Farnham Town

Farnham Town play in the Combined Counties League Division One. I visited here on Thursday 6th May 2010, for a Premier Division match in the same league, when Badshot Lea hired the ground, to host Sandhurst Town.



Approaching the ground from the main road, the ground is down below, on the left. This is the Memorial Hall, where the cnahging rooms are. Part of this building was being used as a polling station, as it was General Election day.



A sign pointing to the ground.



The path leading down to the entrance.



From here we see over the pitch, the clubhouse is on the far side.



As we walk in there is hard standing down the right, toward the dugouts.



But we are heading the other way round, to our left. This path leads up to the stand behind the goal, which you can just see on the top right of this snap.



It is set back, above the pitch. I wonder if, in the dim & distant past, this pitch once had a wicked slope on it?



From the side, almost at the corner you can see just how high the specators are behind this goal.



Looking back down the hard standing leading up to the seated end.



A 'corner flag' shot, high up over the pitch.



There is hard standing up at this end, with the stand set back a little.



It is in the Farnham colours, though plenty of rust is coming through.



From up behind the goal we glance back down to the entrance side.



Here we look into the small stand, club initials proudly at the back.



If you sit in them it is a little difficult to see the ball cross the line.



Standing behind the goal we look over the pitch.



Here we are directly above the net.



Down on the pitch we look up to the stand.



Moving along slightly we see the club name behind the net, damaged by previous off target shots.



It would look very smart, if not broken.



Back up on the 'hill', we move out, turning to the stand, as we pass.



Beyond is more hard standing, and a grass slope, to the next corner.



Set back is a sole park bench.



Presumably a former loyal fan?



It's set back a fair way, but it must be be a lovely vantage point on a nice day.



Now at the corner, we look down the path that forms the hard standing, going down to pitch level.



Set back to the left is a car park, and the club house.



As we start to move along the side it's time for another glance up at the raised goal.



Open hard standing along this side, you can see a man coming along a path that leads to the club house as well.



Down on the flat area again.



And another glance back.



Heading toward the bar, which included a tea bar, as well as the 'traditional' alcohol.



A bit blurred, but on the wall was a Dulwich Hamlet programme, from a Surrey Senior Cup match against Farnham Town, from way before I was born!



Back outside now, by the pitch. Note the open grassed area to the left, I guess used as a training patch, but look at the strange small, long, narrow goal!



Directly over the halfway line.



The hard standing continues to the next corner.



Time for a second take, at that weird goal, club house behind it.



Down the path we've covered.



At the other end there is no area for spectators, making this a three sided goal. There is a public footpath outside, with just a chain link fence, so if you wanted to be a tightwad you could watch for free from outside!



Stepping back a pace or two we get a full length look at the 'empty' end.



We just clamber over the fence to continue our circuit.



Heading toward the goal.



The club sign is also behind this net, but in good nick.



At the last corner of our circuit now.



Back on the hard standing, leading up to the dugouts.



From here we see the stand again, up the far end, over the pitch.



At we turn back there is a gate in the corner.



The dugouts are reached at last.



This is the home one.



Here they are, from behind.



Back behind the higher end, as the teams 'meet & greet' on the pitch, just before kick off.



Game about to kick off, tour complete, time to sit back & enjoy the game!



Floodlights coming on, it will be too dark for any match shots.



So it's back where we came in to finish our trip around the Memorial Ground.

R.U.S. Assesse; Belgium

R.U.S. Assesse play in the second level of the local namur region leagues, competing in the 2A division, there being two at this rung of their pyramid. I took these pictures in June 2010.



This car park is the way in from the road. club buildings straight ahead, the main pitch to the left; a second one to the right.



This is the second one.



We are going to stroll round the main part of the grounds. On the pitch barrier is a local planning notice, I'm not sure what it's all about, but i think my friend Nicolas said it has something to do with building new dugouts.



Behind the goal, by the road, the pitch is railed off, & there is no need for an outer pitch perimeter, as there is at many minor English non-league grounds. There is a small step of terrace in this corner, down from the road.



Before we head round that way we can see there is a larger step of terrace along the side at this end.



Completely open as we head toward the goal, just grass to stand on.



Past the goal we look over to the main club side.



Down the side it is more of the same, just open fields the other side of the netting.



Presumably this is what the planning notice is for...



They will be opposite the main building.



Beyond that spot it is railed off once more, to the next corner.



And it continues behind the next goal.



Moving past the post we see the clubhouse again.



Now we are looking to the main side, grass banked terracing, leading up to the changing rooms & bar.



In front of the building are dugouts, with hte way into the changing rooms, which are, presumably on the ground level.



The dugouts are very small, explaining the need to build new ones.



The hard standing in front continues, up to the last bit of terrace on this side.



Clearly an old section of the ground, there are some advertising hoardings at the back, & that concludes our visit here.

FC Sart-Barnard; Assesse; Belgium

FC Sart-Bernard are a non-league side from Belgium; playing in Assesse. They currently compete in the local Namur regional leagues, & are in the D division at the fourth level; of which there are A to F. I took these pictures of their ground in June 2010.



The name of the ground was on the club building, by the main pitch. there were three pitches here.



As you would expect with lower league grounds the place is very basic. This id the corner of the main pitch from the entrance at the road. This is the main one, & is simply railed off, as you can see.



There is a hard standing driveway, leading up to the club building, which is to the right, along the side of the pitch.



We are going to walk the other way round, behind the goal it is just an area of grass, with trees behind. No spectator area.



From here we have our first proper view of the two storey club building, which includes the changing rooms & bar area.



Moving on past the goal.



There is a concrete perimeter along the far side.



Some of it in a bit of disrepair.



To our left is a rundown, possibly no longer used (?) secondary pitch.



Strolling onward, toward the dugouts.



Here they are.



Behind the far goal it looks as though it was once railed or fenced off, but no more.



Beyond that end is another, well kept, grassed area, which is still used for football during the season.



This pitch also has dugouts.



Now back behind the goal of the main pitch, we see through it, to the clubhouse.



At the next corner you can now notice that the pitch is roped off here, between the posts.



Down the last side it is railed.



Tour almost over, we have reached the main building.



No idea, I'm far too lazy to use Google translate! ;-)



Past the building we are now on the path toward the corner where we came in.

FC Nanninne; Belgium

FC Nanninne play in the second division of the regional leagues in the Namur area. I looked at their ground in June 2010, just as work had been completed in changing their pitch from a traditional one, to a modern all weather surface.



Behind the goal is this small area of cover. The club house & changing rooms is beyond it.



There is new hard standing down this side, which is now railed off all the way round. you can see the holes for the rails on the floor.



From along this side we can see the cover & buildings.



A close up of the old cover, with the new mesh fencing in front.



Club building next to it.



Under the wooden shed.



From this end we look across the new pitch.



Our last picture is the other side of the clubhouse, from the car park.