VENUE #83 SWANSEA CITY The Liberty Stadium

BARCLAYS PREMIERSHIP

Saturday 31st December 2016

Liberty Stadium

Ground Capacity:-  20,972

Kick Off:-  15:00

Entry Fee:-  £35

Programme:-  £3

Venue #83

     The Club moved to the Liberty Stadium in 2005, after spending 93 years at their former Vetch Field home. Built by Interserve for a cost of around £30m, it is located near to the former site of the Morfa Athletics Stadium on the West side of the River Tawe. The stadium was christened White Rock by the Swansea residents, but was renamed the Liberty Stadium under a 10 year corporate sponsorship deal.

Although fairly conservative in its design, the stadium is still impressive. It is completely enclosed with all four corners filled with seating. Each of the four stands is two tiered and three are of the same height.

     The West Stand at one side of the pitch is slightly taller, having a row of 28 corporate hospitality boxes, situated above the upper tier. The Club's offices are also located behind this stand. An unusual feature is the great use of transparent roofing towards the South End of the stadium. This allows more natural light into this area, making for an interesting effect. Both ends have an electric scoreboard situated on the front of their roofs, although for some reason the scoreboard at the North End is larger than the one at the South End. Outside the stadium at the South West corner, by the club shop and ticket office, is a statue of former Swansea legend Ivor Allchurch. The stadium is shared with Ospreys Rugby Union Club.

     Away fans are housed in the North Stand at one end of the stadium. Up to 2,000 fans
can be accommodated in this area, although this allocation can be reduced to 1,000 for teams with a smaller following. The views of the playing action from this area are excellent as there is a good height between rows and the leg room is probably one of the most generous of any stadium that I have visited. The concourses are spacious, with food and beverage outlets, plus a number of television sets, for pre-match and half time entertainment. As you would expect from a new stadium the facilities are good. Away fans are separated from home fans by two metal barriers, with a line of stewards and Police in-between. Interestingly, the main singing contingent of home fans, have, in the traditions of the Vetch Field, situated themselves

along one side of the pitch in the East Stand, rather than at the South end of the stadium. Out of the station turn right and go up the High Street. At the traffic lights turn right into Neath Road. Proceed straight along Neath Road and you will eventually reach the stadium on your right.

     Swansea Railway Station is on the main line route from London Paddington. It is about two miles from the Liberty Stadium. Regular local bus services (every ten minutes: routes 4, 4a, 120, 122, 125, 132) and taxis (around £6) are available from the train station to the stadium. Otherwise if you have time on your hands and wish to embark on the 25-30 minute walk, then as you come

     After the match has ended the Club provide a bus service to take away fans back to Swansea Railway Station. Shown with the destination 'Town Centre' it costs £1.50 per person.

Today's Visitors                BOURNEMOUTH before this game were in twelfth place in the league table seven points clear of the relegation places and twelve points short of the battle for Europe next season.  Now in their second season in the Premiership and looking as though they intend to stay.  It's the second time I've seen manager Eddie Howe take the reins since I started my continuation of ground hopping in 2012, then he was manager of Burnley who I saw play at Pride Park and the Clarets run out 2-1 winners thanks to two Charlie Austin goals one in each half.  Players to watch out for if in squad Callum Wilson (top Goal Scorer 5), Nathan Ake, Junior Stanislas, Steve Cook and on loan Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere are the main men of danger in the Bournemouth squad this season. 

SWANSEA CITY ... 0   BOURNEMOUTH ... 3

     Another well drilled performance from Bournemouth saw them always in control of this game with Eddie Howe at the reins it seemed a formality from the start for as in contrast Swansea look resigned to their fate on and off the pitch suffering from bad management, lack of and bad investment into the club.  They remind me of Aston Villa last season and look as though they will suffer the same consequences, in dire need of good leadership as the Villa have now acquired this may sound crazy but Swansea need to be relegated to rebuild their squad and as a result be reborn into the team they were a couple of seasons ago.

     Two first half strikes for Bournemouth the first coming in the 25th minute when a poor defensive error by Jordi Amat saw Lukasz Fabianski make a fine reflex save but Benik Afobe was there to turn in the rebound and mark his return to the starting eleven with a simple goal.

     The next came in injury time when the impressive Jack Wilshere played a fine ball through to Junior Stanislas who was one on one with Fabianski but squared the ball across to Ryan fraser who had the easy task of slotting the ball into an empty net from the six yard box.

     After the break Bournemouth looked to keep what they had although Swansea did make chances but lacked that killer punch in front of goal.

     In the 88th minute while pushing to get back into the game the Swans left themselves open to the counter attack and a Charlie Daniels pass saw substitute Josh King race through to slot home the final nail in the Swansea coffin leaving the Swans to start the new year bottom of the table 4 points from safety.   

                          MATCH DETAILS

VENUE #82 ROCHDALE Crown Oil Arena, Spotland

SKY BET LEAGUE ONE

Saturday 10th December 2016

Crown Oil Arena
Spotland, Rochdale

Ground Capacity:-   10,249

Kick Off:-  15:00

Entry Fee:-  £22  

Programme:-  £3.00

Venue #82

     After some consideration I found this to be the best way to travel to the Crown Oil Arena.  Catch the train to Manchester Piccadilly station and from there get the Metrolink tram to Bury changing at Victoria for Rochdale.  The  journey takes about a hour.  After alighting at Rochdale Interchange turn right along Smith street toward the town centre and go straight across the first island onto the South parade.  Continue straight across the next island onto the Esplanade with the police station on your right.  Cross over the main Manchester road (A58) junction onto Dane street then carry on up until you come to a fork and bear right along Mellor street (A6060), follow this road to the end and bear left onto Spotland road which soon becomes Endenfield road (A680) you will see a big church on your left hand side and a left hand turning going up a slight incline turn onto this road (Willbutts Lane) for a couple of hundred yards and the ground is on your left hand side.

     Spotland has been home to Rochdale A.F.C for 96 years and is owned jointly by the club, Rochdale council and Rochdale Hornets rugby league club who have played home matches there since 1988.  The stadiums biggest gate was on the 10th December 1949 sixty seven years ago to the day a second round F.A. cup tie against Notts County and the crowd was registered as 24,231, County went on to play Plymouth Argyle in the third round after beating Dale 2-1.


     Today's visitors:  SCUNTHORPE UNITED  prior to this game are top of the league one table four points clear of second place Bolton and a further ten points above today's opponents Rochdale.  The Iron are looking for an automatic return to the Championship after a six year absence and with players like Josh Morris who's scored 15 goals this campaign 14 of them in league one not bad for a defender and Kevin Van Veen the Dutch striker has scored 9 goals in 19 matches this season, who would bet against them.
     Scunthorpe have never been in the English top flight and have predominantly fluctuated between the lower two leagues but once more the Iron are determined to punch above their weight in the second tier lets hope they can rise above the challenge and succeed this time round. 
      

 

   

                                                          Co-operative Stand

     This stand is the main stand at Crown Oil Arena it is single tiered, fully covered and all seated and runs down the one side of the pitch.  There are a number of supporting pillars and executive boxes at the rear of this stand.  It has a housing estate behind it (Mons Avenue) and houses the club shop and ticket offices near the entrance.

Westrose Leisure Stand

     Better known as the Willbutts Lane stand after the road behind it runs on the opposite side to the Main stand it is also single tiered, fully covered and all seated holding just over 3,500 spectators.  Away fans are allocated one half of the stand nearing the Sandy Lane side but for larger fan based opposition the whole of the stand will be used to hold visiting fans.

T.D.S. Stand

     Also better known by the street running behind the Pearl Street End is as the other two stands and positioned at the end to the right looking from the Main stand and serves as the family enclosure.  This stand has a couple of supporting pillars at the front.

Thwaites Beer Stand

     The Sandy Lane End is the only terracing left at Spotland but is fully covered.  It is a bit on the small side but holds a great atmosphere when the home fans are in voice which is more times than not apparently.

ROCHDALE ... 3   SCUNTHORPE ... 2

     Must say that Spotland is one of those places that you visit and when you go home just glad that you never have to go there again.  It was a horrible day which I poorly planned and ended up costing me a lot of money but I have no one else to blame but myself for that one.  Going to Manchester at this time of year to watch a game isn't the best of ideas, I shall have to remember this for future reference.

     The game started with Rochdale in ascendancy dominating the game in large spells it almost

looked like the league leaders hadn't turned up for this one for most of the match.

     The Dale had the ball in the net half way through the first half by Ian Henderson but the linesman ruled that the attacking midfielder had used a hand.

     It was four minutes before the interval when Rochdale actually made their dominance count when a Joe Bunney cross was side footed home by Joe Thompson.

     Eight minutes into the second half and the Dale doubled their lead when Oliver Rathbone stretched out his leg and toe poked the ball past Luke Daniels in the Scunthorpe goal when it seemed like the keeper would clean up the Dale attack.

     A wise substitution in the 60th minute by Keith Hill bringing on Calvin Andrew for Steve Davies.  Andrew back from suspension was put clear on the counter attack by a fine ball from Henderson in the 75th minute, Andrew's shot was deflected up and over the keeper finding the                                                                                                                 back of the Scunthorpe net for a third                                                                                                 time.

     With ten minutes of normal time remaining and the home crowd looking forward to the end of a fine game and victory Scunthorpe suddenly came to life when substitute Tom Hopper who came on for Van Veen in the 71st minute put the ball in the Rochdale net from close range then four minutes later a Josh Morris free kick was side footed home past Logan to set up a real nervy finish for the home faithful.

     But Andrew's goal was enough to seal the three points for Rochdale and a much deserved victory it was out classing the visitors for the majority of the 90 minutes if Scunthorpe had of nicked anything from this match it would have been a total miss justice.

     And so a perfect end to a perfect day NOT for as I started my journey back home the heavens

opened and I was getting soaked and to top it all I turned up Willbuts lane to make my way to Rochdale town centre only to be confronted by a mass of Scunthorpe fans retreating from a barrage of Greater Manchester Bobbies.  The Scunthorpe fans had left the ground early to try and cause trouble with the Rochdale fans in the T.D.S stand and missing their sides comeback toward the end of the game.

     Yet again I've encountered a ground that's in very close proximity  of a graveyard which makes me think is this intentional so that away fans haven't far to travel to their last resting place for in the case of a day visiting Spotland or the Crown Oil Arena as it's known these days their place lies just across the Sandy lane road.

MATCH DETAILS