Football Ground Guide: Fans Ground Review, Banks's Stadium, Walsall FC

Bescot Stadium - Walsall
Saturday 26th February 2011
V Rochdale, League One 3pm
By Paul O'Shea

I travelled by train to Walsall via Birmingham hoping to see a decent game and tick off another new ground.

I got off at Walsall station and headed for the Black Country Arms a Good Beer guide listed pub. For those who like their real ale this is truly a wonderful pub 16 beers on handpump plus a couple of traditional ciders too! Fans of both teams were enjoying the quality on offer and I soon got talking to some of the home supporters.

At about two thirty I set off walking with one of the Walsall fans to the ground which was a good old trek at speed but we reached the ground at about five to three. I had already decided to go "away" and was soon through the turnstile although the stewards relieved me of my brolly! The sun had come out by this time and lit up the huge 'Floors to go' stand at the far end although it was fairly empty.

Rochdale had brought over 600 supporters and they made a good noise which compensated for the very poor vocal support afforded by Walsall.

The game however was hugely disappointing perhaps the worst I have seen this season and the only highlight for me was the terrific Pukka chicken balti pies on sale at half time for Ł2.70.

The match petered out to a 0-0 and I admit I left early after reclaiming my brolly and legged it over to the Bescot stadium railway station which is directly behind the away end across the car park just in time to catch a train back to Birmingham.

I won't be going back to the Bescot anytime soon but at least some very good ale made up for the poor game I witnessed

You can't win them all!

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