Monday 26 March 2012

Cambridge City

Cambridge City play in the Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division, & their Milton Road ground is very much on the 'dnager list', it has been sold for redevelopment & each of the last few years have been rumoured to be 'their last' here. Now the end is nigh, & it looks like next season the 2012/13 campaign really could be their last here.

I visited a couple of seasons ago, for a pre-season match against a Luton Town XI. It's not what you'd call one of the classic grounds, but apparently it used to be, until it was redeveloped into it's current state. But I'm still glad I went, as 'once it's gone, it's gone!'; & there are so many that vanish without me getting the chance to visit.


The ground is off of the main road, & down this side road, the cark park & stadium beyond, being to the right.


The sign by the car park. The City Ground is currently sponsored, called The Pro-Edge Stadium.


This is the players entrance, at the rear of the main stand.



To the left of the main stand, that is to the left as we look to the back of it, are the main turnstiles.



Once through them the pitch is straight ahead, we can see some covered terracing on the opposite side.



To our right is the main stand, before that the white open door leads to their club shop.



To our right is a narrow open end.



That is the way we are heading, from the turnstiles where we entered, walking round the ground clockwise.



From the turnstiles to the first corner it is open hard standing.



First corner flag shot, mainly looking over to the covered terrace side.



From this corner we turn back down the small part of the ground we've covered.



Behind the goal there is more open hard standing, no terracing.



From this end we see the main stand, and for the first time, notice there are actually two stands next to each other.



Cracking on, toward the goal.



Behind the post looking up the pitch, where the far end is also in the open.



Same spot, turning right, another shot of the stand.



And the other direction, to the covered terracing.



At the second corner now, seats as the back drop.



The open hard standing continues along the side, up to the cover.



From this spot we look back at the tree lined open end.



On reaching the first area of covered terrace it is actually only a shallow step.



A sign saying keep off the stand supports, presumably some silly health & safety precaution.



No standing behind the dugouts...well you wouldn't get much of a view!



Moving past the dugouts we can see a proper section of terracing.



Over the halfway line we get a clear view of the big stand, little stand.



Hooray! Proper terracing!



Standing at the back, looking along it.



Turning back, we are now looking down on the area behind the dugout.



After the decent terraced section, we are back to the single narrow step, behind the second dugout.



This continues along the rest of this side of the ground.



From this angle you can see what a difference raised terracing makes.



Onward to the next corner.



Back in the open, past the roof, it's plain hard standing again.



More of the same behind the goal, but with a refreshment van.



Our third corner flag snap.



A last look down the terraced side.



And now behind the goal.



Past the burger van.



The terracing, from this end.



Moving on behind the goal.



Through the net.



Both stands together, from behind the penalty area.



Here we zoom in on the smaller one.



And the main one, next to it.



At the final corner flag.



Behind it, facing the stands.



Now along the side, approaching them.



Here we are, up in the first, smaller one.



From here we glance down over the penalty area.



And the other way, along the seats, & over the rest of the pitch.



The bigger stand is next to the small one, different, but sort of seamless, as if one.



Leaning over the steps to the small stand, we see into the larger area.



There is a box at the back of it, over the tunnel.



Now looking back, from the larger section.



The players tunnel, in front of the stand.



Back down pitchside, across the pitch, behind a man with a good choice in colours!



Continuing along, to the last section of the seats.



Past that is the last part of the ground, the hard standing up to the turnstiles where we started our tour.



A visiting fans flag.



One of the dugouts over the the side.



And the main bit of terracing.



Before we finish it's time to go up into the last part of the stand, leftwards to the first open end.



And right, back along the seats.



The last two snaps are of the ground, as night time draws in, one from up in the stand..



& the other pitch side.



A few snaps of the game, to conclude our trip to Cambridge City.