Ground #2- Craven Cottage

Date: 27th September 2023

Match: Fulham vs Norwich City

Competition: League Cup - 3rd round 

Price: £18

Cup competitions such as the League  Cup and FA Cup are a great way to get grounds ticked off, if you are looking at doing the 92.

When the draw for this round came out, I was looking at potential ties to go to. With  a prem being at home to a side in the league below, this tie looked a  good candidate. Once making sure there was no train strikes on the day ( You can never be  too careful these days) it was sorted.

My journey started at the train station. Where I hot chocolate in hand jumped on to a train heading to Brighton, getting off at London Thames link. Then a busy tube train to Putney Bridge followed. This was full of people who had finished work and people who were going to the games at Stamford Bridge and Craven Cottage. Getting of the tube it was 15 minute walk to the ground.

Outside the cottage 

Craven Cottage is located next to the Thames and has a nice old school feel on the outside. 

Inside I grabbed a pie & soft drink meal deal for £7. The pie was decent and warm; and didn't come in a stupid plastic wrapper some clubs do. I then made my way to my seat for the evening.

I loved the old fashion wooden stairs and seats that they had in the Johnny Hayes stand. 

I then took in the view I would have for the match.

This was a decent match. Sometimes when both sides make alot of changes (7 & 9 respectively)  it can take a while for the match to get going. 

Fulham started strongly and looked good going down there left hand side, winning a flurry of corners. They took the lead on 12 minutes when a free kick was whipped into the box, and Alex Iwobi knocked the ball across goal and Carlos Vinicius tapped home. Both sides had changes in the 1st half to add to the score, but neither side couldn't quite apply the finishing touch.

Fulham celebrate going 1-0 up.

The mascot Billy Badger greeted fans at half time.

Norwich started the 2nd half brightly, but wasn't able to find an equaliser. Fulham went 2-0 up on 72 minutes when Alew Iwobi when fired into the bottom corner from just outside the area after some short passing after Norwich lost possession trying to play out from the back. . Norwich got a consolation goal just a few minutes later when sub Sainz grabbed a goal. Norwich pushed for an equaliser.. Overall a good game in a ground I haven't been to before. I'm now up to 53/92.

There was a slight frustration once outside the ground, as people who got the tube had to get a different tube (Hammersmith) for reasons only Transport For London will understand. 

Attendance: 12,831

Man of the match: Alex Iwobi 

Ground #1 - Abbey Stadium

Date: 23rd September 2023

Match: Cambridge United vs Port Vale 

Competition: SkyBet League One

What better way to kick start this blog, than to give a telling of a typical home game? 

It was a fine summer/autumn (sutumn?) day. Living roughly 2 miles away from the Abbey, I walked over to ground arriving around midday to go into the supports club.

Outside the front of the Abbey, early on a match day.

The inside of the supporters club.  It has bits of united memorabilia on the walls through out. Here is also where I normally as eat on a match day, as the food options in the ground is limited and underwhelming; today I went for a cheese burger and chips (see below). Like usual before a match chatted in here with friends and family; while there was live sport shown on the screens - Woking vs York today; due to the lack of an early prem game.

Closer to kick off we made our way round to the Habbin stand.

The entrance to the North Habbin stand.

The Habbin fan zone; slightly out of shot is the beer bus. A new additon this season, thanks to the new shirt sponsors, Brewboard. 

 

For those who may not know the layout of the Abbey, I'll show you.

The stand behind the goal is the Newmarket Road End (NRE). I's where the noise normally comes from. 

The stand opposite the Habbin is the main stand is an all seater.

The all seater stand behind the goal is the away end and is where away fans are typically placed. 

So to the actual game it self then. A match between two sides who started the season better than a lot of 'experts' predicted. Just before kick off there was a minutes applause  for former Cambridge fan and turnstile operator Steve Foster, which was observed excellently by everyone in the ground.

The 1st half wasn't high on quality, especially from the home side. Vale went ahead on 20 minutes when Ben Garrity latched onto a well placed pass and firing into the bottom corner. Cambridge's best chance of the half came on the half hour mark; Sullay Kaikai forcing the Vale into making a good save. Port Vale almost grabbed a 2nd in bizarre circumstances; James Wilson chased down Cambridge keeper Will Mannion, with his clearance hitting the striker and only just going over the crossbar. The score remind like that at half time.  

Half time entertainment this season involves a fan from each side wearing a zorb and trying to win a mini game of football.

Cambridge was lacking a creative spark and some intent, and on the hour Mark Bonner made a triple change. Almost instantly got rewarded when left Danny Andrew struck the post. The equaliser wasn't far away though. A blistering run and cross from Palace loanne John-Kymani Gordon and a header at the back post from super sub Fejiri Okenabirhie scored yet again off the bench - 4th time this season (hopefully he'll start at Derby). A few moments later it was hearts in mouth time, as a poor pass from the Cambridge defence allowed Port Vale to get a chance away, which they should probably have scored from. In the final minute of normal time Cambridge was given a penalty after Lankaster was brought down. After scoring a penalty at Wigan last weekend Fejiri took the ball and placed it on the spot. However this time the penalty wasn't as well taken and Port Vale keeper Connor Ripley was able to make the save. After 7 minutes of injury time the game ended.

The final score of 1-1 was probably a fair result. Port Vale equipped themselves well and for 60 minutes Cambridge wasn't at the races. This is the sort of game Cambridge would have lost last season. 

Attendance: 6,905

Man of the match: Connor Ripley

Why I started this blog .

I have started this blog for a couple of reasons. The first is to keep a sort of diary of away days I go on with Cambridge United; as well as other games I like to occasionally go to. I think it'll be a good to look back on, and you never know other might find mildly interesting.

The second reason is to challenge myself mentally. I'm not a great one with words, so don't expect the works of Shakespeare in my ramblings. I'm hoping this will help me to get my creative juices going. Will i get bored and stop in a few months ? It's a possibility, but I'm going to push myself to keep going, and since it's a about an activity I enjoy doing and talking about I think that will help. 

I hope you'll enjoy. Till next time take care.

DJ