Football Ground Guide: Fan's Ground Review, Sincil Bank, Lincoln City FC

Sincil Bank
Lincoln City v Torquay United
League Two
Saturday, August 14th 2010, 3pm
By Olie Marles

1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

I was looking forward to going to Sincil Bank, as it was my first time, also Torquays first away trip this season. It was a gruling 250 mile trip. But we knew that if we won, we would stay as League leaders. Also the atmosphere would be hostile towards Mustapha Carayol who left torquay united for Lincoln on not the best terms with the Torquay following.

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

The Journey was not smooth, as we had to change coaches by the time we got to Newton abbot, a whole 3 miles into the trip. But was not too bad after that blip. it was one of the longer trips, but was helped by the stop at Birmingham, and us finding out we had Bournemouth, one of our rivals in the JPT Trophie. When we got to Lincoln the ground seemed very tucked away from view, and i couldn't see the floodlights till we got to the ground. But once we got to the ground, the parking was good, just outside the ground right next to the players coach.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

Before the game, i went to get my match ticket from the ticket office. The guy who served me was very helpful, but the same cannot be said for the woman on the other ticket machine, who was not very polite to one of the torquay supporters wanting an Junior ticket, claiming he was an adult. Which i had seen people get Junior tickets who looked alot older. After this, some of the torquay fans went to the pub, but we decided to get into the ground. we got a few looks from the Lincoln fans, but nothing threatening. But i met some other Torquay fans, and waited for the gates to open.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

When i got into the ground and went to take in the ground, the stand i was in the co-op stand, was impressive. It was large, and was very spacious. The away fans were next to some home fans, with tarpoling inbetween the two sets of fans. Directly infront of us was a tall stand, but didnt fill the entire side. It would make the ground look tider if they made that fill the entire side. Then to the left was a small seating area. It held the more passionate fans, with an score bored on it. Then on the right was a small stand which was empty during the game, but had executive boxes. Overall it was a nice ground, the only complaint i had was the stand infront didnt fill the side.

5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..

The game was free flowing, very entertaining. The Lincoln fans in the echo stand were okay, treating us to a few sing songs.
The acoustics were good in the away section. As there was only a few of us we stood together and made sure the ex- torquay player Mustapha Carayol knew what we felt about him. Torquay won 2-0 in the end with a brace by Elliot Benyon with 2 very good headers. The steward with us at the top of the away section was a very very friendly man, who openly talked to us, and was not harsh, but did his job to his best, and when he took a beach ball off a fan, he respected his decision and shook his hand, the way stewarding should be 10/10. The food was decent and not stupidly priced and the toilet was clean and spacious.

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

After winning 2-0 and keeping our top spot, we chanted out of the ground to the coach. We got a few stares and a couple comments and one got into a fisticuffs with one of our fans, but one of the older supporters stepped in and moved him on. When we got on the coach we left no problems, but did take a little while to get out of Lincoln

.

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

On reflection
Lincoln is a good away trip which I would do again, Despite the seven hour trip there and seven hours back.