United return to action with a trip to Swindon Town's County Ground this weekend. Here is our matchday guide...
The County Ground…The County Ground can hold just over 15,500 fans in total. They have been tenants at the Ground since it opened in 1896.
Located 80 miles west of London, in Wiltshire, the County Ground is a traditional all-seater stadium, with two larger stands alongside two smaller ones.
The Arkells Stand is the main one, due to the changing facilities and dugouts all on that side. It was built in 1974 as part of the ground’s redevelopment and it has a few supporting pillars throughout. This is where the away fans are normally housed and it is believed to be quite old facilities, although it is covered, which is a plus.
Facing the Arkells Stand is the Don Rogers Stand, which doesn’t have posts and it is two-tiered. The FastPlant Town End is the popular stand for the supporters to make the noise in. It is one of the smaller, sheltered stands situated behind the goal and has pillars to support it throughout. At the opposite end of the pitch is the Stratton Bank Stand, which is also where the electronic scoreboard is. Next to the board is a Rolex timekeeper and the clock is believed to be the only Rolex clock that can found within a football ground anywhere in the World.
Getting there…
The County Ground is well signposted when you get near Swindon so you could follow that, but here’s the full instructions on how to get there from the home of the Iron.
Departing from Glanford Park, take the first exit at the roundabout by Tesco’s onto Doncaster Road, then continue to the next roundabout, taking the first exit again onto the M181, heading towards Humber Bridge/Doncaster/M180.
After two miles, keep right at the fork, following signs for Doncaster/M180 before merging onto the M180. Continue for just over 12 miles and take the exit onto the M18 towards the M1/Doncaster.
Continue for 20 miles and merge onto the M1.
Continue for nearly 42 miles and exit at junction 23A, towards M42/Tamworth/Birmingham and merge onto the A42 after ½ a mile. Continue for 77 miles towards Tamworth/Birmingham.
After 15 miles, keep right at the fork and follow signs for M42/London/M40/Coventry and merge onto the M42.
After 25 miles, merge onto the M5, continuing for 36.5 miles until junction 11A, where you should exit onto the A417 towards London/Cirencester.
Merge onto the A417, continuing until the roundabout, taking the second exit to stay on the A417. Go straight on at the next roundabout and keep ahead for 14.5 miles.
Continue for the A419 and after 7.5 miles, take the B4019 exit towards Swindon N&W/A4311/Highworth/Blunsdon.
After 0.2 miles, turn right onto B4019 and then take a left onto Lady Ln/B4534.
Continue for 0.4 miles and continue onto Thamesdown Dr/A4311.
Take a slight left after 0.2 miles onto Cricklade Rd/A4311 and continue to follow A4311, going through four roundabouts.
At Elgin Drive roundabout, take the second exit to stay on the A4311, and continue, going straight ahead at the next roundabout.
After ½ a mile, you will come to another roundabout. Take the 1st exit onto County RD/A4289. You may see signs for the ground now as it is nearing.
Go through the proceeding roundabout and after nearly ½ a mile, turn left and the home of Swindon Town Football Club will be on the right.
There is some street parking. Otherwise park at the cricket club (take County Road off the roundabout, go past the County Hotel on your right, you will see a small sign further down on your right for football parking, just before the mini roundabout).
St Joseph Catholic College in Ocotal Way also has parking, it costs £5 per car and is a ten minute walk away. There is some parking available at the ground itself for £10.
Address: The County Ground, Swindon, SN1 2ED