Facilities for away fans...........

[BlackHaddock]

I will start this off by saying what we got at Northampton's Sixfields Stadium.

They had a porta-cabin behind the stand selling Carlesberg and Carlesberg Export, both draft at £4:00 a pint into a plastic cup, bottles of Black Sheep at £4:20. Coffee available inside the ground/stand.

The toilets were in a small block with just enough space for the gents, the ladies however wasn't large enough and our female handicapped supporters (or male for that matter) had nothing at all, so had to be helped out of their chairs before getting into the minute cubicles. To be fair after the game I heard one of the Northampton female stewards offering to take one of our handicapped supporters out of the queue and to a proper facility in the home stands.

For a relatively new ground the facilities are very poor for over 900 people (we had almost 700 there on Saturday), which they must have got regularly last season in the third division, nothing for handicapped supporters is draconian to say the least.

 

[MrGloverLover]

I expect many comments regarding our (lack of) facilities, ranging from the temporary beer tent that's been there 14 years to the lack of any food or drink at most games inside the stadium.

 

[valefan16]

Northampton is an odd one as there is virtually no leg room behind the goal yet it is a new build! Overall though its standard functional.

We struggle at Crewe as that stand down the side is awful when full (behind the goal is ok). You have one exit for 2000 plus fans who have to filter down a narrow passage to get to it, one set of small toilets and the stewards fail to adhere to making fans sit in their own seat... i ended up stood on the stairs most of the game recently along with about 30 others on the same small stairwell. There was uproar after our game in April and it was meant to have been addressed for the game in September but wasn't. That said I guess its ok for a standard league one/two away following of 500 or so.

Not sure on ours as only sat in there for a testimonial, think the main issue with ours is the shallowness but the concourse is covered unlike the Paddock for instance, most Vale fans would prefer that to be the home end but the logistics are not doable, plus it holds a huge amount if required!

 

[AdamStag]

Don't think away ends are really going to be much better than "basic" at our level.

Whereas I know our away end for views etc will be one of the better ones down here, I know that there is only 1 teabar and set of loos. Much more money to be made, Lincoln was the same on Saturday, one crappy van for food when could have sold much more

 

[Si Robin]

I expect many comments regarding our (lack of) facilities, ranging from the temporary beer tent that's been there 14 years to the lack of any food or drink at most games inside the stadium.

Always enjoyed the marquee for a beer, and never had a problem with food.

Yeovil was always one of my favourite away days.

 

[IanPVFC]

We struggle at Crewe as that stand down the side is awful when full (behind the goal is ok). You have one exit for 2000 plus fans who have to filter down a narrow passage to get to it, one set of small toilets and the stewards fail to adhere to making fans sit in their own seat... i ended up stood on the stairs most of the game recently along with about 30 others on the same small stairwell. There was uproar after our game in April and it was meant to have been addressed for the game in September but wasn't. That said I guess its ok for a standard league one/two away following of 500 or so.

Main reason I don't go that game anymore, despite it being closer to home than Vale! How they get a safety certificate I do not know.

 

[Back in the DHSS]

I will start this off by saying what we got at Northampton's Sixfields Stadium.

They had a porta-cabin behind the stand selling Carlesberg and Carlesberg Export, both draft at £4:00 a pint into a plastic cup, bottles of Black Sheep at £4:20. Coffee available inside the ground/stand.

The toilets were in a small block with just enough space for the gents, the ladies however wasn't large enough and our female handicapped supporters (or male for that matter) had nothing at all, so had to be helped out of their chairs before getting into the minute cubicles. To be fair after the game I heard one of the Northampton female stewards offering to take one of our handicapped supporters out of the queue and to a proper facility in the home stands.

For a relatively new ground the facilities are very poor for over 900 people (we had almost 700 there on Saturday), which they must have got regularly last season in the third division, nothing for handicapped supporters is draconian to say the least.

Never been to the (not so)new Sixfields stadium but went to Northampton’s old County ground which was absolutely dire.
Not too bothered about the facilities on offer at away grounds as long as you can get decent ale and food close by.
Nothing worse though than watching your team get beat in one of those all seater open to the elements away ends like the ones Stockport, Swindon and Gillingham had/have.

 

[Trapdoor]

I can't imagine our place is great in this respect. It should be improving this season after the redevelopment but it's overdue.
At least we are near to the city unlike Northampton which is on an industrial estate.

 

[Richard Cranium]

The club house used to do the best shepherds pie I think it was at Forest Green in our early Conference days, then they decided to set the vegan trend

I imagine ours are among the worst in the league, nothing worse than having no where to go to get out the cold at half time

 

[Conker]

Don't think away ends are really going to be much better than "basic" at our level.

Whereas I know our away end for views etc will be one of the better ones down here, I know that there is only 1 teabar and set of loos. Much more money to be made, Lincoln was the same on Saturday, one crappy van for food when could have sold much more

it’s not similar to the QLE set-up?

I can’t comment I have never been in the north stand, unfortunately never got to sample it in its terrace form either.

Not noticed fans complaining, plus we offer free tampons which will come in handy for the Lincoln fans after getting wound up by Flitcroft doing something completely innocent.

 

[Indian Dan]

Never been to the (not so)new Sixfields stadium but went to Northampton’s old County ground which was absolutely dire.
Not too bothered about the facilities on offer at away grounds as long as you can get decent ale and food close by.
Nothing worse though than watching your team get beat in one of those all seater open to the elements away ends like the ones Stockport, Swindon and Gillingham had/have.

Tbf, only if a club brings more than 900 or so away fans is that open end used. Other than that they are housed in the main stand along with home fans - segregated of course.

The main benefit of the open away end is that it is possible to throw bags of dog shit into it when Oxford are in town!

 

[wangle]

it’s not similar to the QLE set-up?

I can’t comment I have never been in the north stand, unfortunately never got to sample it in its terrace form either.

Not noticed fans complaining, plus we offer free tampons which will come in handy for the Lincoln fans after getting wound up by Flitcroft doing something completely innocent.

Mansfield's is pretty decent to be fair. I mainly care about viewing angle more than anything and the North stand is well tiered. Facilities seem pretty decent.

My worst last season was Cambridge. Terrible viewing as they have a weird training patch of grass between the stand and the goal and the one time I fancied a pint they weren't selling alcohol!

 

[The_Boss]

Ours will easily come out top in these rankings.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Don't think away ends are really going to be much better than "basic" at our level.

Whereas I know our away end for views etc will be one of the better ones down here, I know that there is only 1 teabar and set of loos. Much more money to be made, Lincoln was the same on Saturday, one crappy van for food when could have sold much more

Don't forget at Lincoln the away end also doubles as a home end when clubs with low travelling numbers come- so home fans get your experience too!

 

[Greenacres]

The club house used to do the best shepherds pie I think it was at Forest Green in our early Conference days, then they decided to set the vegan trend

We used to do really good fish and chips, as good as you would get from pretty much any chippy. I'm not complaining about the food now as it is really good, tasty and prepared to a high standard, one of the things I enjoy about an evening game is getting to the ground early for a bite to eat.

 

[The Terminator]

Just you lucky people wait till next season when Salford City are up here.

Then you can experience that money can buy you all SPL players ever - But sadly when it comes to investing into facilities, all you can afford is 4 tempory portacabins between all the men and women in the away end, one burger fan and about 200 hundred programmes if you're lucky.

 

[denzel ecfc]

I expect many comments regarding our (lack of) facilities, ranging from the temporary beer tent that's been there 14 years to the lack of any food or drink at most games inside the stadium.

I quite like going there as I'm a big fan of terracing and at least you give people options to sit and stand, which is rare these days.
You can get a drink outside and a coffee inside, so no complaints from me.

 

[AdamStag]

Just you lucky people wait till next season when Salford City are up here.

Then you can experience that money can buy you all SPL players ever - But sadly when it comes to investing into facilities, all you can afford is 4 tempory portacabins between all the men and women in the away end, one burger fan and about 200 hundred programmes if you're lucky.

Nice and local to Manchester though

 

[AdamStag]

Don't forget at Lincoln the away end also doubles as a home end when clubs with low travelling numbers come- so home fans get your experience too!

It is, but from Mansfields perspective, it winds me up if you're losing out on easy money from punters who are basically trapped in.

 

[Crewelad87]

I actually don’t mind most in this league. Lincoln is abit rubbish if you are stuck in the bus shelter in the corner. I’ve not been Forest Green but from what I heard about our fans experiences last season it’s pretty awful.

Two of my least favourites are in the league above. Gillingham and Wimbledon are truely awful away day experiences.

 

[T.A]

Just you lucky people wait till next season when Salford City are up here.

Then you can experience that money can buy you all SPL players ever - But sadly when it comes to investing into facilities, all you can afford is 4 tempory portacabins between all the men and women in the away end, one burger fan and about 200 hundred programmes if you're lucky.

The home end is good though.

 

[Tranmerewhite]

Crewe & Macclesfield are both disasters waiting to happen.

Yeovil’s facilities aren’t great but always seems to be a decent away day.

 

[UTS]

Went to Elland Road on Saturday in the away end, good god their toilets were disgusting. About 40 men pissing against a wall simultaneously with two cubicles.

 

[Back in the DHSS]

Just you lucky people wait till next season when Salford City are up here.

Then you can experience that money can buy you all SPL players ever - But sadly when it comes to investing into facilities, all you can afford is 4 tempory portacabins between all the men and women in the away end, one burger fan and about 200 hundred programmes if you're lucky.

No need to worry about Salford. The mighty O’s are going up with Solihull, who’ll beat Wrexham in the p/o final.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

It is, but from Mansfields perspective, it winds me up if you're losing out on easy money from punters who are basically trapped in.

This season particularly the catering, around the ground, has been under a new contractor and it is clear the service, quality and general experience is pretty dire. Saves me £7 a game now but I am guessing the contractor has already paid for the contract so any failure to maximise the selling potential of a full away end would mean less revenue for the contractor and not the club (don't quote me as I don't know exactly what contract we have in place with our external caterers).

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Crewe & Macclesfield are both disasters waiting to happen.

Yeovil’s facilities aren’t great but always seems to be a decent away day.

Macc? do you mean the steps up to the terrace?

 

[Franchisor]

Most away facilities are the same at this level (as well as much of L1). You get your standard portacabin in the corner selling watered down hot drinks and not much else. The least I expect for an away end in 2018 is for them to be selling hot pies/burgers etc. Ideally alcohol too, but that seems a rarity now.

Worst one I've been to has to be Walsall. Think the last time I went there was a queue of about 40 people for one portacabin selling a few bars of chocolate. Not just the facilities, but the length of time to be served is ridiculous in most grounds.

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Most away facilities are the same at this level (as well as much of L1). You get your standard portacabin in the corner selling watered down hot drinks and not much else. The least I expect for an away end in 2018 is for them to be selling hot pies/burgers etc. Ideally alcohol too, but that seems a rarity now.

Worst one of I've been to has to be Walsall. Think the last time I went there was a queue of about 40 people for one portacabin selling a few bars of chocolate. Not just the facilities, but the length of time to be served is ridiculous in most grounds.

Cambridge away last season- 1900 fans and 1 portacabin- it was absolutely bl**dy freezing and missed 15 minutes of second half just to get a warm drink inside me.

The joys of away days!

 

[rudebwoyben]

I've always hated Sixfields as a ground to go to. As stated above, the legroom is painfully minuscule (I'm not even a tall person at 5ft 8in and I find it restrictive) and there is no elevation to the stand which compromises the view.
The old County Ground was extremely basic, even in those days, but Sixfields is not any better as a match-going experience.
I'm sure you're all missing all lovely still brand new away end with its massive bar with comfy sofas insides, although the club now seems to have got into a habit of holding weddings in there on matchdays!

 

[Tranmerewhite]

Macc? do you mean the steps up to the terrace?

Yeah. And the fact when we always seem to visit on New Year’s Day, you go flying on that moss covered terrace which should be treated really.