Bulls News 08/09 Ground Guide Preview (Part 1)

BN takes an alphabetical "off the wall" look at what the coming season holds for travelling Bulls.

Brighton & Hove Albion

Well, here's an interesting one to start with…not exactly our most favourite opponents for obvious reasons. After years of playing at The Goldstone Ground, they were "on the streets" in 1997 and took up residence at Gillingham for what was expected to be a couple of years away while a new stadium was built. This was followed by a move to the Withdean Athletic Stadium where they have remained until this day. Plans for a new stadium at Falmer, on the outskirts of Brighton, have finally been approved but it is The Withdean that will welcome Bulls fans this season. Just one stand shows any semblance of being permanent with the other three sides being open to the elements. Should be luverly in late October!

Brizzle Rovers

Bath City? Nope. Swindon? Nope. Cheltenham? Nope…still The Memorial Stadium. The on/off redevelopment of The Mem is once again in doubt so it's Horfield (careful Ex) again for The Bulls in the third week of August. At least there's a sporting chance of fine weather as we stand on the uncovered terrace trying to squint around the corner to watch the nearside distant touchline while the locals croon about some old women called Irene. Fortunately, there's a decent boozer and it's a short journey back to civilisation.

Carlisle (Follow signs for North Pole)

Brunton Park is in Warwick Road! What on earth has Warwick got to do with this frost-ridden outpost? More to the point, who the hell is the humourless fixture clown who sends us to the end of the earth on the first Tuesday in February? Joking aside, this is a proper football ground… none of your plastic out of town Lego set-ups in Carlisle. For all the apparent disadvantages of being force-fed Haggis for breakfast, this is actually one to look forward too although I fear a less than packed "Waterworks" end when The Bulls INVADE Hadrian's territory.

Cheltenham Town

I have fond memories of Cheltenham although, unsurprisingly, they have nothing to do with watching football. The only worthwhile things to come out of Cheltenham were the occupants of The Ladies College unless you consider the fact that Ronnie Radford did, for a short time, give them some credibility. Whaddon Road is a pleasant enough set-up for a misplaced Conference side and will provide decent accommodation for what is likely to be one of our larger away followings. The day is expected to cause some confusion amongst Robins' fans, as they will have to adjust to not peering into the sky for ninety minutes if they are to "spot the ball".

Colchester United

This has to be one of the disappointments of the season. Layer Road was about as "proper" as it got and ranked alongside Chesterfield's Saltergate in football stadia folklore. The tiny Layer Road away terrace was perfect for visiting fans to create their own home from home. Alas, we will be most likely be strapped into our polished plastic tip-up comfort zone while being videoed for posterity by those who must be obeyed in a new state of the art torture chamber called Cuckoo Farm. Will there be a clock? It's just as well that I have an aging list of Pubs and chip shops that will soften the blow on the first weekend in December.

More to follow over the coming weeks (subject to sleep patterns and visits to the Jalsagor).

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