Our plans for Matchday 85 took an unexpected turn. Initially, we had booked to see Bradford City take on Accrington Stanley. However, with severe weather warnings in place, we decided to change course and head to West Sussex to tick off Crawley Town instead. The journey to the Broadfield Stadium was estimated at about three hours, so we picked up Grandad Steve and left his house at 09:30 to allow extra time for any potential hiccups along the way.
The weather was nothing short of horrendous. Gale-force winds and torrential rain made driving particularly challenging, especially with reduced visibility and the need for extra caution on wet roads. The journey was fairly smooth until we hit the M25, where two separate traffic jams caused some delays. Despite the setbacks, we arrived in Crawley slightly ahead of Google Maps’ estimate, pulling into town at 12:27—a small victory that we were quite pleased with.
Our first stop was an Asda car park, chosen for its proximity to The Jubilee Oak, a nearby Wetherspoon pub. Parking cost £1 for two hours, which wasn’t unreasonable, though I found it a little disappointing that a supermarket with such a large car park charged at all. Once parked, we made the short walk through Crawley High Street to the pub.
Fortunately, the rain paused just as we arrived, giving us a brief respite from the relentless downpour. Inside The Jubilee Oak, Grandad Steve and I enjoyed a well-deserved pint of IPA, while Liam treated himself to two hot chocolates to warm up. The pub was a welcome haven from the storm, but as soon as we finished our drinks and stepped outside, the weather had turned again. Rain was falling sideways in the wind, so we briskly made our way back to the car, soaked once more.
From there, we put Broadfield Stadium into Google Maps and made the short 10-minute drive. Arriving at the ground, we were informed that stadium parking had to be pre-booked—something I hadn’t realized. Thankfully, the security staff were very helpful and directed us to free residential parking only a five-minute walk away. Given the worsening weather, we were relieved the walk wasn’t longer.
Once we made it back to the stadium, we stopped by the club shop, which was one of the smallest I’ve ever encountered. With limited space, it quickly became crowded, and navigating through people was awkward. I managed to purchase a Crawley Town scarf for £10, but there were no matchday programs available, which was disappointing for a collector like me. From there, we made our way around the stadium to the correct turnstile.
After a quick pass through the turnstile—there were no security checks—we headed inside, making a pit stop at the toilets before trying to find our seats. Some confusion arose about the correct stand, and we ended up having to walk around the outside of the stadium in the wind and rain to reach the other side. When we finally arrived, I realized our seats were in a temporary stand. The structure was supported by numerous posts, obstructing the view—a detail that hadn’t been disclosed when booking the tickets.
We were seated seven rows from the front, which I assumed would keep us dry. Unfortunately, the gale-force winds meant we still ended up getting wet, as the rain drove sideways into our direction. Despite the conditions, the game itself was entertaining. After enduring four consecutive draws in our last games, we were thrilled to see Crawley Town claim a 1-0 victory thanks to a solo goal.
To beat the post-match rush, we left in the 85th minute and headed straight to the car, stopping for fuel at a nearby Tesco on the way out. What should have been a simple task turned into a frustrating experience when the fuel pump malfunctioned halfway through filling up and then went offline. I went into the shop to try to resolve the issue, but the staff couldn’t locate my transaction. I left uncertain whether I had been charged or not—knowing my luck, I’ll probably be charged twice.
The journey home began at 17:15 and was smooth in terms of traffic, but the weather conditions were even worse than earlier in the day. Torrential rain and fierce winds made for a tough drive, but we finally arrived back home at 20:00. Despite the challenges, we were relieved to have ticked off Broadfield Stadium and added another ground to our list.
I want to finish with a heartfelt thank you to Lindsay, Rob, Auntie Tissy, and The Clacks Taylors for treating Liam and me to hot drinks via Buy Me a Coffee this week. Your support means so much, especially during this cold and challenging time of the year. Thank you all—it’s truly appreciated!
- Founded in 1896
Crawley Town Football Club was established in 1896, originally competing in local leagues before gradually climbing the ranks to professional football. - Nickname: The Reds
The club is affectionately known as “The Reds” due to their traditional red home kit. - Promotion to the Football League
Crawley Town achieved promotion to the Football League in 2011, finishing as champions of the Conference Premier (now the National League). - FA Cup Success
Crawley Town had a memorable FA Cup run during the 2010-2011 season, reaching the Fifth Round, where they played against Manchester United at Old Trafford. They narrowly lost 1-0 but earned widespread recognition. - Home Ground: Broadfield Stadium
Crawley Town has played at Broadfield Stadium since 1997. The stadium has a capacity of 6,134 and is known for its intimate atmosphere.
Thanks for sharing. I read many of your blog posts, cool, your blog is very good.
fantastic post, very informative. I wonder why the other experts of this sector do not notice this. You should continue your writing. I’m sure, you’ve a huge readers’ base already!