Yes! We did it! It seems like an age ago that I first posted some photographs of the rubble here in Northumberland, followed by a weekly update on how things were progressing as Ashington built their new AkzoNobel stand.
If you’re new to this blog, just flick back each week for a new installment. Safe to say this is the last one though! Although I’ve covered Woodhorn Lane previously, with the photographs even appearing in When Saturday Comes, it seemed appropriate to revisit.
What do I think of the new stand then? It’s certainly beautiful. The wood from the outside, the club emblem, they’re certainly really nice touches and add a touch of class. The whole thing looks well done.
I’m hoping it’s not quite finished – at present there’s not really a tunnel of sorts. Players just have to walk over a bit of plywood protecting them from mud as they enter the pitch. They emerge from underneath the stand, so something a little grander than walking the plank would be nice.
I’m also hoping they move a couple of the old stands. Brilliantly, two have been added to either side of the smaller covered seating so it looks quite impressive, but the remaining parts have just been moved to a field behind the ground. It would be great if they could be moved back in and it’ll really give it the feel of a stadium.
In terms of the new stand itself, I only really have one minor critique and that is that the area for cameras makes it impossible for those sat on the back row to see one half of the pitch. So if you’re visiting for a game, make sure you don’t sit too near the back. I’d say third the middle row is probably your best bet.
I hope that doesn’t come across as me being too negative. It’s a fantastic stand. Right up there with the best in the Northern League, and with the bar being easy to access now as well, it should make watching games at Ashington a brilliant experience. Well worth a visit.
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Woodhorn Lane… oh no we’re done now – here’s the rest of the photos!
Football Grounds I Can Be Bothered To Visit 