Either/Or.....where will we go next season? Part 2

By Nathan Jackson
May 7 2007

Part 2 of our Either/Or series of grounds we would visit depending on how our playoffs go, takes us to the Fields. If Lincoln go up then we'll be going to Huddersfield Town's Galpharm Stadium, but staying down means Chesterfield's Saltergate, two grounds that aren't example hard to compare.

IF WE GO UP TO LEAGUE ONE

THE GALPHARM STADIUM

Capacity 24,500

The Galpharm Stadium is the new name for the McAlpine Stadium of Huddersfield Town Football Club. It is one of the largest grounds in League One and also hosts one of the best and more unusual atmospheres in the division. A far cry from their old "Leeds Road" ground and a stadium that you wouldn't believe was already over 10 years old. It has an away end that can accomodate up to around 4,000 fans and that offers a great view of the playing action, despite having one of the largest pitches in the lower leagues.

I think what lays here for most Imps' fans though is the change for a bit of revenge. City drew with Huddersfield 2-2 in the Playoff Semi Final 2nd leg in the 2003/4 season, it was enough to give Huddersfield a 4-3 win on aggregate. A lot of Lincoln fans still moan about what they think is an offside goal from Pawel Abbott in the league game there, although it has been proved several times since that the goal was a perfectly legal goal.

No matter what happens this season, City will have a make a trip to Yorkshire for the first time since the 2003/4 season, and Elland Road, the Galpharm and the Keepmoat at Doncaster are far more attractive prospects than Bradford, Rotherham and possibly York.

IF WE STAY IN LEAGUE 2

SALTERGATE

Capacity 8,504

Saltergate, home of Chesterfield FC isn't exactly one of the more visually pleasing grounds that you could possibly visit. With 3 of the stands date back many years and the final stand behind what appears to just be temporary seating, the quality of the stadium will be one of the worst in League 2 next season, and that says it all about this ground considering that this division also contains terrible grounds such as the Frazer Eagle, Underhill or the Saunders Honda.

Parking around the stadium is an absolute nightmare and it's street parking at the very best. The locals aren't particulary helpful and didn't seem to know the way to their own club shop when I visited there. Atmosphere also seems to be a no-go word at Saltergate as well, again failing to hear a single chant from the home supporters in my visit, and the Yeovil fans weren't exactly vocal due to their ground behind open ended.

They return to this division after a 6 year absence having won promotion to what was then known as Division 2 back in 2000/1, but hopefully we'll avoid going to Saltergate.