Grays Athletic FC, The Recreation Ground, Bridge Road, Grays, Essex, RM17 6BZ
Directions by Car: Leave the M25 at Junction 30 and take the A13 towards Southend, then the A1012 towards Grays. Continue along the A1012, entering Grays. As you reach the town centre the road becomes the A126 - follow this road around the town centre. Keep left in the one-way system and continue onto the A1013 Orsett Road. After about another half mile turn right into Bridge Road, where the ground may be found further along on the right.
Parking: There is a limited amount in surrounding streets and none to speak of at the ground. There is a large multi-storey car park five minutes from the ground, near the town centre.
Train: After exiting the station, turn right, almost back on yourself, and follow the road around to the left (over the bridge). Then turn right into Clarence Road, where the ground may be found hidden in terraced housing, a little further along on the right. 10-15 minutes should cover it.
Fans choosing to travel from Cambridge to Grays by train are in luck - a same-day return journey is possible. By train, head to London Fenchurch Street, which is walking distance from London Liverpool Street, although you'd be best looking up the walking route in advance - it's a bit of a concrete and glass jungle in that part of the city. The trip from Fenchurch to Grays is usually a little under 40 minutes.
(Fenchurch Street station is not served directly by underground trains, but is around 150 metres from Tower Hill on the Circle Line.)
The Away Travel Club will be running a coach to the game, priced at £10 for Away Travel Cub members, £12.50 for non-members, £11.50 for Amber Army members*, £7 for Under 16s. *Amber Army members should have their membership cards and proof of age with them, when booking. The coach will depart Ely at 4.30pm and The Trade Recruitment Stadium at 5.15pm. Contact the club on 01223 566500 to reserve your space.
Admission: Adults £13, students £10, seniors £8, 11-16 year-olds £8, 8-11 year-olds £4.
Programme: £2.50
The Ground: The Recreation Ground is all ready for a wedding. It's got it all: something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue. It feels very blue, and though we surely could be referring to the perennial mood of the place, we're not. It seems as though all those surfaces that can be blue-d up, have been.
Old: there's something a tad decrepit about the ground, but it's difficult to put your finger on quite what. The portakabin dressing rooms perhaps aren't the smartest, and the lack of a tunnel makes the players' entrance onto the pitch something of an anticlimax.
Borrowed: now, it's a non-league ground, something must be borrowed, perhaps even the land itself.
New: erm, the (notorious?) flats, which overlook the pitch aren't too old. U's fans who have previously visited Grays will remember the musical accompaniment occasionally forthcoming from one of the balconies, perhaps he with the bell and the Farsley horn-blower should get together? On second thoughts...
United fans will be afforded the uncovered Bradbourne Road end, which offers just about the right amount of space for the travelling masses, and a fair view from higher vantage points. There also tends to be a portion of seating (undercover) set aside in the adjacent Main Stand.
Pre-Match Refreshment: Grays has a club house to trump the ground it overlooks. It's even CAMRA listed, or something. Away fans were allowed in on our last visit but ,from memory, this is not always the case. I suspect they'll be grateful of the custom. The club house is probably the best bet for an evening in Essex, with the other options not quite so attractive. The food inside the ground tends to be above average.
Local Attractions: There are fairly few, Lakeside Shopping Centre is in nearby Thurrock, so if you've the time and inclination, that could be a stop off on the way. Elsewhere, the town centre is notable in that there is nothing there of note.
Russell Brand, who is now most famous for his pretty hair, is from Grays. Whatever you do, don't mention the war.
