Football Ground Guide: Memorial Stadium, Bristol Rovers FC

Contents
What's The Ground Like? 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 2009-2010 Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Old Eastville Ground Other Places Of Interest Hotel Accommodation Feedback Return To The Main Menu
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 Guinness 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. Top Of Page
Future Developments
The Club have received planning permission to re-develop the Memorial Ground, into a 18,500 capacity stadium. The scheme will involve completely re-building the ground, moving the pitch in an eastward direction and incorporating residential accommodation around the outside of the stadium. It was hoped that work would commence at the end of the 2007/08 season, with the Club ground sharing with Cheltenham Town for around 18 months whilst the work was being undertaken. However, the scheme has incurred some financial problems, so the Club are embarking on trying to find another suitable investor. It is now unclear as to when the scheme will commence. Top Of Page
Uplands 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 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 (Ł2.50) 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! Top Of Page
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. Top Of Page
South Stand
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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. For a map showing the location of the Memorial Stadium click here (to take you to the Street Map website). To go to a simplified page, containing the directions and pub info, which you can print out click here. Top Of Page
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. Top Of Page
Blackthorn End
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Admission Prices
Home Fans* DAS Stand (Seating): Adults Ł23, Concessions Ł17.50 DAS Stand (Terrace): Adults Ł17, Concessions Ł9 Uplands Stand (Seating): Adults Ł21, Concessions Ł12.50 Uplands Stand (Terrace): Adults Ł15, Concessions Ł8 Family Terrace: Adults Ł15, Over 65's Ł8, Under 16's Ł5 Guinness Stand (Seating): Adults Ł18, Concessions Ł10 South Stand (Seated): Adults Ł17.50, Concessions Ł9.50 Bass Terrace End: Adults Ł15, Concessions Ł8 Away Fans* Uplands Stand (Terrace): Adults Ł15, Concessions Ł8 South Stand (Seated): Adults Ł17.50, Concessions Ł9.50 * The above prices quoted are for tickets purchased prior to matchday. Tickets purchased on matchday cost Ł2 more per ticket. Top Of Page
Programme Price
Official Programme: Ł3 Top Of Page
Ground Layout
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Local Rivals
Bristol City & Swindon Town. Top Of Page
Disabled Facilities
For details of disabled facilities at the ground please visit the relevant page on the National Association Of Disabled Supporters (NADS) website. Top Of Page
Fixtures 2009-2010
For the Bristol Rovers fixture list click here (to take you to the BBC Sports Website) Top Of Page
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: 2009-2010: 7,043 (League One) 2008-2009: 7,171 (League One) 2007-2008: 6,850 (League One) Top Of Page
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 Top Of Page
Old Eastville Ground
To see photos of Bristol Rovers former Eastville ground then click here to take you to the Old Grounds & Stands Section of the Guide. Top Of Page
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. Top Of Page
Hotel Accommodation
If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Football Hotels who are powered by Activehotels, who specialise in locating accommodation near or within a short travelling distance of the football ground. They also have the added advantage over some other hotel booking services that you pay on departure. 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. To access their Bristol Rovers page click here. Top Of Page
Feedback
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me and I'll update the guide.

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