escape to when wanting to look at shops and the promenade was only a further 5 mins. away.  The owner Simon was very welcoming as we arrived and showed us to our room which was just a small twin on one side of the attack space, it had 2 beds an en suite and TV with facilities to make tea and coffee including complementary sachets, sugars and milk etc..  There wasn't much room but as we were only using it as a base for a couple of days it was adequate to our needs.  My Wife was actually thrilled at the prospect of staying in such a room she always wanted to stay in a converted attack and now was her chance but as the night came and the weather changed to thunder and lightning with very heavy rain her thoughts of attack rooms changed dramatically especially as the lightning lit up the room as it flashed above the velux window stationed above our beds. 

LLANDUDNO ... 0   ABERYSTWYTH TOWN ... 1

     

      The Maesdu Park stadium is just a 10 to 15 minute walk from Llandudno station.  As you exit the station turn right along Augusta street following the road round to the left and crossing the road that leads to the back of the station.  very shortly there is a turning to your right called Oxford road, proceed along this road until you come to another right turning which is a narrow looking road called Builders street, turn down here and carry on until the road makes a sharp turn to the left and as it does turns sharply again to the right where it changes it's name to Builders street west.  Proceed just a short distance down Builders street west and on the left hand side of the road you will see a turning that looks like it's entering a coach depot but if you follow the road to the right you will come to the entrance of the Maesdu centre.

Clubhouse End

     Maesdu Park is largely an open ground, with just a few small basic stands in place. However the openness allows it to have a picturesque look on two sides, where it is overlooked by a couple of headlands. Spectators enter the ground at the Clubhouse End with the club shop situated to the right. This end of the ground is filled with a number of white coloured buildings that house the Clubhouse, changing rooms and Club offices. In front of these is a large flat standing area. Opposite is the Centenary Stand, which is a small covered stand, that looks quite new. It is situated directly behind the goal and runs for around half the width of the pitch. It has a mixture of

covered seating and standing areas. On the North side of Maesdu Park, is the largest of the stands, which is the Main Stand. Running from the half way line down to the Centenary End, this covered all seated stand, has only four rows of seats, but at least it free from any supporting pillars. However directly next to it is the base of a large ugly looking telephone mast, that could impair the views of spectators, trying to see the action at one corner of the ground. On the other side of this mast is an unusual looking two storey brick building that houses the stadium announcer and has an executive area.

Opposite on the remaining side the team dugouts are situated on either side of the halfway line. Above the dugouts is a scaffolded raised platform that serves as a television gantry. Towards the Clubhouse End there is a small all seated covered stand, called the MBi Stand, whilst the other side has a portakabin type structure that also serves as an Executive area, with seating out front. Maesdu Park has an artificial playing surface.

In 2015 the stadium was renamed Park MBi Maesdu in a corporate sponsorship deal.

THE MATCH

     As the referee tried to start the game the Llandudno number 23 Lewis

Buckley complained that his socks were not taped up properly and wanted the kick off delayed to address the situation the referee did not agree to his request and was then approached by other players from both sides wanting to sort out problems with their kit that should have been sorted prior to kick off.  Five or so minutes later and the ball was placed on the centre circle spot and played back as the new rules suggest these days the referee blew his whistle to stop the game as Aberystwyth were adjudged to have encroached on the Llandudno side of the pitch before the ball was kicked.

     When play was finally allowed to continue it was Aberystwyth who made the early play with Joe Clarke coming close after five minutes with a shot that was deflected wide.
     It took 10 minutes for the home side to register their first attempt at goal when Leo Riley's curled shot hit team mate Marc Williams and went agonisingly wide of the the Aber post.


     Lewis Buckley pulled his socks up 3 minutes later and intercepted a short

pass from Aber goalie Dominic Richards but the Llandudno striker tried to lob the keeper and sailed the ball over the bar.
     Half way through the first half and Aber's Chris Jones swung the ball across the home side's six yard area and Blake Davies came close to getting a toe on the ball but the ball eluded him and went to safety.
     Buckley had another chance 10 minutes later but curled his effort wide of of Richards's top right hand corner.

     After the break Llandudno looked to be a little sharper and up to the task, now kicking down the slope toward the clubhouse put Aber's defence to the test and winning a couple of early corners.
     Aberystwyth hadn't come to the north coast to be beaten though and came back at the hosts having a couple of penalty appeals waved away by referee Kris Hames.


     In the 68th minute it was Llandudno's turn to cry foal as Marc Williams shot

seemed to hit the hand of an Aber player in the penalty area but the referee once again turned a blind eye.
     Seven minutes later and Dominic Richards earned his corn once more when Leo Riley flicked the ball over an Aber defender and blasted a shot from 25 yards which brought a great save from the Aberystwyth keeper.

     Three additional minutes were introduced and just as it seemed that this game was more for the booze than the football and people were heading for the clubhouse and the exits at the death of the game Aberystwyth were awarded a corner which was lobbed high into the home sides penalty area where Jonathan Evans the Aber sub who'd only been on the pitch 5 minutes rose higher than anyone to nod the ball home and claim all 3 points for the mid west coast team.  And that my friends was the the last action of a not so good game of Welsh football but from what I saw on the day the best team won in the end.

                MATCH DETAILS

VENUE #76 FULHAM Craven Cottage

SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP  

Saturday 20th August 2016

@Craven Cottage, London

Ground Capacity:  25,678

Kick Off: 15:00

Entry Fee:  £40

Programme:  £3.50 

Venue #76

     Arrived in Putney around 13:30 using my usual mode of transport British Rail and of course the London underground.  The weather was sunny with a few clouds and a strong wind which could have effected the afternoon's football.  Just a 15 minute walk from the station to Craven Cottage and quite picturesque it was too crossing the Putney bridge that spans over the River Thames, couldn't but help taking a few pictures of the river which looked a bit manky as the cloud thickened above it.  Once across to the other side walked down the steps leading to the walkway that stretched along side the river and saw a couple of rowers paddling their vessels and I wondered if they were ball boys taking position and getting ready for some potential action.

     Moving further along I cut through Bishop's park and could see the new floodlights of Craven Cottage in the distance and getting closer could see the ground emerge obscured by trees which there were plenty as you would expect in an English park.  Finally came to the outside perimeter of the ground and couldn't believe how close it was to the river, there is no question why the stand that runs alongside the Thames is called the Riverside.  Keeping to the path that runs along the back of the Putney end and exit's the park onto Stevenage Road where I turned right on saw the bricked building that encases the Stenenage Road stand now called the Johnny Haynes stand named after the Fulham legend of the 50's and 60's who made just short of 600 appearances scoring 146 goals.

     The police presence was vast the biggest I've seen since starting this venture 4 seasons ago, they were everywhere on foot, horseback and in vehicle but there were a lot of Cardiff fans in and around Stevenage road although they seemed to be very well behaved.  I bought a programme and took loads more pictures before visiting the souvenir shop to purchase my usual host team scarf which now seem to be taking over my small computer room and then entered the ground via turnstile 20 of the Johnny Haynes stand

     Found my own way to my seat without the usual assistance of the stewards, everything was well labelled and easy to find for a change but was a bit taken aback when I saw where I'd be watching the match from.  I know it's a grade 2 listed building but should football fans still be subjected to sitting on wooden seats in a stand made of wood.  I know that the Bradford City incident at Valley parade was many years ago but I thought safety standards were greatly improved after this tragedy.  I must admit to feeling a little uncomfortable and not just because the seats were wooden and the leg space was very cramped, I was very fortunate for there was no-one sitting next to me either side and was able to stretch out to the sides.

     Toilet facilities were very basic and far too small for a side in the Sky Bet Championship it makes me wonder how they they managed when they were in the Premiership and what will happen if they ever get promoted again.  Food facilities were ample but far too expensive as they usually are at London grounds.  Lots of TV's to watch pre match football or Sky half time service during interlude but area which was situated at the back of the stand was also on the small side.

THE MATCH

     I watched a dull and boring game at the begging of the week featuring Cardiff City which they lost 1-0 to Bristol Rovers after extra time.  It was the most boring game of football that I've ever had the misfortune to watch and this game started in the same manner.  Things did improve though but it took 44 minutes for the opening goal to arrive.  Sone Aluko managed to turn Matthew Connolly and find substitute Ryan Sessegnon who had only been on the field 3 minutes after replacing injured Floyd Ayite, the 16 year old managed to scramble the ball into the back of David Marshall's net.

     After the break Cardiff seemed the more likely and after a dressing room dressing down by their manager levelled the game after an hour's play.  The goal came from nowhere when Joe Ralls found space and curled a fine shot into Button's top right hand corner of the net.

     Five minutes later and the Bluebirds had turned the match around with an almost carbon copy of the first goal.  Anthony Pilkington cut inside and struck another 20 yard plus curler this time into David Button's right hand bottom corner and sent the away support wild and the home support wild with anger and frustration.

     Peter Whittingham nearly made it 3-1 when his free kick from 25 yards hit the Fulham crossbar and bounced downwards toward the goal line but Button managed to gather the ball to safety.

     Cardiff couldn't send their travelling fans home totally happy though for with just four minutes left of normal time Kevin McDonald drilled a long ranged shot through a crowd of defenders leaving Marshall unsighted and unmoved as the ball struck the back of his net to level the game once more in favour of Fulham sending their fans home happier and relieved and maintaining their unbeaten run of the season thus far.

     The Johnny Haynes stand originally called the Stevenage Road stand is believed to be the oldest remaining stand in the football league dating back to 1905 and features original wooden seating to the rear.  At the front of the stand used to be terracing but now is filled with plastic seats to bring it up to modern day standards.  Another original feature are the roof support pillars of which there are a number that can impair your vision depending on where you are sitting.  The stand also houses the club shop and the ticket offices.  This stand is a grade II listed building.

     On the other side of the pitch running the touch line is the Riverside stand which, as the the name suggests sits on the banks of the river "Thames".  Opened in 1972 the Riverside was raised above pitch level until the mid naughties when extra seating was added to bring the stand to pitch side level.  It has windshields situated either side of the stand and a couple of supporting pillars.  There are executive boxes running across the back which houses the TV gantry.

     The two ends of the ground are quite similar to look at both were once terracing which was replaced by seats to bring them up to football legality.  The Hammersmith end has a large pillar situated to the front and middle of the structure which is a disappointing aspect to an otherwise fine looking stand.

     The Putney Road end also has supporting pillars but these one's stretch right across the stand just below half way down.  This stand hosts the away fans and has a plane tree situated in the corner by the river which makes it the only senior football ground still to have a tree inside it's perimeter. 

     The Pavilion is lies in the corner between the Johnny Haynes stand and the Putney end.  This small building is often mistaken for the cottage which was demolished many years ago.  In the other three corners of the ground are what has been described as large filing cabinets but they are actually executive boxes at three levels.

                      MATCH DETAILS