Sint-Truiden

Sint-Truiden are a Belgian First Division side, I saw them last season, in November, at home to Cercle Bruges. Not the best of games to be honest, which matches these snaps. Not the best set of photos, as the camera I was using doesn't do 'night pictures' that well. But you will get a flavour of the stadium, a bit of a mix of old & new. This group is slightly different to others, as I am restricted to only one side, in the stand I was in, & so a number of them are very similar, & repeated, from almost the same angles.



This old picture was hanging up just inside the main entrance, where the security man let me take a quick snap.



The ticket booths were away from the turnstiles, outside. Lovely weather, as you can see!



Here is the turnstile where we entered the ground. Our stand was along the right past this, as was the one along one side of the pitch, as you will see when we get inside.



Underneath our stand was a very packed concourse. This picture was a 'hold the camera up in the air & hope' job!



We were sat in the top corner of the East Tribune, here we look across it, toward the VIP area, which is basically the North Tribune.



It was late November on my first, the weekend leading up to Advent, so their Father Christmas, Saint Nicolas, was doing the rounds, along with his 'assistant', called Black Peter, I think.



The teams are out on the pitch for the pre-match joint line-ups. We can see the West Tribune opposite, as well as the VIP one, which we've already glanced at.



To our left is the lovely 'double decker' South Tribune, which is where the main hard-core of home fans are, nearest to us, in this photo. The far section of this stand is for the away supporters.



Here we are at the back of my stand.



Here we see right across the pitch, at the West side, at least the parts not hidden by the glare of the floodlights along the roof.



I move along my East Tribune at half time, & take more photos. Here we are getting closer to the posh bit.



And over the pitch, again into the full glare of the lights.



With the main fans' stand to our left, and the electronic scoreboard in the near corner.



I move down to the front rows, and try a close up of the main section of the home support.



Nil nil at half time, without a doubt not a classic! But, hey, that's football.



Still at the bottom corner, we look across the ground, at pitch level.



Turning round we see up into our stand.



Moving along the front now, we're about halfway across, & look back at the 'double decker'.



Panning over at the same end, we can see the away section, as groundstaff do their bit during a wet half time.



And now we've reached the fancy end again, with it's somewhat strange seating pattern.



Turning round we see down my stand, from the other end to my seat.



And back across the pitch, from the same corner.



The fancy VIP stand is actually a fair bit above pitch level, as you can see here, in this blurred photo.



I spotted this plaque on the concourse under our east tribune, telling us that it was opened in 2003.



Now back up at my end of the stand, we look again at the home lot behind the goal.



Flag waving, home fans clap at the final whistle.



As do those behind the goal...



As the players show their appreciation at the end of the one one draw.

Bromley Green

Bromley Green play in Division One East of the Kent County League, which is at step eight of the non league pyramid. I took the opportunity of going there at the end of last season, when they staged a game against a Kent County League representative XI, as part of their eightieth birthday celebrations. The ground was extremely basic, in an open public park, as you would expect at this lowly level, but they were still very organised, with a good set-up, where everybody seemed to know everybody. You could see why they are proud of the community ethos of their club.



This was the commemorative pennant, presented to the club by the League.



This is the approach to the ground. I actually came from the other direction, across the park, having got a bit lost, and popping into the nearby ASDA superstore, to glance at their local A to Z, from their shelves.



The pitch is straight ahead, in the park, here we can see the dugouts on the far side.



To the right are the club buildings, the small bar, with the sign above it, and the changing rooms set behind.



I asked this local lad if I could take his photo...for no other reason than I loved his t-shirt!



The home team are ready for the start of the match.



As befits the occasion, both teams walk out together.



The only 'seating' in the 'ground'!



The pitch is simply roped off, all all four sides, with a small stretch of hard standing further along, on this side, which is the corner where the players enter the field of play.



Behind the touchline is a car parking area.



Before the match both teams lined up for the 'meet & greet' with the Kent County League bigwigs.



I wasn't the only one on the pitch to 'document' it!



The Bromley Green team were resplendent in their 80th anniversary retro kit.



Hands are shook with the Rep. side.



And then a joint pre-match team photo.



I'm not sure who this chap was, but he 'did the honours' in the ceremonial kick off.



And now for the real thing...



I head back to the corner where we came in, for our stroll round the pitch.



The fence around the car park doubles up as 'benches'.



This older group of spectators are, I think, Kent County League/Kent FA officials.



This is the hard standing along the side, apparently laid a few years earlier, when they were in the top flight of the Kent County. I overheard someone say they would have to extend it by a few more yards if they were to gain promotion once more, as the rules had changed slightly.



It continues up to the halfway line.



Beyond that it's simply roped off.



From here we look over the pitch to the dugouts.



Behind the goal the rope continues.



We're at the corner. Despite the fact there's no structures as a backdrop old habits die hard. And I still offer you a 'corner flag' shot.



A glance back down the touchline.



And moving along behind the goal we see down the other touchline.



Directly down it here, from the next corner.



Here we see across the pitch, with some spectators in the picture.



The dugouts are next.



Here is one from the front.



I certainly never expected a fourth official tonight!



Continuing along, past the dugouts, and we're going round the rope.



Almost behind the goal now.



Nice artwork on the arm from one of the home substitutes.



Now a bit of match action for you to look at...





A last picture from around the ground, of three of the groundhopping fraternity at the game.