top of page
Search

2019 plans!

  • Jan 1, 2019
  • 2 min read

Hello and happy new year !



I have been posting on this blog since October 2018 and so far it has been enjoyable and reasonably successful too.


Although in the couple of months I have been running this blog I have not always been overly consistent with uploading posts, I seem to have gathered a small audience who enjoy what I have to say and also like to keep up with me on social media, such as on Instagram.


In 2019 I intend to be more consistent with uploading content, with the aim being to bring out a new post, such as a ground review, every week. I also intend to use Twitter a lot more alongside Instagram which will allow you to keep more up to date with whats going on behind the scenes.


Another plan for this year is to deliver more video content on YouTube as I enjoy the filming and editing process, with an idea for a series being "Review the 92", where I will deliver a video ground review on every club in the football league. Alongside this, I will continue to stick to my roots by also putting out non-league based content.


This plan is both time and money permitting but I will hopefully be starting a new job very soon which will enable me to follow through with these plans. In the meantime, I will be continuing to put out my usual written content on this blog.


With a bit luck, this year should also see my first international ground review, so stay tuned for that!


Anyway, I wish you a great 2019 and I hope you stick around for the exciting things to come on The Football Ground-Low!






 
 

Tring Athletic FC Stadium review

  • Dec 29, 2018
  • 3 min read

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!

#tring #tringfc #cockfosters #cockfostersfc #tringathletic #tringathleticfc #tafc #nonleague #nonleaguefootball #groundhopper #groundhopping #footbalgroundhopping #football #footballfans #footballstadium #footballground #floodlights #spartanleague #spartansouthmidlands #premierleague

 
 

Kings Langley FC Ground review

  • Dec 22, 2018
  • 3 min read

Hello and welcome back to The Football Ground-Low, as this is my first football ground review in three weeks. For this one, I took a short bus journey from my house to the Sadiku Stadium, home of Kings Langley FC (and Watford FC Ladies), in a Southern League Premier Division match against Gosport Borough. Langley, who started the game in 12th position, ran out 3-0 winners against the team 4 places below them, with all three goals coming from striker Mitch Weiss.




FACILITIES

The stadium is at the smaller end of the scale when compared to others of this level, with a capacity of just 1,963, however it is perfectly suited to the needs of Kings Langley FC, which is village/suburb in between Hemel Hempstead and Watford. Kings Langley also enjoyed three successive promotions at the end of 2015/16 meaning that it has been hard to match the level of the ground to the stature of the team. Having said that, the ground is nice and well maintained, with lots of area for fans to stand to watch the game as well as seating the side of the pitch and in a tiny stand behind one of the goals. Also has a good bar on site as well as a full-size football pitch (with netted goals) that can be used to have a pre-match kickabout if you please!

6/10




FOOD AND DRINK

Hot food and drink is served form a burger van inside the ground while alcoholic beverages can be bought from the bar. I decided to go for my normal option of a portion of chips for £1.50 and, sorry Kings Langley, but they were the worst chips I’ve had at a football ground that I can remember. They were far too skinny for my liking (basically fries) and while some too soggy or under cooked, others were too hard and basically a crisp! I wont even go into the lack of pepper!

To be fair the burgers they were serving did look quite nice and you do get a decent sized portion for the price (£1.50 chips and £3 burger) but I was not impressed with the quality.

Snacks are also available for the same venue such as chocolate bars, sweets and crisps.

3/10




FANS

Although they made little noise throughout the game (I only heard one chant all game coming from a section of about a dozen Langley fans!), I was impressed with the turnout of 165, which is good considering the size of Kings Langley, the proximity and ease of access to bigger clubs (London teams, Watford FC, Hemel Hempstead FC) and that it was very close to Christmas, meaning many people could’ve been out shopping or put off by the cold!

6/10



MATCH PROGRAMME

The match programme is very basic and lacks the slick look that other clubs at this level go for, however it contains all useful information about the two clubs such as history, squads and recent results all while costing just £1. You are also given a print out of the official team sheet with purchase of a match programme which is a nice touch.

5/10



PRICES

The prices to enter the match are £11 for adults £7 for concessions (students and over 65s) and £2 for under 16s, which are all fairly standard for this level, although many clubs do have a slightly cheaper concession price. Prices inside the ground are very good, with the cost of food and drink and match programme being especially reasonable (prices shown below) although £1.50 for crisps seems a little high?

6/10


OVERALL

To summarise, this is very pleasant non-league ground that offers a good match day experience for home and away fans with decent prices and facilities available for all ages, although maybe avoid the chips! Can be easily accessed from around the country, with the nearest train station; Apsley, a 20-minute walk away while the 500 bus, a service that runs from Watford to Aylesbury, can drop you right outside the ground.


26/50

Where does this rank on the official Football Ground-Low league table? Click here to find out!


 
 
bottom of page