Match: v Yeovil Town - Coca-Cola League Two

Date: Saturday, January 22nd, 2005

Result: Yeovil 2 Cambridge United 1

THE JOURNEY

Departure Time: 8.30am

Arrival at Ground: Although the morning started with a good helping of frost on the car, there were no problems on the roads as we set off. This was just as well given that Yeovil is one of those places that is served by scenic routes - i.e. some of the roads on the way weren't dual carriageway. Not that this was a problem, as we had allowed enough time that there was even the opportunity to break the journey with a couple of very contrasting stops.

The first was at the less than impressive Fleet Services - about which I'm afraid there will be more later - while the second stop was at Stonehenge, which was older, cleaner and better value for money.

Apart from the road signs, which are admittedly a bit of a giveaway, there is often one infallible way of telling when you're getting closer to your destination... it starts raining. That's just what it did as we got to within 20 miles of Yeovil, and by the time we parked at the ground shortly after 12.20pm the rain was so heavy that we wouldn't have been surprised to see Ellen McArthur stopping to offer us a lift from the car park to the ground as she sailed by on her latest adventure.

AT THE GROUND

The Ground: Although it is a newish stadium, Huish Park manages to combine a slightly run-down look with that of not being quite finished. The front of the ground is smart enough, but the other three sides are in surprisingly marked contrast, and that is the image that continues once inside.

Two sides consist of low stands filled with green and white seats, one of which housed conservatory-fronted executive boxes at the back while the other contained the press box - or rather press area - which consisted of a raised dais for the written-word journalists and a table and garden chairs for the commentators.

While the home terrace behind one goal was covered and similar in size to our Newmarket Road End, the terracing given to visiting supporters had supporting girders strutting out into fresh air behind it. These will presumably come into play when they get round to adding a roof.

View from Away End: Extremely wet! Although there had been advance ticket sales for seats at the ground, these were not available for United fans that wanted to pay on the day to enjoy the benefit of the roof. Equally strangely, given that United had been given an allocation of these seats, a surprising number of them were occupied by home fans.

United Fans: With no chance to seek shelter from the incessant rain, U's fans got an absolute drenching.

Home Fans: Dry but disgruntled - either because their side weren't enjoying their usual goal-fest or because those behind the goal had to stand near someone who was trying to play a bugle using all the right notes... but not necessarily in the right order.

By some strange coincidence, everyone in the ground was celebrating their birthday this week. That can be the only explanation of the endless list read out at half time.

Stewards: Pleasant and chatty enough, they had been issued with transparent pack-a-macs which may have looked silly, but did keep them dry.

Programme: 64 pages for £2.50; a basic design contained plenty to read - provided you were a Yeovil fan. Stereotypically, there was an advert - or maybe a warning - for a Wurzels concert at the stadium later in the season.

Food/Drink: Staffed by a girl who sounded as though she could start an argument in an empty room, the vast menu of items looked reasonable and tempting. Unfortunately, most of the items listed weren't available while anyone finding one that was, probably wished it had been 'off' as well. For example, the tea, at 90p, tasted more of the plastic container than its contents.

State of Toilets: Contained a collection of mould that would have given Sir Alexander Fleming (no relation to Terry) years of study material.

AFTERWARDS

The Journey Home: Ah Fleet, that least charming of service stations. A place where the food areas close at 8pm and they stop serving proper meals even earlier, just to make sure none of those annoying customers get in the way when the staff head for the exits.

Needless to say, although we arrived before 8pm, the only 'food' available was of the fast variety, so we joined the queue with players from Cray Wanderers and, err, Cambridge United!

Mileage: 360.3 miles

Total Distance for Season: 4,793.4 miles

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

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