Saddlers on tour to Grimsby

My first visit to Grimsby I drove past the ground twice before noticing it was behind the MacDonalds, once inside the experience is not any more exciting to be honest. However it must remembered that the ground was hosting Championship football not too long ago so facilities are there and of course the away end is all seating.

At one side of the ground is the John Smiths Stand, which is two tiered and covered.This is the most modern structure containing the entertainment suites etc.The stand only runs half the length of the pitch, straddling the half way line. Been the tallest point of the ground you can look out of the stand and watch the ships out at sea…can be more entertaining than the football !! Opposite is the old Main Stand, which is small covered all seated stand but as common of stands of that age it has a number of posts in the way. Part of this stand dates back to 1901, possibly making it the oldest surviving stand in League football.

The home fans are housed in the Pontoon stand, a strane querk is in the corner between this stand and the old main stand is a flat bit of tarmac upon which the emergency ambulance stands.

The away fans are put in the Osmond Street stand, which I have sat in worse but I found it one of those where it is difficult to get a decent view. In part due to the pillars, but also due to the very natur eof the stand.

In future they hope to move to a new 12,000 all seater stand which would also go some way to resolve the car parking issues, there isn’t any car parking really, so side streets are the order of the day I am afraid.

Blundell Park is often on the wrong end of many visiting fans coments, but in truth the crowd are passionate and it is the way football used to be and we should not forget our heritage. Any saddlers fan who never visited Fellows Park, this is almost how it was, and would probably be very close to how it would be now if we hadn’t moved.