Hi guys and welcome back to my blog, I hope you all have had a good Christmas! Today I made the short journey up the road on the 500 bus to go and visit Tring Athletics’ Grassroots Stadium, in a Spartan South Midland Premier Division (tier 9) match between them and Cockfosters FC which ended 3-1 to home team. However, the game will not be remembered for the result, but for a small fire which occurred in one of the floodlights, causing the half-time to be extended by half an hour before play resumed!
FACILITIES
As you would expect at this level, the ground is small and basic, with a maximum capacity of 2000 of which 125 are seated. The main seated stand, the David Evans Stand, located in a central position at the side of the pitch, is well maintained and is at a good height although you are unable to see the nearest touchline whilst sitting up there. The main stand behind one of the goals also has a row of seating but everyone in there was standing up, allowing themselves to be in touching distance of the goal and players. There is also a small sheltered seating area up towards the other end of the ground that is fitted with a picnic bench and can fit probably around a dozen fans. A large bar is also on site that would not be insufficient for a club at a much higher level and overall, this is a very nice and clean ground for this level that fulfils the needs well for a club of this size.
7/10
FOOD AND DRINK
Hot food, drinks and snacks can be purchased from inside the bar and has many of the staple foods and drinks that you’ll find a football ground such as pies, burgers, coffees, teas and hot chocolate. However, one essential (essential for me anyway) that is missing off the menu is chips, which is what I always get a football game, and I was very disappointed when I found out that they didn’t serve any. The food and drink that they do sell is very reasonably priced which makes up for the lack of chips a little, but due to that I can only score Tring a…
4/10
FANS
An official attendance has yet to be announced but there seemed a fair number of people at the game, well over a hundred I would say which is above the league’s average of 71 and Tring’s average of 99 if correct, which I would say is a good showing considering the time of year, proximity of bigger teams such as in London for example and the size of Tring itself. The fans themselves seemed committed and everyone seemed to know everyone with even the players talking to the fans on the side-line. There was even a bit of singing in the second half through some teenage fans behind the goal, with the players showing the appreciation by running over to them when they scored!
7/10
MATCH PROGRAMME
The match programme is of high quality for a team of this division, especially when comparing it to Kings Langley’s last week who are two leagues above. Good information about the club and league with an extensive section on the history of both teams made even better that I received a copy for free! Slight improvements that could be made include a section on the away team’s squad and that the pictures inside where not in colour, but I can hardly complain when everything else was top notch and I didn’t even have to pay.
8/10
PRICES
The prices being charged to get into the ground and inside the stadium are extremely reasonable, with the most expensive adult ticket just £6 and it being free to enter for under 16s! This, alongside a free programme (given to the earliest fans) meant that I payed just £7 in total (£1 for a 50/50 ticket) and even if you went for the full package inside the ground by getting a drink and a burger at 2.50, you would still be paying just over a tenner, which is what many clubs would charge for only an adult ticket!
9/10
OVERALL
Overall, The Grassroots Stadium scores highly in every category except for food, which was only because of a lack of chips which may not even be a problem for you. Chips or not, this ground is well worth a visit if possible as you get to see entertaining football for little over a fiver (depending on age) whilst the stadium itself and the fans inside are up there as one of the best for this level of football
35/50
Where does this rank on the official Football Ground-Low league table? Click here to find out!
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