Oval Hovel!

Car parking, S.P. rating: (1), What car parking, there is no car parking at the Oval, except for the privileged few. For the rest of us it’s ‘on street’ parking and if you’re not there early, ‘god help you’, you’ll have a 3 mile camel hike!

Ease of access: S.P. rating: (5), There are plenty of turnstiles, but both home and visiting fans must use them which can cause a bit of a commotion. They are a wee bit tight for people with the fuller figure (fat love children), but not too bad. Staffs are civil but not outwardly friendly, just doing their job.

Spectating facilities: S.P rating: (3), The view from the visitors stand (terracing with seats best describes it), is not the best as there are posts which obstruct your vision and means you miss about 10% of the action. The other alternative is to stand behind the goal, but that in my opinion is a waste of time as what happens at the other end of the pitch is a mystery.

Toilets: S.P. rating: (2), Toilet facilities have improved vastly at the venue, but there are no hand-washing facilities, so best to carry a couple of tissues or live with the alternative!

Playing surface: S.P. rating: (7), One of the better surfaces (if not the best), although it floods fairly easily. Looks to have a slight slope from the city end to the Sydenham end or is that an optical illusion. Maybe it’s just my opinion but I think our team likes playing on it.