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

VENUE #117 CAMBRIDGE UNITED Abbey Stadium

The main Cambridge Railway Station is over two miles away, so best to catch a taxi. The station is served by trains from Birmingham New Street, Norwich, Ipswich and London King's Cross. In May 2017 the new Cambridge North Railway Station was opened. At just under two miles away from the Abbey Stadium, it is slightly closer than Cambridge Railway Station, but still a fair way. It is also served by trains, from Norwich and London King's Cross, as well as London Liverpool Street.

 ABBEY STADIUM   

      The Main Stand on one side is a covered two-tiered all seated stand, part of which is used as a Family Enclosure. This traditional looking stand was built in 1967 and was later extended. It has a number of supporting pillars and the team dugouts are located at its front, either side of the player's tunnel. Opposite is the Habbin Stand. This covered terrace was opened in 1960 and named after a former Supporters Club President. It runs for almost the entire length of the pitch. It does though have a number of supporting pillars running across its middle.

     At one end of the ground is the modern South Stand, which was opened in 2002. This good sized covered single tiered, all seated stand, replaced a former open terrace. The seating area is raised in this stand, meaning that supporters enter the stand via a small flight of stairs. To one side of this stand, on the Main Stand side is a Police Control Box. The North Terrace at the other end of the ground is covered. However, it only runs for about half the width of the pitch, with one side ending in line with the eighteen-yard box. On one side towards the Habbin Terrace is a very small covered terrace that backs on to the supporters club building.

     Away fans are housed in the Marstons Smooth South Stand at one end of the ground, where up to 1,600 supporters can be seated. However normally only half the stand is open on match days on the Habbin side of the ground. This relatively new covered, all seated stand has good facilities. For some larger games then the South part of the Habbin terrace can also be made available. This covered terrace can accommodate almost 1,000 supporters.

     The entrance to the away section is reached by walking along a path through Coldham Common, which is a field that is used from time to time to graze cows (well judging from the number of cow pats!). Not much fun at the best times and especially when it is a bit more difficult to see for those night games!

GROUND LAYOUT

 A   MAIN STAND

 B   HABBIN STAND - COVERED TERRACE

 C   NORTH STAND - COVERED TERRACE

 D   SOUTH STAND (AWAY)

ABBEY STADIUM OPENING DAY

     The Abbey stadium opened on Wednesday 31st of August 1932 although being built some nine years previously, it was destined to become the home of Abbey United now known as Cambridge United and have been since 1951.  There was already a Cambridge United at the time but not connected.
     Abbey United played a friendly against Cambridge University Press on the Wednesday evening to officially open the ground, the club's president's daughter Mrs. KRJ Saxon kicked off the game which Abbey won 2-0 thanks to a brace by then teenager striker Jackie Bond.

Cambridge United had a great victory over Swindon Town on Tuesday night at the County ground, Reggie Lambe opened the scoring in the eleventh minute with Jevani Brown making it 2-0 a minute later.  The win lifts Cambridge up to 21st in the league table just two points clear of the relegation places, it was only the U's third win of the campaign which is turning out to be another relegation dog fight for the Cambridgeshire side.

Macclesfield Town ended last weekend on a high coming back from a goal down to beat Carlisle United and record their first win of the season at Moss Rose.  Ashley Nadesan gave the visitors the lead after 50 minutes but then a four minute spell with ten minutes to go saw the Silkmen take the three points, Michael Rose scoring from the penalty spot before Peter Vincenti struck the winner seven minutes from time saving an unwanted record of going 37 league games without a win.

     The Silkmen's winning spree didn't last long as they were thrashed 5-0 at home on Tuesday night by lowly Northampton Town recording their third win of this campaign and relieving the pressure a little on their selves.

     Honours are even between these two sides at the Abbey stadium in football league and cup matches with both sides winning twice and a solitary draw.  The most recent game was on 12th February 2005 a game which Macclesfield won by a single goal from Graham Potter in the 80th minute.

CAMBRIDGE UNITED ... 1   MACCLESFIELD TOWN ... 0 

     What an awful visit, one of if not the worst yet. The stadium is predominantly league 2 / National league standard which, in the main stand where I watched the game had roof supporting girders that impaired your view depending on where you were sitting.
     At the end of each row and in each section was a dividing wall which denied access and exit other than through a string of seated spectators which is not good in any respect.
     I will say this for the Cambridge United set up their on line ticket sale system is A1 one of the best I've come across, so easy to use which is not the case at many football club's websites.
     The football was awful two teams at the wrong end of the league table slugging it out hoping for the final whistle.  I was at a game last year at Crawley Town which also featured Cambridge United and it was almost a carbon copy of this game, a terrible standard of football between two relegation candidates and Cambridge managed to scramble a goal to win the game.  There were nearly 4 thousand people here today and it makes me wonder how they managed to keep getting, what is for league two, good crowds.  I suppose it's what you're used to at the end of the day.     

     Macclesfield should have took the lead in the third minute when Peter Vincenti's cross was flicked on to the head of Harry Smith who's effort was parried away by the strong hand of Cambridge's goalkeeper David Forde.

     Ten minutes later and the U's had their best chance of the first half a swerving shot from 25 yards by Reggie Lambe made the Silkmen's keeper Rhys Taylor stretch to tip the ball over the bar.

      Apparently, in the 59th minute Jabo Ibehre came on for George Maris for the U's and 21 minutes later the sub received a pass from Liam O'Neil and fired the ball home across Rhys Taylor.  I say apparently because I didn't see the goal cause I was boarding the train back home I had just seen enough in the first half.

     Now I've seen these two teams home and away I can cross them off my visiting schedule THANK GOD!!!

                            MATCH DETAILS  

       

VENUE #116 ST MIRREN Simple Digital Arena, St. Mirren Park

ST. MIRREN PARK / SIMPLE DIGITAL ARENA

     After spending 115 years at Love Street, the club moved half a mile to this purpose built stadium in 2009. The 'new' St Mirren Park, as it is known was built by Barr Construction at a cost of around £8m. The ground is comprised of four separate stands and although it probably won't win many design awards, it is at least modern and functional. The stands on three sides are all single tiered, have large windshields to each side and are of the same height. The East Stand on the remaining side, is taller than the others, but contains a smaller amount of seating, with a large paneled area behind that rises up to the roof. This stand also has the team dugouts in front of it. Although this is the Main Stand at the ground, the television cameras are located opposite.
     Away fans are located at one end of the stadium in the North Stand, where just over 1,600 supporters can be accommodated. It is expected that for Old Firm games, that sections of the West Stand will also be made available. As you would expect from a new stadium, the facilities and playing action are good. However, one slight drawback is that the fans are set quite back from the playing action, as there is a large perimeter area surrounding the pitch. Also the St Mirren Park's proximity to Glasgow Airport means that airplanes can be frequently be seen overhead taking off and coming into land.

     The ground was called St Mirren Park but in 2018 it was renamed the Simple Digital Arena in a sponsorship deal.

     This is the housing estate built on St Mirren's old home ground for 115 years Love Street stadium.  Many of the homes are not quite finished yet and as U2 would say it's where the streets have no names.

     Now near completion the land was originally bought by Tesco's with the intention of building a supermarket there but Tesco were going through a bad patch at the time and had to sell the land for housing development.  The last match played at Love Street was a 0-0 draw with Motherwell on the 3rd of January 2009. 

GROUND LAYOUT

 A   EAST / MAIN STAND

 B   WEST STAND

 C   SOUTH STAND

 D   NORTH STAND (AWAY)

St Mirren haven't made a great start to their campaign back in the top flight after a three year absence with one win and a draw out of their first eight games only Dundee have a worse record in the Ladbrokes Premier up to yet.
     Their only win of the season came on the opening day against fellow strugglers Dundee at home winning 2-1 a Danny Mullen brace securing the points with a goal in each half with Elton Ngwatala equalising for Dundee three minutes after Mullen's first with a spectacular 25 yard strike.  A 0-0 draw with Celtic has contributed Saints only other point this season.
     No matches played last weekend due to international games but St Mirren under 21's did play at the Simple Digital losing 4-2 to Queens park in the Scottish challenge cup. 

Kilmarnock have made an impressive start level on points with Celtic in fourth place in the table on sixteen points I think Killie would take that all day long if only their form can last till the end of the season.
     Last time out for Kilmarnock was on the 6th of October when they also beat Dundee 2-1 but at Dens Park, Adil Nabi striking first for Dundee after ten minutes but Killie were equal seven minutes later through an own goal by Andrew Boyle.  Eamonn Brophy scored the winner from the penalty spot on 54 mins.  Brophy was subbed on 72 minutes only for Kilmarnock to be awarded another penalty a minute later, Greg Stewart took this one but Elliot Parish in goal for Dundee pulled off a fine save.
     The history of these two teams at the St Mirren Park Stadium stretches nine games with St Mirren winning four, Kilmarnock three with two draws.  Infact the very first game at this stadium was between these two clubs on the 31st of January 2009 with the spoils ending even in a 1-1 draw.  Kevin Kyle opened the scoring for Kilmarnock with Dennis Wyness netting the equaliser for the Buddies.  The game was played in front of a crowd of 7,542 which is still the record attendance for this stadium. 

   ST MIRREN ... 1    KILMARNOCK ... 2

     On a dull, cloudy, windy and drizzling day in Paisley these two teams took to the pitch in the hope of entertaining their fans who had braved the elements and turned up to worship their footballing Gods.  It was clear from the start that football wasn't going to be the winner on a day like this, the only thing that boomed was the aircraft that took off from Glasgow airport and flew over the field of play.

     Things settled down after 14 minutes and it was St Mirren who took the initiative.  A free kick awarded on the left hand side of the Kilmarnock box was floated in by Adam Hammill and may have been wind assisted as it some how found it's way into the far corner.

     St Mirren held their lead into the second half and didn't seem overly troubled by Killie in the first 45.  But it was a different Kilmarnock who came out for part two now kicking toward their fans numbering almost two thousand crammed into the North stand Kilmarnock started to put on a show worthy of their 3rd place position in the league forcing a few corners in the first ten minutes and a change of tactics by Killie was rewarded with an equalising goal, Greg Stewart collecting a short corner played the ball through to Alan Power who lived up to his name with a wonderful strike to draw his club level.

   The same tactic brought about the winning goal for Killie if some what controversially this time Stewart crossed the ball into the Buddies box for Aaron Tshibola to head the ball goalwards, St Mirren were convinced that the ball never crossed the line but the linesman saw it differently and awarded Killie the goal.

     To make things worse a few minutes later St Mirren had the ball in the net but their celebrations were cut short by another linesman decision, Stephen McGinn's shot was well stopped by Killie keeper Jamie MacDonald but the ball came out to Simeon Jackson who fired the ball home from ten yards but Daniel Mullen was ruled offside but wasn't interfering with play. 

     Kilmarnock held on to the end and claimed the three points which keeps them in the top three level on points with Celtic but with a four goal difference deficit and as for St Mirren, they remain in the relegation play off position one point in front of Dundee who lost 4-0 to Livingston at Almondvale.

     

     The Simple Digital Arena is a lovely new build and I'm so glad that Saints have got back into the Premier league where a team with a ground like this belong.  It may be on the small side on comparison with an English league ground be deemed to be good enough for league two but it is the way forward and does it's job for the Renfrewshire side and is also very pleasing on the eye, compared with what I saw at Motherwell the other week St Mirren Park is an absolute winner.

      I'd also like to mention the away support almost two thousand Killie fans descended on Paisley this afternoon and were the twelfth man in their sides performance.  Quite a few of them were on my train on the way back to Glasgow Central and when they alighted at the said station sang their hearts out all the way across to the far exit and up the street to Queen street station to catch their connection home.  They were in good voice but I saw no sign of trouble, they are a credit to their club.    

                            MATCH DETAILS