Emirates Stadium

The Thames, The Boat Race

stadiumMK

I’ve actually been to stadiumMK many times before, mostly in the executive suites. However, this is because the Exec Suites double up as Hotel Rooms for The Doubletree hotel which makes up one stand of stadiumMK, and as I live in MK through work, I had stayed in this hotel on a number of occasions.

It was through work that we got tickets, as there was a deal on for 4 tickets at a combined price of £20! What a deal, although I was concerned that I might be having to face a 0-0 for the second time in three days!

Stadium MK wide view

And to be fair my fears only increased after an entertaining and high quality first half, which whilst the build-up play, energy and excitement was there, twice the woodwork came to the rescue when the two good goalkeepers hadn’t already made great saves. Peterborough looked particularly dangerous in the first half with newly crowned player of League 1 Craig Mackail-Smith and George Boyd, very energetic and skilful up front, Boyd hit the post for Peterborough. At the other end, Peter Levens (Cult Hero amongst the group I was with – for his resemblance to a fat Charlie Adam), was pulling the strings in midfield, and he hit the post having earlier stung the hands of England U-21 ‘keeper Joe Lewis.

The Home End

 After the break it was the MK Dons who took the initiative though with Luke Chadwick and local lad Sam Bostock playing a much more influential role. Eventually, a mistake from a cross by Joe Lewis allowed MK’s centre half to score and give the MK Dons a one-goal lead. Despite a flurry of activity at both ends, this is how the game ended, how MK Dons didn’t make it more, I will never know. The BBC Match Report is here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_2/9429084.stm.

The guys having fun at HT

On the whole, stadiumMK was great, with the new Arsenal style large and padded seats which made for a comfortable seat. Lines were not too long for anything and the stadium still had a new feeling despite being opened for 4 seasons. Somewhere to go back to again I think.

Cappielow, Greenock Morton

So a visit to Scotland to visit the parents would not be complete without a football ground visit and so it was that my Old Man took me to Cappielow Park in Morton to see the home side Morton take on Raith Rovers who were flying high in the First Division at Kick-Off.

A quick drive up from Weymss Bay saw us arrive in plenty of time for kick-off and a programme and tea were bought before kick-off.

The Cow Shed opposite the Main Stand

We sat in the home part of the Main Stand, with the Cowshed immediately in front of us, a strange structure with seating at the bottom and a standing area at the top. This was pretty much full in the middle during the game. The stand to the right was a small terraced number with a small clock on some advertising hoardings, nothing really to write home about, but quite a few locals sat there. At the other end, the West end was a large stand that was previously terracing, now with benches locked onto them. Irn-Bru hoards only added to the occasion.

The Home 'End'

The game itself, was nothing really to write home about, long balls dominated and quality was low. Morton probably shaded it, and should have won, with a very good chance falling to their substitute in the second half. I think Raith will be happy with a point, but doubt it will be enough to help them win promotion, Dunfermline look a much better bet for that.

However, a lovely day out, for £25 all in!

The old Away end with Famous Crane in the background