Pompey Away Day Guide: County Ground (Swindon Town FC)

Pompey kick-off 2013 with a difficult trip to Paulo Di Canio’s Swindon Town, still looking for their first win in 12 games.  Top goalscorer Izale McLeod has left the club after having his contract mutually terminated, which leaves new signing David Connolly as Pompey’s only recognised striker, with Paul Benson ineligible to face his parent club.

Pre-match warm-up

If you plan on getting some pre-match drinks before the game then make sure you check out what Swindon has to offer.  First of all before you hit the town, there is a bar especially for away fans called Bar 71, which is located by the away turnstiles.  If you head down County Road you will find a cricket club that provides drinks to both sets of fans and is apparently relatively cheap.  Alcohol is available within the ground to away fans in the Arkells Stand, not in the open Stratton Bank End but otherwise if you arrive early Swindon town centre is just a 15 minute walk away.

Travel

The stadium is well signposted in and around Swindon town centre and it may sound obvious but just simply follow signs for ‘The County Ground’ and you wont have a problem.

If your travelling by car then from the M4, junction 15, follow the A4259 (Queens Drive) towards Swindon.  Head across one roundabout and a the next roundabout take the first exit onto the A4312, which is signposted ‘Swindon/Football Traffic.  You will see the floodlights of the County Ground over on the right, as you approach the large ‘Magic Roundabout’ and it is situated on the corner.

If you plan on making the journey via the train then you’ll be happy to know that the ground is walkable from Swindon train station and will take you around 10-15 minutes.  Upon leaving the station, cross the road and proceed up between the two pubs, The Great Western and The Queen’s Tap.  Continue to the end of road, turn left and then proceed along Manchester Road through traffic lights as far as you can go.  At the junction turn right and the County Ground is about 300 yards up this road on the left.

Programmes

Official match-day programmes are the standard charge of £3.

Your home for the next ninety minutes

A traditional looking ground, that has an interesting mix of stands. Both sides are large two-tiered covered affairs that tower above the two smaller ends. The Main Stand is the Arkells Stand on one side.  Built in 1971 the stand is fairly simple and has the players tunnel and team dugouts in front. It has windshields to either side and a few supporting pillars. Opposite is the smarter looking Don Rogers Stand. Opened in 1994, this stand has a cantilevered roof, allowing spectators to have an uninterrupted view of the playing field. It has a large upper tier, with a smaller lower tier. The FastPlant Town End is a small covered stand, that is the traditional home end. Unfortunately it has a row of supporting pillars that run across the front of it. Oddly on one side, the base of one of the floodlight pylons is situated within the stand, with the pylon itself rising up through the roof of the stand. At the other end is the Stratton Bank Stand. This area is uncovered and open to the elements. It has a small electric scoreboard situated above it, next to which is a Rolex Clock.  The ground also benefits by a striking set of four floodlight pylons which can be seen from quite far, making it relatively easy to find.

Tickets

Away fans are situated in the Arkells and tickets are the following prices:

Adults £25, Over 60’s/Students £19, Under 18’s £17 (Proof of age required), Under 16’s £12

Finally…

Pompey veteran left back Jon Harley returns from his one match suspension and is likely to replace youngster Adam Webster.  Midfield maestro Scott Allan is likely to start following his bright second half performance and so to is Liam Walker having impressed after a four month absence from the starting XI.