Capacity: 3,200 (Seats (709) Address: Grosvenor Vale, , HA4 6JQ LAST TIME OUT Telephone: 01895 637487 Fax: 020 8907 4421 Pitch Type: Grass Club Nickname: The Stones down from left to right. It also has a temporary DIRECTIONS & PARKING FOR VISITORS roof with a number of supporting pillars running TUESDAY 8TH AUGUST 2017 across the front of it, which could impede your Leave the M25 at Junction 16 and take Wealdstone’s Grosvenor Vale is one of those view. Nonetheless, the leg room is good and it is the M40 towards . At the end of quirky grounds that grow a little bit, almost hoped that at a later date that a cantilever roof the M40 the road becomes the A40. Take imperceptibly, every time you visit. An added MATCH PACK will be installed. On one side of this stand is a the first exit on the A40, onto the B467 stand here; extra terracing there; a new tea bar; catering unit. towards Ruislip. At the roundabout at By Lee Wood & Jake Ellacott extended club shop; and oh, where did that the top of the slip road take the first exit electronic scoreboard spring from? At the opposite end is the ‘Bulla Stand’ that went towards /Ruislip. Continue up after a summer-long effort from the fans’ work along the B467 going across two But it's a ground absolutely cherished by the parties and was opened in August 2013 for a roundabouts. At the end of the B467 you A controversial sending off proved the club’s supporters, who have completely renovated friendly v Chelsea. This elevated covered terrace, will reach a T-junction that has a small start of a crazy 15 minutes that finally the place in the space of just six years - using with steel steps, has been added to again during bandstand located in front of you. resulted in an unlikely 2-1 win for St entirely their own cash and skilled labour. Albans City. 2014 and is home to the club’s most raucous fans. Well, they built it - why not make some noise in Turn left here onto the High Road. Follow After leaving their iconic Lower Mead ground in it? With these piecemeal additions to the ground the High Road passing West Ruislip 1991, the Stones spent 17 years of nomadic Tom Bender was given his marching orders (and that bizarre gun turret) it’s not surprising that Station on your right and at the wandering, ground-sharing with Watford, on 51 minutes for deliberate handball in a Grosvenor Vale is a bit of a loveable hotch-potch. roundabout with the White Bear pub on moment of confusion at Clarence Park. , Edgware and then Northwood. In 2008 a the right hand corner, take the fourth exit number of Wealdstone directors took over the Elliot Benyon thought he had put The original buildings are still into Wood Lane. Continue along Wood lease of Ruislip Manor Sports & Social Club in Wealdstone ahead but the linesman there, with the Main Stand a low, corrugated-iron Lane crossing one small roundabout and 2008, when its occupant Ruislip Manor FC folded, flagged it offside. structure of six rows of 250 white seats. at the next roundabout bear right onto finally giving the Stones a permanent home at the West End Road. Then take the second tattered and peeling Grosvenor Vale Stadium. However, the referee decided Bender had On the opposite side of the ground, a small area left hand turn into Grosvenor Vale. stopped the ball on the line with his hand of 80-odd seats (with an overhang roof from the In just a few months the ground was spruced up, and gave a penalty. The City centre-half Social Club) is flanked by another area of covered CAR PARKING partly rebuilt and ready for Ryman Premier League was livid and pointed to a hefty red mark in terracing (Brian Collins Corner) and a much longer There are hundreds of field-parking football. And over the next half-dozen years, work his midrift as proof of his innocence. The stretch of open terracing that is added to every spaces at the ground itself, accessed by parties have added extra covered capacity behind spot-kick was missed though, a summer, backed by blue-painted container the narrow Grosvenor Vale, but if the both goals, extra steps around the whole stadium combination of Dean Snedker and the post buildings that house the club’s excellent club shop weather is very wet the club will only and even an electric scoreboard. keeping Benyon out. That was with the (the WFC ‘megastore’, which is well worth a visit). open the small hard-standing car park. score at 1-1, Josh Hill having put Stones There is plentiful street parking around ahead on his return to Clarence Park before The ground is most notable for a unique feature in the stadium, however, but best to avoid Sam Merson made it two-in-two four British football stadia: A towering concrete gun WHERE TO DRINK the very narrow Cranley Drive minutes from the break. WEALDSTONE V ST ALBANS CITY midfielder’s Luke Williams and Stephane turret at its North East corner used to protect immediately outside the ground. Ngamvoulou and striker David Pratt, who signed nearby Northolt Aerodrome from German bombing There is a Social Club at the ground (the entrance Pavement parking is NOT allowed here. It’s a return to action this from Chippenham Town just last week. during World War II. Nowadays, although brightly The dismissal gave Wealdstone the to which is located outside the stadium) that weekend for the Saints as we take on painted in white & blue like the rest of the impetus, but amazingly it was City who normally admits visiting supporters. Otherwise BY TRAIN Wealdstone. Pratt was cup-tied for Wealdstone’s 1-0 FA Trophy stadium, it is slightly overshadowed by the 'Couch scored the go-ahead goal; and what a there are a couple of pubs in easy walking Ruislip is blessed with an astonishing beauty it was. Zane Banton raced a long victory over Wingate & Finchley last Saturday, but Corner’ stand at that end of the ground, named five railway/underground stations: The Saints took on the Stones in only the second distance of the ground and Ruislip Tube Station on way into the Wealdstone half, ghosting is in line to make his debut for the Stones this after former club statistician Roy Couch, which is Ruislip and Ruislip Manor both on the game of the season in early August at Clarence Victoria Road. These are the St George's Tavern past defenders as he went, before firing weekend and the Saints will have to work hard if a section of covered terracing. and the Piccadilly Park, and it was Ian Allinson’s side who came out and JJ Moons, the latter being a Wetherspoons low past Jonathan North. they are to hope to keep the prolific forward quiet Line; West Ruislip and on top that evening. Zane Banton scored the pub. Apart from food on offer at the ground then on his debut. In 2017 a six row covered seated stand, with a are on the Central Line. West Ruislip is winner after a jinking run through the Wealdstone another good recommendation is the traditional Rhys Murrell-Williamson had a glorious capacity of 360 seats, was put in place at that end also on the Chiltern Main line out of defence, who despite having a man advantage Paul’s Manor Cafe at 122 Victoria Road, again chance late on to make it three but a bad While the Stones did progress in the FA Trophy, next to Crouch Corner, which is the newest London Marylebone. after Bender’s red card, missed a penalty and close to the tube station. touch saw the opportunity disappear. the previous weekend saw Wilkinson’s side suffer addition to the Vale. The stand looks a little odd Wealdstone though couldn’t find a way failed to capitalise. as although it is level, the pitch in front slopes a 3-1 National League South defeat at the hands With thanks to www.footballgroundguide.com is a bit further away from through, despite peppering the box, and it Grovsnor Vale but is also on the Central However, there has been plenty of change at the of Concord Rangers, with former Saint Eddie was St Albans who kept the 100 per cent Line and the Chiltern Main Railway Line. Stones since that victory and it will be a very Oshodi’s goal proving to be the only consolation record intact. It will be a difficult result for THE LAST TEN ENCOUNTERS Services are a bit infrequent from different side that the Saints will face on on the day for Wealdstone. PRICES Stones who were by the far better team in Marylebone to South Ruislip and West Adults £13 the first period. Yet like the second half Saturday. The club from Grosvenor Vale will therefore be 08.08.2017 National League South H 2 - 1 654 Ruislip Stations, so best to check before chances were limited, and other than the OAP/Students £9 eager to return to winning ways as they continue 28.02.2017 National League South H 0 - 3 563 travel. goal, Shaqile Hippolyte-Patrick had the Gordon Bartlett departed the club a month later Under 18's £3 to look to keep the pressure up on the sides 08.08.2016 National League South A 2 - 2 824 best two efforts for them. The first rattled and was replaced by Bobby Wilkinson, who Under 12's Free inside the top seven. 23.04.2016 National League South A 1 - 1 777 Ruislip station (a five minute walk from the crossbar, although really should have arrived from Hungerford Town. The new boss has 14.11.2015 National League South H 1 - 0 708 the stadium) is marginally nearer than flown underneath. wasted no time in putting his own personal PROGRAMME PRICE Ruislip Manor, while Ruislip Gardens (if If you can’t make it to West London we’ll have in- 28.02.2015 Conference South H 1 - 3 877 stamp on the squad and those changes have seen Matchday Programme £2.50 the Metropolitan Line is shut for depth and informative match day coverage 02.12.2014 FA Trophy 3rd QR A 0 - 3 324 A ball from the left skipped past Bender to the West London club move within four points of engineering works, as occasionally the top seven. throughout on the club Twitter account - 29.11.2014 FA Trophy 3rd Q H 1 - 1 457 the winger who lashed it on the half-volley RECORD ATTENDANCE happens on a Saturday) is a 10 minute @stalbanscityfc. past Dean Snedker but flush off the 2,469 v Colchester United FA Cup 20.09.2014 Conference South A 3 - 0 768 walk from the ground along West End Wilkinson has overseen the arrivals of woodwork. First Round, 7th November 2015. 16.09.1989 FA Cup / 1st QF H 1 - 2 526 Road. experienced players such as defender Matt Day, COYS! w stalbanscityfc.com St Albans City Football Club @stalbanscityfc stalbanscity_fc w stalbanscityfc.com St Albans City Football Club @stalbanscityfc stalbanscity_fc