Doncaster Rovers' Keepmoat Stadium

Doncaster Rovers moved to the Keepmoat Stadium in the beginning of 2007 and City took part in the first League Cup game to be played there. There is a lot to do around the ground with Doncaster Dome just minutes away.

Having only ever been Doncaster Rovers' old ground once, I jumped at the chance to go to City's first ever visit to the new Keepmoat Stadium. With Doncaster not being far from Lincoln, and the journey relatively easy as you spend most of it on dual carriageways, as well as a journey that requires no changes on the train, it is one of the easier grounds for City to get to.

Unlike most new grounds there is actually quite a fair bit to do around the area. For example, the Doncaster Dome is fairly close, as is a large shopping centre. From both of those it's probably a 15 minute walk to the stadium, or a two/three minute drive, depending on how easy you want to make it on yourself, but it's simple and you can see the stadium from the Dome.

As for the ground itself it is fairly well set out, with a huge club shop near to the reception. Once entering the turnstile it isn't a long walk before you're in the ground and to be honest, it feels like a mini-me version of Darlington's "name it every year" ground.

Both of the side stands were identical to the other one, with the slight exception of a few areas for the disabled fans. As I have a brother in a wheelchair, it is nice to see that some clubs are starting to appreciate the disabled fans are usually just stuffed in a small corner somewhere, often not being able to view the game with a decent view, and at modern stadiums they are raised. This would mean that should my brother ever wish to go to a Doncaster match (which I very much doubt to be honest), then he would get a decent view.

The two stands either end of the pitch also seems identical, with the word "Doncaster" written on them, although the T in Doncaster has been replaced by a black figure spreading it's arms, I am assuming that it is in reference to a famous landmark. All seats (with the exception of the seats forming the wording) were red.

The view from the away end was decent despite a fair gap between the stand and the goal. The view of the other end was also decent despite the large pitch.

Unfortunately the atmosphere that the fans had at Belle Vue doesnt' seem to have transferred across to the Keepmoat, with the fans being exceedingly quiet, even at 4-0 up. Obviously in first seasons at new grounds, atmospheres do tend to suffer due to the singers being separated, however, this wasn't their first season in the stadium as they had spent half of the 2006/7 inside of it.

Despite being a derby, there was little or not trouble. From what I recall there wasn't even any antagonism from the Doncaster Rovers fans, even though it would have been easy given that they were 4-0 up at one point. There is a large gap between fans so this might have contributed to that fact, but either way it was unusual going to a local derby that had seemingly no hostility between the fans.

The stewards at the Keepmoat were excellent and a good laugh, we were stood having a conversation with several of them for some time.

Overall the trip to the Keepmoat was a generally enjoyable one and I would recommend it to fans around the country. There's plenty to do near the ground that all the family can do and it's an excellent day out.