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I don't like the national stadium for two
reasons:-
1. The North Stand - Such a letdown, the concourse facilties aren't
used and it's ugly.
2. The non-use of terracing at scum games means that the ordinary
visiting punter is shafted each time they play at Windsor.
Things that need to be done are a refurbishment of the Railway Stand
and to sort out the catering. Queueing at half-time for a burger for 20
minutes is not acceptable for a national stadium. Oh and I hate Windsor
as well because the last time I saw Ballymena win there was the 1984
Cup Final so I've been a jinx on the boys since.
Suffers from the cages all round it and
lack of access to the social club but apart from that it's one of my
favourite days on the calendar, usually due to the alcohol consumed
beforehand !!
SEAVIEW, Crusaders
I hate Seaview because every time we play there
there's a fight and our bus windows get put out. The stand is crap but
the terracing makes up for it as does the enmity between the fans.
This is a first rate venue but the
big problem is finding the place as it's in the middle of nowhere.
Also, the Whites never seem to open the away turnstiles which means a
bloody long trek to the other side of the ground. Still, we won the
league here so who cares !!!
This placing depends on the segregation
levels employed by Plod. If we're stuck in the two sections then it's
rubbish and since we usually get humped here and it always rains, it
all makes for a miserable day out. However, if Plod are being normal
and we can get access to the social club the day brightens up
immensely. Still a good away day.
The Harbour Rats don't have any fans so we take
the place over and viewing from the home side is particulary good. The
drawback of this place is that it took me years of travel to see
Ballymena score here so I've never particularly liked the place.
Quite honestly it's a disgrace for a club of Lintorn's magnitude. The only bonus of the grass bank is an early
season 0-0 draw in August when you can catch some waves but the lack of
toilets just sums the place up. Still, it's higher than it should be
simply because of the Cup Final win over the Harbour Rats in '89.
In the middle of nowhere with no
hostelries in sight and with access to the social club infrequently
permitted, Omagh sounds like a nightmare. Still they deserve credit for
the work they have done. Mind you, I cast my mind back to a Black
Saturday 3 years ago (black in more ways than one because Hearts lost
their 22-in-a-row unbeaten record to Hibs the same day) where the Omagh
steward insisted on segregating the crowd. I counted the crowd as FORTY
(10 Omagh, 30 Ballymena). Nuff said.
A deathtrap waiting to happen plus you can
see duck all from the Kop end. Hate it. Worst ground in the Premier.
Oh I do like to be beside the
seaside...NOT ! It's always cold in Bangor in their crappy little
ground and the only decent thing I can say about the place is that I
once got out of primary school early on a Wednesday afternoon to see
Ballymena hump Bangor 5-1 to lift the Ulster Cup and I can remember it
like yesterday.
They've improved the terracing
but they should have improved the pitch. Taylor's Ave. is another
ground I have nightmares about trying to find but once you do find it
you realise you might as well watch the game from the road above. I was
once diddled here at the shop so that's enough for me to put it down
here.
Who's idea was it to let
Ballyflair into the league anyway. They have 2 fans, grass banking and
railway sleepers for terracing and not forgetting the shoebox that
apparently is a stand. The only good thing about the place is the
social club but that's stretching matters.
The worst. The last time I was
there there was nowhere to buy food and the toilet was a wall beside
the concrete gazebo that's supposed to be a stand. The next time I go
there it could be much improved but I don't hold my breath.
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