Wednesday 3 March 2010

Camberley Town

Camberley Town, are in the Premier Division of the Combined Counties League, pushing to regain their Isthmian League status.

I don't recall too much about this ground, I've been here to see Dulwich Hamlet in the Surrey Senior Cup a few years ago, & also saw our short live womens' team play a Womens' FA Cup tie here, around a decade ago.

But I can't really recall too much about the place, except it had a small stand. So when I was in the area in February 2010 I took the opportunity to have a peek.

Many thanks to 'Non League Matters' messageboard regular contributor 'VP', who only told me how to gain access, but rang me with lots of info after I PM'd him on there. That's what makes being a 'Kempsterite' special!



These gates were at the rear entrance to the ground.



There is a fixture board just inside the gates.



Above this booth.



At the end of the access road, past the gates, is this turnstile entrance.



Continue past them, and round the corner, and you will come to the social club.



With a large board on the side.



Once I gained access, I went back to the turnstiles we had passed, & our tour will start from that point. Here we are just inside the ground, as if we had gone through them.



There are toilet blocks by them...and this old exercise bike!



To our right is this area of cover behind the goal, but we will leave that part of the ground until last.



In this corner is this advertising board. It has no significance, I just like old photo scens like this.



From the corner we look across the pitch, flag in shot! It's actually open on that side. The thing that might look like 'cover' is actually insdustrial units behind.



So off we go, clockwise round Krooner Park! Hard standing in front of the bar, tables outside for nicer days, with an overhang for wetter ones.



A board handily placed on the wall for team changes.



Past the bar/changing room block is the main stand, as you can see here. the gate in part of the picture is from the 'tunnel'.



I gingerly walk across the wet pitch, here we see the covered end.



The other end is completely open.



As is the opposite side, which is where these dugouts are.



And here we turn back, looking toward the stand and the bar/changing room area.



The stand, all on it's own.



This is the 'tunnel', which I mentioned, to the left of it.



Up in the seats now-keeping dry!- we look over to the covered end.



And across the pitch.



This is a shot from the back, across the stand.



In the far corner, at the back, is the press area.



In front of them is the section for visiting & home officials.



And from the bottom corner we look back up into the stand.



Just past the seating is another set of turnstiles.



One last close up of the seats, noticing the gates at the entrance to them for the first time, before we move on.



To the corner is simple hard standing.



Another angle across the pitch from the next corner flag.



I hope there's a bit more equipment for maintaining the pitch than this!



Behind the goal is open, paved standing.



From behind the goal we look at the main stand.



Directly behind the net we look down the pitch.



The paving continues to the corner.



From where we will head along this open dug out side.



Our third corner flag shot, with the stand as backdrop.



Now we're finally along the side, more open hard standing, all the way along.



From inbetween the dugouts we look over to the main stand.



Going past the dugouts we're moving onwards to the final side of the ground.



From here we see the length of cover behind the goal.



Here we are closer, from the corner flag, where else!



not the most uniform of covers, but that's what makes it special. The fact it's nothing special, but has it's individuality.



Here we are standing under it, looking over to the stand.



Depending where you stand the views aren't the best, due to the supporting pillars!



At the other end we look down the simple one step stretch of covered terrace, but more than adequate.



And so back to the corner where we started our tour of Camberley Town FC.

Tuesday 2 March 2010

Maryhill; Glasgow, Scotland

Maryhill are a Scottish Junior club, not too far from Partick Thistle FC. They currently paly in the West Region Central Division One, which is the third level of the West Region junior football pyramid. It is a strange sort of ground, as the pitch is, sort of, sunken below you. I took these photos in June 2009.



This is the entrance, set up a small driveway/car park.



Inside we are in one corner of the ground. To our left is this open standing area behind the goal. We are going to head this way, clockwise round the pitch.



Along the side, to our right there is a hoarding with the club name on. You can see, from the rail round the pitch, how low the playing surface is.



Here is a view of that side, a modern club building along there.



It has a health club, as well as changing rooms, club bar, & assorted facilities.



Now we're glancing behind the goal again, with the covered terrace on the other side in view.



Steps are formed at the front, as the sloped hard standing descends.



Open to the next corner.



From here we look toward the strange shaped modern roofed side.



More paved hard standing leads toward it.



Under the roofing is substantial shallow terracing.



No seating along this side, but an old bench if you're tired!



We are still above the pitch, as you can see from these steps leading down to the dugouts.



Here we look back across the pitch to the open end we've just walked down. Follow the red & black boards in the club colours & you can see how steep the descent actually is.



Turning our heads the other way we see an open bank of seating behind the goal for the first time.



Pitchside we see the dugouts, below the covered terrace.



Past the dugouts, under the next section of roof, is this shallow terrace.



Just before that there is this small standing area behind & above the the dugouts.



Beyond the covered terrace is this void 'wild' no-standing area of the ground.



Now, after scrambling through that, we're behind the goal, looking back along the covered terrace side.



As we saw from the cover, there is an open bank of seating behind the goal, and we can now see there is some erracing in front of it as well.



Here is another look from the front, at the other end.



Going up into the seats we look over to the covered terrace.



And to our left is the open side with the club buildings. Note that white fence in the middle of the picture, we ae coming to that...



Moving along the final side of the stadium we initially walk along a narrow path.



Just past that is this overgrown terrace, set above the path, which is where that white fence is, in front of it.



Here we see it, from the front.



This is the terracing, from the other end of it.



From up on it, we look back to the seats behind the goal.



And across the pitch to the dug outs & covered terracing.



Moving along there are a few steps in front of the birckwork of the buildings, with an overhang acting as a roof.



Toward the corner there is some shallow terracing, & some tables outside the clubhouse.



And from here we have one last look across the pitch.



The last thing we look at before leaving is a very reasonable price list for the club shop.