Match: v Forest Green Rovers - Nationwide Football Conference
Date: Saturday, September 9th 2006
Result: Forest Green 1 Cambridge United 1
The Journey
Departure Time: 9am
Arrival at Ground: Not for the first time this season, a journey west was less than relaxing. This time the stress-inducing traffic jam came on the M6 and was brought on not, as the overhead warning signs suggested, by 'animals on the road', but by a nasty looking accident on the other carriageway that brought the motorway to a complete standstill. On reflection, I suppose the signs could have been right; you know what maniacs elephants can be when they get behind the wheel of a car!
The delay meant that there was only time for the briefest of comfort breaks before arriving just after 1pm where we were met by a car park attendant whose answer to every question was 'I only know it's £3 to park'. We came to the conclusion that this statement was quite literally true.
At The Ground
The Ground: Since our last visit, Forest Green have moved to a new ground. Just 300 yards away from their last home, the new Lawn is near the end of a narrow, roadwork-infested lane that winds steeply up a hill; a hill that was certainly too steep for any of us flatlanders from the east to even consider walking up.
Nearly all signs of the old ground had disappeared, buried beneath a mushrooming estate of new-build homes. Nearly that is, but not quite as the old main stand had been taken apart and the process to reassemble it behind the goal at one end of the new stadium had begun. This skeleton structure was visible once I had negotiated my way via the plush reception area to the press box.
The press area was level with the penalty area at the skeleton stand end of the ground. Part of a main stand that ran the length of that side of the pitch, with executive boxes behind and catering and toilet facilities underneath, the only real problem was the lack of working telephone lines in the press box. However, we had been warned in advance, and so were able to come up with a satisfactory Plan B to broadcast commentary.
Forest Green call themselves as the 'friendly club on the hill', and they certainly lived up to that epithet in the press area, where everyone was refreshingly friendly and helpful, which is just how it should be. What a contrast to our last westbound away trip!
While the stand to the left of the main stand was still under construction, the one to the right was a covered terrace, mainly - but not exclusively - populated by United fans, as this was an unsegregated match.
Uncovered terrace ran the length of the other side of the pitch. Backed by a grey, corrugated fence, this terrace separated the pitch from the remaining section of the hillside that continued to climb behind the ground. A farmer garnered extra money on matchdays by charging supporters to park in this hilltop field, and a number of cars could be seen perched at alarming angles between sheep pens as if taking part in a variation of a countryside television programme perhaps called 'One Man and his Daewoo'.
Although this was Forest Green's fourth home game of the season (or fifth, if you count the midweek match against an England National Game XI to officially open the new stadium), the Bishop of Tewksbury conducted a ceremony to consecrate the ground before the match. Bishop John was in full regalia, with mitre and crosier, and may be the only man able to enter a football ground with a six-foot, metal tipped wooden pole.
United Fans: Not altogether thrilled with the performance, but all that was forgotten in the wild celebrations for the late, late equaliser.
View from Away End: The steps on the terracing were quite high and there were no pillars anywhere in the ground. As you could move round the ground, there really was no excuse for having a bad view.
Home Fans: With no segregation in the ground, the two sets of supporters mixed reasonably well as they sang at each other; although some home fans complained that the U's supporters were making too much noise.
Police/Stewards: The two police officers on duty didn't have much to do other than keep a general eye on things.
Programme: £2.50 for 52 pages. This was a much more professional-looking publication than last season. There were some dodgy photos, and nothing too spectacular in the way of articles - although the two did combine interestingly on the 'Fanfare' page where the featured supporter was shown holding onto the crossbar while a fan in the background gestured rudely at the camera.
Food/Drink: Tea, at 60p for a small cup, eventually brewed to acceptable strength after initially looking as though its contents had first been used to do the washing up. The hot dogs were ok, while the burgers in the main stand (£2.50) were barely lukewarm and as tasteless as the tattoos on the woman that grudgingly interrupted sending text messages to serve them.
State of Toilets: Adequate and modern including proper bars of soap and hand driers, all of which were in tact at the end of the game.
Afterwards
Post Match: A Gloucestershire League match was taking place on the pitch next to the main car park, and United fans could catch glimpses of it from inside the ground. A few managed to see the last few seconds after the 'main event', and they will doubtless be counting that as a second new ground visited on the day!
Mileage: 354.1 miles
Total Distance for Season: 899.6 miles
Mark Johnson, with additional reporting by David Gray, Paul Johnson, Ryan Johnson and Gordon McMillan
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