Bescot Stadium

From Internet Football Ground Guide

Football Ground Guide

The Saddlers moved to the Bescot Stadium in 1990 from Fellows Park. With the opening of the now named Floors 2 Go Purple Stand in 2003 the Club are finally getting a ground to match their ambitions. This new stand is for home fans and is a large two tiered affair that completely dwarfs the rest of the ground. It is smart looking, with a glassed area running across its middle, which houses the concourse. Unusually, it has a slightly larger upper than lower tier. This end before it was re-developed was previously called the Gilbert Alsop (a former Walsall playing great) Stand, but in a commercial sponsorship deal, has been renamed the Floors 2 Go Stand. Similarly the H.L. Fellows Stand has been renamed the Txt 64446 Health Stand. A sign of the times I guess...

The rest of the stadium is totally enclosed with three of the stands being roughly the same height, giving it a 'box-like' feel. These stands are not particularly big, around 15 rows high. The corners are filled, but only for advertising hoardings. Above the Homeserve (William Sharp) stand there is a small electric scoreboard, whilst on one side there is a small television camera gantry precariously perched on the roof. One unusual feature are the strange looking floodlights, which sit on the roofs of the side stands. The main disappointment is the large number of supporting pillars in each of the older stands (the new Floors 2 Go Stand is pillar free). As Walsall unfortunately very rarely fill the stadium, this is not a huge problem. However, for big games this can be very annoying if you are unlucky enough to get seated behind one. There is also a small electric scoreboard on top of the Homeserve (William Sharp) Stand. In a corporate sponsorship deal with Marstons Brewery, the stadium has been renamed the Banks's Stadium.

NEAREST PUBS

The King George V in Wallowes Lane is okay, but as the nearest pub to the ground it gets (rather expectantly) rather busy which can make it a bit difficult to get served quickly. It is about a 15 minute walk away, opposite the Morrisons Supermarket. If you are walking from the stadium, go out of the official car parks and down towards McDonalds. Go past McDonalds on your right and take a left hand turn into Wallowes Lane. At the end of the lane turn left onto the main road and the pub is just setback on the left. Away fans though should avoid the Fulbrook pub near to the ground.

Gary Cotterill informs me; 'at the stadium there is the Saddlers Club, which normally allows small numbers of away fans in at a cost of £1, but you need to arrive there early'. Please note that alcohol is not served inside the stadium. Inside you will find a range of Shire Foods pies available including the Chicken Balti Pie (£2) on offer (allegedly Walsall were the first Club to stock balti pies). Whilst on the adjoining retail park, that you pass on the way in to the stadium, there is a McDonalds, to keep the kids happy.