Match: v Luton Town - Blue Square Premier
Date: November 21st, 2009
Result: Luton 2 Cambridge United 2
The Journey
Departure Time: 11.30am
Arrival at Ground: The journey itself was straightforward enough until we reached Luton, where those of us who had been there before remembered just how tricky the ground can be to find. Even the SatNav metaphorically shrugged its shoulders as if to say 'I dunno; you find it!'... which we did, eventually, after several unscheduled detours.
One side of the ground backs onto a railway line with a road the other side from which there is no access to the ground, while the opposite side is at the end of a series of narrow, one-way side streets that lead off in parallel lines from a main road that runs past the ground. The configuration and nature of these streets reminded me somewhat of the Broadway section of Mill Road in Cambridge.
Parking is at a premium close to the ground, but we were fortunate to have secured a space in the club car park where we duly arrived to find that there are, in fact, not one but two parks - one at either end of the ground. Guess what! Yes, we were in the wrong one! But after following some very clear instructions (they needed to be) from a helpful steward, we finally parked a little after 12.20pm.
AT THE GROUND
The Ground: Getting into the ground has a distinctive flavour for away fans. Access to the visitors' turnstiles is through what looks the bottom floor of someone's house and over the top of peoples' back gardens where there was a view of washing hanging out to dry. The other end of the ground has a more traditional entrance, with turnstiles set into an imposing metal fence.
Once inside, the ground gives the impression of having been built by a series of committees - none of whom were on speaking terms. The main stand side, which backs onto that maze of side streets, is made up a number of distinct sections - all very different in character, angle and design. The central area of this side is split into two with an upper section of flip up seats in a seemingly random pattern of faded blue and orange. The width and depth between the rows of seats here meant that one narrow and one wide wooden step alternate their way down the stand; as a result, you always had to be very careful to watch your step. This was particularly the case in the press area at the front of this section, where the final step was so steep you needed a parachute to get between the back and front row.
Blue, metal stairways lead down to a lower section where perhaps once-orange seat bases are bolted onto the old terrace. Here, the view cannot have been great, given the low rake of the terrace. Not that you'd want to sit down; overnight rain had left large puddles in many of these seat bases - which did at least give the supporters using them some water with which to wash off some of the grime that had also accumulated.
Various entertainment suites can be found underneath this stand, including one for Luton's Chairman Nick Owen - which he probably shared with other people - the other named in honour of Eric Morecambe. Unfortunately, we weren't able to check behind the bar in the latter to see if the glasses were askew.
At either end of the stand on this side, seated areas are angled inward like the wings on a stage. Here the seats are in the upper tier only, with the lower section blanked off with a blue wall as the view from below would have been almost non-existent.
Opposite, on the railway line side of the ground, a continuous row of glass-fronted executive boxes stand like a terrace of conservatories, with a couple of short rows of seats in front of each and a high, mesh netting above to prevent too many clearances ending up on the railway line. The dug outs are in front of these glasshouses and the United contingent discovered that some of the denizens of the executive boxes weren't as well-behaved as they might have been... fortunately, their aim wasn't great either.
To the left of this, a large bank of seats fill the stand at one end of the ground. Blue seats, with the letters 'Luton' picked out in white start in a gentle slope at pitch level which gradually increases in angle until it runs into a smaller, steeper section of shinier blue seats two thirds of the way up.
Facing this, the away end is filled with a similar pattern of seats. Here a gentle rake again leads from pitch level to a blue barrier at the back. Above this end, for no apparent reason, the roof steps down at three distinct heights with an electronic scoreboard attached above the lowest.
United Fans: The best vocal support of the season so far.
View from Away End: Many stood, which didn't help the view of those who chose not to, but although there were pillars and advertising boards to be avoided, a decent view could be found with a bit of persistence. Not at the back though, where the advertising board that's been hung from the roof gets in the way, and not from right at the front either where the seats are so low that you almost need a periscope.
Home Fans: Kenilworth Road is an all-seater stadium, but you'd never know it. Seats in the wing of the main stand nearest to the away fans seemed to be for display purposes only with the Luton fans in this area standing, singing and posturing throughout. It did help make for a 'big match' atmosphere though; an atmosphere that made it hard to believe that this was a non league match.
Police/Stewards: After all the problems when Luton visited the Abbey earlier in the season, there was a heavy police presence with officers from Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire on duty. Sensibly, they took a 'softly softly' approach with a number of fans given several 'final warnings' about their conduct.
Programme: 68 A5 - rather than the larger, more standard B5 - pages for £3. An excellent programme with loads to read including a decent amount of interest to United fans.
Food/Drink: Expensive. As with a number of clubs relegated from the Football League, Luton is still charging league prices.
State of Toilets: Basic and rather niffy in all areas of the ground.
Afterwards
The Journey Home: A combination of good planning by the police and heavy rain meant fears of post match unpleasantness was avoided. Some of the few Luton fans that didn't quickly disperse after the match were overheard asking the police when the Cambridge fans were going to be coming through; a question the local constabulary were always unlikely to answer.
Mileage: 77.1 miles
Total Distance for Season: 1,898.6 miles
Mark Johnson, with additional reporting by David Gray, Paul Johnson, Ryan Johnson and Gordon McMillan
[Match report] [Fixture list] [League table]
Make Your Click Count For The U's - talk about it on the Message Board!
The views expressed on this page are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cambridge United Football Club or the webmaster.
091124
