Hello and welcome back to The Football Ground-Low, where I kicked off the month of December by visiting Broadwater, home of 4th placed Berkhamsted FC, taking on Corby Town who started the day in 3rd position in the Southern League Division One Central. It was the visitors who took home the three points, coming from behind to win 2-1 in a match that they just about edged.
FACILITIES
Broadwater, which can hold up to 2500 people of which 170 are seated, is a pleasant but unspectacular ground, featuring 1 stand with seating as well as two smaller terraces behind either goal. All three stands have a roof which is a plus point and you are able to get very close to the action when in the seated section – literally about a metre away from the dugouts, so you can hear everything that’s going on! In a good location, the train station is just a few minutes’ walk away, with the platform visible from the stadium. Decent bar also on site. Without any thrills, this a nice, small ground that fulfils the needs of the club and fans.
5/10
FOOD AND DRINK
Good selection of the typical match day food and drink on offer, such as burgers, sausage rolls, soups, teas and hot chocolate, which is served from a little hatch first thing as you enter through the turnstiles. Also has a good selection of snacks, such as chocolate bars, crisps and sweets all available at low prices. I can’t actually comment on the taste and quality of the food and drink offered as I actually bought a portion of chips from a fish and chip bar next to the train station, which I would highly recommend trying it if you go past on the way to Broadwater (best chips in town I’ve heard, £2.40 for a very generous medium portion). Should include a menu board next to the serving hatch so its easier for fans to see what’s on offer!
5/10
FANS
The fans didn’t chant during the game which isn’t uncommon for a club at this level, however there seemed a great community between everyone at the club, with everybody seeming to know and be friendly with everyone associated with the club, from the people behind serving the food to the manager and coaching staff.
6/10
MATCH PROGRAMME
Just like the ground itself, the match programme has everything you’d expect it to have without any thrills. In colour, limited advertisement and filler pages and solid pieces of information about the league, recent results and history of both teams, it is a decent match programme and at £1.50 it is well worth picking up a copy. It seems as though it is only sold at the turnstiles, so don’t forget to ask for yours’ when your entering the ground.
6/10
PRICES
Ticket only cost me £2 to get in as I was assumed to be under 16, however the usual adult price of £8 is very respectable (I would say £10 would be fine to charge at this level) and the £6 concessions fee is also fair. Prices inside the ground continue to be respectable, with the match programme being cheap at £1.50 and, while I didn’t eat from the food served inside the ground, so I cannot confirm the prices or level of quality, they seemed low with some snacks starting such as chocolate, sweets and biscuits starting at 30p.
8/10
OVERALL
You may come across bigger and fancier grounds at this level of the game, however sometimes you cannot beat the more old-school, close to pitch view that you seems to be getting more and more rare. Good transport links, low prices for getting in, food and drink and match programme, a close-knit relationship between fans and club staff and a decent level of semi-professional football makes a visit to Berkhamsted’s Broadwater Stadium well worth it.
30/50
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