Blunders aplenty at Blundell Park over the years, which might be why Grimsby Town, who play here,…read moreare languishing in the conference. But when the wind whips off the North Sea and batters the Grimsby coastline, the stadium, which is just a few feet from the shore, really takes a pelting, and so do the opponents. This is a proper stadium, the kind which you will not find in many places. This is traditional lower-league English football, intimate and raucous but open to the elements.
First-Hand Experience: More info about my personal experience at this stadium - I spent a night sleeping right next to this wonderful non league stadium that used to be a league stadium, and a good one. It still has all the charm and character... it's enclosed and it's intense and it's big. I have to give it 5 stars because based on the two games I've seen here (2005 and 2011), this is one of the best stadiums in the country in the lower leagues. Come and see it for yourself.
I've been to most UK & US stadiums, due to lifelong obsessions with travel, sport & especially footy (soccer to Americans). Born & raised in England, I followed Oxford United (hometown team) to stadia all over the country at away games, and later Liverpool (fave team) around. Every stadium review - like all my reviews - are from first-hand personal experience, usually from several visits. In 2011, I was on music tour in the UK, and visited most stadiums for fun in my spare time. As recently as Fall 2014, when I was "stuck" in UK for 3 months, I went to hundreds yet again while travelling. I have pictures of me at most, which I'll post later. Also, when back in UK I'll take more pix, and add more stadia!
*** return to regular review ***
Yes, I've visited every ground and club in the UK (it was a little mission I was on, a long time ago), but there are very few I actually spent the night at. However, I spent the night at Blundell Park once. Parked next to it, actually, sleeping in the car. There was a creaking hanging sign on a nearby pub in the howling wind that gave the place a real haunted feel. I'd just dropped off one of my CDs at the house of a fan of my music who lived in Grimsby.
Wonderful stadium, wonderful club, 5/5 all round.