Bulls News 08/09 Ground Guide Preview (Part3)

Leyton Orient

What an opening fixture this is! The playing surface has the reputation for being one of the best outside The Premiership and the visiting fans' accommodation is usually provided in part of the main stand. To all intense and purposes, they are owned by Sports Promoter and former accountant, Barry Hearn, who made his name with the Matchroom snooker organisation as manager of, amongst others, "interesting" Steve Davis. His involvement with boxing has included promoting events for Chrith Eubank and Nigel Benn. The man is clearly a flawed genius...anyone who can create a major TV spectacle from snooker, darts and fishing but still end up at Brisbane Road has to be questioned. Oh, did I mention that they have a central defender called Tamika?

Millwall

Firstly, it's important to note that Millwall are not in Millwall and haven't been since they moved from their original dock area home to New Cross in 1910. At least they haven't called themselves New Cross Dons. Their stay at The Den saw the club attract a fearsome reputation, particularly in the eighties, for violence. Although a further move to The New Den in 1993 has seen a dramatic improvement, the stigma survives to this day. In truth, the stadium itself is well organised and real fans of The Lions have made a visit to Millwall FC a lot more pleasant than it used to be. Best advice is still to not drink in Pubs around the ground. Go to the stadium, watch the game and go home.

Milton Keynes Dons

Ah...The Franchise! Probably the only club in the world to start their life halfway up the football pyramid. If I live to be a hundred and The Dons reach the Premiership, this will still be wrong, wrong, wrong. That said, Stadium MK is a good day out with first class seating, view and organisation. (assuming they have more than one person selling tickets). The ground is away from the centre of MK and lacks the traditional local alehouses but a bit of forward planning should ensure that your every need is catered for. The Bulls visit MK at the end of November.

Northampton Town

My first visit to The Cobblers was back in 70/71 when we beat them 2-1 in an FA Cup replay. A crowd of over 10,000 had watched the first match at ES. Strange that we should draw them again in 71/72 drawing both at home and away before securing the Newcastle tie in a "neutral ground" victory at WBA's Hawthorns ground. Anyone remember George Best sticking SIX past them a couple of years before? That was back in the days when they shared The County Ground with Northants County Cricket Club. Nowadays, they occupy the custom built Sixfields Stadium (surely one field would have been enough?) which offers the usual, all-seated modern small stadium facilities.

Oldham Athletic

Yet another of those ground names that conjures memories from decades ago...Boundary Park may well be a first for some of our younger fans but it has been home to The Latics since 1906 and is a true traditional football ground. Their relatively recent history includes time in The Premiership, as they were a Division 1 club at the time it was formed. Life in the top flight did not last long however and the 96/97 season saw them relegated for the second time to what is now League 1. Visiting fans often share the Rochdale Road End with home fans separated by a moat. Plenty of good-natured banter can be expected if this is the case when the Bulls visit in October.

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