Boothferry park: An Away Fan's Perspective (Boothferry Park (Hull City FC))

Member Name: Botmission

Product:	Boothferry Park (Hull City FC)
Date:	18/01/01 (110 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: See review

Disadvantages: See review

I went to Boothferry park last November to watch my beloved Hayes get knocked out of the FA Cup by Hull City by three goals to two. A round trip of about 500 miles on a Tuesday evening. That's dedication for you. Or madness as the wife told me. Anyhow, I was very impressed with the ground.
As you approach the place it has the feel of a traditional English football ground. You see the floodlights miles away, you know that wonderful feeling as you first catch sight of them as a boy? Parking is not a problem if you park in one of the maze of residential side streets full of white telephone boxes that is Hull.
You walk towards the ground, with mounting excitement, turn the corner onto the forecourt and what do you see?.....A Supermarket. After a few moments of nervous confusion, you see the entrance to a football ground Just to the right of the fresh fish counter. Oh dear, they seem to have solld the away terrace to Iceland or whoever it is.
After passing through the crumbling turnstiles, we enter the crumbling West Stand. From the small away seated section, you can see the narrow exposed away terrace behind the goal. You can only imagine what it was like before the supermarket swamped it with red brick. Fifteen hundred can fit in there apparently, and when it rains they'll all get wet.
Opposite this behind the other goal is a huge stand which dwarfs the rest of the ground, where most of the home support is. The large covered terrace alongside the pitch is largely disused. Also disused is the railway station that is behind it.
The facilites are adequate, the stewards as awkward as they always are. The view from the terrace is fine, but from the seats you have to imagine what the far corner flag looks like.
On my short visit I was in awe at the sheer size of the place,being a non league person. Shame it has seen better. But what potential it has. What a waste!

Summary: