Match: v Scarborough - Nationwide Football Conference
Date: Saturday, April 22nd, 2006
Result: Scarborough 1 Cambridge United 2
THE JOURNEY
Departure Time: 8am
Arrival at Ground: We had to call in at St Ives again on the way where we pleased to see that another zebra and, bizarrely, a kangaroo had joined the one we'd seen in grazing a field on Monday. It's perhaps just as well that this was the final away game of the season as, at this rate of progress, the menagerie in the field will be simply too long to list in another few weeks.
As expected, the final 50 miles or so into Scarborough was slow going on a single carriageway, but happily we weren't held up enough to prevent a walk on the beach before the game. Traffic towards the sea front did mean that parking at the top of a steep hill and walking down to the beach was the most expedient way getting a decent amount of time on it, although the flaw in the plan became apparent when the walk back up to the car reminded most of us that we're not getting any younger!
We finally parked close to the ground at about 1.15pm - although this was not necessarily the time by which everyone had got their breath back!
AT THE GROUND
The Ground: Set among the hills overlooking the town, the only real changes to the McCain Stadium over our last couple of visits are in the increased deposits of pigeons and seagulls on the seats, a little less grass on the pitch and a few more weeds.
Almost matching cantilever stands were at either end, stands that differed only in the degree to which their red seats had faded. United fans were allocated one of these stands, and although an end block was covered with a large adverting canvas, there was still ample space.
A small section of grassy banking - the only remaining evidence of the old away end - was between this end and the Main Stand to its left. Fencing at the back of this allowed a small chavalanche of locals to watch the proceedings without having to pay.
The Main Stand ran about two-thirds the length of one side of the pitch. Access to this area was via steps at the front of the stand, which meant that the first row of seats was nicely raised over the roofs of the dugouts. You had to be a little careful using these steps though as they were apparently regularly used for target practice by the local avian population. Office buildings and bars made up the rest of this side of this pitch.
The remaining side was filled with semi-derelict terracing, with only the centre section covered.
Gorse-covered hillsides surrounded the ground on three sides, although the rural idyll was somewhat undermined by the pylons that strode across them and the estate of terraced housing that nestled between the hillsides and the ground. White smoke billowed from one house chimney just behind the away end giving the impression that the travelling U's fans had elected a new Pope.
United Fans: An excellent following, considering the distance and some of our away results this season, and they out sung the home fans throughout much of the match. A few were confused by a ticket they were given at the turnstiles that said 'Admit One'; as they had already been admitted by the time the ticket was issued, was it for future use? And, if so, when?
View from Away End: Good.
Home Fans: You didn't need to look at a league table to know they had endured a poor season, although the extended booing and post match abuse for their 'Man of the Match' seemed a little uncalled for. Their players not acknowledging them in the traditional way after the final whistle exacerbated their frustrations, and emotions boiled over later when a supporter managed to get into the dressing room area to vent his spleen. The players' apparent indifference towards him did little to improve his temper.
Police/Stewards: The stewards made no attempt to get people to sit down at either end of the ground, although they did try to eject our club photographer after spotting him pitch side - a situation that would have been avoided with a polite request to see a press pass.
There were no police in the ground, possibly because they were too busy during the game booking cars in the street outside the ground.
Programme: £2.50 for 36 pages, but don't let the lack of pages or, indeed, the poor quality of many of the photographs put you off. With plenty to read - especially Ivan Ash's excellent article on why Forest Green won't get relegated - The Boro Review is well worth adding to the collection.
Food/Drink: Highlights (or not, as the case may be) included - £2.50 for a hot dog that was not submerged in too much bread and tea that was so hot the plastic spoon melted into an unrecognisable blob on contact.
State of Toilets: Basic to say the least, with just a trough provided for the gents.
AFTERWARDS
The Journey Home: After a long season that seemed to get better as it went along, it was perhaps appropriate that the journey back should do likewise - especially once we'd got back to dual-carriagewayed roads at York.
Mileage: 416.8 miles
Total Distance for Season: 6,639.3 miles
Mark Johnson, with additional reporting by David Gray, Paul Johnson, Ryan Johnson and Gordon McMillan
[Match report] [Fixture List] [League Table]
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