Groundtastic GT26 | Page 3

Groundtastic 21 Tiptree Grove, WICKFORD SS12 9AL United Kingdom GT 26 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.groundtastic.ukgateway.net Subscriptions Groundtastic is issued four times a year. To subscribe for the next 2 Issues (up to & including Issue 28) send cheque or money order for £7.10 (UK), £7.50 (Europe) or £8.50 (World). Back Issues Only 12, 23, 24 & 25 are still available. All are £3 each plus postage at 55p (UK) & £1 Overseas. Add extra postage for multiple orders. Binders Hold 6 Issues. Cost inclusive of postage £6 (UK), £6.50 (Europe) & £7.50 (World). Postcards 24 in set to date. Write, visit website or e-mail us for further details. ISSN 1363-2124 Copyright All items are copyright of Groundtastic and must not be reproduced without prior permission. GT 26 Printed by Durley Promotions Turnstiles Welcome . . . 3 Editorial & Contents Main Stand The regular starters 4 Cover Story: Dorchester 8 League News 14 Non-League News The Editorial . . . T he new season is again upon us and 2001-02 brings with it the chance to visit some new football stadiums along with the last chance to do some that will soon be no more. At the top level Southampton have unveiled their new 32,000-seat stadium at St. Mary’s and Oxford United, having worked through a financial and planning nightmare, have taken up residence at the Kassam Stadium. League newcomers Rushden & Diamonds bring their modern Nene Park ground into Division Three whilst Bournemouth will be playing the first couple of months of the season at Dorchester’s Avenue Stadium. Several other grounds are well into significant periods of rebuilding. On the non-league front there are, as ever, many changes. Runcorn kicked off the season at the Autoquest Stadium after agreeing a groundshare with Widness RLC and other clubs hope to join the ‘new stadium’ party as the season draws to an end. Most significantly on the ’must do’ list are Tooting’s Sandy Lane and Northwich’s Drill Field, both of which could disappear sooner rather than later. On a different note, readers of Total Football Magazine may have noticed that Groundtastic was awarded the ‘Special Award’ in their Fanzine of the Year Awards during the summer. It is our first such honour and we are very pleased to have received it. Enjoy the season. Contributions Please send via post or e-mail. GT27 deadline is 5 November. CONTENTS We were very sad to learn of the death of Bob Oliver, one of our loyal band of readers and an expert on all things football ground related. Bob was a Wycombe Wanderers supporter of many years standing, who also managed to find time to visit over 2,000 grounds. We would like to extend our deepest sympathy to his family. Our next fixture is December 2001 Floodlights 20 24 29 30 32 36 42 44 47 49 GT26 features Scots Tour - N. Glasgow Lost Southern Stands Dagenham & R. Emley’s Welfare Rushden & Diamonds New York Tour Mid-Rhondda Classic Ground: Bromley West Brom Southampton North Stand Scotland 51 Scots Scene Club Shop Wallets out 54 Bookshelf West Stand Wales and Ireland 56 Cymru Column 57 Emerald Isle Estadio Overseas Stadia 58 Euro News 64 Holiday Snaps 65 Estadio Mondo The Paddock Old favourites 68 Run Aground 70 Venue Master Exit Just before you go . . . 78 The Hit List 79 Inside Net 80 UCL Book Advert3