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So with the hockey season done and dusted, and an unexpectedly clear domestic schedule, I was presented with the prospect of an away trip to Rotherham to see Bristol City.
I have managed to see City play at least once every season since 1987, so I gleefully grabbed the opportunity to make the 80 mile trip to South Yorkshire. Plus it would be yet another stadium ticked off my list, as I slowly crawl my way to 92. The New York Stadium would be the 43rd league ground I have ever visited, so still some way to go!
I was relishing this awayday as it involved a very straightforward car journey from Bridlington, involving just a couple of A Roads and two motorways. In fact, I was mightily impressed just how easy it was getting from A to B in Rotherham. Google Maps Streetview is an absolute godsend on journeys like these.
One minor issue with this trip would be parking. I wanted to keep my car on the South East side of the stadium so that I wouldn’t get caught up in any unnecessary queues or traffic on the way out to the M18. On the map things looked very simple. There appeared to be plenty of residential streets and I could cross the River Don south of the stadium. However on closer inspection (and no one mentions this in any away day guide) the bridge to the south of the stadium is for vehicles only. There is no footpath and the next nearest bridge is quite a way to the North.
I selected a cul-de-sac called The Maltings to park in, but when I arrived virtually all the spaces had been taken already, so I was forced to turn back around and look elsewhere. I took a right and found a decent looking residential street called Gerard Road with plenty of spaces. After a careful check I was confident there were no parking restrictions to catch me out (I got a parking ticket when visiting Preston North End because I didn’t check this out thoroughly!). This left me with a very pleasant walk down the hill with the stadium gleaming in the sunlight below.
As I walked up Westgate towards the Main Street bridge, I happened to catch up with a group of about 30 “lads” all wearing what I can only describe as the archetypical “casuals” uniform of caps, jeans and trainers. If you’re not a match-going football fan, you would probably think this sounds like a description of about 99% of the male population, but as a regular match goer, you get to know the look and mannerisms of these types of followers, who attend en mass and gather in slightly intimidating groups, flanked by police. I was to see them again much later on in the day!
The weather was lovely as I turned off Main Street onto the riverside walk. The stadium does look much bigger from the outside than its 12,000 capacity would suggest.
The turnstiles are all equipped with bar code scanners, so my ticket had to be purchased from an office before entering. Once inside, there was a large screen showing the Man Utd v Villa match and a couple of refreshment stalls, the furthest of which was deserted. I found this poster (right) in the toilets! Nice touch!
The away stand is much steeper than many stands I have been in around the country, meaning a really good view and no issues with seeing over the top of people. Typically I ended up sat in front of the loudest, sweariest bloke in the stand! As the end filled up just before kick off, I was (also typically) joined by a group of blokes who, despite the fact the stand was half empty, still decided they wanted to sit right next to me, leaving me with little leg room. Not a massive issue, but I always find myself mentally asking the question “Why do you need to sit right next to me when there’s loads of empty seats?”.
City couldn’t have got off to a worse start. Backing off and backing off they allowed the Rotherham’s Tavernier plenty of sight of goal before he unleashed an unstoppable shot. All with barely one minute on the clock. For the rest of the first half City looked poor, struggling to string any real passes together and making frequent mistakes. Our first effort on goal came in the 30th minute with a weak header from Baldock. Rotherham looked comfortable but rarely threatening.
City came out much stronger in the second half, attacking the goal in front of our end. It was around the 50th minute that all the “lads” from my walk into the ground decided to show their faces! Heaven knows where they’d been! Shortly after City equalised with an absolute screamer from Wade Elliott. The City fans were now in fine voice and from this point it seemed we would at least get a point out of the game.
However, there was to be cruel twist of fate. The City keeper Fielding took a routine goal kick from his hands. As the ball was sailing over the halfway line, we all heard a whistle and saw the Linesmen flagging furiously. It soon became apparent Fielding had been penalised for handball! Taking the ball out of his penalty area! Rotherham were awarded a free kick right on the edge of the penalty area and Tavernier powered his shot into the top right corner with apparent ease.
From then on Rotherham proceeded to shut out the game and it finally ended 2-1 to the home side. Disappointing but the fans clapped the City lads off after a much better second half performance. I was forced to walk the opposite direction to my car due to segregation at the end of the match, but it was fairly simple to get back out onto Main Street from New York Way. Main Street was actually closed off to allow people to walk in the road, which is something they should do on Ashton Road at the Gate. The walk back up the hill left me huffing and puffing a bit, but I was able to get out of Rotherham with ease.
So all in all a very enjoyable away trip, despite the result. The New York Stadium is a very nice ground, with great facilities and all went smoothly. The new ground has obviously benefited the town greatly and just goes to prove what a difference this can make to a club. OK, it might appear a little “identikit” and a bit bland, but try telling Rotherham fans that when they’re watching their club win week in week out!
Something us City fans haven’t experienced in quite a while!
