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Post by waddosnavy on Sept 1, 2024 8:54:46 GMT
I don't go to many away games. I'm from the era, where you decided to go to a match, got there, decided what End you would sit or stand, paid at the turnstile and went in.
The last time I was at Home Park was probably around 1969/70. I think the only grandstand was the Mayflower Stand and the rest was terracing. Capacity must have been around 30K.
Yesterday the ground was almost full with less than 17K, and Argyle have spent many years in the lower divisions, yet I was very impressed with their organisation.
I travelled from the City centre by a standard service bus using my OAP bus pass and was dropped off just a short walking distance from the ground.
Being down in the West Country for a few weeks and not having any 'points' and doubting I would get an away end ticket I opted for a ticket in their equivalent of the Tile Mountain Stand and getting there early gave me a good opportunity to look around.
The Fanzone was far larger than Stokes. At the entrance a friendly steward thoroughly checked all bags on a table. Inside what appears to be standard stage with live music, large screen showing the Gunners match. Food and drink outlets. Picnic style table bench combinations were aplenty and dotted around. Additionally for kids there was a small football pitch, and other games (something with a golf stick i think). There was no covered area.
Additionally, there was fencing around the Mayflower Stand entrance. Prior to entry a friendly steward searched bags and used a metal detector wand to check individuals. Once inside the outdoor area there was a large screen, food and drink on sale.
The bicycle stands were covered giving protection to any bikes stored there and for cyclists wishing to change before/after matches.
I approached their equivalent of the Tile Mountain stand via a flight of steps to be greeted by tables for bag searches and friendly and professional security stewards carrying out thorough checks prior to getting into the area before the turnstiles.
Inside the stadium a simple one way into the toilets and one exit made it quite simple.
Whilst the new backroom regime at Stoke are at last making strides for fans match day experience, we are still lacking in many areas.
We live in strange times. Extremists of one sort or another either want to kill us (Manchester Arena) or protest, and I've felt the security arrangements at the BET365 lacking on most occasions.
Yesterday I felt safe and secure and enjoyed my day.
Other regular away match fans may have different views.
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Post by mickeythemaestro on Sept 1, 2024 9:04:43 GMT
I don't go to many away games. I'm from the era, where you decided to go to a match, got there, decided what End you would sit or stand, paid at the turnstile and went in. The last time I was at Home Park was probably around 1969/70. I think the only grandstand was the Mayflower Stand and the rest was terracing. Capacity must have been around 30K. Yesterday the ground was almost full with less than 17K, and Argyle have spent many years in the lower divisions, yet I was very impressed with their organisation. I travelled from the City centre by a standard service bus using my OAP bus pass and was dropped off just a short walking distance from the ground. Being down in the West Country for a few weeks and not having any 'points' and doubting I would get an away end ticket I opted for a ticket in their equivalent of the Tile Mountain Stand and getting there early gave me a good opportunity to look around. The Fanzone was far larger than Stokes. At the entrance a friendly steward thoroughly checked all bags on a table. Inside what appears to be standard stage with live music, large screen showing the Gunners match. Food and drink outlets. Picnic style table bench combinations were aplenty and dotted around. Additionally for kids there was a small football pitch, and other games (something with a golf stick i think). There was no covered area. Additionally, there was fencing around the Mayflower Stand entrance. Prior to entry a friendly steward searched bags and used a metal detector wand to check individuals. Once inside the outdoor area there was a large screen, food and drink on sale. The bicycle stands were covered giving protection to any bikes stored there and for cyclists wishing to change before/after matches. I approached their equivalent of the Tile Mountain stand via a flight of steps to be greeted by tables for bag searches and friendly and professional security stewards carrying out thorough checks prior to getting into the area before the turnstiles. Inside the stadium a simple one way into the toilets and one exit made it quite simple. Whilst the new backroom regime at Stoke are at last making strides for fans match day experience, we are still lacking in many areas. We live in strange times. Extremists of one sort or another either want to kill us (Manchester Arena) or protest, and I've felt the security arrangements at the BET365 lacking on most occasions. Yesterday I felt safe and secure and enjoyed my day. Other regular away match fans may have different views. After that review I'd defo go next year but sadly we'll be in the Premier league so they wunna be on our fixture list 😉 |
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Post by danceswithclams on Sept 1, 2024 9:52:43 GMT
Saw Argyle Ground Organisation supporting World of Twist in the early 90s.
Great band.
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Post by owdestokie2 on Sept 1, 2024 9:58:03 GMT
I don't go to many away games. I'm from the era, where you decided to go to a match, got there, decided what End you would sit or stand, paid at the turnstile and went in. The last time I was at Home Park was probably around 1969/70. I think the only grandstand was the Mayflower Stand and the rest was terracing. Capacity must have been around 30K. Yesterday the ground was almost full with less than 17K, and Argyle have spent many years in the lower divisions, yet I was very impressed with their organisation. I travelled from the City centre by a standard service bus using my OAP bus pass and was dropped off just a short walking distance from the ground. Being down in the West Country for a few weeks and not having any 'points' and doubting I would get an away end ticket I opted for a ticket in their equivalent of the Tile Mountain Stand and getting there early gave me a good opportunity to look around. The Fanzone was far larger than Stokes. At the entrance a friendly steward thoroughly checked all bags on a table. Inside what appears to be standard stage with live music, large screen showing the Gunners match. Food and drink outlets. Picnic style table bench combinations were aplenty and dotted around. Additionally for kids there was a small football pitch, and other games (something with a golf stick i think). There was no covered area. Additionally, there was fencing around the Mayflower Stand entrance. Prior to entry a friendly steward searched bags and used a metal detector wand to check individuals. Once inside the outdoor area there was a large screen, food and drink on sale. The bicycle stands were covered giving protection to any bikes stored there and for cyclists wishing to change before/after matches. I approached their equivalent of the Tile Mountain stand via a flight of steps to be greeted by tables for bag searches and friendly and professional security stewards carrying out thorough checks prior to getting into the area before the turnstiles. Inside the stadium a simple one way into the toilets and one exit made it quite simple. Whilst the new backroom regime at Stoke are at last making strides for fans match day experience, we are still lacking in many areas. We live in strange times. Extremists of one sort or another either want to kill us (Manchester Arena) or protest, and I've felt the security arrangements at the BET365 lacking on most occasions. Yesterday I felt safe and secure and enjoyed my day. Other regular away match fans may have different views. An interesting post. The club have certainly taken a very positive step forward in all areas of supporter/match day experience since a certain CEO left. Under Simon King and his team (especially Anthony Emmerson) they are receptive to supporter comment and suggestions, where practical implementing or modifying change. I’m sure that Anthony Emmerson would be interested in receiving salient points from you, your experiences/thoughts. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Simon King or a member of his team doesn’t sample supporter experience at each ground they visit to compare what the club are doing or can improve on. Anthony.Emmerson@stokecityfc.com. |
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Post by Gods on Sept 1, 2024 10:01:55 GMT
>>I'm from the era, where you decided to go to a match, got there, decided what End you would sit or stand, paid at the turnstile and went in.
Beautiful, I still fondly remember the free world!
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Post by jesusmcmuffin on Sept 1, 2024 11:02:01 GMT
I don't go to many away games. I'm from the era, where you decided to go to a match, got there, decided what End you would sit or stand, paid at the turnstile and went in. The last time I was at Home Park was probably around 1969/70. I think the only grandstand was the Mayflower Stand and the rest was terracing. Capacity must have been around 30K. Yesterday the ground was almost full with less than 17K, and Argyle have spent many years in the lower divisions, yet I was very impressed with their organisation. I travelled from the City centre by a standard service bus using my OAP bus pass and was dropped off just a short walking distance from the ground. Being down in the West Country for a few weeks and not having any 'points' and doubting I would get an away end ticket I opted for a ticket in their equivalent of the Tile Mountain Stand and getting there early gave me a good opportunity to look around. The Fanzone was far larger than Stokes. At the entrance a friendly steward thoroughly checked all bags on a table. Inside what appears to be standard stage with live music, large screen showing the Gunners match. Food and drink outlets. Picnic style table bench combinations were aplenty and dotted around. Additionally for kids there was a small football pitch, and other games (something with a golf stick i think). There was no covered area. Additionally, there was fencing around the Mayflower Stand entrance. Prior to entry a friendly steward searched bags and used a metal detector wand to check individuals. Once inside the outdoor area there was a large screen, food and drink on sale. The bicycle stands were covered giving protection to any bikes stored there and for cyclists wishing to change before/after matches. I approached their equivalent of the Tile Mountain stand via a flight of steps to be greeted by tables for bag searches and friendly and professional security stewards carrying out thorough checks prior to getting into the area before the turnstiles. Inside the stadium a simple one way into the toilets and one exit made it quite simple. Whilst the new backroom regime at Stoke are at last making strides for fans match day experience, we are still lacking in many areas. We live in strange times. Extremists of one sort or another either want to kill us (Manchester Arena) or protest, and I've felt the security arrangements at the BET365 lacking on most occasions. Yesterday I felt safe and secure and enjoyed my day. Other regular away match fans may have different views. After that review I'd defo go next year but sadly we'll be in the Premier league so they wunna be on our fixture list 😉 I think is more chance of Biggins saying...I don't fancy doing Panto this year than Plymouth staying in the Championship to be fair. |
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Post by mickeythemaestro on Sept 1, 2024 11:19:16 GMT
After that review I'd defo go next year but sadly we'll be in the Premier league so they wunna be on our fixture list 😉 I think is more chance of Biggins saying...I don't fancy doing Panto this year than Plymouth staying in the Championship to be fair. I might be in a minority here but I don't mind Plymouth and I'd actually like Rooney to do well. I feel a bit for Rooney. He obviously has his demons but in my view he's a proper football man in it for the love of the game and played the game mostly in the right way, aggression and commitment for the 95 or so mins of a match and obviously had unbelievable amounts of talent. I think without football he'd be a lost soul.. |
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Post by jesusmcmuffin on Sept 1, 2024 11:42:17 GMT
I think is more chance of Biggins saying...I don't fancy doing Panto this year than Plymouth staying in the Championship to be fair. I might be in a minority here but I don't mind Plymouth and I'd actually like Rooney to do well. I feel a bit for Rooney. He obviously has his demons but in my view he's a proper football man in it for the love of the game and played the game mostly in the right way, aggression and commitment for the 95 or so mins of a match and obviously had unbelievable amounts of talent. I think without football he'd be a lost soul.. Don't dislike him to honest but think he's very much in the great player so gets a managers job easier, brigade I get that it also raises a club's profile |
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Post by JetBlack on Sept 1, 2024 11:46:26 GMT
Overall it's a nice ground. There are areas that could be improved though. The Portaloos for starters. Inside the ground the seating was awful, not that you go away to sit down mind you. But I have hip problems and need to sit down a few times over the 90+ minutes, just to get rid of aches from standing for too long. The seats, for me, were way too low. They felt like they were only 6 inches off the ground and they sloped forwards so you felt like you were sliding off them!
The outside area at half time could be greatly improved and £8 for a burger with bacon was extortionate in my opinion. Other than these gripes I found the ground to be pretty decent.
The most odd moment for me, was at the end of the game, a Pilgrims fan was waving a Rooney shirt at the Stokies! I don't have any idea what he was doing that for!!
Leaving the ground at the same time as the home fans and having no choice but to walk through them to get to our coaches is a recipe for disaster. I only saw one flashpoint, but the Police were sorting it and I don't think anyone was carted off by them.
I'd give the Ground 6/10.
Another ground ticked off though and thanks to the result, it was worth the trip.
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Post by onepara on Sept 1, 2024 11:52:46 GMT
I don't go to many away games. I'm from the era, where you decided to go to a match, got there, decided what End you would sit or stand, paid at the turnstile and went in. The last time I was at Home Park was probably around 1969/70. I think the only grandstand was the Mayflower Stand and the rest was terracing. Capacity must have been around 30K. Yesterday the ground was almost full with less than 17K, and Argyle have spent many years in the lower divisions, yet I was very impressed with their organisation. I travelled from the City centre by a standard service bus using my OAP bus pass and was dropped off just a short walking distance from the ground. Being down in the West Country for a few weeks and not having any 'points' and doubting I would get an away end ticket I opted for a ticket in their equivalent of the Tile Mountain Stand and getting there early gave me a good opportunity to look around. The Fanzone was far larger than Stokes. At the entrance a friendly steward thoroughly checked all bags on a table. Inside what appears to be standard stage with live music, large screen showing the Gunners match. Food and drink outlets. Picnic style table bench combinations were aplenty and dotted around. Additionally for kids there was a small football pitch, and other games (something with a golf stick i think). There was no covered area. Additionally, there was fencing around the Mayflower Stand entrance. Prior to entry a friendly steward searched bags and used a metal detector wand to check individuals. Once inside the outdoor area there was a large screen, food and drink on sale. The bicycle stands were covered giving protection to any bikes stored there and for cyclists wishing to change before/after matches. I approached their equivalent of the Tile Mountain stand via a flight of steps to be greeted by tables for bag searches and friendly and professional security stewards carrying out thorough checks prior to getting into the area before the turnstiles. Inside the stadium a simple one way into the toilets and one exit made it quite simple. Whilst the new backroom regime at Stoke are at last making strides for fans match day experience, we are still lacking in many areas. We live in strange times. Extremists of one sort or another either want to kill us (Manchester Arena) or protest, and I've felt the security arrangements at the BET365 lacking on most occasions. Yesterday I felt safe and secure and enjoyed my day. Other regular away match fans may have different views. An interesting post. The club have certainly taken a very positive step forward in all areas of supporter/match day experience since a certain CEO left. Under Simon King and his team (especially Anthony Emmerson) they are receptive to supporter comment and suggestions, where practical implementing or modifying change. I’m sure that Anthony Emmerson would be interested in receiving salient points from you, your experiences/thoughts. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Simon King or a member of his team doesn’t sample supporter experience at each ground they visit to compare what the club are doing or can improve on. Anthony.Emmerson@stokecityfc.com. I was going to suggest this myself, Owd. I have found Mr. Emmerson very helpful whenever I've spoken to him. |
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Post by onepara on Sept 1, 2024 11:55:27 GMT
>>I'm from the era, where you decided to go to a match, got there, decided what End you would sit or stand, paid at the turnstile and went in. Beautiful, I still fondly remember the free world! My son (he's in his early 60's)was saying only yesterday that he thinks that he was young at the best time in his life/ in this country. |
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Post by wakeypotter on Sept 1, 2024 12:11:53 GMT
>>I'm from the era, where you decided to go to a match, got there, decided what End you would sit or stand, paid at the turnstile and went in. Beautiful, I still fondly remember the free world! My son (he's in his early 60's)was saying only yesterday that he thinks that he was young at the best time in his life/ in this country. I’m 59 and would agree |
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Post by kaney78 on Sept 1, 2024 12:15:46 GMT
I think is more chance of Biggins saying...I don't fancy doing Panto this year than Plymouth staying in the Championship to be fair. I might be in a minority here but I don't mind Plymouth and I'd actually like Rooney to do well. I feel a bit for Rooney. He obviously has his demons but in my view he's a proper football man in it for the love of the game and played the game mostly in the right way, aggression and commitment for the 95 or so mins of a match and obviously had unbelievable amounts of talent. I think without football he'd be a lost soul.. I like Plymouth as well,their supporters are a decent bunch and travel in numbers.Agree with you on Rooney as well.Superb footballer In his day and seems a reasonably down to earth bloke as well |
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Post by mickeythemaestro on Sept 1, 2024 12:38:03 GMT
I might be in a minority here but I don't mind Plymouth and I'd actually like Rooney to do well. I feel a bit for Rooney. He obviously has his demons but in my view he's a proper football man in it for the love of the game and played the game mostly in the right way, aggression and commitment for the 95 or so mins of a match and obviously had unbelievable amounts of talent. I think without football he'd be a lost soul.. I like Plymouth as well,their supporters are a decent bunch and travel in numbers.Agree with you on Rooney as well.Superb footballer In his day and seems a reasonably down to earth bloke as well He's the kind of fella that I reckon if his management career doesn't pan out and he can't get a pro club he'd be head coach down at the waggon and horses or at some grass roots junior club 😀 |
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Post by nottsover60 on Sept 1, 2024 13:06:59 GMT
>>I'm from the era, where you decided to go to a match, got there, decided what End you would sit or stand, paid at the turnstile and went in. Beautiful, I still fondly remember the free world! My son (he's in his early 60's)was saying only yesterday that he thinks that he was young at the best time in his life/ in this country. Totally agree. Not just for football. It was the best time for music too. |
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Post by y_oh_y_delilah on Sept 1, 2024 15:05:49 GMT
Amazing isn’t it that you can have two Stoke fans so far apart in their intellect, outlook on life, consideration and thoughtfulness.
Here we have a well written, thoughtful and informative piece of one fan’s match day experience and in another we have one authored by banksy1art basically advocating spoiling other people’s match day experience.
Chalk and cheese springs to mind.
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Post by jesusmcmuffin on Sept 1, 2024 15:12:25 GMT
Amazing isn’t it that you can have two Stoke fans so far apart in their intellect, outlook on life, consideration and thoughtfulness. Here we have a well written, thoughtful and informative piece of one fan’s match day experience and in another we have one authored by banksy1art basically advocating spoiling other people’s match day experience. Chalk and cheese springs to mind. Look at Hyaduck and Badger One couldn't string a sentence together and seemed to have an IQ similar to that of a turkey dinosaur The other was Hyaduck |
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Post by lawrieleslie on Sept 1, 2024 15:13:51 GMT
Bizarrely I was able to watch the game free through Argyle Tv by simply doing a search on YouTube and found it easily. Great stream but somebody from argyle must have spotted it because I missed the last 3 minutes of injury time. Perhaps because I live near Plymouth but I didn’t think that clubs could stream live games in UK kicking off at 3pm???
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Post by onepara on Sept 1, 2024 16:12:22 GMT
My son (he's in his early 60's)was saying only yesterday that he thinks that he was young at the best time in his life/ in this country. Totally agree. Not just for football. It was the best time for music too. We were meaning the time of life to grow up in.(Nothing to do with football). A care-free time, when your kids could go out all day to play, & you wouldn't worry about where they were, or whether they would come back home. |
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Post by middleoftheboothen on Sept 1, 2024 20:50:56 GMT
Saw Argyle Ground Organisation supporting World of Twist in the early 90s. Great band. This is why I opened the thread and you have only gone and delivered 👏 |
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Post by iancransonsknees on Sept 1, 2024 20:55:04 GMT
Saw Argyle Ground Organisation supporting World of Twist in the early 90s. Great band. Did you stand or sit? |
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Post by Northy on Sept 2, 2024 7:51:33 GMT
I wouldn't like those seats to the away fans left, no roof at all.
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Post by stokienorthants on Sept 2, 2024 17:11:22 GMT
After that review I'd defo go next year but sadly we'll be in the Premier league so they wunna be on our fixture list 😉 I think is more chance of Biggins saying...I don't fancy doing Panto this year than Plymouth staying in the Championship to be fair. Never knew Wayne did panto! |
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Post by jesusmcmuffin on Sept 2, 2024 17:15:42 GMT
I think is more chance of Biggins saying...I don't fancy doing Panto this year than Plymouth staying in the Championship to be fair. Never knew Wayne did panto! His Widow Twankey is legendary at the Richard Stilgoe Memorial Hall in Bedford |
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Post by middleoftheboothen on Sept 2, 2024 17:22:40 GMT
Saw Argyle Ground Organisation supporting World of Twist in the early 90s. Great band. Did you stand or sit? Oh dear, I do believe that is a sore point at the minute on here 😉 |
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Post by jesusmcmuffin on Sept 3, 2024 9:41:44 GMT
Oh dear, I do believe that is a sore point at the minute on here 😉 If you sit then you don't support Wishy Washy and other pantos are mocking you |
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