Globe Arena

Monday, 7 March 2011

Morecambe 2-1 Southend United

Programme

Ratings

Overall Ground Quality : 6/10
Ease of getting there : 7/10
Atmosphere : 6/10
Programme : 9/10
View of Action : 7/10
Quality of the game : 7/10
The "football" feeling : 4/10
Chances of coming here for a random game : 2/10
Legroom : N/A (Stood)
Surrounding area : 8/10

Overall : 56/100

Eric Morecambe's Childhood Home behind the site of Christie Park (Morecambe's previous ground)

Sainsbury's Car Park with a plaque situated on the old centre spot at Christie Park

Eric Morecambe Statue - 'Bring Me Sunshine'

GAME ON!

Globe Arena - Morecambe FC

Peter McGuigan Stand

Reception at the Globe Arena

Morecambe Bay Wines Stand

Peter McGuigan Stand

Peter McGuigan Stand and Bay Radio Stand

Bay Radio Stand

North Terrace

Morecambe Bay Wines Stand

Peter McGuigan Stand

North Terrace

Bay Radio Stand

Peter McGuigan Stand

Morecambe Bay Wines Stand

Bay Radio Stand

Morecambe 2-1 Southend United

Morecambe 2-1 Southend United

“Morecambe’s Globe Arena, Take 2!”

We originally wanted to go to the Globe Arena in January for their game against Macclesfield Town which was called off literally on our arrival to Morecambe due to a frozen pitch. This time we headed up the M6 Northbound determined to see Morecambe in action at their new home which myself and Adrian were yet to visit.

We made one stop on our way to Morecambe which was Stafford Rangers (sorry, we did visit Stafford Town but unfortunately it was their old ground, Rowley Park). Wikipedia says that Marston road has a capacity of 3,000 and the ground previously had temporary stands behind both goals during their Conference National days to increase the capacity to reach the Conference National stadium criteria.

We then continued our travels up the M6 which gave us a sense of ‘déjà vous’ and finally arrived in Morecambe at 11:30am. First we visited Eric Morecambe’s childhood home which is coincidently behind Morecambe’s (the club that is!) previous home, Christie Park which is now a Sainsbury’s supermarket which features a plaque in the car park which is situated where the old centre spot once was.

We parked the car and walked to the seafront. We visited the famous Eric Morecambe statue which is on Marine road Central on the seafront followed by a traditional seaside meal of Fish and Chips.

We walked back to the car and drove to the Globe Arena and parked on one of the residential streets (at the time not ‘permit holders only’). Again we had another sense of ‘déjà vous’ as we walked down the road facing the Peter McGuigan Stand where we were last time told the game was off, luckily this was not the case this time round as the sun beamed down on the Shrimps’ new home.

After taking pictures we went into the ground, paying at the turnstile (please note that student claiming a concessionary price rather than a Full Adult price needs to show their Student Card to gain their reduced admission price). We stood on the North Terrace as it was the cheapest end of the ground which was an uncovered 5 step terrace that had no roof (similar to Christie Park) which wasn’t a problem as it was a lovely sunny day.

The Globe Arena has a capacity of 6,476 which opened in August 2010 in time for the start of 2010/2011 season. The North Terrace replicates the uncovered side at Christie Park and also in the Morecambe Bay Wines Stand behind the goal is where most the noise comes from not forgetting the home of the drum which generates most the atmosphere.

The game saw Morecambe beat Southend United 2-1 after a well fought performance by the home team.

We arrived back just before 8pm after another great day by the sea. This time we were there a lot longer than our previous 2 minute visit!

Click here to see our previous trip to Morecambe (‘To Morecambe and Back’)