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Bristol Rovers
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Bristol Rovers
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| Contents | |
| What's
The Memorial Stadium Like? Future Developments East Stand (photo) What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? West Stand (photo) Where To Drink? South Stand (photo) How To Get There By Car & Where To Park By Train Blackthorn End (photo) Admission Prices Programme Price Ground Layout Local Rivals Disabled Facilities Fixtures 2012-2013 Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Old Eastville Ground Other Places Of Interest Hotel Accommodation Memorial Stadium Location Map |
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| What's The Memorial Stadium Like? | |
| The
club moved to the stadium in 1996
and two years later bought the ground from the then
owners Bristol Rugby Club.
Although the Memorial Stadium has seen some
changes since the Football Club took
up residence, it still has the feel of a rugby ground about it. On one side is the West Stand, which with its pavilion looks more like a cricket stand. It has a row of hospitality boxes across the top, with a few rows of seats in front. Below is an area of terrace. Just under this stand's roof is a television gantry and a small electric scoreboard. The stand runs for about half the length of the pitch and straddles the half way line. On one side of it, towards the Blackthorn end is a small covered terrace, used as a family area, whilst the other side has a small covered area of temporary seating, called the South West Stand. Opposite is the Uplands Stand, taller than the West Stand, but similar in length. This stand has covered seating to its rear and terracing at the front. It has open terracing to either side, one of which is given to away supporters. The team dug outs are located in front of this stand, although the dressing rooms are located behind the West Stand. This leads to quite a procession of players and officials at half time and full time. At one end is the unusual looking South Stand. This was originally erected as a temporary stand, to fill the previously empty end. It has now been opened for a number of seasons now, although it still looks, with its green seats and bright white roof, more suitable for an outdoor show jumping competition than a football ground. The stand only runs for just over half the width of the pitch, has several supporting pillars running across the front and has been nicknamed 'the tent' by Rovers fans. Opposite is the Blackthorn End, which is a covered terrace for home supporters. The ground is shared with Bristol Rugby Club. |
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The Club
are progressing with their plans to move to a new
stadium, which will be located close to the Avon
Ring Road, by the University of the West England
(UWE). The 21,700 capacity stadium on the outskirts
of Bristol, may also be home to Bristol Rugby Club.
The scheme is to be partly
funded by the sale of the Memorial Ground to the
Sainsbury's supermarket chain. Planning permission for both the new stadium and Sainsbury's has been granted by the local council. |
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| East Stand | |
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| What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? | |
| Away
supporters are mostly housed in an
open terrace on one side of the East (Dribuild)
Stand. This area is open to the
elements so you might get wet if it rains.
The open terrace
makes it difficult for away
fans to really generate some noise. Up to 1,100 away
supporters can be accommodated in this area. If the weather is poor then it may be
a better bet to head for one of the seats that are
made available to away fans in the South Stand at
one end of the ground. I must recommend the
huge Cornish pasties (£2.50)
that are sold at the ground, huge and tasty, plus they even do vegetarian
ones which makes a change. Also on
offer are a range of pies including the the Chicken Balti Pie. I
did not experience any problems on my visits, however
I noted that the Rovers fans seemed to tolerate away
fans rather than being over friendly.
They can still do a good rendition of their club
anthem 'Goodnight Irene', when the occasion stirs. I found it quite amusing that the Rovers fans are nicknamed gasheads. Nick Wootten of Bristol informed me that this term comes from where the old Eastville stadium in Bristol was sited. Next to a (sometimes smelly) gas works! In fact it was rumoured that if Rovers were losing at half time, the gas would be turned up, to put off the opposition! |
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| West Stand | |
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| Where To Drink? | |
| There is a bar behind the clubhouse
terrace at the ground that allows in away
supporters. Pete Stump recommends; 'The Queen Vic pub on the Gloucester Road, which is around a five minute walk from the ground, usually has a comfortable mix of home and away fans, although it does get busy'. Rhys Gwynllyw a visiting Wrexham supporter recommends the Annexe Inn on Seymour Road. Located half mile a way from the stadium, the pub is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. It is close to the County Cricket Ground, going further along the A38 towards Bristol. After passing the Old Fox pub, turn left into Nevil Road and then right at the Sportsman Pub into Seymour Road. Please note that alcohol is not made available to away fans inside the stadium. |
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| How To Get There By Car & Where To Park | |
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Exit M5 at junction 16
(Signposted Filton) and join the A38 (South) towards
Bristol City Centre. The ground is about five miles
down the A38. You will pass the large British
Aerospace works and further on, you will pass on
your left the Inn on the Green
and the Gloucester pubs.
You then pass the Wellington pub on your right and
continuing along the A38 Gloucester Road, turn left
into Filton Avenue. The entrance to the Club car
park is the second right down this road. There is a
fair amount of street parking around the sides and
back of the Wellington pub. |
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| By Train | |
| The nearest railway station is Filton Abbey Wood, which as Peter Moody informs me; 'is approximately 1.5 miles or 20-25 minutes walk away from the ground'. More likely though you will end up at Bristol Parkway which is about two miles away from the ground and is really too far to walk from, so you are probably best to jump in a taxi or buses 73/73A/73B run from the station past the stadium. | |
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| Admission Prices | |
| Like
a number of Clubs, Bristol Rovers have a category
system (A & B) for ticket prices, with the most
popular games costing more to watch. Category A prices
are shown below with Category B prices shown in
brackets: Home Fans* West Stand (Seating): Adults £26 (B £24), Over 65's/Students £20.50 (B £18.50), Under 16's £18.50 (B £17.50) West Stand (Terrace): Adults £20 (B £18), Over 65's/Students £12 (B £10), Under 16's £11 (B £9) East Stand (Seating): Adults £24 (B £22), Over 65's/Students £15.50 (B £13.50), Under 16's £15.50 (B £12.50) East Stand (Terrace): Adults £18 (B £16), Over 65's/Students £11 (B £9), Under 16's £10 (B £8) Family Terrace: Adults £18 (B £16), Over 65's/Students £11 (B £9), Under 16's £7 (B £5) South West Stand (Seating): Adults £21 (B £19), Over 65's/Students £13 (B £11), Under 16's £12 (B £10) South Stand (Seated): Adults £20.50 (B £18.50), Over 65's/Students £12.50 (B £10.50), Under 16's £11.50 (B £9.50) Blackthorn Terrace End: Adults £18 (B £16), Over 65's/Students £11 (B £9), Under 16's £10 (B £8) Away Fans* East Stand (Terrace): Adults £18 (B £16), Over 65's/Students £11 (B £9), Under 16's £10 (B £8) South Stand (Seated): Adults £20.50 (B£18.50), Over 65's/Students £12.50 (B £10.50), Under 16's £11.50 (B £9.50) * The above prices quoted are for tickets purchased prior to matchday. Tickets purchased on matchday cost £2 more per ticket. |
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| Programme Price | |
| Official Programme: £3 | |
| Ground Layout | |
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| Local Rivals | |
| Bristol City & Swindon Town. | |
| Disabled Facilities | |
| For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website. | |
| Fixtures 2012-2013 | |
| Bristol Rovers FC fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website) | |
| Record & Average Attendance | |
| At
The Memorial Stadium: 12,011 v West Bromwich Albion, FA Cup 6th Round, February 9th, 2008. At Eastville; 38,472 v Preston North End, FA Cup 4th Round, January 30th, 1960. Average Attendance: 2010-2011: 6,253 (League One) 2009-2010: 7,043 (League One) 2008-2009: 7,171 (League One) |
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| Fans Reviews Of The Memorial Ground | |
| John Spooner
(Southend United) 24/03/12 Peter Radford (Wycombe Wanderers) 30/01/10 Kristian Sundqvist (Neutral) 12/12/09 Teddy Cunningham (Millwall) 18/04/09 Rhys John (Swansea City) 18/03/08 Carl English (Swansea City) 18/03/08 |
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| Old Eastville Ground | |
| To see photos of Bristol Rovers former Eastville ground then to take you to the Old Grounds & Stands Section of the Guide. | |
| Other Places Of Interest | |
| If you're into historical ships then the first steam ship the SS Great Britain is moored at the historic dockyards. The area around the docks is quite pleasant with some good pubs. If arriving by train you can get a ferry boat to the dock yards from Temple Meads station. | |
| Hotel Accommodation | |
| If you require hotel
accommodation in the area then first try a hotel
booking service provided by Late Rooms. They offer all
types of accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets
from; Budget Hotels, Traditional Bed & Breakfast
establishments to Five Star Hotels and Serviced
Apartments. Plus their booking system is
straightforward and easy to use. Yes this site will
earn a small commission if you book through them, but
it will go to help with the running costs of keeping
the Guide going. The Hotels listing also includes
details of how far away the accommodation is located
from the Memorial Stadium. Access their Bristol Hotels and Guest Houses page. Remember that you can use the above link or panel below to book any other hotels that you may need for business or leisure, either in the UK or abroad. |
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| Map Showing The Location Of The Memorial Stadium, Railway Stations & Listed Pubs | |
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Instructions for using
the map:
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| Feedback | |
| If
anything is incorrect or you have something to add,
please e-mail duncan@footballgrounds.net
and I'll update the guide. |
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