A Proper English Ground (Fratton Park (Portsmouth FC))

Member Name: GeordieNick

Product:	Fratton Park (Portsmouth FC)
Date:	01/07/09 (134 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Tight ground generates a good atmosphere

Disadvantages: Lack of facilities

I've been to Fratton Park three consecutive seasons as an away fan and unfortunately i have been less impressed each visit. When you enter Portsmouth by road, you'll be in a lot of traffic on a match day but the good thing is that there is enough residential parking areas very close to the ground to make the journey easy. If it wasn't for the floodlights you would have trouble locating the ground with it being tightly surrounded by residential areas. I found it quite comical on the way out the ground seeing a Portsmouth fan just walk a few metres down the road to his front door.

Once inside the ground, you can see that it isn't a glamorous ground but an old fashioned english football ground which is what I love as a vocal fan in a set of supporters who choose to stand. The ground is quite a poor ground in terms of facilities but you can see they have been trying to do what they can to improve it. A roof appeared on the away stand last season out of nowhere which I was very thankful for after roasting in the sun on the last outing.

Being close to the pitch and tight in the ground a great atmosphere can be generated and Portsmouth fans have a great reputation for their home atmosphere. Unfortunately though the home atmosphere has dwindled on each visit i've had to the stadium, perhaps due to being a Premiership regular now and i'm sure a lot of Pompy fans agree.

On a more comical note, the guy with the bells had a little stand built for him this season resembling a Hook a duck stand at the fun fair. Hilarious.

Summary: Nice little ground