Football Ground Guide: Whaddon Road, Cheltenham Town FC

Contents
What's The Abbey Business Stadium Like? In2Print & Hazlewoods Stands (photo) What Is It Like For Away Supporters? Main Stand (photo) Where To Drink? Prestbury Road & In2Print Stands (photo) How To Get There And Where To Park Hazlewoods Stand (photo) Admission Prices Programme Price Local Rivals Ground Layout Disabled Facilities Fixtures 2012-2013 Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Hotel Accommodation Abbey Business Stadium Location Map

What's The Abbey Business Stadium Like?
At one end of the ground is the newest addition to the stadium. The Hazlewoods Stand which was built by Barr Construction, was opened in December 2005 and has a capacity of 1,100 fans. It is particularly steep in its design, has a perspex windshield to one side and perspex panels incorporated into its roof, to allow more light to reach the pitch. The stand is unusual in the respect that it has a couple of more rows of seats on one side of it. There is also a small electric scoreboard on its roof. On one side of the ground is another relatively new stand. The In2Print Stand was opened in November 2001 and was built by Barr Construction. This stand sits proudly at one side of the pitch and houses 2,034 supporters. It is a covered, all seated, single tiered stand, part of which is given to away supporters. The ground is now enclosed in one corner where the two new stands meet, although it is not used for spectators. On the other side of the pitch is the Main Stand, which was opened in 1963. It has seating to the rear and terracing at the front. Straddling the half way line, it does not extend the full length of the pitch, having open spaces to either side. At one end is the small covered terrace, called the Prestbury Road Stand Stand, which is the home end of the ground. In April 2009 the Whaddon Road ground was renamed the Abbey Business Stadium, in a corporate deal with a local business; Abbey Business Equipment. Top Of Page
In2Print & Hazlewoods Stands
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What Is It Like For Away Supporters?
Away supporters are housed in the Hazlewoods Stand at one end of the ground, where just over 1,100 supporters can be accommodated. Just over 1,100 supporters can be accommodated in this area. The view of the playing area from the Hazlewoods Stand and the facilities inside are good, plus it has good leg room. If demand requires it, then part of the In2Print Stand can also be allocated to away fans. The food on offer within the ground is not bad; you can choose from Burgers (£2.80, including for those with a bigger appetite a half pounder with cheese £4), Hot Dogs (£2.80), Home made 'Gourmet' Pies (£3), Bacon Rolls (£2.80), Cornish Pasties (£2.80) and Sausage Rolls (£2.50). I found Cheltenham itself to be quite pleasant and the supporters friendly. The picturesque Cotswold Hills around Cheltenham can easily be seen from inside the ground. The atmosphere is also pretty good and there is a drummer in the home end. I did find the p.a. to be a bit deafening though. Robert Middleston a visiting Nottingham Forest fan adds; 'The view from the Hazlewoods Stand was excellent, as was the general atmosphere'. Neil Le Milliere, a visiting Exeter City fan, informs me 'I have found some of the stewarding to be over the top, and some supporters were ejected from the ground for little reason'. Peter Llewellyn adds 'Don't go on race day like I did - it's worse than getting away from Old Trafford!' Top Of Page
Main Stand
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Where To Drink?
There is a club bar at the ground called the Robins Nest which allows in small numbers of away fans for a small admittance fee. Neil Le Milliere a visiting Exeter City fans recommends the Kemble Brewery Inn on Fairview Street. This pub which is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide serves up to six real ales. Around a ten minute walk away are the 'Sudeley Arms' and 'The Conservatory' on Prestbury Road on the outskirts of the town centre. There is even a decent fish & chip shop situated in-between the two. To find these pubs, turn right out of the club car park, and then turn left at the end of the road. Go straight over the roundabout, and The Sudeley Arms is on your left and the Conservatory is further up on your right. It is no more than a ten minute walk from the ground. Otherwise very near to the ground is the Parklands Social Club, where you can also park your car (£4). Simply go down Whaddon Road, passing the ground and the bowling club on your left. Take the first left hand turn and the entrance to the social club car park is a short distance down on the left. Robert Middleston a visiting Nottingham Forest fan adds; 'The Club had a friendly welcome, and the locals we met were all happy to chat football. The club has a number of TV screens including a very big screen, on which the Sky Premier plus game was broadcast, a nice way to pass time over a sandwich and pint before the match'. Chris Clarke informs me; 'A good alternative is The Hewlett Arms which is a bit more cosmopolitan than other pubs in the local area, it can be found at the top of Hewlett Road which is about a 10 minute walk from the ground'. Top Of Page
Prestbury Road & In2Print Stands
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How To Get There And Where To Park
From The North Leave the M5 at junction 10 and take the A4019 towards Cheltenham. Keep straight on through the traffic lights, until you come to large roundabout (there is a McDonalds on the left), at which you turn turn left. Continue up this road going over a double mini roundabout. Keep going for about 300 yards and then turn right into Swindon Lane. Go over the level crossing and straight over the next roundabout (signposted Prestbury) passing the race course on your left. Turn right into Albert Road (signposted Gloucestershire University) and at the bottom at the roundabout turn left into Prestbury Road, (the ground is signposted from here) and then further down Prestbury Road, turn right into Whaddon Road. The ground is down on the left. From The South Leave the M5 at Junction 11 turning right towards Cheltenham. Go across 1st roundabout - GCHQ is on your left. Turn left at the next roundabout, into Princess Elizabeth Way. Go straight over the next roundabout, (the exit is over at about "1 o'clock"). Keep on up this road, and you will come to a big roundabout, where you will see a McDonalds on the corner. Go straight across this roundabout and continue up this road going over a double mini roundabout. Then as North. There are a limited number of spaces available in the Club car park at the ground which cost £5. The Parklands Social Club does allow some parking at £4 per car (See Where To Drink). There is little in the way of nearby street parking close to the stadium. Otherwise there is a free 'Park & Ride' service to the ground operating from Cheltenham Racecourse, which is well signposted around the town. Journey time on the 'Park & Ride' service is obviously dependant on traffic, but is around ten minutes on average. For 3pm kick offs the service commences at 1pm, with the last bus leaving at 2.40pm. After the match departures are at; 5pm, 5.20pm and 5.40pm. For evening matches (7.45pm kick off). The service commences at 6pm, with the last bus leaving at 7.20pm. After the game the departures are at: 9.45pm, 10.05pm and 10.25pm. Map showing the location of the Abbey Business Stadium (at the bottom of this page). Top Of Page
Hazlewoods Stand
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By Train
Cheltenham Station is over two miles from the ground, so best to jump in a taxi. Phil Truscott advises; 'I caught Bus Service D from the Station Car park to the Town Centre (Clarence Street). On Saturdays Service D runs every 10 minutes. It costs £3.40 for a 'day-rider' ticket with unlimited travel in Cheltenham. From the Town centre it is a short walk to Whaddon Road down Prestbury Road. For the return journey you can catch Bus D (going in the direction of Hatherly/Warden Hill) from Pittville Street in the town centre (at the side entrance of Marks and Spencer). It stops opposite the railway station outside a Tesco Metro'. Bernard McCall a visiting Accrington Stanley fan adds; 'If you catch Bus D from the train station and do nor get off in the town centre, then it continues to the racecourse where you can get on the free Park & Ride shuttle bus to the ground'. If you are going to embark on the 35-40 minute walk then thank Dave Lucas for the following directions; 'Turn right out of station car park and follow Queens Road for around half a mile. At end of Queens Road and turn left into Lansdown Road. At the next (Montpellier) roundabout, turn left into Montpellier Walk (which later becomes the Promenade). At the end of the Promenade, turn right into the High Street. Go along High Street for around 100 yards and then turn left into Winchcombe Street (by a branch of the Cheltenham & Gloucester Building Society). Continue straight along Winchcombe Street and into Prestbury Road. Straight across the next roundabout and then first right into Whaddon Road. The entrance to the away end is down on the left'. Top Of Page
Admission Prices
Like a number of Clubs, Cheltenham have a category scheme (Premium & Standard), whereby the most popular games cost more to watch. Premium prices are shown below with standard prices in brackets. Home Fans: In2Print Stand: Adults £22 (£20), Concessions £16 (£14), Under 17's £9 (£7) Main Stand: Adults £21 (£19), Concessions £15 (£13), Under 17's £9 (£7) Family Area: Adults £17 (£15), Concessions £13 (£11), Under 17's £7 (£5). Prestbury Road Stand & Paddock Terrace: Adults £17 (£15), Concessions £13 (£11), Under 17's £7 (£5) Away Fans: Hazlewoods Stand: Adults £22 (£20), Concessions £16 (£14), Under 17's £9 (£7) Concessions apply to over 65's and students. Top Of Page
Programme Price
Official Programme £3. Top Of Page
Local Rivals
Swindon Town and from non-league days; Gloucester City. Top Of Page
Ground Layout
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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. Top Of Page
Fixtures 2012-2013
Cheltenham Town FC fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website) Top Of Page
Record & Average Attendance
Record Attendance At Whaddon Road: 8,326 v Reading, FA Cup 1st Round, November 17th 1956. At The Athletic Ground: 10,389 v Blackpool, FA Cup 3^rd Round, January 13^th, 1934. Average Attendance: 2011-2012: 3,425 (League Two) 2010-2011: 2,980 (League Two) 2009-2010: 3,243 (League Two) Top Of Page
Fans Reviews Of Whaddon Road
Martyn Beadle (Gillingham) 17/3/12 Mark Newbury (Bournemouth) 12/1/08 Top Of Page
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. Access their Cheltenham 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. Top Of Page
Map showing the location of Whaddon Road, Railway Station and 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. Top Of Page
Feedback
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me duncan@footballgrounds.net and I'll update the guide.

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Cheltenham Town Abbey Business Stadium

Cheltenham Town
Abbey Business Stadium