BLACKPOOL v NEWCASTLE UTD (Wednesday)
What's The Ground Like?
The single tiered Stanley Matthews West Stand (sponsored by Blackpool International Airport) & North (also know as the Spion Kop) Stands are located at one side and at one end of the ground. Both opened in February 2002, they are impressive looking and the North West corner between them has also been filled with seating, so that this area of the ground is enclosed. Behind the main seating in the West Stand and the North West corner, is a hospitality balcony with executive boxes at the rear from the south end to the Directors' Box at the halfway line, from which point to the north-west corner is the Sir Stanley Matthews Hospitality Suite. On the East side of the ground an open temporary 'golf style' seated stand has been erected to house away supporters, whilst the South end of the ground is currently being re-developed with a new stand. Outside the stadium, behind the North Stand is a statue of the former Blackpool legend Stan Mortensen.
Future Developments
At long last the Club have embarked on the building of the new South Stand, some six years after the original was demolished. The new stand which will wrap around the South West corner of the stadium to join the West Stand will have a capacity of 3,500. It is hoped that the stand will be open for the start of the 2009/10 season. It is believed that the new stand will be made available to home supporters, with away fans being moved into part of the North Stand. You can follow the progress of the building of the new stand, looking at the South Stand Stadium Cam, that the Club have installed.
What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?
With delays to the building of the new South Stand, away fans will once again for this season find themselves being housed in a temporary stand on the Eastern side of the ground. The stand is more reminiscent of the type found at the 18th hole of the British Open Golf Championships, rather than at a football ground and has a capacity of 1,750. As you would expect from a temporary stand the facilities are basic and the stand has no roof, leaving fans exposed to the elements. The stand has been nicknamed the 'GK Stand' by the Blackpool fans, as if the weather is not good then you may well find yourself 'singing in the rain'. However the leg room is adequate and you do get a good view of the playing action as you are situated fairly close to the pitch. Remember though to wrap up well in winter, as the wind that comes off the Irish Sea can go right through you! On the whole though I found the ground to be a welcoming one, I just hope they build that new South Stand soon!
Where To Drink?
Nigel Richardson a visiting Hull City fan recommends the 'No 1 Bar, which is a Working Mens Club, that is adjacent to the away supporters entrance to the ground on Bloomfield Road. It was very welcoming and admits away fans for a small fee'. Steve Gardner a visiting Gillingham fan informs me; 'A good family pub close to the ground is the Waterloo in Waterloo Road - genuinely family friendly except in the games area. Clean, comfortable and friendly; Sky TV on large screens and reasonable, inexpensive food'. Whilst Paul Hunt a visiting Bristol City supporter adds; 'On our last two visits we have been to the 'Swift Hound' pub which is less than half a mile to the north of the ground in Festival Park, where there is is also an Odeon cinema and a Frankie and Bennys restaurant. The pub is of a fair size and is pleasant inside, with home and away fans mixing without problems. It also offers food. There are doormen but they are friendly enough. I wouldn't recommend parking there though as the car park is for cinema goers only'.
A short walk away (walk down Bloomfield Road towards the sea front and then turn right into Lytham Road and the pub is down on the right) is the CAMRA Good Beer Guide listed Old Bridge House. Steve Lumb adds; 'Another good pub is the Wetherspoons pub called the Auctioneer on Lytham Road, near Blackpool South Station. Its about 10 minutes walk to the ground and serves cheap beer and brilliant grub.' Otherwise there are plenty of pubs in Blackpool town centre to choose from.
How To Get There By Car & Where To Park
Leave the M6 at Junction 32. Follow the M55 into the outskirts of Blackpool and continue straight along this road until you see the ground on your right. The ground is roughly located about half way between the Pleasure Beach and the Tower and is about a 1/4 of a mile inland from the south shore. Large pay and display car parks are located just across the road from the ground (£1). Damian Feeney adds; 'It's worth bearing in mind that the car parking does increase during the holiday season to £3.20 for the required period. It runs from the Spring Bank Holiday until the end of the Illuminations. The canny can find on street parking instead.' Matthew Stimpson a visiting Halifax Town fan informs me; 'Please note that unlike most towns and cities in England the pay and display car parks near to the ground still charge after 6pm. Some visiting fans on my visit assumed that they would be free after 6pm and ended up with a parking ticket'.
By Train
The closest railway station to the ground is Blackpool South and is around a ten minute walk away. However fewer trains stop at this station with most calling at Blackpool North. Blackpool North station is around two miles away and therefore you may wish to jump in a cab to the ground.
Mark Gillatt adds; 'For anyone arriving by train at Blackpool North a cheaper alternative than a taxi may be the number 11 bus from the bus station across the road. Buses to Lytham St Annes pass the end of Bloomfield Road and run every eight minutes. Fans should alight at the Bridge House pub (okay for a pint) and walk down Lonsdale Road to the ground'.
NEWCASTLE UNITED 2009/10
SHAMROCK ROVERS 0 NEWCASTLE UTD 3 (S Taylor, Ameobi, Ranger)
Steve Harper, Habib Beye, Callum Morris, Fabricio Coloccini, Tamas Kadar, Wesley Ngo Baheng, Nicky Butt, Joey Barton, Damien Duff, Kevin Nolan, Nile Ranger
Subs: Jose Enrique, Danny Guthrie, Ryan Taylor, Alan Smith, Shola Ameobi, Steven Taylor, Frank Wiafe Danquah, Ole Soderberg, Ben Tozer, Kazenga LuaLua, Tim Krul, Ryan Donaldson
DARLINGTON 2 NEWCASTLE UTD 7 (Duff, Nolan, Gutierrez, S Taylor, Carroll, Ameobi 2)
Krul (Forster, 46); R Taylor, Beye (Coloccini, 46), S Taylor, Kadar (Enrique, 46); LuaLua (Guthrie, 46), Barton (Butt, 46), Nolan (Xisco, 59), Smith (Donaldson, 59), Duff (Gutierrez, 46); Ameobi (Carroll, 46).
HUDDERSFIELD 0 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Nolan)
Harper, Coloccini, Enrique (Donaldson 80), Barton (Smith 58), Guthrie (Tavernier 80), Gutierrez (Duff HT), Xisco (Ameobi HT), Beye (Kadar HT), Taylor S (Taylor R HT), Lua-Lua (Adjei 73), Carroll (Nolan 58).
ORIENT 6 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Barton pen)
Krul (Forster, 46); Beye (Tozer, 80), S Taylor (Lough, 80), Coloccini (Geremi, 46), Enrique (Kadar, 73); Gutierrez, Barton (Xisco, 46), Smith (Guthrie, 60), Duff (LuaLua, 73); Nolan; Martins (Carroll, 46).
NEWCASTLE UTD 0 LEEDS UTD 0
Harper, Beye, Bassong, S Taylor, Enrique, R Taylor, Smith, Barton, Gutierrez, Ameobi, Carroll Subs: Coloccini, Nolan, Xisco, LuaLua, Krul, Donaldson
DUNDEE UTD 1 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Carroll)
Harper; R Taylor, S Taylor, Kadar, Enrique; Gutierrez, Barton (LuaLua, 75), Smith, Duff (Geremi, 88); Nolan; Carroll.
WEST BROM 1 NEWCASTLE UTD 1 (Duff)
Harper (Krul 46), Ryan Taylor, Steven Taylor,Coloccini, Jose Enrique, Gutierrez, Smith, Nolan, Duff,Ameobi (Ranger 90), Carroll (Barton 75).
Subs Not Used: Xisco, Geremi, LuaLua, Kadar.
NEWCASTLE UTD 3 READING 0 (Ameobi 3, 1 pen)
Ryan Taylor, Steven Taylor, Coloccini,Jose Enrique, Nolan, Barton (LuaLua 82), Smith (Geremi 78),Gutierrez, Ameobi (Xisco 77), Carroll.
Subs Not Used: Krul, Kadar, Ranger, Donaldson.
NEWCASTLE 1 SHEFF WED 0 (Ameobi)
Harper, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Coloccini,Jose Enrique, Ryan Taylor (Guthrie 89), Nolan, Smith,Gutierrez, Ameobi (Ranger 87), Carroll (Xisco 58).
Subs Not Used: Krul, Geremi, LuaLua, Kadar.
CRYSTAL PALACE 0 NEWCASTLE 2 (Nolan, R Taylor)
Harper, Simpson, Coloccini, Steven Taylor,Jose Enrique, Ryan Taylor (Butt 65), Nolan, Smith,Gutierrez (Geremi 89), Guthrie (Ranger 66), Ameobi.
Subs Not Used: Krul, Xisco, LuaLua, Kadar.
NEWCASTLE 4 HUDDERSFIELD 3 (Guthrie, Geremi, Ameobi (pen), Nolan) CARLING CUP
Krul, Simpson, Geremi, Kadar, Jose Enrique, Ryan Taylor, Guthrie, Butt (Ameobi 46), LuaLua (Gutierrez 65), Nolan, Ranger, Ameobi (Vuckic 90).
Subs not used: Harper, Smith, Tozer, Donaldson.
NEWCASTLE 1 LEICESTER 0 (Guthrie)
Harper, Ryan Taylor, Steven Taylor, Simpson,Jose Enrique, Geremi, Barton (Kadar 89), Nolan,Guthrie (Donaldson 85), Smith, Ranger (Vuckic 85).
Subs Not Used: Krul, LuaLua, Ngo Baheng, Tozer.
CARDIFF CITY 0 NEWCASTLE 1 (Coloccini)
Harper, Simpson, Coloccini, Steven Taylor, Jose Enrique, Guthrie (Lovenkrands 61), Barton (Geremi 86), Smith, Ryan Taylor (Butt 76), Nolan, Ranger.
Subs Not Used: Krul, LuaLua, Kadar, Donaldson.