FK Spartak MAS Sezimovo Usti; Sezimovo Usti, Czech Republic

FK Spartak Mas Sezimovo Usti play in the third level of Czech football. I saw them on my October 2007 trip, when they were at home to Slavia Praha, from the top flight, in the last sixteen of the Czech FA Cup. Slavia ended up comfortable 4-0 winners. They actually play in the same division as the Slavia B team, and a few days later lost 2-0 to them in Prague.




Here is a poster advertising the game, on one of the municipal billboards in town.



I approached the ground up a pavementless road, with woodland either side. After about five minutes of 'following the crowd' you get to the entrance here.



Pay 50 Czech crowns, with a programme, and you're in here. Less than two quid, in case you're wondering!



Just as well there weren't actual turnstiles to squeeze through, if the size of this fan is anything to go by!



As you walk in you are behind the goal. The pitch is to the left. The building on the right houses the changing rooms.



An old ground, with a disused track around it. We are looking over to the far side, where the main stand is.



But instead of going right over there we go down the open left hand side, as we came in. An open side, with old bench seating, the start of which you can see here.



In parts many of the benches are no longer there, leaving just 'concrete stumps'.



In the corner here was the beer stand.



There's a good half hour until the the 3.30pm kick off, but the mid-afternoon crowd is already building up.



Where the benching is still in place it's not in perfect condition.



Here we look across the pitch to the main stand.



Back behing the goal where we came in we see the club shop table.



This is the changing room area, where the players will come out from.



And past this, parked away in the corner, is the Sparta Praha team bus.



From here we now start to turn down the main stand side.



And from this corner we look across the pitch, with the open side in the background.



As well as police, many big Czech games have the local fire brigade on duty.



Further behind them, still in this same corner, is a new all-weather pitch being laid, which is becoming more & more common at Czech football grounds.



I loved the old signage on the back of the main stand.



You can't beat the sausages in this part of the world. Delicious!



And here we look into the main stand.



At the back, in the middle, is an old fashioned, not working, scoreboard.



We pass the stand, and go to the far end, which is simply grass banking.



From here we look back into the main stand.



Kick off time, and the teams line up.



I managed to find a seat at the end of the stand, with others standing on the banking next to me. I took a snap of this young man here, as it reminded of the taunts to not very well supported teams back home: 'Did you come on a skateboard?' Well obviously HE did!



At the half time interval I wnet right behind the far goal.



Looking back at the main stand.



And the Slavia section towards the end of the open terracing. Though the segregation was strictly enforced, and there were lots of Slavia fans in other parts of the ground. Note the flag at the front saying 'Tabor'. Tis town is only ten minutes away from Sezimovo Usti by local bus.



And a snap trying to get in all the crowd on that side.



Going back round to the main stand side you can see how much the corwd 'overspilled' onto the grass banking here.



This is the banking at the other end of the stand, with the crowd around the perimeter barrier a fair way from the touchlines, in front of the changing rooms.



You can see how far away from this photo on the side, where you can't even see the goal!



Some people find the dustbin cupboards give a better viewpoint.



Here you can see how crowded the open side is.



Slavia fans start to celebrate victory. Now you know why the fire brigade were on hand!



Final score....and end of our visit.

Metropolitan Police

I've never been the biggest 'fan' of this outfit. Now allowing non-police officers to appear for them, I often wonder how players could sell their soul to a soulless outfit. But contrary to the 'urban myth' they are not directly funded by the taxpayer. As I understand it serving police pay into a weekly lottery & the money is divided up by the various police sections.

They have little to no support, but have a 'good reputation' boardroom wise. Which is presumably why they are outrageously allowed special dispensation not to play matches on bank holidays! As far as I'm concerned if they can't fulfil a fixture they should either be docked the points, awarded to the opposition, for failing to fulfil a fixture. Or-even better-bugger off to a proper police works league, where they can play whenever they want!

Oh & while we're having a moan..why is the bar service always so slow? With anyone with a police tie or t-shirt getting served first?



Despite all that Metropolitan Police have a lovely little ground. My first visit was back in 1979/60, I think, for a representative game between the Isthmian League & the British Police team. There were a number of Hamlet players in the squad, and such was out support back then, we were the only club to run a supporters' coach to the game!

This was also where we beat Kingstonian, in a 1984 London Senior Cup final replay. Finishing on the losing side-yet again- was the man most famous as the 'Leatherhead Lip' Chris Kelly. He was retirung after a wonderful career, that saw him reach a number of cup finals...but failed to pick up a single winners medal!



Here is the board advertising matches, on the main road. Behind this is the car park & a large clubhouse complex. Behind that is a gym & swimming pool, with the football ground past that.






Here are the turnstiles to get in. These are all away fans queuing, in case you're wondering! ;-)





Once inside we're going to walk in a clockwise direction. Note this pylon, within the pitch perimeter fence, hence the protective padding. The others are the other side. For many years Imber Court only had three pylons. You will see a newer, fourth 'thin' one later. The League sponsored board is new to all Ryman clubs this season. You can see the main stand in the background.





But opposite it, down this side, is just a couple of steps of open terracing.





As we start strolling down this side we look behind us and see the covered terrace behind the goal.





As we progress the trees outside make a pleasant backdrop.





And this is the same the whole length of this side.





At the halfway line we see the main stand opposite.





With this hoarding on view for those sitting in it.





Looking back down the terrace we see one of the 'old three' pylons. What I call 'proper' floodlights! And look at the touchline, with modern artificial grass, which will survive the 'wear & tear' of the linemen. I can't recall having seen this before. I've played on these modern surfaces, & would like to see them allowed, as long as they are maintained properly, in non-league football.





We've now reached the bottom corner, for one of my 'corner flag angle' photos!





At the far end there is also an open terrace. In the bottom right of the photo you can see the fence jutting out, where the new fourth pylon is.





From behind the goal we look across to the main stand.





And here is a view of the main stand.





From the other flag at this end we look down the stand side.





And also glance back along the open end, where you see the new pylon. Give me the old ones anyday!





On this side, leading up to the stand,, there is open standing. The buildings to the left are toilets and changing rooms for the secondary pitches behind the open end, as well as the rugby club, set behind the main stand here. (I have taken a few snaps of the rugby ground too)





From the side we look back to the open end.





And here is the area in front of the main stand, with more of that all-weather surface in the dugout & technical areas.





Our first look up in the seats, where we can see a nice, modern press box.





With it being half time, I 'sneaked' pitchside to take a snap of the tunnel.





And here are the dugouts.





Back on the spectator side we can look up to the officials' enclosure.





Past the seats is more open standing with no steps, before we get there we're just going to nip up these steps...





And have another angle of the stand.





From up here we can look over to the covered end, where we have yet to walk along.





And that's the direction wer'e headed.





Past the tea bar & toilet block.





Another, almost identical ,photo of the covered end.





Looking over to the corner of the ground where we came in, with the clubhouse in the background.





Here's a view of the cover from the corner.





A look up the pylon in this corner. It must be a cracking view from up there, but there's no way I was climbing that! Maybe I could 'tip off' the Fathers for Justice' brigade & slip them my camera! ;-)





In this corner are these gates. Waldron is a former Metropolitan Police commisioner.





Now we are moving along the covered end. What a superb stadium this would be if they roofed behind the other goal too.





Here is another view of the main stand, from this end now. You can clearly see the tea bar/toilet block on the right.





Looking back down the covered terrace. See....it's NOT just me taking photos! ;-)





so to where we came in, at the padded pylon. Note the hoarding for Chelsea Ladies Football Club, who also play here.





And finally....the Dulwich Hamlet Supporters' Team have played a number of away matches over the years on the outer pitches behind the open end. After one match last season we cut through the main ground after changing, & I snapped this horse taking a short cut from the adjacent mounted division!

Metropolitan Police RUFC

The rugby ground is tucked behind the football ground at Imber Court. walk round behind the open end of the football ground, and in the corner, outside, you will see a footbridge over a stream. Cross it & look right.

This is the scoreboard.




Grass banking down the side, but there was a sign saying spectators were not allowed to stand on it.





Roped off behind the goal.





With the only structure of any sort being the stand on the far side.




Here is a decent view of it. Very strange. As there's absolutely nothing underneath it. With the changing rooms & bar area, back in the Football Club area of the Imber Court sports complex.





A bench or two in front, in case you can't manage the steps.





Here's the view looking across the stand.





And now towards the pitch. Bring a blanket on a cold day!





At the back is a small press area.





And from there this is the sightline towards the other posts.