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Plymouth Argyle Ground Name: Home
Park |
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What's The Ground Like? |
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| What's The Ground Like? | |
| During 2001 Home Park was transformed, with three sides of the ground being completely re-built. Both the ends and one side of the ground has been replaced, by single tiered, covered all seated stands. Most impressively the corners between these stands have been filled so that the ground is totally enclosed on those sides. This just leaves just the Grandstand at one side of the pitch, as the only remnant of the old Home Park. This classic looking stand dates back to the late 1940's and is partly covered to the rear. Since the 2007/08 season the original terrace at the front of the stand has been made all seated to comply with government & league regulations. In keeping with the naval tradition of the area the teams emerge to the Marines tune of Semper Fidelis. Home Park is the most westerly and southerly League Ground in England. | |
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Plymouth has been been chosen as one of the 12 host cities in England's bid to host the World Cup in 2018. If the bid is successful, then Home Park could be transformed into a 46,000 capacity venue at a cost of around £50m. Phase one of the project will see the replacement of the Grandstand, which will commence at the end of 2010/11 season, with two further phases of work, which will see the stadium being completed in 2014. Keith Todd the Executive Ditector of Plymouth Argyle has stated that even if the World Cup bid falls through, the replacement of the Grandstand will go ahead, increasing the capacity to 27,000. The plans have been put together by Populous, who were the same firm behind the new Wembley, Emirates and Lansdowne Road (Aviva) stadiums. More information and artists impressions of the new stadium can be seen on the Plymouth Herald website. | |
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| What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? | |
| Away fans are housed in the Barn Park End, which is now all seated and covered. As you would expect from a new stand the facilities and views of the playing action are both good. The normal allocation for this end is 1,300 seats, although this can be increased to 2,022, if demand requires it. The atmosphere is normally good and even though I have received a number of reports of the stewarding being somewhat over zealous in the away end, on my last visit it was fine. No problems were encountered outside the ground and on the whole it was a good day out. The only down side was that the concourse was a bit cramped and with a sell out away end it was rather crowded. The Shire Foods Chicken Balti Pie' (£2.40), is available inside the ground, along with other Pies and Pasties (£2.40), Sausage Rolls (£2.20), Burgers (£2.90) and Cheeseburgers (£3). | |
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Lyndhurst Stand & Barn Park End | |
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| Where To Drink? | |
| Probably the best bet is the Britannia which is a sizeable Wetherspoons outlet and around a 10 minute walk away from the ground (from the car park outside the football ground, turn left and the pub is down the road on the right hand corner). For most matches the pub which is busy normally, has a queue of fans waiting to get in outside, but this is controlled by the security staff, so you don't normally have to wait too long to gain entrance. Although away fan friendly, the pub doesn't tolerate away supporters singing their clubs songs and any who do are quickly ejected from the premises, so you have been warned. Near to the pub is normally a van selling pasties, which looked to be doing a roaring trade on my last visit. Opposite the Britannia is the Embassy Club which is best avoided by away fans. Otherwise alcohol is available within the ground. | |
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The Grandstand & Devonport End | |
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| How To Get There By Car & Where To Park | |
| Take the M5 to the
South West and at the end of the motorway continue onto the A38 (The
ground is well signposted from the outskirts of Plymouth on the
A38). On entering Plymouth, turn left onto the A386 (towards
Plymouth). When this road splits into two, keep on the left hand
side (again sign posted Plymouth) and after
about a mile you will see the ground on your left. The ground is
well signposted 'Plymouth Argyle Home Park' on the way into
Plymouth. There is quite a large car park at the ground, which is free. It is operated on a 'first in before the game, first out after the game basis'. If you are last in, then on average it takes around half an hour to clear. The car park is normally full by 2.30pm on matchdays. There is some street parking if you drive past the ground, heading away from the city centre. For a map showing the location of Home Park 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. | |
| By Train | |
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Plymouth railway station is about one and a half miles away, so either grab a cab (£3) or embark on the 20 minute walk. As you come out of the station turn right and down the hill and under the railway bridge. Just keep walking straight along this road and you will eventually reach the ground on your right. Alternatively (except for night games)
then Andrew Chapman suggests a more picturesque route: 'Finally I
would recommend turning right into Ford Park Road, at the closed
Pennycomequick pub/roundabout just downhill from the station and
then take the 2nd left into Holdsworth Street, which will
lead you up a steep hill into Central Park, where you'll see the
ground as soon as you reach the top of the hill. It is a lot nicer
route than following the roads - after all (apart from Aldershot)
there are no other league clubs situated in a public park!' Chris
Bennett adds; ' It's a much nicer walk than going up Alma Road and
quicker as well'. | |
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| Admission Prices | |
| Home Fans: Lyndhurst Stand & Devonport End: Adults £24, Concessions £16, Under 18's £7 Mayflower Stand (Upper Tier): Adults £20, Concessions £15, Under 18's £7 Mayflower Stand (Lower Tier): Adults £15, Concessions £12, Under 18's £5 Herald Family Area (Block One Devonport End): 1 Adult + 1 Child £26, 2 Adults + 2 Children £52 Away Fans: Barn Park End: Adults £24, Concessions £16, Under 18's £7 Concessions apply to over 65's and Under 23's. | |
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| Fixtures 2009-2010 | |
| For the Plymouth fixture list click here (to take you to the BBC Sports Website). | |
| Local Rivals | |
| Exeter City & Torquay United. And from a little further a field Bristol City. | |
| Programme & Fanzine | |
| Official
Programme: £3. Rub Of The Greens Fanzine: £1. | |
| Disabled Facilities | |
| For details of disabled facilities at the ground please visit the relevant page on the National Association Of Disabled Supporters (NADS) website. | |
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| Record & Average Attendance | |
| 43,596 v Aston
Villa, Division Two, October 10th, 1936. Modern All Seated Attendance Record: 17,511 v Watford, Championship League, March 22nd 2008. Average Attendance: 2008-2009: 11,427 (Championship League) 2007-2008: 13,000 (Championship League) 2006-2007: 13,012 (Championship League) | |
| Fans Reviews Of Home Park | |
| David Beresford
(Doncaster Rovers) 7/11/09 Phillip Evans (Wolverhampton Wanderers) 5/8/06 Tom Noble (Wolverhampton Wanderers) 18/9/04 | |
| 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 Plymouth page click here. | |
| Other Places Of Interest | |
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Considering you will have probably spent hours getting there, I suggest you make a weekend of it in Devon. If you go into the centre of Plymouth, make sure you walk down the front to the 'Hoe' (where Drake was playing bowls when he heard about the arrival of the Spanish Armada). The views of Plymouth Sound from here are superb. Andrew Chapman adds; 'As well as the Hoe, I would recommend the historic Barbican, which includes the Mayflower Steps (where the Pilgrim Fathers set sail for America) and the many lovely old pubs, many of which sell real ale and are listed in the Good Beer Guide, including The Dolphin, The Admiral MacBride, and The Commerical Inn. Also on the Barbican is the National Marine Aquarium which is well worth a visit'. | |
| Feedback | |
| If anything is
incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail
me and I'll update the guide. * The ground was originally built in 1893, the Club took it over in 1901. | |
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