Contacts:

Miscellaneous:

Directions:

By Road
The ground is well signposted in and around Swindon town centre. Just follow signs for 'The County Ground'.

From M4 Junction 15
Follow the A4259 (Queens Drive) towards Swindon. Go across one roundabout and at the next take the first exit onto the A4312 (signposted Swindon/Football Traffic). You will see the floodlights of the County Ground over on the right, as you approach the large Magic Roundabout. The County Ground is on the corner of this roundabout.

From the North
A419 from Cricklade/Cirencester/M5: Continue on the A419 until reaching the top of the new 3 lane stretch of dual-carriageway, which runs uphill. (I would advise to stay in the inside lane on this climb as the exit approaches quickly). Take the exit at the top of the hill (Lady Lane Junction). At the lights go right, then almost immediately at the next set of lights go left. Follow this road through the next set of traffic lights (passing the Motorola building to the right), then branch left onto the A4311. From here follow this road, following signs for Town Centre. At Transfer Bridges roundabouts turn left at the first and then straight over the second. The County Ground is on the left after the mini-roundabout. The County Ground is one of the few remaining football stadiums you can notice from a fair distance, due to the striking floodlights. Thanks to Robin Sharpe for supplying the directions.

If you survive the Magic Roundabout then there is some street parking. Otherwise park at the cricket club (take County Road off the Magic 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) which costs £5. Steve Pollott a visiting Wolverhampton Wanderers fan adds; ' We parked at the St Joseph Catholic college in Ocotal Way. It cost £5 per car and was only a ten minute walk away from the ground. However, it was bit slow getting out at the end of the game, but it was well run.' There is some parking available at the ground itself for a cost of £10.


By Train
The County Ground is walkable from Swindon Railway Station and will take you around 10-15 minutes. Leave the station, cross the road and proceed up the road between the two pubs (Great Western and Queen's Tap), continue to end of road. Turn left, proceed along Manchester Road, through traffic lights as far as you can go. At the junction turn right. The County Ground is about 300 yards up this road on the left. Thanks to John Bishop for providing me with the directions.


 

General Information:

The plot of land on which today’s County Ground sits has been home to Swindon Town since 1896, with a local brewery donating £300 in order for the club to construct the first stand. A pivotal moment in the club’s history, even to this day Swindon have named a stand in honour of Thomas Arkell, who owned the Arkell Brewery.

The history of Swindon’s ground has mostly been one of periodic development, with the club able to invest in new facilities as and when they had the requisite money. It wasn’t until 1932 that the first covered stand was erected for example, and even the roof which covered the Town End Terrace in 1938 was funded by donations from the Supporters Club.

During the Second World War, the ground was commandeered by the Army and used to house Prisoners of War. Receiving compensation of £4,570, this partially helped the club fund ground-breaking floodlights in 1951. Although Fratton Park was the first ground to host a flood-lit league match, The Country Ground hosted a friendly match before against Bristol City on 2nd April 1951.

In the wake of the Hillsborough disaster, and the publication of the Taylor Report, County Ground was converted to all-seater in the 1990s. This process saw the addition of the new Don Rogers Stand in 1994, and later the replacement of the terrace on the Shrivenham Road, resulting in the stadium’s current capacity of 15,728.

Constructed on land owned by Swindon Borough Council who Swindon pay rent to, the club have long harboured ambitions of building their own stadium. However, after being relegated to League Two at the end of the 2010-2011 season, it would appear as if the club are content to stay at Country Ground, and are now planning to upgrade the facilities to a modern 19,000 capacity arena.

Last Season: 22nd, Football League One

Average Attendance: 7,026

A Fans View:

Away fans are located in the Arkells Stand at one side of the pitch, where up to 1,200 fans can be housed. This is an older stand with facilities to match, but at least you are under cover. If you are at the back of this stand there is one supporting pillar which may impair your view of the goal otherwise it is fine. You even get a view of some of the rolling Marlborough Hills beyond one corner of the ground! There is a small kiosk at the back of stand serving amongst other things a range of pies, but be careful when taking them back to your seat. The entrances to the seating areas are through large solid doors, and to compound matters they open out towards you!

Teams with a larger away following can also be allocated the Stratton Bank End if required. A further 2,100 fans can be accommodated in this area, but the end has no cover and is open to the elements. Fine on a nice sunny day, but on a cold wet, winters day, it can be grim. This area was a former terrace that has had seating bolted onto it, which meant that the height between rows is not great. I found Swindon to be a relaxed and fairly friendly day out, although the size of Police presence on my last visit seemed excessive.

Food on offer inside includes Pies; Chicken Balti (£3.40), Steak & Ale (£3.40), Cheeseburgers (£3.50), Burgers (£3.50), Hot Dogs (£3.80), Sausage Rolls (£2.50), Beef Pasties (£3), plus Cheese & Onion Pasties (£2.50).