Rochdale FC

Ground 54

Match 56

Venue Spotland

Capacity 10,249

Founded 1907

Switzerland v Montenegro  0-3

Under 19's Qualifier Group 2

Admission £3

Programme £2.50

Attendance

Distance Travelled 37 miles

Decided to take advantage of the glorious sunshine by attending an International Under 19's game at Spotland Rochdale , kick off 3pm . Switzerland and Montenegro are in the same qualifying group as England . Rochdale is famous for the CO-OP , Gracie Fields and Lisa Stansfied , oh , and Cyrille Smith MP .
The stadium is also used by Rochdale Hornets Rugby Club .

The ground was easy to locate , only 2 miles from the M62 Junction 20 . Parked  in Willbutts Lane accross from the new all seater stand . Noticed a massive car park at the back of the TDS Stand which normally accommodates Dale supporrters ..

Entrance was to the main stand only - i managed to get a leather seat in the Directors area and grabbed a team sheet from the lounge ,  scrounged some of the tasty victuals at half - time , laid on for the scouts and reporters ,namely  chips and butties . Only £2.60 for a pint of bitter .  Even got a view from an Executive box .
The staff and Directors were pretty laid back , felt like a family get together  ,  everyone was friendly and easy - going . It's a super little stadium , compact  but  neat and i can see why its been used for Internationals .

Pano View of Spotland From The Directors Area

Three sides of Spotland are seated with the only exception being the Sandy Lane Stand

Willbutts Lane all seater Stand

Montenegro got into gear from the kick-off creating several openings looking more at home than the Swiss . The Swiss came more into the game with some slik passing moves but it was Montenegro opened the scoring after 23 minutes and went in leading 1-0 at the interval .

Montenego Goal Celebrations Are Muted With Inured Player

Looking Towards The Sandy Lane Standing Stand
Mixing it with the 'Pro' reporters from around the globe
Even wormed my way into the half-time snacks which were laid on by the club .

Met Peter Beardsley-  Great Guy .Superb Player

After the restart the Swiss went furthr behind when Vukcevic netted after 53 minutes . The Swiss were unlucky with a couple of chances hitting the upright before  Djordjevic completed his brace on 68 minutes making the final score 3-0 to Montenegro .

The TDS Stand  Pearl street

Main Stand with 12 Executive Boxes

The Lounge Rochdale FC Wembley 2008

Lovely

Car Park behind The TDS Stand

More photos Click Link Beow

https://picasaweb.google.com/106951314873209777955/May262012#

Whinney Hill FC

Ground 53

Match 55

West Lancs Div 2

Whinney Hill 0-1 Furness Cavaliers

Admission Free

Attendance 35 est

Distance Travelled 20 miles

Whinney Hill F C are based in Clayton -Le-Moors Accrington
The ground is situated off Burnley Road close to the Hare and Hounds Public House .
The ground is basic but the pitch is in good order for this level .

Both teams are near the bottom of the league and its easy to see why . They put the effort in but the finishing is poor . Furness have a large following and most of the entertainment is provided by their dry wit and sarcastic chants . You'e supposed to be at home and you don't know what you're doing etc .
The winning goal is a header from a rebound off the post much to everyone's amazement as this looked like a nailed on goal-less draw . Furness came closest again with a shot coming back off the upright . Overall The Cavaliers just about deserved the narrow victory .

 Gate Entrance from Burnley road

Changing Rooms Cabin

The Damned

Pyramid & Parr Hall

Warrington

Admission £20 On The Door

35th Anniversary Tour

The Damned

What you see is what you get with The Damned and that's what i like about them . They just get up there and have fun without taking it all too serious . I can remember The Captain playing bass in the early days but now he's the guitarist and damn good too . Dave Valian and Sensible were taking the mickey out of the bassist all night , finding it amusing when he spoke . The chemistry appears to be there between all five members and they did several cutain calls , playing most of their better known songs . The Captain thought it fun to show us his belly at the end .

In 1999 i was on holiday in Fuertuventura , Captain Sensible was there , unassuming and down to earth . He even got up on karaoke singing Day Dream Believer , swinging the microphone around , the female host looking on terrified . It was all good fun in the hotel bar watching a fantastic magic show which even had The Captain gob-smacked for once . Didn't have the bottle to ask for his autograph - mainly cos he was on holiday and i suppose i didn't want to annoy him . I've lost the photos too ! Pity as it would have been interesting to see them now . There was another guitarist there too who'd played with The Banshees but they weren't speaking . How weird is that - on holiday in an obscure island and you bump into a few famous personalities .

Damned Fans Congregation Parr Hall Warrington

Croston Sports

Ground 52

Match 54

Ground Croston Sports

West Lancs Division 2

Programme Not Issued

Admission Free

Distance Travelled 4.5 miles

Attendance 14

Kit -  Black/White


Croston is a village between Chorley and Southport and next to the River Yarrow adorned by a 15th century pack horse bridge . The Sports Club is situated off Westhead Road with ample parking at the front of the club or a few hundred yards down a road track past the cricket pitch . Trains pass 100 yards from the changing room cabin . There is a train station in Croston about a mile walk from the ground .

Club Changing Rooms

Tonight's match is a mid - table clash against Todmorden Borough from the Metropolitan County of West Yorkshire .
Both teams are evenly matched although Borough settle into their roles more quickly . Sports are a little slow out of the blocks and give the early initiative to  Boro .
Indeed Boro  take a 1-0 lead into the interval after a swift break from their own penalty area and exquisite chip over the Sports defence sends their forward through on goal  finishing low past the keeper  .

Croston manage to grab an equaliser in the second half and a draw seemed fair enough .

Match Highlights