ARBOUR PARK
NATIONAL LEAGUE SOUTH
FEBRUARY 1, 2020
GROUND NO 226
Maybe he was just miffed that, a year before the publication of his famous poem Slough FC, as they were known then, had been told they were being booted out of The Dolphin Stadium because it was being turned into a dog track.
That wasn't the last time they were evicted from a home ground either. It happened again in 2003 when the owners of Wexham Park Stadium got the hump about something or another.
But after a decade groundsharing outside the town, they returned to Slough in 2016 when Arbour Park was opened. And a fine ground it is, too.
Due to a combination of factors (including the late arrival of the pizzas we'd ordered a our hotel, which actually turned out to be well worth the wait) we arrived much later than we'd planned.
But the friendly and helpful stewards directed us to a parking space outside the college next to the ground.
Turns out the college was rebuilt there after its original site was sold and cleared to make way for the Rebels' new home.
Bright, shiny and new, Arbour Park is equipped with all mod cons (you can even get a lift from the ground floor up to the bar) and the perimeter railings are right up close to the edge of the 3G pitch, helping to create a crackling matchday atmosphere.
The space age main stand contains 250 seats, the glass windows above them belonging to the bar which gives a good view out to the playing area.
The flat roof juts out like the peak of one of those hats the trendy, young people wear.
Look at it from behind (you'll have to imagine this because I forgot to take a picture), and you'll see the central area is flanked by two silver semi-circle facades that remind you of those Silver Bullet caravans that used to be popular in America.
The dugouts are situated either side of the stand, eating into the flat standing area behind.
Opposite is a long covered standing area, the Lynch Hill Enterprise Academy behind it looking down upon it, and there are covered terraces behind each goal, both containing prefabricated metal steps.
Both sets of fans, who naturally sapped ends at half-time. used them to make a fair old din throughout the game.
Visiting a modern ground that bucks the identikit stadium trend is always a joy, and Arbour Park certainly ticks that box.
That it's home to a club that's been through the mill a bit and is now finally home after forced to play elsewhere for so long is all the more pleasing.
If Betjeman's bombs do fall on Slough, let's hope they miss Arbour Park.
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