THE RECKLESS GUIDE TO:
FARNBOROUGH

Pre Season Friendly
Tuesday 17th July 2007
Kick Off 7.45pm

Address Of Ground Cherrywood Road, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 8UD
Telephone 01252 541469
Club Colours Yellow & Blue
Nickname The Borough
Official Club website www.farnboroughfc.co.uk

Key Personnel
Manager: Andy Clements

Brief Directions By Road
M25 to junction 12 joining the M3 at its junction 2. Pray that there are no roadworks being undertaken on this section as you only require to travel 2 more junctions and leave the M3 motorway at Junction 4. Take the A331 road signposted to Farnham. After a few hundred yards exit at the second slip road - signposted A325 Farnborough - turn right at the roundabout and cross back over the dual carriageway. Pass the Farnborough Gate shopping centre on your left and at the next roundabout turn left staying on the A325. With a garage to your left go over a pelican crossing and at the next set of lights take the right filter into Prospect Avenue. At the end of this road turn right into Cherrywood Road. The ground is half a mile on the right. It is approx. 60 miles from Barnet to Farnborough FC
Car Parking There is parking for approx. 200 cars at the ground for a £2.50 charge. Disabled spaces are available adjacent to the Moor Road turnstiles. Please note that it will take a little time to get away from the car park. Street parking is unrestricted.

By Train
Trains from London Waterloo take around 40 minutes. From Farnborough Main station turn right onto Union Street. After half a mile turn right at the traffic lights and into Prospect Road, go under the railway bridge and follow this road over two roundabouts (where it becomes Cherrywood Road). The ground is on the right half a mile beyond the second roundabout. Allow 25 minutes to walk. Taxi fare approx. £2.50 one way is another and much more civilised option.

Supporters Coaches
Further details about Supporters coach travel and how to book can be found at the BFCSA website at www.bfcsa.co.uk

Last Visit To Cherrywood Road & Memories
Our last visit was in August 2004 when 1,069 fans witnessed a 0-0 draw. In the past an awesome display by Frankie Murphy and Andy Clarke assured Barnet of a 4-1 victory at Underhill just before Christmas 1989 and perhaps Sean Devine's greatest ever goal in a Barnet shirt was scored at Cherrywood Road - a 25 yard last minute looping volley to level the scores 2-2 in a televised FA Cup tie November 1996. Why did it not win the Match of the Day Goal of the Month?

Where To Get A Decent Drink
Locally The Thatched Cottage in Prospect Road is perfect for a pre match meal (according to big eating veteran supporter and Main Stander Old Boy) and in the past the beer garden has been enjoyed by a boisterous Bees Army before a match. The Prince of Wales, which is very close to Farnborough North Station on Rectory Road, is reputedly one of the best pubs in the area. A little further afield is the Tradesman Pub in the nearby village of Cove which is just 5 minutes drive from the ground heading towards town.

Where To Get A Bite To Eat Locally
There is very little on offer locally outside the ground. There is one of those unmentionable Scottish sounding Drive Thru's if you really must, but try hard to give it a miss just this once mmm? The catering inside the ground is OK with fairly normal burgers, pies, dogs and hot drinks etc.
The Social Club Away fans are made welcome in the Dug Out Social Club before and after the match. This can be found outside the ground and it opens at 6.30pm

Ground Description
The main seating area is a very small and bitty affair with tiny 3 stands almost bolted together. I believe away fans were not permitted to sit there but as this is a friendly I am sure this will be relaxed. There is a small amount of terracing either side of it. The end terracing is basically sub standard and very shallow but there is partial cover behind one of the goals. Opposite the main stand is a small covered seated area occupying half of the side which was on a first come first serve basis. The remainder of this side is covered terracing, which again is fairly shallow.

Admission Prices
Terrace Adults £8.00, Concessions £4.00, Juniors £1.00 - Family Stand Seating Adults and Concessions £2.00 transfer. Disabled supporters have free entry with helpers paying concessionary rates.

Rivals Arch rivals are Aldershot Town and games against the Shots always attract bumper attendances. Others include Woking (although Surrey is far too posh to have real football fans) and Slough Town.

Overnight Stay Factor
At just over an hour's drive away this doesn't grab me by the suitcase. However an afternoon at superfan and potato crisp guru John C's's new house in Basingstoke for a bar-b-que sounds more like it as I am on holiday that week. Seek me out and I will give you the address if you fancy it.

Celebrity Watch
Farnborough is famous for its International Airshow that has been held in July since 1932. Conservative MP and Radio broadcaster David Mellor went to school in Farnborough as did Paul Weller of the mod pop group The Jam fame. The most famous ex resident however has to be Cyril Ambrose who was born in Farnborough in 1907. He moved his family dairy to Devon in 1933 and invented and then established a delicacy which is to be found in possibly every kitchen food larder in the country - Ambrosia Full Cream Rice.

Thanks To Nigel Long and Farnborough On the Web for contributions to this guide.