Nearly There!

Car Parking: S.P. Rating: (2) This is where Glenavon fall down, I have never found my way into their car park. Maybe that's my fault, but somehow I doubt it, I usually have to find on street parking. If I'm early (two thirtish), I can usually get a spot on the road outside the ground, probably on the ample footpath, if arriving later it's a matter of parking somewhere on the main road.

Access: S.P. Rating: (4) Like lots of other grounds Glenavon have both sets of supporters entering by adjacent turnstiles (supposedly they are going to have separate entrances in the near future) . On the plus side visitors are segregated from home fans once inside, but the turnstiles are akin to trying on clothes that are too small, breathtaking.

Spectating Facilities: S.P. Rating: (6) This is without doubt one of the best away grounds for seeing the action. From the middle of the stand it's not possible to see all of the touchlines as the stand is too close but it's pretty good. There's is a wee bit of a security worry as it's possible to get access onto the pitch, a worry for players and fans alike.

Toilets: S.P. Rating: (6) The toilets at Lurgan are among the best, not as good as Windsor Park, but at least 'they' were open. The building itself is quite cold but then again who wants to hang around in those places (only perverts), but they fulfil their need adequately.

Playing Surface: S.P. Rating: (6) The pitch is fairly good but there appears to be a low part running close to the centre for about 20 yards. If I had to hazard a guess I'd say this was a drainage ditch which had sunk, but all in all the surface appears to be good and is conducive to good football as both teams proved on the day.

Not Astute!

Car Parking: S.P. Rating: (2 ) Yes there is a car park and for the first time in all my visits to Drumaho I actually managed to get parking in it, at all other times I have been refused entry. Maybe the secret is to drive up to the gate as if you're a regular, as I did on this occasion, otherwise there is only about ten spaces on the road, nowhere near enough for even our wee crowd of travelling fans.

Access: S.P. Rating: ( 6) Access is fine but there seems to be only one turnstile, but on the plus side staff are courteous, a lot better than some I could mention (Linfield please take note).

Spectating Facilities: S.P. Rating: ( 4) Institute's ground looks as if it should be okay as there is a small stand for visiting fans. Unfortunately they decided to 'plonk' two dugouts on that side and as a result it's impossible to see about 20% of the pitch.

Toilets: S.P. Rating: ( 2) Like most clubs this is where Institute fall down, there's only one cubicle, there's no light in it no paper and no way of securing the door. This toilet remains well short of the 20th century, never mind the 21st. I realise some fans do sometimes behave like animals (one of our fans actually brought a glass bottle into the ground), but the remainder of us deserve, nay demand something better.

Playing Surface: S.P. Rating: ( 4) I'm giving the surface a (4) as it was in fair nick even with all the rain we've had recently, but like the majority of Irish league grounds it hasn't had a roller for quite a considerable time. Is there a new F.I.F.A. rule that says you can't use a roller on your ground once the season has kicked off? That of course is a rhetorical question, as it's just yet another example of clubs blind economism, save a little money and get 2nd rate football.

Footnote: Institute's ground is adequate but it's basically a first division ground and need some drastic updating!