7/42 - Indodrill Stadium (Recreation Park), Alloa
10th May 2018
Ground Number: 7
Ground: Indodrill Stadium (Recreation Park), Alloa
Home of: Alloa Athletic FC
Match: Alloa v Dumbarton
Score: 0-1
Attendance: 811
Ahh the end of season play offs. That time of the season when it's all or nothing. Promotion, relegation, the highs, the lows, the ecstasy, the agony. A whole seasons work comes down to this. More importantly it's also a chance for us to get a bonus ground in and tonight we take the opportunity to visit the home of Alloa Athletic FC.
Into deepest darkest Clackmannanshire we go then and we arrive in plenty time to secure free parking right next to the ground. We loved the massive Alloa Athletic sign which runs right along the perimeter wall of the ground. If, for some reason, you couldn't find the ground the big sign will certainly help! We pay our £15 entry and despite it being May it's still pretty chilly! Once in we are looking for the Club Shop and immediately find it to our left next to the food kiosk. When in the shop there's good news and bad news. The good news is they have pin badges. The bad news? They don't have Alloa Athletic FC on them! They are literally just a pin badge in the shape and design of a wasp. They're nice but we could've got them at a zoo so we pass. Ebay to the rescue again!
We're not quite hungry enough for food just now so we make our way to find a seat in the Main Stand. When passing along the back the players and officials main entrance is open! Can we pop in for some photos? Of course we can! The friendly steward on the door couldn't have been more helpful. Onwards to our seats then and they're all reserved! Panic! We eventually find two in the front row and they give us a decent view of the rest of the ground. Yes this will do for the next 90 minutes.
The place is buzzing for this vital match. Alloa looking to gain promotion and Dumbarton aiming to avoid relegation. There's a lot at stake. This is the first of two legs. Dumbarton are the favourites and duly take an early lead. Frankly though that's all they do. Alloa batter them for the rest of the match but they just cannot score. They do everything but score. It's incredible.
The Main Stand offered us good views of the match but there are other options. Directly opposite is a temporary looking marquee structure which tonight houses the away fans. It can't have more than 8 rows. To our right is covered terracing which houses a vocal home support and off to the left is uncovered terracing behind which is a fabulous view of the Ochil Hills.
Half time then and, yes, it's food time! David goes to find the smoking area and I join the queue for the pies. It takes the entirety of half time and then some to reach the front of the queue at which point I find you can get your pie on a roll! Why the hell not! Let's try it. I say "let's", I mean me! I played safe and just got the pie for David.
I eventually make it back to our seats confirming to David that I hadn't got lost. It was just painfully slow service. Come on Alloa, pick it up! Anyway, my first ever pie on a roll was an interesting experience. Would I choose it again? No. Would I avoid it? No. Not sure that really clears it up to be honest. David rated the pie sans roll 8.10. A fair rating I'd say.
As mentioned Alloa threw everything (including the kitchen sink) at the Sons in the second half but couldn't find a way to goal. Dumbarton won the match 1-0 and with the second leg to be played at their ground a few days later they were massive favourites. Alloa of course had other ideas and would gain promotion and become Dundee United's bogey team! Delightful.
Ground number 7 done. We liked it. Good views (both inside and outside the ground), friendly staff and various options of where to stand and sit it. Oh and a pie on a roll! Thumbs up all around really.
Ground Number: 7
Ground: Indodrill Stadium (Recreation Park), Alloa
Home of: Alloa Athletic FC
Match: Alloa v Dumbarton
Score: 0-1
Attendance: 811
Ahh the end of season play offs. That time of the season when it's all or nothing. Promotion, relegation, the highs, the lows, the ecstasy, the agony. A whole seasons work comes down to this. More importantly it's also a chance for us to get a bonus ground in and tonight we take the opportunity to visit the home of Alloa Athletic FC.
Into deepest darkest Clackmannanshire we go then and we arrive in plenty time to secure free parking right next to the ground. We loved the massive Alloa Athletic sign which runs right along the perimeter wall of the ground. If, for some reason, you couldn't find the ground the big sign will certainly help! We pay our £15 entry and despite it being May it's still pretty chilly! Once in we are looking for the Club Shop and immediately find it to our left next to the food kiosk. When in the shop there's good news and bad news. The good news is they have pin badges. The bad news? They don't have Alloa Athletic FC on them! They are literally just a pin badge in the shape and design of a wasp. They're nice but we could've got them at a zoo so we pass. Ebay to the rescue again!
We're not quite hungry enough for food just now so we make our way to find a seat in the Main Stand. When passing along the back the players and officials main entrance is open! Can we pop in for some photos? Of course we can! The friendly steward on the door couldn't have been more helpful. Onwards to our seats then and they're all reserved! Panic! We eventually find two in the front row and they give us a decent view of the rest of the ground. Yes this will do for the next 90 minutes.
The place is buzzing for this vital match. Alloa looking to gain promotion and Dumbarton aiming to avoid relegation. There's a lot at stake. This is the first of two legs. Dumbarton are the favourites and duly take an early lead. Frankly though that's all they do. Alloa batter them for the rest of the match but they just cannot score. They do everything but score. It's incredible.
The Main Stand offered us good views of the match but there are other options. Directly opposite is a temporary looking marquee structure which tonight houses the away fans. It can't have more than 8 rows. To our right is covered terracing which houses a vocal home support and off to the left is uncovered terracing behind which is a fabulous view of the Ochil Hills.
Half time then and, yes, it's food time! David goes to find the smoking area and I join the queue for the pies. It takes the entirety of half time and then some to reach the front of the queue at which point I find you can get your pie on a roll! Why the hell not! Let's try it. I say "let's", I mean me! I played safe and just got the pie for David.
I eventually make it back to our seats confirming to David that I hadn't got lost. It was just painfully slow service. Come on Alloa, pick it up! Anyway, my first ever pie on a roll was an interesting experience. Would I choose it again? No. Would I avoid it? No. Not sure that really clears it up to be honest. David rated the pie sans roll 8.10. A fair rating I'd say.
As mentioned Alloa threw everything (including the kitchen sink) at the Sons in the second half but couldn't find a way to goal. Dumbarton won the match 1-0 and with the second leg to be played at their ground a few days later they were massive favourites. Alloa of course had other ideas and would gain promotion and become Dundee United's bogey team! Delightful.
Ground number 7 done. We liked it. Good views (both inside and outside the ground), friendly staff and various options of where to stand and sit it. Oh and a pie on a roll! Thumbs up all around really.
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| Pin badge collection coming along nicely |
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