Kingsmeadow- AFC Wimbledon/Kingstonian Ground Guide

Smudge

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How Easy Was The Ground to Get To (from the station, by car, etc)
Mega easy by train, direct train from Waterloo to Norbiton, and about a 10 minute walk from there, if that.

If Applicable, How is Parking Near The Ground?
N/A

Based on Where You Were Sat, How Was the View?
I was in the home terrace. The view was unobscured, but the steps were very shallow, so not great.

How Were The Stewards on The Day?
No problems

If You Ate at The Ground, How Would You Rate the Food?
Never ate

How Was The Atmosphere At The Ground, From Both Sets of Supporters? Does the Stadium Hold the Noise?
Was quite disappointing really, even before Wimbledon started getting battered.

How Are the Pubs and Local Attractions in The Local Area?
Couple of places to eat on the street near the ground, and there is a big bar on site at the ground which is okay.

Overall Score Out of 10?
Very non league, understandably. Quite disappointing.
6/10
 

Aberstone

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I'd score it about the same as well. I went to our match vs. Kingstonian a couple of years ago and the 'big blue monstrosity' was off limits forcing us down the side where away supporters are segregated. The dugouts block a good section of the pitch and god knows what viewing is like when 750 people are crammed in there. There was approximately 150 of us and the sightlines were poor.

Bar was very spacious as mentioned, but there are no other redeeming features to make someone go out of their way to visit Kingsmeadow.
 

rudebwoyben

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This is a poor venue for a League 2 football club but it's understandable as they have to make do with what they've got until they get permission to build the new ground at Plough Lane. However, even the bits that have been renovated/improved aren't that great!
The away section is awful; very shallow steps and the dugouts in front of the terracing make viewing very difficult at the best of times. If you're part of a big away crowd you're not going to see very much. The low roof makes it feel very claustrophobic as well.
The ground is quite easily reachable by train from central London. Norbiton is the neaerest station and is about 10 minutes walk from Kingsmeadow.
There isn't very much in the way of places to eat/drink near the ground, I'd imagine that you're better off going into Kingston.
I'd give this ground 4/10.
 

Murphy

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How Easy Was The Ground to Get To (from the station, by car, etc)
Quick and easy from Waterloo, although Norbiton train station is rather curiously located down a side-street which makes for an interesting walk to the ground. Still, it's not far, once you come across the main road, turn left onto it and the ground is about 10 minutes down on the right hand side.

If Applicable, How is Parking Near The Ground?
Parking opportunities look poor. It's a busy urban area, you'd have your work cut out.

Based on Where You Were Sat, How Was the View?
Away fans get the option of half of the terracing running alongside the pitch or a small segment of the seated stand behind the goal where a terrace used to be. I've always been in the terrace, and while the view is both obscured and so close to the pitch that you can't see the action in the far left-hand corner, it's strangely very interesting. It gives you the opportunity to stand right behind the dugouts, giving an unparalleled spectacle at a football ground of a manager in action. The view isn't all that bad, but the terrace isn't raised at all and is extremely cramped when there's a decent number. Still, I'd have it any day over a generic modern stadium - it has character.

How Were The Stewards on The Day?
On our visit in 2013 the stewards were not accommodating at all. We had been given less area than usual in the terrace, and this caused some friction as it was tightly packed and for a large part they refused to offer us anymore space - despite the fact this was easily done. Aside from that, they've largely been ok.

If You Ate at The Ground, How Would You Rate the Food?
Food in the away end is pretty good and more than reasonably priced, especially for chips - one of the better grounds in the division if you fancy something inside the ground.

How Was The Atmosphere At The Ground, From Both Sets of Supporters? Does the Stadium Hold the Noise?
If Wimbledon are performing well/winning then the home terrace at one end of the pitch carries a decent roar, aside from that there's not much in the way of atmosphere.

How Are the Pubs and Local Attractions in The Local Area?
Not too many pubs in the local area, there's one located about 5 minutes down the road from the entrance to the away end which we went into. It had a Dart board and pool table, but as with anywhere in that area of London, pints were around about £4 which I don't like. Wimbledon tends to be a fairly non-descript away day for Daggers fans.

Overall Score Out of 10?
Could be better, could be worse.

6/10.
 

rudebwoyben

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The funny thing is that Kingsmeadow is a modern ground. The side terrace is the only part that hasn't changed since it was built 26 years ago!
 

Murphy

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The funny thing is that Kingsmeadow is a modern ground. The side terrace is the only part that hasn't changed since it was built 26 years ago!

Ay but you know what I mean compared with Oxford/Northampton ;)
 

rudebwoyben

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I'd think that visiting Kingsmeadow for a Kingstonian match would be a better experience than going there for an AFC Wimbledon match.
 

Meadow

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A lot of this info refers to AFC Wimbledon only.

How Easy Was The Ground to Get To (from the station, by car, etc)

It's about a mile from the A3 and I'd recommend taking the A2043 towards New Malden rather than the B282, even when coming from London. Getting onto the Fountain roundabout from the B282 can often take a while.

If Applicable, How is Parking Near The Ground?
There are about 400 parking spaces available on a matchday (not including players, blue badge holders and VIP's). It does fill up pretty quickly though, and you're unlikely to get a space after 2pm/7pm (earlier if there's an event taking place in the adjoining athletics track). 300 spaces are on grass, and this often has to be closed after a prolonged period of rain. There is only one entrance/exit and it can take a while to get out after the match.

The local area is a mix of residential and retail/industrial. You should be able to find spaces in the roads opposite - King Henry's Road, Waters Road etc - but a lot of households have off-street parking and the residents don't take kindly to having their driveways blocked. Don't park in Homebase/Matalan/Carpet Right or in Archdale Place (private housing estate). Weeknight parking is easier as you can park on single yellow lines from 7pm.

Based on Where You Were Sat, How Was the View?
The away terrace is poor. I'd recommend paying extra for a seat to get a decent view.

How Were The Stewards on The Day?
Like most grounds, there's a mix of good and not so good. The long-term directly employed and the volunteer *cough* stewards care.

If You Ate at The Ground, How Would You Rate the Food?
Overpriced just about edible shite. Not many of our supporters buy it.

How Was The Atmosphere At The Ground, From Both Sets of Supporters? Does the Stadium Hold the Noise?
"Was quite disappointing really, even before Wimbledon started getting battered." That.

How Are the Pubs and Local Attractions in The Local Area?
Our two closest pubs recently closed down so the nearest one is the Bricklayers on Hawkes Road which is about a 15 minute walk. A short bus ride away you have Kingston which has many pubs and eateries, or New Malden which has a 'spoons and a Barras pub. Our bars are usually open to away supporters (unless they have a 'firm' *cough* Bury *cough*), but they get a bit packed at times. Check on our website the day before to find out if the bars are open to you.

Just round the corner, there is a very good chippy and and excellent greasy spoon called Fatboys.

Any other info
Bring cash. The bars and the club shop take cards, but the turnstiles don't. The nearest cash machine is in the Spar between the chippy and Fatboys, but it often runs out of cash (and there's a charge).
 

Paddy

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I'd think that visiting Kingsmeadow for a Kingstonian match would be a better experience than going there for an AFC Wimbledon match.

& in a few years time you'll be able to compare what it would be like for a Chelsea reserve/ladies game too.
 

Paddy

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can non UK resident sign ? I will if it is allowed.

I think you can. I know that any UK resident can sign, weather from the Borough of Kingston or not (however the more sigs from the Borough then the more serious it will be taken), not 100% sure about non-UK residents.

I appreciate the sentiment though either way!
 

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