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Bristol Rovers
Memorial Stadium

Capacity: 12,011
Address: Filton Avenue, Horfield, Bristol BS7 0BF
Main Telephone No: 0117 909 6648
Fax No: 0117 907 4312
Ticket Office No: 0117 909 6648 (Option 1)
Matchday Ticket Office No: 0117 909 8848
Team Nickname: Pirates
Year Ground Opened: 1921
Home Shirt Sponsors: McCarthy Waste Management
Away Shirt Sponsors: ITS Nationwide Couriers
Home Kit Colours: Blue & White Quarters
Away Kit Colours: Green & Black Quarters
Kit Manufacturers: Errea
Official Web Site:
www.bristolrovers.co.uk
Unofficial Web Sites:
Supporters Club
Vital Gas (Vital Football Network)
Bristol Evening Post
Gashead Diaries


Map
Contents
What's The Ground Like?
Future Developments

Uplands Stand (photo)
What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?
DAS 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 2011-2012
Record & Average Attendance
Fans Ground Reviews
Old Eastville Ground
Other Places Of Interest
Hotel Accommodation
Memorial Stadium Location Map


 


What's The Ground 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 DAS 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 DAS 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 DAS 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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Future Developments

After planning to re-develop the Memorial Ground, the Club are now considering a move to a new stadium located close to the Avon Ring Road, by the University of the West England (UWE), on the outskirts of Bristol. The scheme would see the site of the Memorial ground, being sold to a supermarket chain and the income form that deal being used to finance the building of the new 20,000 capacity stadium. The stadium would also be home to Bristol Rugby Club. Planning permission needs to be granted before the scheme can go ahead, but if successful, the Club could be kicking off in their new stadium for the start of the 2013/14 season. More information including an artists impression of how the new stadium might look can be found on the UWE Stadium Consultation website.

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Uplands Stand


Uplands Stand photo

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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 Uplands 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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DAS Stand


DAS Stand

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Where To Drink?
Pete Stump recommends; 'The Queen Vic pub on the Gloucester Road (five minutes walk from the ground) which usually has a comfortable mix of home and away fans - unfortunately it's not that big and does get busy'. Rhys Gwynllyw a visiting Wrexham supporter recommends the Annexe Inn next to the Sportsmans Arms. 'The Annexe Pub is friendly has previously been listed in the Good Beer Guide. Last time I was there it had seven real ales on tap. I had no hassle at all in my Wrexham top'. Steve Pugh adds; 'The Annexe Inn is in Nevil Road, which is about ten minutes walk from the ground. You can find it by following the signs for the County Cricket Ground'. Otherwise there is a bar behind the clubhouse terrace that allows away supporters in.

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South Stand


South Stand photo

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How To Get There By Car & Where To Park

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. 

Map showing the location of the Memorial Stadium (at the bottom of this page).

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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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Blackthorn End


Blackthorn End photo

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Admission Prices
Home Fans*
DAS Stand (Seating): Adults £24, Over 65's/Students £18.50, Under 16's £17.50
DAS Stand (Terrace): Adults £18, Over 65's/Students £10, Under 16's £9
Uplands Stand (Seating): Adults £22, Over 65's/Students £13.50, Under 16's £12.50
Uplands Stand (Terrace): Adults £16, Over 65's/Students £9, Under 16's £8
Family Terrace: Adults £16, Over 65's/Students £9, Under 16's £5
South West Stand (Seating): Adults £19, Over 65's/Students £11, Under 16's £10
South Stand (Seated): Adults £18.50, Over 65's/Students £10.50, Under 16's £9.50
Blackthorn Terrace End: Adults £16, Over 65's/Students £9, Under 16's £8

Away Fans*
Uplands Stand (Terrace): Adults £16, Over 65's/Students £9, Under 16's £8
South Stand (Seated): Adults £18.50, Over 65's/Students £10.50, Under 16's £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

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Ground Layout


Layout

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Local Rivals
Bristol City & Swindon Town.

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Disabled Facilities
For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.

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Fixtures 2011-2012
Bristol Rovers FC fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website)

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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
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.

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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.

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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 football ground. Access their Bristol Hotels and Guest Houses page.

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Map Showing The Location Of The Memorial Stadium, Railway Stations & Listed Pubs

Instructions for using the map:
- Use the bar on the left of the map to zoom in / out using the + / - keys.
- Click and drag an area of the map to move around or use the up/down, left/right arrows
- Click the Satellite button to see aerial view photograph..


View larger 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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Copyright Duncan Adams 2011
All rights reserved                                                                  
Last Updated: 1 September 2011