Blue Square Premier Ground Guide - Fans Ground Reviews, Abbey Stadium, Cambridge United

Abbey Stadium - Cambridge United
Tuesday, December 26th, 2000,
V Wycombe Wanderers, Division Two 3pm
By Lee Roberts

Arriving at the ground in plenty of time, I parked in a street directly opposite the main entrance to the club. There was an official club car-park situated next to the main entrance - which cost Ł3 - but a number of locals advised that the cheaper option was also a safe one. Additionally, the club car-park was too close behind one goal for my liking - one wayward shot and the ball could end up through a windscreen. For the record, the street I used can't be missed as it had a Chinese restaurant on the corner, which is again over the road from the club offices.

The main entrance to the club was a little under whelming, and this low-key appearance was replicated throughout the venue. I enquired at the ticket office as to the availability of tickets, only to be told that tickets for the Main Stand - the only area where home fans could sit - were purchased from the turnstiles which opened at half past one. I had a little time to pass so I took a stroll around the outside of the ground; this was only partially achieved as there is a patch of allotments behind the away terrace that is fenced-off, barring access to the other side of the ground. The exterior of the Abbey Stadium was shabby in appearance and extremely small-scale. It felt as if I was visiting a Conference ground. The Habbin Stand - along one side of the pitch - is accessed from a number of paths through what appeared to be a small public park, and I soon found the entrance to the Main Stand via an alleyway off the Newmarket Road.

At a quarter to two, the turnstiles were still locked. A small, subdued queue had formed by the time the gateman opened the door and I bought my ticket (Ł14) and promptly returned to my car to listen to the remainder of the Aston Villa v Man Utd match. The poor organisation of the ticket system on matchdays would have been made even worse had it been raining; to have to queue outdoors to buy from the turnstiles - which open nearly 20 minutes late - seems ludicrous. Surely if you want to buy in advance of entering the ground then tickets should be made available at the ticket office. But perhaps modern technology hasn't yet found it's way to the Abbey Stadium as it has elsewhere.

Upon entering the ground about 30 minutes prior to kick-off, I soon realised that the small car-park situated at the rear of the Main Stand was actually inside the ground. Therefore, some lucky fans could return to their cars at halftime for their refreshment (including a beer!) which would have been better than braving the elements for the outdoor catering outlets. I found that the majority of the toilets were also dark and run-down, although there were some decent ones at the very end of the stand. The only facility of note in the Main Stand was the Harris Suite, but it only seemed open to Members. Everything else was outdoor - I dread to think what it's like when it's raining.

The first thing that struck me as I took my seat was that my view was obstructed by a number of pillars and I could barely see the near touchline. There was little leg-room in front of me, but I was able to sit side-on as the set next to me was vacant. For Ł14 - which was the same as I had paid at Reading on Saturday - I expected a little more comfort if not a better view as well. To my left was the open South Terrace, a small affair that held a few hundred Wycombe fans. On this cold afternoon at least they were dry. On the opposite side of the ground was the small Habbin Stand, which allowed for a tiny amount of away supporters in covered terracing in the corner, as well as a couple of hundred seats available to the visitors. Next to them, and accommodated in the remainder of the stand, was covered terracing for home supporters. Again, supporting pillars ran the entire length of the stand and restricted view. Finally, behind the goal to my right was the home end, but this only ran about half the width of the pitch giving it a rather odd appearance similar to the Main Stand at Lincoln. Where there were gaps in-between stands, the club have filled-in with wheelchair enclosures, and tiny independent areas of terracing but the stadium is not one of the best.

For the second half of the game I decided to move to the home terracing behind the goal. Although I had given up my seat, the second half was a more enjoyable experience than the first. The view was certainly no worse than in the Main Stand, and the seats were uncomfortable anyway. However, there was a far better atmosphere on the terraces, and I felt really close to the action. The crowd made quite a noise and the small size of the stadium helped this. Although I would have thought that many of the city's student population would be elsewhere over the festive period, there certainly seemed to be plenty of them there. Even so, everyone got behind the team and a 1-0 win was greeted in triumph at the final whistle.

To summarise, the Abbey Stadium would not seem out of place in the Conference. It's small, dilapidated in parts, and the needs of the customer are not always considered. Perhaps that is being harsh on the club, who have faced recent uncertainty over the future of the site. But even the electronic scoreboard above the wheelchair enclosure is no longer used. However, the below-par facilities shouldn't deter anyone from visiting; the fans are excellent and you get a real feel for the place on the terraces. If the decent atmosphere can be carried over into the redeveloped Abbey Stadium, then a return trip may be even more appealing.

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