8 Football Grounds that are a bit weird and I've been to/near

I'm doing this post as a time killer, though it's nice to be able to write another blog. Re-adjusting my sleep pattern post second Ashes test, since I've been working on Oz time for the past five days. Sadly, as you'll have guessed, it's not been worth it. 

The other day I was at Meadow Lane (we actually won!), and was talking with my flat-mate - who is a Notts County convert from Leeds - I liken this to the conversion of Saul in the Bible... seen the light etc... Anyway, I was checking my 'Fotmob' app, when a result popped up that Queen of the South (went to their ground once, like to see how they're doing, don't ask) were beating Dumbarton. Now I also happen to have been to Dumbarton's ground, and it is particularly notable, because it is situated next to a castle. This led me off on a huge and probably tedious chat about how Dumbarton's ground is next to a castle, which said flat-mate suitably endured. The conversation inspired me to write the spectacle before you. And so, without further ado, 8 Football Grounds that are a bit weird and I've been to/near.

1. The Bet Butler Stadium, Dumbarton FC.
As promised, Dumbarton's ground, which has undergone many sponsorship changes in its time. Ironically, given "The Sons" have won only 1 out of 6 league games at home this season, the ground is nicknamed by the fans "The Rock". This is because it is next to a rock, on top of which there is the aforementioned castle. Following that logic, Meadow Lane should be nicknamed Hooters. I'll leave that one hanging. Overall though, well worth a visit, the  rock, castle and ground all come off well in this one.

2. Estadio Municipal de Braga, Sporting Clube de Braga.
Continuing the rocky theme, (listen, whilst you read), this is the wonderful, magnificent, bizarre, natural-looking, eccentric Braga stadium, carved out of a quarry. I'm guessing with all the superlatives, by the way, I did go there, but behind the massive gates and car-park, the view is pretty shameful. Though there was a nice ice-cream van outside, which is good.

3. St Mary's Park, St Cuthbert Wanderers FC. 

This one I put down, with more of a tenuous hand. I think this is slightly less effective photo-wise, and  you actually have to go there to get the full feeling (highly recommend it, Kirkcudbright is a very nice town). From memory, you can pretty much walk off the beach, turn a corner, and end up with this ground in front of you. Nice in general and a rackety old stand that makes the whole affair very 'proper' football. I generally remember it being undoubtedly the most shocking place to find a ground of a decent size. P.S - I see from Twitter, Saints also got to the semi final of the League Cup, having just missed out to Wigtown (another great town to visit) - Congrats! *

4. Rheinpark Stadion, Liechtenstein and FC Vaduz.

A ground undoubtedly close to my heart, the mighty Rheinpark is the fortress of the Liechtenstein national team and of the capital's local club, FC Vaduz. The ground entered Howlett family folklore (how sad) when I managed to get in to the ground and touch the hallowed turf with no one once challenging me. Which says a lot about Liechtenstein and my excitement. Notable and a bit weird for the mountain alpine scenery that surrounds it. Which is more or less notable enough. Rumour has it the North Stand is in fact a tax haven for Conservative Party donors, though this has yet to be confirmed.

5. Caledonian Stadium, Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

One of my favourite grounds, if I look past the fact that they've turned Celtic over far too many times to be comfortable with, it's mildly weird/different in that it is right next to the Kessock Bridge, which is an architectural success in it self. Well worth going over the bridge if nothing else, as the view of the ground is really attractive. The other thing about bridges is that they're over water. We deduce from this that the ground is also right next to a river, namely the Beauly Firth (like either you or I have ever heard of that)...

The ground is in the picture somewhere

6. The John Smith's Stadium, Huddersfield Town FC.

Known as t'Galpharm when I were there, this stadium is hilariously average (that's far too harsh, but never mind), the ground is notably weird because it's the only ground I've been to where there's a humongous driving range next door. 

This has clearly been noted by the PR people - the Main Stand's sponsorship deal is the "Direct Golf UK Stand", which is almost as emotive amongst the football-lover as "Sir Matt Busby Way" is to the average Japanese Manchester United fan. No one has yet managed a drive into the ground. Shame.

7. Allianz Arena, FC Bayern Munich and TSV 1860 Munchen.

A simply remarkable piece of architecture, it's like art and stadium, in one. Weird because it has a 'luminous exterior' that can change colour depending on whichever team is playing there at the time. Much to my protests, we only drove past the ground on the Autobahn, but even in the dark, probably doing double the limit in England (efficent Germans), the light show was incredible. Probably the most intrinsically attractive ground on the list, but still - a bit weird.

8. Field Mill, Mansfield Town FC.

I was never going to get through a post without mentioning Nottinghamshire in some extended form, and the excuse this time, unusually for me, is Mansfield. Always a shame to think about it, but relevant for these purposes. Field Mill, a bit like Huddersfield, is a very average ground. However, the 'non' stand makes it a weird one. Also, more amusingly, their hilarious attempts to make it look nice. Unfortunately I couldn't find any pictures of the 'lads' up the trees nearby on sell-out crowds. Equally Mansfield-ish.

The 'non' stand. Note the saving money on the hole in the roof.

And there we have it. Eight clubs, some of which you'll have heard of, all weird in some way. I will undoubtedly have a 'List of cricket grounds that are a bit weird and I've played at', soon...

*I'm told by one of the Cuthbert's faithful on Twitter that St Mary's Park now has a 3G pitch, and the terrace in the picture has gone down, to be replaced in the new year... All the same, I enjoyed it whilst it was there.

Sketch: Cricket Ireland V England

It seemed like it would be the most perfect match. Ireland, having

built and built their ODI side, nearly beat Pakistan and were a few runs away from

their first proper ODI series win. Now, just a couple of months later, they faced

an England team coming off an Ashes high, full of that all too

familiar nonchalance - 'it's just those amateur Irish Paddys'. So much

so, they'd filled the side with a second string 'Lions' team, with a

few added extras in from the first pick. I really believed Ireland

would have a chance. In fact, I still believe that if they did play a

series against England, Ireland would win at least one match.

Given this premise, you'd have thought I would've enjoyed the match,

Big changes: From this passion...

on the basis that it is only cricket, after all. But I found myself

taken to as high a level as any sporting contest has taken

me before. It was not just a simple game of 50 overs a side (43 overs,

if you count the fact England knocked them off with 7 to spare).

It was higher than that. It was a battle between Good and Evil. It wasn't

Bopara's amazing propensity suddenly to find run scoring/wicket taking

easy that enraged me. Nor was it Eoin Morgan's slightly patronising

decision to bring on Michael Carberry (who has bowled just 322

balls in his entire List A career). No, it was more than that. It was

that Ireland were being taken apart by Irishmen. Even worse - Irishmen

who were then giving smug Englishmen the excuse to laugh about it on

twitter.

As many will know (if only from my 'About me' page), I am an England

fan. I'm born English - I am far too passionate about England during

the Ashes (even the 06-07 series). But I am an Englishman who prefers

a cricket board that lacks Giles Clarke suave stickiness - Cricket

Ireland; an Englishman who is part Irish, and who would fail Norman

Tebbitt's cricket test. I am hopelessly romantic about Irish

cricket and a nation that lives, cricket-wise, at just about the right

distance behind England. I have fallen for the British tendency to back

the underdog.

So, I return to the dilemma of Good Vs Evil. Here am I, totally

appalled. If they are so bad, how come it took a Derry-born man to

take 4 Irish wickets and a Dublin-born man to score 124 runs and sink

the Irishmen? Would they have tipped the balance in Ireland's favour

had they been playing for their native country? Undoubtedly, yes. And

as the England 'masses', tweeted about how the match was 'a waste of

time' and 'totally pointless as England were always going to win', the

irony hit me. These were fully fledged England fans supporting the

best pick of Irishmen for easily beating the next best lot of

Irishmen. It is cricket's latest wave of colonisation. 

The system should stop players playing against their native country. This injustice

should not be allowed to continue. Morgan and Rankin may have decided to play

cricket for England (understandable, at least in the case of Morgan), but they cannot simply be allowed to sink their own country, especially when they are clearly not surplus to requirements.

Had they both played for Ireland, they could well have put their own

nation's chances of Test cricket a few years forward. Whilst Giles

Clarke may or may not make jokes at Irish expense, the fans certainly do,

However, England are simply delaying the time until (inevitably)

Ireland win a Test series against their old enemies. I for one, will

have my green jersey on that day, for it will be a victory for proper,

grass-roots cricket.

To this...

N.B- No doubt some smart aleck will make the point that Ireland had a

load of Aussies playing for them. Five killer points - 1) Irish

Cricket is currently building up the base from which to play

test-cricket and the best players should always be picked if available -

England have the advantage of being the oldest cricket nation in the

world. 2) Irish cricket's establishment (note my comment on the system

above) is already trying to lessen the influence and selection of

non-Irish players. Already. 3) When Ireland select Aussies, the

Aussies aren't moaning they can't select Trent Johnston, as he is

surplus to requirements - this is clearly never going to be the case

with England selecting Irish cricketers. 4) 7/8 of Ireland's

first-class county players are all Irish. The best Irish players are

Irish. Trott and Pietersen? 5) If Morgan and Rankin were playing for

Ireland, then maybe they could afford to play a fully Irish eleven.

History of Farndon CC - Update

Just a quick blog to update y'all (five of you) interested in my work in researching and writing the history of my local village cricket club, Farndon. For foreign/Brits not familiar with my circumstances - I am referring to Farndon in Nottinghamshire, near the better known Newark-On-Trent, rather than the poor excuse of a Farndon in Cheshire.

Yesterday, rather than drinking like normal, ironic, given it was the eve of my 18th birthday, I went down to the club to secure a vital part of the jigsaw, and something which I can chisel (metaphorically) away at during the winter. I now have all of the score books, dating from 1954 to the present day. Now, to the average reader this may seem insignificant, but given a) the task of looking through the archiving machine at the rather lonely Newark Library and b) the lack of information available in the 50s, 60s and 70s without the score books - now I have them I will probably save countless hours of potentially fruitless research.

The next step will be to arrange and record interviews with players of the 50s, 60s and 70s - again, they provide a valuable anecdotal reference and particularly with sorting out the gaps I have in the leagues Farndon played in - they seem pretty incomprehensible up until the mid 70s.

9-8 - R.Helliwell.

Having had a quick flick through, I have to say I found a few things of interest - 25/07/74 - Mark Fell bats at 11 in his 1st XI debut. Also, as the picture below shows - R.Helliwell in 1975, taking 9 for 8, the best ever bowling in Farndon's history. Fairly remarkable. On the side, there were also some photo-albums, some very useful in showing team photos etc - others just including some lovely images of player's wangers (God knows).

Yesterday, Farndon won promotion to Division D - on my birthday - that in itself will merit an extra chapter - hopefully the club has much greater things to come, as the youth section flourishes and the first team achieve more. I predict we will have another county player within the next decade and a half.

Why sacking Mick Newell is the worse thing Notts can do

"Newell,Patel,Reid, (sic) Adams and Fletcher to go. I would sign Compton as an opener out if (sic) contract now and Fleming good shout"

Just one tweet of the many terrible tweets of a select few Nottinghamshire fans on the 'Twittersphere'. A cross section of the general feeling of far too many supporters on blogs, forums, Facebook and at Trent Bridge (overheard). All of them, without exception, are hideously wrong. This is not football - cricket is an entirely different ball game - in more ways than the obvious.

Let me deal with everything that is wrong with this tweet, and in particular, with the idea that the management, Newell in particular, are at fault.

Patel - last played for England in February. On the basis of runs this season/average then Hales should also be on the list to go also - clearly the management would have to be idiotic to remove either. In Championship matches Patel averages 34. In 40 overs he averages 45, and has the second best average in the team. I can send a personal note to the tweeter in question if he wants more reasons (only joking, I'll ignore you for needing more).

Reid - being a fat midfielder (Andy) who plays for Forest (sorry), I can only agree. If you meant the best wicketkeeper, (second or third at a push) in the country, I can't disagree more.  That's the same Read who, whilst his batting is under-par at the moment, has taken the third most catches in Division One, and in a side that has been bowling poorly, according to you. In the YB40 he averages 31 - still not bad as a supporting batsman. Apart from that, he is the captain, and he's also won the Championship as, erm, captain - only one other captain in Division One can make that claim.

Adams - may well retire anyway, but on the assumption he doesn't, is still very useful when he plays. Disregarding bowlers in the England setup, and considering he hasn't really had time to pick up momentum, he has still got the 20th best average in Division One. With more luck injury-wise next season, that could well go up again. Just last year, lest we forget, he took 54 wickets and had the best average in the league. Read that line again if you struggle with it.

Not worth letting go...

Fletcher - one of the best bowlers at the club, still at the ripe age of 24, that's two years younger than Harry Gurney, who you say is good to stay, he has taken 30 wickets this season, at an average of 31 - that includes a 5-fer against a side who are top of the league. Another two years and he'll be the same age as Gurney, who has the same average, and I have no doubt will be one of the best in the league.



Compton has signed a new contract with Somerset, and I really don't see the point anyway of signing a player who no doubt if he bats well, will be playing for England anyway most of the time, rather than for Notts. As for Fleming, I'm sure he'd be an excellent coach, but he has never coached anything longer than T20 format, and as I will now point out, Newell has no need to be replaced anyhow.

I should say first, of the general consensus in the "Newell Out" camp, disregarding the tweet above, regard a lack of wins with a good budget (and good players), a lack of homegrown youth in the team and a lack of 'bottle' as the main problems.

Newell: will not lose his eye for the game

I am not in denial, this season has not been great. But, even if we assume that we do get relegated (I don't think we will), we have still got to the T20 quarter final and Newell has got us into our first one-day trophy semi-final since 2001, which we haven't even lost yet, so, for a bad season, it's hardly disastrous. That's assuming a worst case scenario.Looking at the history of sacked coaches, it's not great either - if they've had success previously, it's best to keep them in place. I saw Chris Adams name bandied around as a replacement for Newell - his sacking has brought about no joy for Surrey thus far - they won no Championship games under Adams and have won no Championship games without Adams. So, evidence from reactionary sacking (Adams also won trophies at Surrey) - similar indifference and not too much improvement.


Newell's personal history as a coach with Notts also suggests that ups and downs are elementary, and that they make little or no difference to the actual eventual performance of the side - won the Championship in 2005, relegated in 2006, won in 2010. It's not like Newell doesn't have previous with success. In terms of a lack of homegrown players, slowly, slowly, Newell is integrating and beginning to bring in youth - rather than rush them in, and by the time they are ready, they will be highly competent - see Jake Ball as an example of this type of youth integration and the positive effects it has.

If we had not kept faith in Mick Newell, a Nottinghamshire-bred (born in Lancashire) man in 2006, we would never have won a second championship. Nor would we have a coach who knows the club inside out, knows his players, having worked with them for years - a man, the only current coach, who can claim to have won a trophy with a Nottinghamshire side. He is the third most decorated coach in all of the 18 counties. To lose his leadership would be disastrous, his experience goes before him, and I have no doubt that he will win a trophy - if not this year (and we are still in the YB40 semi-final) then next. Newell does not let sleeping teams lie.  

The bits you didn't see (or maybe did) - FLT20 Finals Day

*WARNING* IF YOU SYMPATHISE WITH JADE DERNBACH YOU MAY FIND THIS ARTICLE OFFENSIVE

On Saturday, whilst the Barclay's Premier League was just beginning - see my alternative round up here - English county cricket's most popular competition was finishing in the most loud music sounding, cheerleader jiggling, awful bowler bashing, style. Yes, that most heretical of spectres for the cricketing purist - 'Friends Provident' Twenty20 Finals Day, was here. Whilst I could eulogise about David Willey's brilliance, unless you've been living on another planet, or on the 'Jade Dernbach Fans' twitter page, you'll know every detail of every run/catch/wicket/run out that he was involved in. So instead, here's a kind of random collection of bits that I think are worth knowing, and that you probably won't have seen before.

Too much: tattoos and ego.

I thought the best moment of the whole day was David Willey (wait for it) being told by Charlie Dagnall that he had ruined Jade Dernbach's figures (4-0-55-0) and replying with - "Good. I don't like the bloke, so it's good to spoil his figures". Sadly I can't find the audio, but surely, a brilliant line. I should say at this point - I can't help but love this - not only does Dernbach play for Surrey, the moneybags of our humble cricketing nation (though as a Notts man I can't boast), he also has an awful attitude. Apparently he'd been sledging Willey even before any of the smashing had begun. I need not comment on his selection in England's T20 side, it really is a joke - the consistent selection of Surrey/Warwickshire players inexplicably without any real justification is becoming a bit silly. Obscura even hears that certain other Surrey players reckon Stuart Meaker is a better bowler even at the club alone, and they are the closest to judge...

Another brilliant moment, rather than on the radio, but for the eagle-eyed twitter follower, Niall O'Brien tweeting about his brother's exclusion from the Surrey side in place of Glenn Maxwell - not a hint of bitter about it. But he does have a point, I have no doubt that big Kev would've scored a big total, he is after all, pretty much dedicated to T20 short of the odd match for Ireland and Leinster. Also, in saying "best Stewie wished he'd have Kevin back" -  I did enjoy Alec Stewart's look of bitter disappointment as poor old Division Two Northants, having not won something major since 1992, tashed his big money men around. He really shouldn't come across as so obviously 'ECB establishment'.

On a personal level, I was caught out by the damned sponsorship names/acronyms, again. Having tweeted all night with the hashtag "FLPT20", it was only until it was pointed out to me by a friend that 'Friends Provident Life' was just 'Friends Provident' - leading to nostalgia about the good old days when we called it "Sunday League" and even just "Twenty20 Cup". Mad to think, I know. I even struggle to write "Premier League" without the prefix "Barclays", so I suppose they've got what they wanted. I'm convinced that one day I'll accidentally call the "ClydesdaleBank40" the "Benson and Hedges" and be shot for advertising cigarettes inadvertently.

Overall though, whilst I try and be as mardily anti-corporate and purist as possible, I'm afraid, seeing so many people being enthused by county cricket on social media, even though it's not the Championship (Liverpool Victoria Insurance), I can't help but feel that the balance might be right. The big step is trying to translate that zeal into the longer formats in the next ten years, and ultimately, turning the best people into Test cricketers. In that respect, I worry for Indian cricket - their balance is certainly not right. Will they care? Not if the money's there.


Editor's note - I'm told by the aforementioned friend, it is 'FLt20'. So maybe I was right, and wrong, and also right, and then wrong again. I wouldn't let them have the joy of checking their site.

An Alternative Look at the Footballing Week - Ed. No.1

So, the first of many basically pretty eclectic posts about football and what has caught my fairly wandering eye in the last few days/weeks (depending on how organised I am). I'll obviously be doing specific posts as well as these updates on generic sports stuff.

Opening Day

So finally, after a certain wait, though notably, it seems, a much less lengthy wait than previous seasons, the Barclays Premier League is back on. This also means that for the next two weeks, I'll care about my Fantasy Football team. Having been rather disappointed by my exclusion of Simon Mignolet, following a stunning performance in the 12.45 kickoff, I was buoyed by Christian Benteke's two goals at just past 3 o'clock, meaning I'd be at least not completely planked in the first week. Sadly, I'd left him on the bench too. So, a bit of a bummer, but like the rest of my fellow fantasy footballers, I included Robin Van Persie in my team, plus as a captain, so double points. So yeah, that was alright, still mid-table though. (Ed. - 11/32, actually)

Incidently, if you haven't seen RVP's first goal, it is a really nice piece of footballing intelligence, beats the ball down, and times it just right to get his boot right, even with the awkward bounce. As David Moyes pointed out in his post match comments, he's just "got different players"... Yakubu to Van Persie. One thing that did strike me about Moyes though was that there are striking similarities with him and Ferguson  - "Even if we'd lost, I'd be doing the same thing.". Bullish Fergyness... Perhaps allowing SAF to appoint his successor was a better plan than simply appointing the latest star manager. Still early doors though, and the first real test will be next week vs Chelsea, who seemed to be fairly decent in that first half at Hull.

Same old problem
I know it's a 'cult' programme, so it's like I'm criticising the NHS, the Queen or the Beatles, but, since this is pretty off the cuff - MOTD - it's just as bland as last season. Danny Murphy really is as boring as Mark Lawrenson, and obviously Shearer is just talking the usual guff. A few things were particularly noteworthy.

Shearer on Danny Welbeck - "I was worried he'd be the same as last season, and I thought against Scotland that he's going to be the same. But today, that proves he's not the same." This is working on the premise that Welbeck scored one goal last season. He scored two yesterday. Yes Alan, that proves he has changed.

MOTD cock-ups - They managed to mix up most of United's midfield singlehandedly, attempting too hard to be like Sky Sports with their snazzy graphics. It just doesn't work.

They also got Danny Murphy to do the spelling for the show graphics, clearly trying to implement a more inclusive presenter policy. That's key "decisions", lads. Oh, that and they forgot to put ironic quotation marks around "Analysis" whenever they attempted talking about the football.

On the subject of Sky Sports, it was also notable to see Lineker messing around doing post-match interviews through the TV, with Martinez, just like Gary Neville might. I don't know whether it's sadder that they have to compete with satellite, or simply their attempts at competition.

Shown the red card, Danny.

There was, however one positive to the whole show - Lineker (again) featuring, this time using twitter really rather well. Here he decided to take play-wright Stephen Simon's tweeted prelude to the Premier League season and use it has his opening line for the show. Genuinely original initiative - better than Sky's scriptwriters too.

Teams what I like round-up...

First up, though I couldn't find a dodgy stream for this anywhere, I was very buoyed in mid-week to see the mighty Liechtenstein lose 3-2 to Croatia. To the common anyway half decent expectation of most football fans, bar those of Plymouth Argyle, this may seem strange. But scoring two goals against a side of Croatia's quality, even in a friendly, bodes very well for the next campaign for the Euros. This was even a side including Eduardo - that one who broke his leg - who scored two of the three. Notably for the 'Stein - Peter Jehle making his hundredth appearance, and what a servant he has been, especially given his commitments all over the world at times. Also, Michele Polervino's goal is an absolute beauty. Hit first time, ricochets the top of the bar, and then goes in. Must go down as one of the best I've seen of Liechtenstein's, though not quite topping Mario Frick's goal against Scotland. Nothing will.

Then, on Saturday - not a bad haul - as 50% of my teams won, which I've no doubt will deplete rapidly as the season unfolds, and the genuinely good sides remember how to play football. Notts County went away to Walsall, and drew 1-1, in what can only be described, and in fact, was described as fairly outrageous. The second (hypothetical) goal, ruled offside - does look pretty onside, so I have to say, pretty annoying, not only for the valuable points, but also because it would've been Arquin's second, which is always nice - particularly as it might shut up a few overly critical Notts fans, and get Kiwomya through the first half of the season. A highlight from Facebook after Walsall opened the scoring -  "this team is a joke this club is a joke". Hmm.

Meanwhile, at Pittodrie, Celtic began their campaign having lost two of their most valuable players (Hooper and Wanyama), though it is my opinion that it won't effect them in the slightest in the League - Europe is a different matter. This was sort of gratified by a confident win, the like we have become used to - not 4 and 5 nils, but a simple two goal victory. Notable, that a) refereeing decisions were fairer - the penalty was unquestionably so, and also b) very nice finish from Forrest from a dangerously acute angle, it would not surprise me if he really stepped up from now on. A trip to play 'some team where Borat's from' awaits.

Finally, a very quick results look at other teams I have a vague affinity to. Mansfield won, which is always nice, albeit against Wrexham, who looked pretty dire when I saw them at the end of last season. Whether they'll manage without Matt Green this season looks still to be seen. Hoffenheim - won 5-1! Again, I can't see it lasting, though there's nothing wrong with a positive start, and valuable points, meaning that at the end of the season a relegation scrap can be avoided potentially.

Final Comment

Last night I watched some of the first half of PSG vs Ajaccio - what a good innovation of BT Sport's to have French football on the English telly - really was quite enjoyable, though I have to say the away team looked pretty rough and ready, though managed to squeeze a draw from France's very own Citeh. I've made a mental note - and Ligue 1 will definitely be a keeper to follow more closely this season - especially if I can watch it with moronic English analysis at half-time.

The only blonde Frenchman. Nearly.

NB - In that match Benoit Pedretti scored Ajaccio's only goal. Reminded me of many happy years collecting French football magazines/stickers. I am telling you, he is the only French player of any note who is blonde. Bar Philippe Mexes, but he doesn't really count, shocking cut.