I spent this afternoon at Bangor’s City’s new stadium at Nantporth. I had taken a series of photographs when I visited the siteback in July but I hadn’t been to see the completed stands and was pleased to accept an invite from the site contractors, Watkin-Jones, to have a look around.
The Main Stand
The first thing to note is that the journey to the stadium is 7 minutes from my house, door-to-door. I know that won’t make any difference to any of you, but it does mean that I won’t be circling Farrar Road looking for a car park space for twenty minutes. And that is my first impression. For many people who drive to games, the site is certainly convenient. Sadly, it’s another killer blow for an already-dying town centre, and the planned shuttle bus to cover the mile long trip from the City Centre is unlikely to see prolonged use. These things never do. People just adapt and find new routines.
Entrance, car park and proposed training pitch.
The entrance to the ground is on Holyhead Road, the main route into Bangor from the famous Menai Bridge, situated just a few hundred yards away. The car park is still covered with mud, stones and JCB’s and as you can see, it’s difficult to estimate the size of the car park, but I can’t see how there can be room for more than 150 cars at a maximum. There is a car park at the nearby college which might be useable on match days, but on busy games, parking could be a real problem. Realistically, those days occur only once or twice a season. Watkin-Jones tell me that the 3G training pitch is not part of their contract and that the club are looking for funding to develop that part of the stadium in the future.
Main entrance , situated at rear of main stand.
From the road and car park, you descend down some steps and meet the rear of the Main Stand. From the approach, this is a functional, Premier-Inn-type construction which demonstrates how beauty in architecture has long been de-prioritised. There will be no ornate cast-iron gates at Nantporth, or any other modern stadium for that matter. Of course, it could be argued that Farrar Road was no thing of beauty. But at least it was ugly. This approach is featureless.
Turnstiles at the Bangor End
The access road runs past the Main Stand towards Bangor and this is your first view of the lush grass. There are two sets of turnstiles at opposing ends of the ground which will at least allow for segregation if the need ever arises. Thankfully at this level, it rarely does.
Toilets and Main Stand
Once you’ve entered via the turnstiles , you see a side-on view of the Main Stand on your left.
The Bangor End
We took an anti-clockwise walk around the ground, beginning with the Bangor End. This is a three step ‘terrace’ with a large muddy area at the rear. This will remain as top-soil unless the club decide to develop it further. It reminded me of old PC management games where you could develop the stadium as you progressed through the leagues. At least Bangor have allowed for the possibility of development, but I can’t see this becoming a ‘Home End’. I’ve heard talk that the club hope to raise £17,000 to roof one of the behind goal areas, but this seems implausible to me. (But what do I know?). If that really is the case, then that seems a very modest sum, and could be raised by subscription. Why not try crowdfunding it?
Bangor End from the Menai Strait looking towards Holyhead Road.
View of the Menai Strait from pitch-side
As you walk around the Menai Strait side of the ground from the Bangor End, the Menai Strait becomes visible through the fencing. There is currently only a 10 foot fence at this side of the ground, and the club will need to invest in netting, or lose a lot of footballs over this fence. In the middle of Winter, it was noticeable how little shelter was provided by the leafless trees on the banks of the Menai.
View of the Menai Bridge End from the corner of the Bangor End and the Menai Strait.
The Menai Stand
One one half of the pitch on the Menai side is the most intriguing part of the ground. In the early stages of planning, there was no allowance for a second stand at the stadium, but this recently added four-row mini-stand gives Nantporth its best hope of recreating some of the Farrar Road atmosphere. Traditionally, Bangor’s most vocal support has congregated behind the goals, switching ends at half-time. I believe that this little stand will become home for the hardcore. It provides cosy shelter from the south-Westerly winds which bite through this part of Wales, and the roof will make for good acoustics. The stand is well-situated away from the hoi-polloi in the Main Stand and its big enough to contain a decent crowd of singers, who will no doubt stand all through every game. The seats will remain unused, making a mockery of UEFA requirements. They’re only there to allow for future European football at the ground, though the stadium is still short of the necessary seats required to host European ties. The empty area on the other half of this side of the pitch seems ripe for development of another small stand to meet UEFA requirements, but I understand that the logistical problems of hoisting another similar stand without causing damage to the pitch are significant.
The Menai Stand
The area behind the goal at the Menai Bridge End is also an uncovered three step terrace. The following view from behind the Menai Bridge goal shows the television gantry situated on the half way line at the Menai Bridge side.
View from the Menai Bridge End
The players 'tunnel'
Interestingly, the players will enter the pitch down this staircase (soon to be covered). There will then be a concertina’d cover which stretches out onto the pitch, which will prevent some of the ugly scenes we see at some grounds now where only a rope separates the players and officials from baying supporters.
Main Stand
We now arrive at the ground’s focal point; the raised Main Stand which utilises the site’s natural slope and provides all the facilities that are required for the day-to-day running of the club. The stand contains approximately 600 seats, with the front row raised some twelve feet above a small standing area at the side of the pitch.
The stand offers a great view of the pitch, but it might not offer a great amount of protection from the south-westerly rain as it is blown in off the Strait. As compensation, it will offer spectacular vistas of some glorious late Summer sunsets as the sun dips down over Anglesey. Just one gripe; the seats are marked out in white with ‘BCFC’. I think it’s sad that in one of Wales’ last remaining prominently Welsh-language areas that the club has chosen English-language branding at the stadium. ‘CPDB’ would have been more appropriate.
And one more thing. I would back any campaign which looks to name this stand as “The Gwyn Pierce Owen Stand.” Gwyn has devoted much of his life to this club, and anybody who saw how emotional he was at Farrar Road”s final game would not deny him this honour. Let’s do it now.
View from the Main Stand
The press will fight over the five tables that are currently provided at the rear of the stand.
Press Box
Floodlights are supported by three thin metal posts which extend from the base of the stand and offer a restricted view of the pitch to a very small number of seats.
Restricted view
Inside the Main Stand is this clubhouse/function room. This room is one of the most important benefits of the new stadium. Not only will it provide a home for supporters which was missing from Farrar Road, but it will act as a base for the academy teams as they train throughout the week. Income that was benefiting various venues around the City will now be kept within the club. We know this might just mean that senior players may get an extra fifty quid in their pocket, but hopefully some of the income can be invested to benefit the local population. Hopefully, the first team will be required to train in Bangor, and not hold their sessions an hour away towards Liverpool.
The clubhouse / function room
View from the function room
One part of the stadium design which has been vexing plenty of people in Bangor, is this green box which has been plonked right in the middle of the terraced area, seemingly obstructing any future development of that end. The box is in fact part of a drainage system and contains a pump which will draw surface water from the pitch. There is also a sprinkler system which will help maintain the surface, which currently looks like the best in Wales at a semi-pro level. It’s much better than The Racecourse.
The famous green box
The stand also includes a kitchen, two equally-proportioned changing rooms, refs rooms, and even a doping room which is specified by UEFA requirements. It’s certainly going to be much more comfortable for those volunteers who help run Bangor City.
Manager's Office
So that’s it. My overall impression? Well if Nantporth was a new stadium for a new club then I’d be thrilled. Yes, it’s basic and Bangor supporters would like to think that the days of 12,000 crowds might one day return, but it’s fit-for-purpose in the current climate. If the people of Bangor want further development and roofed terraces to make the ground into a good standard non-league venue to compare with some of those in the higher reaches of the English pyramid, then they need to support their club. If Bangor City continue to attract 400-600 fans on a regular basis, then Nantporth will stay as it as; an indication of the current status of Welsh Premier League football. If the club can move towards 1,000-2,000 crowds, then the basis is there for four-sided development which will really make this an impressive ground.
The Gwyn Pierce Owen Stand
