Five-star Gloucester… and a fascinating “Lion”

We spent the morning pondering where to go with no tickets available to see the mighty Cherries at St. Mary’s. 🍒

Bemerton and Wimborne were touted as options but we chose to hit the road and go to a new ground for us both - Gloucester City, who welcomed Winchester City to the Tiger Turf Stadium (Meadow Park.

Game #95 and Ground #45 for Miss.

A good journey up and we were there by 230 after a quick nappy stop at Cirencester. Daddy was tempted to go via Northleach after driving past the sign for South Cerney & Cerney Wick (This Country territory) - but time was of the essence so we carried on up the A417 towards Cheltenham and then Gloucester.

Parking at the ground was limited so we parked on a neighbouring street, roughly five minutes from the ground; luckily no restrictions on the weekend.

Tickets were pre-purchased just before leaving so they scanned our QR Code on arrival and in we went up a long ‘zig zag footpath’.

The ground is covered on 3 sides with terracing behind each goal and two decent sized seated stands on one side, and Gloucester are well supported with a crowd of 1,008 in attendance today.

We saw a sign advising baby changing was in the club house 👏 so we went to check it out and had a quick change before the game. Miss saw the Matchball and shouted at it before the players came out… “BALL!!!” ⚽️

We positioned ourselves near the dug outs in the first-half, with Miss playing on the steps and with the clubhouse doors as well as waving at the baby sat watching in the window 👋

A second week in a row that the “Please Keep Off The Pitch” signs were ignored 🤷‍♂️😂

We grabbed a Cheeseburger and a Cheesy Chips, great value and tasty!

Good facilities at Gloucester, puddles aplenty for Miss which she was delighted by 💦 Baby Changing Facilities, affordable entry and well priced tasty, food! Parking was the only challenge, but ample on street parking close by.

At half-time, the home mascots had a penalty shoot out with the home Mascot (a Tiger), Miss was insistent it was a Lion 🦁🤷‍♂️

On the pitch, Gloucester won 5-0 and were excellent although Winchester City were much improved in the second-half.

Miss was delighted to do high-fives with the players after the game and Simba got a big wave 👋 Thanks as always to Sally for the Choc Choc.

As we left, Miss’ last words were “Rob Dancing” sorry Rob - I know you were excited when the Vengaboys started playing. Then it was “Football Finished, everyone go home”, us included 🚗