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Ground Name: Spotland |
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| Contents | |
| What's The Ground
Like? Westrose Leisure & WMG Stands (photo) What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? Where To Drink? Thwaites Beer End (photo) How To Get There By Car & Where To Park By Train Horners Main Stand (photo) Admission Prices Ground Layout Programme Price Local Rivals Disabled Facilities Fixtures 2008-2009 Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Hotel Accommodation Feedback |
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| What's The Ground Like? | |
| The ground has benefited greatly with the construction of three new stands over the last ten years and is quite picturesque, with a number of trees being visible behind the stands. The latest addition is the smart looking Westrose Leisure Stand at one side of the pitch, which was opened during the 2000/01 season. This single tiered stand replaced a former terrace and has a capacity of 4,000. On the other side is another single tier, the all seated Horners Main Stand. This has a number of supporting pillars and some executive boxes at the back. At one end the W.M.G (Pearl Street) Stand is the third of the new stands. This is also all seated and serves as a Family Stand. It has a couple of supporting pillars that are right at the front of the stand. The Thwaites Beer (Sandy Lane) end is the only terraced area remaining. This small terrace has in recent seasons had a roof erected. There is a Police Control Box located in one corner, between the Main & Pearl Street Stands. Spotland is shared with the Rochdale Hornets rugby league team. | |
| Westrose Leisure & WMG Stands | |
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| What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? | |
| Away supporters are housed in the
Willbutts Lane Stand (recently renamed the Westrose
Leisure Stand), where the view of the action and the facilities are
pretty good.
Up to 3,650
supporters can be accommodated in it and normally
away fans are confined to the centre of the stand. If required,
then this stand can be split between home and away fans. The acoustics
are excellent, so away fans can really make some noise
from within it. This, coupled with both home ends singing and the
obligatory drummer, makes for a good atmosphere. If Rochdale do score then
'Tom
Hark' by the Piranhas blasts out around the ground from the p.a. system. I would say that Spotland in my book, is one of the best footballing days out in the country. Friendly & knowledgeable fans, good stewards, good facilities, three pubs located at the ground, a great range of pies on offer and not a bad atmosphere to boot. In other words, all the right elements to make for a great day out. Add a pretty lady on my arm, my team winning six nil and I'll think that I have been transported to heaven! |
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| Where To Eat & Drink? | |
| At the ground there are two
bars to choose from, Studds & the Ratcliffe Arms. Studds is located
underneath the Pearl Street Stand and is worth a visit, if only to sample
the large range of tasty pies & pasties on offer at £1.50 (which are
also available inside the ground). You can even have a
pie and peas for £1.80. No real ales here, but the
bar has some lovely looking barmaids which softens the blow. The Ratcliffe Arms is located at the
car park entrance to the ground, on Sandy Lane. This pub has SKY TV and on
my last visit had a mixture of home and away fans. A couple of minutes
walk along Willbutts Lane, is the Church Pub, which
seemed to be the favoured haunt of away fans. Also on Willbutts Lane, is a
small chip shop, with lengthy queues. If you arrive early, the Cemetery Hotel, located at the bottom of Sandy Lane and on the corner with Bury Road, is also worth a visit. This comfortable historic pub has a range of real ales on offer and again friendly clientele. Otherwise alcohol is available inside the ground, although it is cans poured into plastic glasses. |
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| How To Get There By Car & Where To Park | |
| Exit the M62
at Junction 20 and take the A627(M) towards Rochdale. At the end of the
A627(M) you should be in the left hand lane to turn left at the traffic
lights. Go straight on over the roundabout (approach in the middle lane)
into Roch Valley Way. At the next crossroads (where the Cemetery pub is on
the corner) go straight onto Sandy Lane, where the ground can be found
on the right after approx 3/4 mile. Car Parking at the ground is now for permit holders only, so it is a case of either street parking or using the matchday parking facility at Oulder Hill School. The school is located on the way up to the ground, on the left hand side, along Sandy Lane (it is then a 10 minute walk uphill to the ground). If you do elect to park on the street then be wary of the "residents only" parking scheme, as otherwise you could end with a parking ticket for your trouble. For a map showing the location of the ground click here (to take you to the Street Map website). To go to a simplified page, containing the directions and pub info, which you can print out click here. |
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| By Train | |
| Rochdale is served by trains from Manchester & Leeds,
and is around two miles away
from the ground So I would recommend taking a taxi, but if you do
decide to walk it will take you around 30-35 minutes to do so.
Immediately as you leave the station there is a roundabout in front of you. Cross it, keeping to the left and take the second left into Lower Tweedale Street. Follow this street until its end where it meets Manchester Road. Turn right along Manchester Road (which is a dual carriageway). Pass Drake Street and then cross the Manchester Road via the pedestrian crossing. Now the left hand side of the dual carriageway, carry on in the same direction as before. Turn left into Dane Street (where you will see a large ASDA store) and this leads into Mellor Street (A6060). At the end of Mellor Street turn left along Spotland Road (A680) and then left again into Willbutts Lane for the ground. Thanks to Björn Sandström for providing the directions. |
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| Admission Prices | |
| Home Fans: Main Stand - Adults £19, Concessions £12, Under 7's Free W.M.G Stand - Adults £17, Concessions £10, Under 7's Free Family Area - Adults £15, Under 16's £5, Under 7's Free (maximum 3 children per adult) Thwaites Beer Stand (Terrace) - Adults £14, Concessions £9, Under 7's Free Away Fans: Westrose Leisure Stand (Willbutts Lane): Adults £18, Concessions £12 Concessions apply to Over 65's and students in full time education. |
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| Programme | |
| Official Programme - £2.50. | |
| Local Rivals | |
| Bury, Burnley, Oldham, Manchester United & Manchester City. | |
| Disabled Facilities | |
| For details of disabled facilities at the ground please visit the relevant page on the National Association Of Disabled Supporters (NADS) website. | |
| Fixtures 2008-2009 | |
| For the Rochdale fixture list click here (to take you to the BBC Sports Website) | |
| Record & Average Attendance | |
| 24,231 v Notts County FA Cup 2nd Round, December 10th, 1949. Average Attendance: 2007-2008: 3,057 (League Two) 2006-2007: 2,898 (League Two) 2005-2006: 2,808 (League Two) |
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| Fans Reviews Of Spotland | |
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Kevin
Wrenn (Carlisle United) 2/5/06 Peter Woodthorpe (Rochdale) 25/1/03 Lee Roberts (Doing The 92) 29/9/01 |
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| Hotel Accommodation | |
| If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Football Hotels who are powered by Activehotels, who specialise in locating accommodation near or within a short travelling distance of the football ground. They also have the added advantage over some other hotel booking services that you pay on departure. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will go to help with the running costs of keeping the Guide going. To access their Rochdale & Manchester page click here. | |
| Feedback | |
| If anything is incorrect or you have something to add,
please e-mail me and I'll
update
the guide. |
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