Post by romfordkev on Aug 23, 2010 1:38:20 GMT
With a Friday nightshift to contend with (finishing at 6 a.m), Saturday 21st August 2010 meant a trip to a local non-league ground for the day's "football fix".
Today, my attention turned to WOODSIDE PARK - home to BISHOP'S STORTFORD FC of the BLUE SQUARE BET CONFERENCE SOUTH.
(Their opponents today: our old friends Ebbsfleet United - with their 30,000 members in tow no doubt)!!
Woodside Park was opened in 1999, has a capacity of 4000, and sits right under the flightpath of nearby Stansted Airport - and can only be described as somewhat bland but functional.
On the pitch however, Stortford's footballing claims to fame over the years are more impressive.
In 1974, they became the last winners of the FA Amateur Cup, beating Ilford 4-1 in the final.
The Blues followed this up in 1981, when they became the first team from outside the top level of non league football to win the FA Trophy - beating Sutton United 1-0.
But surely, the most obscure "honour" to befall them occurred on December 30th 1999 when they contested the last Association Football League match of the 20th Century in England - the fixture was an away game at Chertsey Town, and Stortford won 5-3.
Anyway, enough trivia - here are some photos of the ground!!
THE WELCOME SIGN ON THE APPROACH ROAD.
CLOSE UP OF THE CLUB CREST.
IS THAT LATIN, OR JUST A COUNTDOWN CONUNDRUM??!!
THE FIRST VIEW OF WOODSIDE PARK - THE AWAY TURNSTILES AND THE CLUBHOUSE.
THE HUGE CAR PARK - PROBABLY USED AS AN OVERSPILL FOR THE AIRPORT IF THE TRUTH BE KNOWN!
BLUE SQUARE BET'S WELCOME BOARD OUTSIDE THE AWAY TURNSTILE BLOCK.
DIAGONAL VIEW ACROSS THE PITCH - THE MAIN STAND (ALSO KNOWN AS THE BRIAN BAYFORD STAND) IS TO THE LEFT OF THE PICTURE. THE "AIRPORT END" COVERED TERRACE IS BEHIND THE GOAL.
LOOKING ALONG THE PERIMETER FENCING OF THE "DUNMOW ROAD END" WITH THE MAIN STAND, LARGE CLUBHOUSE / FUNCTION SUITE AND REFRESHMENT BAR (TO THE EXTREME LEFT) IN THE BACKGROUND.
FROM THE SAME POSITION, A CLOSER VIEW OF THE CANTILEVER MAIN STAND, WHICH SEATS APPROXIMATELY 3OO ON MATCHDAYS.
THE COVERED TERRACE OF THE "DUNMOW ROAD END".
THE COVERED SEATING ON THE FAR TOUCHLINE, FROM WHERE I WATCHED THE GAME. BUILT IN 2006/7, IT SEATS 200 PEOPLE.
FROM MY SEAT, STORTFORD WARM UP IN FRONT OF THE DUNMOW END........
BOTH SIDES COME TOGETHER BENEATH THE BACKDROP OF THE MAIN STAND........
AND FINALLY, EBBSFLEET UNITED WARM UP AT THE AIRPORT END.
CLOSE UP OF THE DUNMOW ROAD END.
THE MAIN STAND VIEWED FROM THE AIRPORT END.
THE AIRPORT END VIEWED FROM THE HOME TURNSTILE BLOCK. INCIDENTLY, THERE ARE TURNSTILES FOR BOTH HOME AND AWAY FANS - BUT NO SEGREGATION.....WHAT'S THE POINT OF THAT??!!
THE COVERED SEATING STRADDLING THE HALF WAY LINE.
STORTFORD PLAYERS HAVE JUST WARMED DOWN AFTER A 3-0 THUMPING IN FRONT OF 525 PAYING PUNTERS - NOW COMES THE BOLLOCKING AFTER LOSING THEIR 100% START TO THE SEASON!!
If it is, he's one of your ex Torquay Grammar Boys and looking at his local community no doubt his main interest is far from caring for inner city kids ~ more likely keeping them out of snooty "Chiggers" as the residents up there usually crap themselves whenever I seem to get out that way with a bunch of little urchins.