This was one of their longest trips, in the regional third division, thankfully the weather held off, but on the way back the rain came in & we were buffetted by wind on the motorway. As someone who doesn't drive I was a very nervous passenger. But I was extremely grateful to my good friend & host Nicolas Lucas for taking me there.
As we got to the ground there was this second pitch next to the main stadium.
It had a stand on the far side.
Car park behind the goal.
Here we look down the open side of it.
And here we are at the stand.
Simple wooden benches in it. No idea what the sign says!
Nor this one!
I was wondering if this was a previous First Team pitch, that pre-dates the adjacent current one, where we are heading to?
Behind the stand we have just seen is another pitch, with a small bit of shelter here.
Dugouts on the far side.
Now to the main ground. This is the ticket booth/turnstile entrance. (Apologies, a few snaps came out a little blurred)
A sponsors board was next to it.
The first place we headed for was the clubhouse, which was on a first floor level, above the seats.
League tables & results on the wall.
Back outside, from the top of the steps leading up to the clubhouse, you can see parts of the ground are quite open.
This is the covered terrace on the far side, where we stood for most of the game, so ratherv than start from the entrance to the stadium, we are going to start our tour clockwise from this spot.
The covered terrace continues for most of the central length of this side.
From this side we look over to the main stand, you can see the glass fronted clubhouse above it. A bit like Champion Hill!
Almost at the end of the covered terrace.
Past this is some open terracing, & the electronic scoreboard in the corner.
As you can see, it's half time.
Here we look back along the open terracing.
A corner flag shot, with the main stand behind.
Behind the goal is open hard standing.
From behind the goal we see the size of the covered terrace.
Moving along you can clearly see the clubhouse behind the stand, the changing rooms being at ground level.
Almost at the corner where we came in.
The football thing 'raises up' in half, & is a club shop! Before the game it was in the open area past the entrance selling its wares. I was going to buy some things at half time, and was gutted to find it already shut!
From the next corner flag we have the covered terrace in the background.
Open standing leading up to the main stand.
From this side we look behind the open goal, & it's bank of advertising, which is always popular over the Channel.
In front of the main stand, looking up into it.
Tunnel in the centre.
Uncovered seats for dugouts at the front.
Here we look across the seats.
The view from the back.
Second half about to start.
Barrier across the front, to block off the dugout area.
Looking over to the covered terrace.
Looking forwards, to the other open end, with another bank of advertising.
Past the stand it's open hard standing to the corner.
Another corner flag shot, looking over to the covered terrace side. If you look carefully to the left of the cover you can see my Dulwich Hamlet Union Jack!
Open behind the goal, similar to the other end.
Posts supporting the hoardings get in the way a little.
From behind this goal we look back at the stand.
Past the other post we glance at the covered terrace.
Getting closer to where we began our circuit.
Almost at the last corner, we look back behind the goal.
This completes the set of corner flag shots!
Some steps of terracing lead up to the covered area.
Behind this terrace is another basic pitch.
With it's own basic bit of cover!
Another angle of it, from the rear.
Back on the open terrace,complete with broken slab.
A bit of goalmouth action.
The main stand in the background, as it slowly starts to get darker.
Empty at the end of the match.
Floodlights on.
A final look at the covered terrace.
A last glimpse of the ground, as we leave.
I think the signs says "Entry forbidden - Bocholt are not responsible (more literally "answerable") for accidents ("events that befall you").
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