Groundhopping journeys

 This was only my second Northern Irish ground, strangely it's easier getting to Dublin than it is Belfast. My previous visit, ironically was to today's opposition, Glentoran and the fantastic Oval ground. Solitude, the home of Cliftonville, was just a iconic and steeped in history, it being Irelands oldest club. One of my all time favourite York City players Michael Ingham started his professional career at Cliftonville, meanwhile Dan Amos lined up on the left wing for Glentoran. I got to the ground early, the anticipation got the better of me, however be warned there isn't a lot around the ground, there is a social club open along the back of the main stand though. It's a surreal setting, down a really narrow street of terraced houses with the last houses on the row nearly touching the stadium. I also found the tightest turnstile I've ever had to shuffle through, I got through, just. My advice, take your big coat off before going in. Inside the tickets allow you t...

 The day started off well, all trains on time and arrived into Boston at 1220. I had lunch from the Asda just over the road from the train station, a chicken sandwich and a bacon and cheese turnover from the hot counter did the job. I bought some lemon and fruit pancakes from the bakery for the train ride home. I decided to walk to the ground, with Lincolnshire being notoriously flat, it was just what I needed after my midweek trip to Prudhoe. Still it's just short of 2 miles or 40 minutes so if you aren't upto that best to get a taxi. I obtained the usual pin badge and took my seat bang on halfway. The stadium is very impressive but it's a shame the stand behind the goal isn't anywhere near finished, will it ever be finished is the question or will it be another Halifax or Northampton, incomplete stadium. The game was vs Tamworth, I wasn't expecting much quality but hoping for a few goals, sadly I got neither. Boston played the better football but it was only margi...

 I was looking forward to this one, to the current Northern league leaders, I was expecting big things and the ground didn't disappoint. They've built a brand new seated stand along one side, they've a new toilet block in one corner and a new set of changing rooms for the players, along with an excellent traditional stand along the other side. The pitch is an excellent 4g surface, one of the best I've seen. It's certainly helped Shildon the past couple of months as everybody else's games have fell to the weather, they have played through. In fact this Brooks Mileson Cup fixture vs FC Hartlepool should have been played at Hartlepool but was switched to Shildon.  Quite comically we walked around the wrong side of the ground from where the turnstile was located when we arrived, however the steward very kindly let us inside through the players entrance gate, we just walked round and paid admission from inside the turnstile! Food wise pork pie, chips and gravy was th...