Toon Fans - Watch Your Back At Darlo!
Last updated : 17 July 2009 By Footy Mad - Editor
We've played there many times over the years, and I've seen a fair bit of trouble, particularly close to the train station in the Speedwell and Hogans pubs.
Not with Darlo fans, but with a strange mixture of Mackems and Leeds fans.
Usually it's organised, and I'm not saying families need worry that much. But if you're up for a ruck, there's usually plenty of takers.
They don't play at Feethams any more, and that was the trouble area ... so the atmosphere will not be as hostile.
For those going ...
What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? Away fans are housed in East Stand at one end of the stadium, where around 3,000 supporters can be accommodated. Martin Redfern a visiting Scunthorpe fan informs me; 'It's a nice stadium and there seems to be plenty of parking (although I heard several grumbles about the £5 charge!). The usual food and drink are on offer inside from well run & well staffed outlets and the view from the away end is very good. I hardly noticed the stewards (which is good), but the atmosphere was a little subdued on my visit. No surprise really with just over 3,600 fans sitting in a stadium that can seat over 20,000'. Peter Llewellyn adds; 'Although I'm not that tall at six foot, I found the leg room to be one of the tightest that I have come across at a new stadium. I was so uncomfortable that I seriously thought about leaving before the end'.
Although the stadium is conservative in its design and shows little character, the acoustics inside are very good as well as the facilities on offer. It also has the best display of pies that I have ever come across at a football ground.
Where To Drink?
At the stadium itself there are two bars; one called 'Bar 66' and the other called the 'Corner Bar'. Both admit away fans, however as you would expect they get very crowded. Greg Howard a visiting Grimsby Town supporter informs me; 'Just 10 minutes walk along Neasham Road, going towards the town centre is a fantastic little pub called the Copper Beech, which also serves decently priced food. The bar that we went into at the ground itself, was very spacious and modern. It also had a number of televisions and also did food such as bangers & mash and trays of curry'. Steve Duffy adds; 'There is also the Tawny Owl Pub, a Vintage Inn which is about a quarter of a mile the other side of the A66 roundabout. This though is more of a restaurant than pub, but decent enough for lunch'.
As the stadium is located on the outskirts of Darlington and there are not that many pubs in the vicinity.
It may therefore be an idea to drink in the town centre, where there are plenty of pubs to be found. For the real ale buffs there is the Number Twenty 2, in Coniscliffe Road. A large spacious pub, that offers food as well as a good range of beers. Mick Hubbard a visiting Aston Villa fans adds; 'We ducked down a little side street called Mechanic's Yard (which is opposite the indoor market, near the big train sculpture) and discovered a gem of a pub called the 'Quaker House'. The small bar was an Aladdin's Cave of real ales, having ten on tap. It was a fantastic place and also has a separate cafe upstairs'. There is also a Wetherspoons outlet situated on Skinnersgate. Simon Lorch tells me; 'We found a great little pub on the Market Square in the town centre called the Boot and Shoe. This pub was extremely friendly and served a cheap pint. Also Hogans right outside the station was cheap and friendly and good for real ale drinkers'.
Otherwise alcohol is available on the concourses inside the stadium in the form of Fosters Lager & John Smiths Bitter.
How To Get There By Car & Where To Park
From The South:
Leave the A1 (M) at Junction 57 and take the A66 towards Darlington/Teeside. Continue straight along the A66 going across two roundabouts. At the third roundabout you can clearly see the stadium just over on your left. Turn left at this roundabout into Neasham Road for the stadium.
From The North:
Leave the A1(M) at Junction 59 and take the A167 towards Darlington. Then take the A1150 towards Teeside. Turn onto the A66 towards Darlington and you will come to the stadium on your right. Although this route is not the shortest it does avoid driving through Darlington Town Centre.
Car Parking
There is a fair sized car park at the stadium which costs £5 per car. Although the stewards do their best to let the cars get away quickly at the end of the game, it is almost and impossible task, with supporters also walking through car parks to leave the area, so expect some delay. If you continue on past the stadium towards Darlington, then there is some street parking to be found, although this can be quite a walk from the stadium as there is a residents only parking scheme in operation on matchdays in the streets nearest to the ground.
By Train
Darlington train station is around one and a half miles away from the stadium. Either get a taxi, a bus or walk it; leave the station and turn right past the taxi rank and towards the car park. Cross the covered footbridge back over the railway into Albert Road. Go right down this road and then take a right into Neasham Road. The stadium is about a mile further on down this road on your left. It should take about 25 minutes in total to walk it.
Simon Brodie informs me; 'The Club now pay for a subsidised bus which runs every 15 minutes from Tubwell Row in the town centre to the ground. It costs just £1.50 for a return ticket.