Hednesford Town

[Kearsley Pilgrim]

https://images.app.goo.gl/zrhS5wxjM3DheS5H9

We could, of course, have been playing against 8th tier Hednesford Town in the FA Cup tomorrow. A club we used to come up against in the league a few years back, but which almost went out of business not so long ago.

I was watching a TV news article about them this morning, and noticed immediately how different the ground looks to when I was last there watching BUFC.

The article said that there had been recent investment made into the stadium and other facilities.

Granted, we have a much smarter main stand - but I have to say, that looking at the their equivalents of the new Town End and East Stand, their new terracing areas look somewhat more impressive than ours.

[Pete Brooksbank]

Yes, it's pretty smart. But it's far, far too big for them though - it all feels a bit sparse and depressing stood on that terrace. Also worth bearing in mind those terraces are just that - they have nothing like the concourses built into ours.

I think there's a middle ground to be found between these windswept expanses of empty concrete and more snug grounds. Andy will say we didn't get it right, but there's simply no point building these huge terraces that'll get filled perhaps once in 30 years.

[noughtyforties]

Yes, it's pretty smart. But it's far, far too big for them though - it all feels a bit sparse and depressing stood on that terrace. Also worth bearing in mind those terraces are just that - they have nothing like the concourses built into ours.

I think there's a middle ground to be found between these windswept expanses of empty concrete and more snug grounds. Andy will say we didn't get it right, but there's simply no point building these huge terraces that'll get filled perhaps once in 30 years.

Andy will say the terraces we have would have been fine if they'd been elevated above pitch level like the ones at York St were, and as I pointed out to the architect and was shouted down by him and a couple of people close to the club. Those terraces at HTFC are excellent, yes, a bit of a luxury but its all about the view, not a poxy snack bar or facilities you might use once or twice a season.

I was speaking to a lifelong fan last night who lives a cock stride from the new ground but who now attends very infrequently on the basis he can't see a thing from the side terrace compared to YS, he'd been a ST holder for more years than he could remember (and the masses of programmes I took off him spoke of a loyal fan who rarely missed from the early 60's) but he's pretty much done with the club now on the basis if he wants a good view he has to pay a premium. His view of the club management wasn't great, something along the lines of they were happy to entertain us when there were 6/700 there on a Saturday but we don't seem to matter now unless you buy a meal or bring a family........
Its hard to disagree with a lot of that.

[Pete Brooksbank]

Not sure you're allowed to build stands elevated in the same way YS was because of rules about emergency egress onto the pitch, but I still think there was scope to make the stands two/three steps bigger to improve the view. That's probably all it would have taken to keep everyone happy.

[noughtyforties]

Not sure you're allowed to build stands elevated in the same way YS was because of rules about emergency egress onto the pitch, but I still think there was scope to make the stands two/three steps bigger to improve the view. That's probably all it would have taken to keep everyone happy.

Possibly but I doubt it was beyond the realms of possibility to put a couple of steps in every 20 yards for pitch side access.

Fact is we're stuck with two hopelessly inadequate terraces that will soon be three when the other glorified bike shed is built.

But that doesn't matter because as DN said at the last shareholders meeting I attended, he's not going to make apologies for making the decision to move to a more family and corporate enviroment. 

[Kearsley Pilgrim]

Yes, it's pretty smart. But it's far, far too big for them though - it all feels a bit sparse and depressing stood on that terrace. Also worth bearing in mind those terraces are just that - they have nothing like the concourses built into ours.

I think there's a middle ground to be found between these windswept expanses of empty concrete and more snug grounds. Andy will say we didn't get it right, but there's simply no point building these huge terraces that'll get filled perhaps once in 30 years.

Andy will say the terraces we have would have been fine if they'd been elevated above pitch level like the ones at York St were, and as I pointed out to the architect and was shouted down by him and a couple of people close to the club. Those terraces at HTFC are excellent, yes, a bit of a luxury but its all about the view, not a poxy snack bar or facilities you might use once or twice a season.

I was speaking to a lifelong fan last night who lives a cock stride from the new ground but who now attends very infrequently on the basis he can't see a thing from the side terrace compared to YS, he'd been a ST holder for more years than he could remember (and the masses of programmes I took off him spoke of a loyal fan who rarely missed from the early 60's) but he's pretty much done with the club now on the basis if he wants a good view he has to pay a premium. His view of the club management wasn't great, something along the lines of they were happy to entertain us when there were 6/700 there on a Saturday but we don't seem to matter now unless you buy a meal or bring a family........
Its hard to disagree with a lot of that.

I have to agree. I don't attend as many home matches nowadays as I did when I drove the 280-miles round trip to Boston for every Saturday home game. It isn't the only reason, but I don't have the same enthusiasm to come such a distance to stand on the East Stand terracing at the JCS as I did to stand on the Spayne Road terracing at York Street.

It just nags at me - and with the greatest of respect to them - that a short drive away from me a small club like Curzon Ashton has a terracing along the side of the pitch that gives you such a great view compared to what our East Stand provides.

[Steviemas]

Spot on, that Curzon Ashton terrace is brilliant, would have loved something like that behind the town end, but as has been pointed out, would we have filled it, probably not but the view would be 10 times better than what we have now.
   Afraid us supporters are a minor insignificance now,  all about how much money can be made from the corporate stand, shame really.

[joshb]

The terrace at curzon is good but the roof is about 10 metres too high. No atmosphere
If we nabbed the 2 big terraces Hednesford have and had the current North stand as the away end (all elevated) to at least pitch level our ground would be about perfect.
Although a ground with 7 or 8000 capacity will be seen as a white elephant by some.....

[Fishtoft Crew]

Steve don’t disagree about that stand at Curzon , but the ends were both open and facilities were ok , but average at best. I look at lots of stadiums and I guess you never see the perfect set up , York aside.

[Pilgrim86]

Curzon's set up means they make more from their 3G pitch nextdoor, than crowds through the gate (apparently)