SeasideEssexXile writes about Blackpool’s trip to Fleetwood Town on Saturday.
Highbury – Fleetwood Town
By SeasideEssexXile
Th the magic of the cup. No matter whatever we do between now and the end of time mention Blackpool and football and everyone will say The Matthews Final.
The cup for us over the majority of the last 30 years has seen us take the role of giant killers or whenever we played Altrincham or Yeovil giant killed.
The draw sees us pick up the closest derby possible, a Pool fan bankrolling the cods up the tables the scene is set for a Fylde coast cracker.
How To Get There
Bus, walk, sail but if going by car and in exile leave the 55 at Junction 3 and take the A585 towards Fleetwood. On the outskirts of Fleetwood you will come to a roundabout with Blackpool and Fylde college on your left. Continue straight on towards Fleetwood but after the roundabout take the first left into Copse Road. After about a mile and as you pass Fleetwood Fire station on your left then branch left and turn left onto to Radcliffe Road (going back on yourself but in parallel with Copse Road).Then take the next right into Stanley Road and the ground is at the bottom of this road on your left.
For the sat navvers – FY7 6TX
For the Virgin Lovers amongst us – PLF is 5 miles away, Blackpool North 7 😉
The Ground
The first game took place in September 1939, just before the outbreak of the Second World War, which meant the second game at the ground was some seven years later as all football was immediately suspended.
Between 1948 and 1952 Highbury was also used for Speedway with Fleetwood Flyers riding in Division Two of the National Speedway league.
Remnants of the track where still visible until recently as the old Main Stand and Scratching Shed were set back from the pitch by a large gap.
Today, the ground has a modern feel to it having been completely re-built in the last few years, keeping up with the teams’ rise with four promotions in six seasons. The latest addition to the ground is the impressive looking Parkside Stand which was first opened to fans in March 2011. This 2,000 capacity all seated stand was a built at a cost of around £4m. It has a single tier of seating, whilst above are two rows of executive/hospitality areas, the upper row of which has a small tier of seating outside. These are covered by a semi circular roof, with large glassed areas to either side which allow light to get to the pitch. At the front of this stand are the dugouts.
Opposite is the Highbury Stand, which is a small all-seated covered stand, which was opened in 2008. It is only six rows high, has a capacity of 550 and runs for only half the length of the pitch, meaning that there is a large open area next to it, although this area does feature some buildings including the team dressing rooms. Both ends are covered terraces of similar size. In one corner of the stadium between the Parkside and Memorial Stands is a large video screen.
Official Capacity – 5094, 800 names drawn from the hat inevitably means a sprinkling of tangerine in all areas of the ground.
Plod & Stewards
There`ll be a large plod presence, stewards should have little or nothing to handle.
Where To Drink
Jims bar (if you can get in) Jolly Sailor is 5 mins away, Wetherspoons in codsville or just drink in Blackpool before making the short trek.
Fear Factor Rating – 1
On paper it should mean a cup win at last for Holloway. Over the recent years our cup runs have been awful and it`s been 5yrs since our last FA Cup win. It`s on t`net, it`s on t`radio let`s just hope it`s not all over the back pages come Sunday morning.
Onwards + Upwards
