Pride of the Derby (Pride Park (Derby County FC))

Member Name: benniash

Product:	Pride Park (Derby County FC)
Date:	21/01/04 (121 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent, well designed stadium

Disadvantages: Prices are expensive and do not reflect the teams current performances

I started University in Derby in September 1997, just a month after Derby County Football Club started the new Premiership season in a new stadium. From the main entrance of the Pride Park stadium you can still just see the floodlights of the now derelict former home ground, The Baseball Ground. Although, as many other clubs moving to a completely new ground feel, it is not easy moving from a ground that holds so many great memories but just pulling up outside the new stadium you realise that this is a move forward for the club.

Whether you support Manchester United or Hereford United, you can?t help but be impressed with the fine looking structure that would look more at home in Milan or Rome than on the outskirts of Derby.

My first trip holds mixed feelings. October 1997 and Derby were riding high in the Premiership under Jim Smith, but Arsenal were looking to consolidate their Championship credentials and seeing as I was now a local I knew I couldn?t miss the chance of seeing my beloved Arsenal. Unfortunately the Derby players hadn?t read the same script as me and after Ian Wright smacked the crossbar with a first half spot kick Arsenal were destroyed by the then fearsome partnership of Paolo Wanchope and Dean Sturridge as the home side ran out 3-0 winners. Just in case you wonder why a 3-0 drubbing holds mix feelings for me then you might not recall that this defeat was the catalyst for Arsenal to go on a record breaking unbeaten run (only broken this season) which resulted in Premier League trophy going back to North London.

Although this was my first trip there, in its first two months Pride Park already had a few stories to tell. Not content with being opened by the Queen earlier that Summer, the big news story was that whilst 2-1 down to Wimbledon in the first competitive match to be staged there, the floodlights went out and the game had to be abandoned which meant the slate was wiped clean and they would have to replay a few mont
hs later. Those of you in the football know will also recall this was the time that several other games fell foul of floodlight failure and if you look back at the games and the times of the failures, it makes the possible reports of Malaysian betting scandals look slightly worrying.

Over the next few years Derby cemented their place in the Premier League and the stadium was finished, with the corner filled in, to make the total capacity 33,597. The stadium is well designed and although queues are inevitable at any large sporting venue, there are more than enough turnstiles to cater for the fans. Inside the design is actually quite simple, but more importantly works well to keep crowding down. Everything you need is vast compared to many other top grounds, including catering, betting booths and toilets. The food is your usual average stadium grub. Small portions, probably too expensive, but edible. The beer is good but isn?t helped by health and safety laws that dictate it has to be served in a plastic pint glass.

Also inside you are greeted by plenty of televisions, some programmed to Sky Sports, others to Ram TV ? a TV programme dedicated to the stadium for match days which gives details of team news and shows the match whilst it is in progress.

Everything is also well sign posted but should you need them I?m sure you?ll find the stewards both friendly and knowledgeable like I have on the many times I?ve been there.

If you were impressed from the outside then you?ll be bowled over when you get to your seat. I?ve sat all over the stadium and have yet to find a seat that didn?t provide an excellent view. This is a plus and means that even lower priced tickets are worth purchasing, not like other grounds where I?ve found myself behind large posts or so far away from the pitch that I need binoculars. Disabled facilities are also vast and special sections of the ground are saved for disabled visitors and their guests, whilst special
entrances are also made available to ensure your day goes without any problems.

I have been to games against local rivals and have always found the security to be excellent. The away fans are segregated and intense police operations are used where the possibility of crowd violence is apparent - again usually for local derbys.

For home fans buses from the city centre are provided on match days although you could walk it in ten minutes. Away fans can get a train to Derby central station, again leaving a ten minute walk or by car you are literally ten minutes from M1 with the ground well sign posted from quite far out. Parking is well stewarded and vast but the surrounding areas can become busy on match days and I would suggest leaving your car in the town centre or using public transport where possible.

As many football fans will know the fortunes of the team on the pitch over the last few seasons has gone from bad to worse, mainly due to having to sell their best players due to major financial troubles. Unfortunately this isn?t reflected in the ticket prices and adults should expect to pay between £16 and £27 for a ticket ? depending on the quality of your seat and the opposition. Children and seniors get it a little better although with prices lowered to between £8 and £14. Due to the teams current poor form, attendences are down so tickets are fairly easy to get - but this wasn't always the case with the big games in the Premiership. For away tickets you should contact your local team for details.

If your team faces an away game to Derby County then I would say that it would be well worth you travelling to the stadium. Its location in the East Midlands is ideal for many clubs and from North London you can be there by car in around two hours.

The ground has also impressed the FA and after successfully staging an Under 21 England fixture against the Germans it was granted full International status in 2001 when it stag
ed the England match against Mexico, which the home side won 4-0!! The queen also visited Pride Park during her Golden Jubilee tour of 2002.

Whilst the fortunes of the team on the pitch have nose-dived drastically in the past few seasons I?m sure that the future will provide many great more great memories. Even if your team doesn?t come back from Pride Park with a win I?m sure you?ll enjoy the experience.

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