The Internet Football Grounds Guide - Alexandra Stadium, Crewe Alexandra FC

Contents
What's The Ground Like? Future Developments Air Products Stand (photo) Where To Drink? What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? Blue Bell BMW Stand (photo) How To Get There By Car & Where To Park By Train Advance Personnel Stand (photo) Local Rivals Admission Prices Programme & Fanzines Ground Layout Fixtures 2007-2008 Disabled Facilities Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Hotel Accommodation Feedback Return To The Main Menu
What's The Ground Like?
The opening of the Ł6m pound Air Products Stand (formerly known as the Railtrack Stand) in 1999 changed forever the look and feel of the ground. Before, it had always been small and homely, but the addition of the Air Products Stand has drastically changed the overall scene. The stand, which sits proudly along one side of the pitch, is a single tier cantilever holding just under 7,000 people. It looks huge compared to the other stands and is probably three times the size of the old Main Stand. It is simply designed, sits well back from the pitch and has windshields to either side. Considering that the overall capacity of the ground is just over 10,000, one can understand how the Air Products Stand dominates Gresty Road, accounting for 70% of the available seating. The other three stands are roughly of the same height, covered and all seated, but are rather small when compared to the Air Products Stand. So much so, that balls are regularly kicked out of the ground during a game. The newest of these smaller stands is the Advance Personnel Stand (previously known as the Gresty Road End), which is the home end of the ground. This replaced a former open terrace and seats around 900. Opposite is the Charles Audi Stand. This has some executive boxes at the rear, but the seating area is only opened for the bigger games. The Blue Bell BMW Stand at one side of the ground, has an unusual television/press gantry on its roof. It almost looks as if part of a portakabin was at some point bolted onto the roof and it looks a bit precarious. In the corner between the Blue Bell BMW & Charles Audi Stands is a large clock, whilst on the other side of the Blue Bell BMW Stand is a Police Control Box, keeping a close eye on the away contingent. An unusual feature is the absence of dugouts, the teams instead are given a section of seating at the front of the Air Products Stand. You will also notice that the pitch is slightly raised above ground level. The ground is completed with a set of modern looking floodlights. I noted that on the Air Products side of the stadium additional lighting is present half way up the floodlight pylons. One assumes that the height of the new stand prevented enough light getting to the pitch and hence additional lighting needed to be subsequently added. Top Of Page
Future Developments
At some point in the future, the club hopes to replace the Blue Bell BMW Stand (formerly known as the Popular Side) with a new two tiered stand, which will also contain executive boxes. Top Of Page
Air Products Stand
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What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?
Away fans are housed in the Blue Bell BMW Stand at one side of the ground. The whole of this stand is given to away supporters and houses 1,680 fans, though if required the Charles Audi Family Stand can also be allocated to away fans. Entrance to the away stand is by ticket only, (no cash is accepted at ironically some of the oldest turnstiles I have ever seen at a League Ground). Tickets need to be purchased from the ticket booth next to the supporters club at the entrance to this stand. Please also note that alcohol is not available in this stand. I found Crewe to be relaxed and friendly, making for a good day out. There was a large away support on my last visit which boosted the atmosphere of the ground, however I have heard reports that it can be a bit flat at certain games, even with the efforts of a drummer in the home end. There was a good range of Hollands pies (Ł2), pasties (Ł2) and sausage rolls (Ł1.50) from the refreshment kiosk, as well as hot dogs (Ł2.50). There are a couple of supporting pillars in the Blue Bell BMW Stand which if you are unlucky could effect your view of the playing action. There is a popular fish and chip shop just outside of the stadium, the smell of which, early in the game, wafts across the ground. As an aside, this is the only ground when just sitting there minding my own business, during the first half, I suddenly get a big wet tongue in my ear! Now before you all starting thinking all sorts of connotations (and I should add that Mrs Adams wasn't with me), it was in actual fact a black Labrador dog, that was the culprit. This was my introduction to Pebble the trainee guide dog, who had been brought to the match to get used crowd situations. Now just when I thought I had experienced it all on my travels... Top Of Page
Where To Drink?
If you get there reasonably early before the game, the supporters club at the ground allows small numbers of away fans in. There are also a number of pubs within walking distance of the ground. The pick of these, is probably the Royal Hotel on Nantwich Road. As Barry Cutts a visiting Coventry City supporter adds; 'I found the Royal Hotel to be a warm & welcoming drinking house. Turn left out of the railway station & the pub is 50 yards down this road on the right hand side. There is also a fantastic chippie opposite'. Although the pub does not look that welcoming, with a number of bouncers on the door, once inside you will find it okay. There are separate bars for home and away supporters. The away supporters bar is called Clancys and is decked out in an Irish theme. On my last visit it had a large screen showing Sky Sports and had a number of filled rolls for sale. For those who like their real ale then further down Nantwich Road on the left hand side just past the traffic lights is the British Lion. This comfortable small pub is listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide and has regular changing guest beers. If you park on the industrial estate just off Weston Road, then on your way to the ground you will pass the Brocklebank Pub, a Brewers Fayre outlet, which is very popular with away fans. It is also has a large screen showing Sky Sports. You can also park in their own car park which costs Ł1 for three hours. The cost of parking is refundable off your bill if you use their restaurant. Top Of Page
Blue Bell BMW Stand
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How To Get There By Car & Where To Park
Leave the M6 at Junction 16 and take the A5020 towards Crewe. Follow this road right into Crewe. At the roundabout junction with the A534, Nantwich Road, turn left. Gresty Road is down past the Railway Station on the left. Just before you reach this island on Weston Road, you will see a sign pointing to the right, which displays; 'Away Supporters On Street Parking'. This directs you to an industrial estate on the right of the road (you will also see the Volkswagen dealership, L C Charles on the front of it). It takes about 15 minutes to walk to the ground from here. For a map showing the location of Gresty Road 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. Top Of Page
By Train
The ground is only a few minutes walk from the train station. As you come out of the Railway Station turn left and Gresty Road is down the road on your left. Top Of Page
Advance Personnel Stand
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Local Rivals
Stoke City & Port Vale. Top Of Page
Admission Prices
All Areas Of The Ground: Adults Ł19, O.A.P.'s Ł15, Under 16's Ł8.50, Under 11's Ł4.50 Club members can qualify for a discount on these ticket prices. Top Of Page
Programme & Fanzines
Official Programme Ł2.50 Super Dario Land Fanzine Ł1 Once In A Blue Moon Ł1 Top Of Page
Ground Layout
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Fixtures 2007-2008
For the Crewe fixture list click here (to take you to the BBC Sports Website). Top Of Page
Disabled Facilities
For details of disabled facilities at the ground please visit the relevant page on the National Association Of Disabled Supporters (NADS) website. Top Of Page
Record & Average Attendance
Record Attendance: 20,000 v Tottenham Hotspur FA Cup 4th Round, January 6th, 1960. Modern All Seated Attendance Record: 10,103 v Manchester United Carling Cup Round 3rd Round, October 26th, 2004. Average Attendance: 2006-2007: 5,461 (League One) 2005-2006: 6,732 (Championship League) 2004-2005: 7,403 (Championship League) Top Of Page
Fans Reviews Of Gresty Road
Jordan Pattison (Bradford City) 19/8/06 Martyn Smith (Derby County) 5/4/05 M Read (Stoke City) 23/3/04 Top Of Page
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 Crewe page click here. Top Of Page
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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