Match: v Stafford Rangers - Blue Square Premier

Date: Saturday, October 13th, 2007

Result: Stafford 1 Cambridge United 1

The Journey

Departure Time: Just before 10am.

Arrival at Ground: It was a proper autumn day in all but temperature with mist, drizzle and overcast skies all the way. The services on the M6 toll were packed with Rugby League fans from numerous clubs on their way to the Super League Trophy final, and while it made a change to see different shirts from usual the array on display on a Saturday, it did mean that there was little chance of getting same day service at the various coffee counters.

Stafford's ground is not the easiest to find, even when you leave the motorway at the correct exit, which we did - unlike last year - thus avoiding the frustratingly slow meander through the centre of the town. After passing the glue factory - which appeared to have been built close to Uttoxeter Racecourse for comic effect - and other homages to drab 1950s design, we parked at the ground at about 12.30pm.

At The Ground

The Ground: Across the road from a run down bus shelter whose windows had long since fallen victim to local ne'er-do-wells, the front of the ground was unprepossessing to say the least. There was a warm welcome in the social club - a building that, from the outside, was almost a clone of the Supporters' Club at the Abbey. Inside, the club was segregated with home supporters in the members' bar and U's fans in a separate, larger bar.

While some of the travelling party sampled the atmosphere in the social club, the media team received a warm welcome from helpful staff, one of whom unlocked the press area so, unlike last year, I didn't have to wait until seconds before I was due on air to make contact with the studio.

The Marston Road ground has undergone major changes at either end of the ground since that visit last season. Behind one goal, terracing had been replaced by an awning-covered stand of green seats, which made that end of the ground look like the cheap seats at a jousting tournament. Although terracing remained behind the opposite goal, metal steps were covered by green canvas that was supported by enough scaffolding to build Cambridge's Grand Arcade. On last season's visit, part of this end was allocated to United fans. Not this year though, which was probably just as well as, despite all the scaffolding, it looked a little too fragile to have stood up to U's fans' bouncing.

The social club was behind this stand, while to its right a flat area of tarmac was behind a covered area for disabled supporters built in the style of a Channel Island bus terminal. Next to this, the Main Stand was narrow but steep as it towered over the rest of the ground. Given the option to sit behind glass in the press box or in the fresh air or the Main Stand with a better view, I chose the latter. This proved to be a good move as I ended up amongst extremely friendly home fans who seemed to have emptied the pick 'n mix counter of the local sweet shop on their way to the match.

Opposite, terracing ran the length of the remaining side of the ground, three quarters of which was covered by an old, undulating roof. Tarpaulin-covered scaffolding along this side was evidence of a visit from a digital TV company and while it may have been installed to help their viewers see what was happening on the pitch, it had the opposite effect for many on the terrace. For no apparent reason there was a ladder in one corner of this stand that went nowhere, just straight up rather like a metal version of the Indian Rope Trick.

The flowerpot-filled balcony of a house at the edge of a new-build estate overlooked the uncovered end of this terrace but the homeowner was not taking advantage of the view, either because it also overlooked the facilities for away fans or because there was some international match on the telly.

Pre-Match Entertainment: A large number or balloons were released before the match, presumably some charity event or other; I'd love to be able to tell you which one, but the man on the microphone sounded as though he was talking through the hood of his duffle coat. I can tell you though that they were released by the Mayor and Stafford's mascot, a badger with mad blue eyes.

United Fans: Travelled in good numbers again and gave the lads reasonable support.

View from Away End: There was a decent view from a corner, but those tarpaulin-covered camera positions obscured the view from large parts of the away terrace.

Home Fans: Those in the Main Stand were really friendly and the noisier ones behind the goal changed ends at half time. Calling themselves 'Phil Robinson's Barmy Army' was stretching a point as there weren't really enough of them to qualify as an army and most didn't appear to be particularly barmy, although one of them might have qualified for the sobriquet in the second half when he opened a gate separating the two sets of supporters and made a distinctly unfriendly move towards United fans after we were awarded a penalty.

Police/Stewards: Although stewards and police reacted to the incident in question by moving both sets of fans away from the gate, they still left it unmanned and were perhaps fortunate there were no hotheads present to take advantage of the lapse.

Programme: £2.50 for 48 pages. Like islands in a vast ocean of adverts, a surprising number of which were for haulage companies, many of the articles were of the large print variety. It was interesting to note that while their Club Secretary laid the blame for the match kicking-off at the same time as the England game firmly at the feet of the FA, Stafford's manager pointed the finger at the U's. Irrespective of the blame game, the attendance didn't seem that different from their regular turn out.

Food/Drink: Tea and coffee both came in large cups and were equally excellent at 70p and the burgers were pretty good too. You could have a selection of sized helpings of chips with your pie but like Monty Python's Spam sketch you couldn't have the pie on its own!

State of Toilets: Vile! A narrow, un-roofed enclosure with a gutter, you had to be both brave and very friendly to use facilities that would not have looked out of place in a mediaeval slum. The facilities for the ladies consisted of a green portaloo that looked like Tardis' seasick cousin.

Name And Numbers

Mileage: 278.4 miles

Total Distance for Season: 2,379.7 miles

Mark Johnson, with additional reporting by David Gray, Paul Johnson, Ryan Johnson and Gordon McMillan

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