Swindon Town

by **NIGHTMARE** Fri 2 Apr - 8:48:36

How To Get There By Car & Where To Park
The ground is well signposted in and around Swindon town centre. Just follow signs for 'The County Ground'.
From M4 Junc.15: Follow A345 (Queens Drive) to Drake's roundabout. Turn left towards the Magic Roundabout, The County Ground is on the corner of this roundabout.

From the North A419 from Cricklade/Cirencester/M5:
Continue on the A419 until reaching the top of the new 3 lane stretch of dual-carriageway, which runs uphill. (I would advise to stay in the inside lane on this climb as the exit approaches quickly). Take the exit at the top of the hill (Lady Lane Junction). At the lights go right, then almost immediately at the next set of lights go left. Follow this road through the next set of traffic lights (passing the Motorola building to the right), then branch left onto the A4311. From here follow this road, following signs for Town Centre. At Transfer Bridges roundabouts turn left at the first and then straight over the second. The County Ground is on the left after the mini-roundabout. The County Ground is one of the few remaining football stadiums you can notice from a fair distance, due to the striking floodlights.

By Train
The ground is walkable from Swindon train station and will take you around 10-15 minutes. Leave the station, cross the road and proceed up the road between the two pubs (Great Western and Queen's Tap), continue to end of road. Turn left, proceed along Manchester Road, through traffic lights as far as you can go. At the junction turn right. The County Ground is about 300 yards up this road on the left. Thanks to John Bishop for providing me with the directions.

Where To Drink?
'The Merlin' on Drove Road, near to the magic roundabout. 'Away fans are welcome and they have Sky Sports showing on 12 television screens and even in the gents. Alcohol is available within the ground to away fans in the Arkells Stand (but not in the open Stratton Bank End), otherwise if you arrive early Swindon town centre is a 15 minute walk away.

What's The Ground Like?
At one end is the Stratton Bank Stand, a former terrace with rows of seats bolted on to it. This area is uncovered and has a clock above it as well as a small electric scoreboard. Opposite is the small, covered Town End, with several supporting pillars across the front. An unusual feature is that the supporting legs of one of the floodlight pylons are actually in one side of the stand, there are even some seats situated behind them! The sides are larger, two tiered covered stands towering above the two ends. The newest of these is the attractive Don Rogers Stand, while on the other side is the older Arkells Stand. The latter has windshields on either side and a few supporting pillars

What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?
Away fans are located in the Arkells Stand at one side of the pitch, where up to 1,200 fans can be housed. This is an older stand with facilities to match, but at least you are under cover. If you are at the back of this stand there is one supporting pillar which may impair your view of the goal otherwise it is fine. You even get a view of some of the rolling Marlborough Hills beyond one corner of the ground! There is a small kiosk at the back of stand serving amongst other things a range of Shires Pies , but be careful when taking them back to your seat. The entrances to the seating areas are through large solid doors, and to compound matters they open out towards you!

Teams with a larger away following can also be allocated the Stratton Bank End if required. A further 2,100 fans can be accommodated in this area, but the end as no cover and is open to the elements.