15-05-2025
Have laptop, will travel: Our top Wanderers League One away trips this season
LET'S get one thing out of the way right off the bat, ranking football grounds as a journalist as opposed to a paying supporter is a very different thing.
I can hear the sound of teeth grinding now, and yes, I don't pay for a ticket, I'm there on a matchday to jobs" target="_blank">work. And yes, in some places I even get fed, although not as often as some people seem to think, and certainly not in any great luxury.
My ethos has always been that if you can see the pitch, plug in your laptop and file your copy, that's an acceptable start, a solid five out of 10. If you happen to get a voucher entitling you to a free pie and/or hot drink, then happy days indeed.
I am extremely lucky to have covered this great club in all four divisions. As the late, great Dusty Rhodes said: 'I've wined and dined with kings and queens and slept in the alley eating pork and beans.'
In this analogy, pork and beans was the curious cabbage soup served up at Crystal Palace several years ago in the Championship. Eating it felt like a dare on Jackass.
If Wanderers' four years at League One level has taught me anything, it is to be thankful that the Toughsheet is a lovely place to work. The staff look after the media suite well, and aside from complaints about the number of steps up to the press box, opposition journalists are usually very complimentary.
There have been more austere times – occasions where me and the other local press clubbed together to buy the tea, coffee and milk so that everyone could at least have a brew, but those stories are for another time.
Following Bolton away from home is always an adventure and with all the content we put together on a matchday, I always try and bring something of the flavour of the stadium and the atmosphere. And, yes, I am aware that I spend far too much time talking about the matchday music.
The sights and sounds of a ground do add to the enjoyment, and so does the football, believe it or not. I have to write the same number of words about a 0-0 draw on a Tuesday night in Crawley as I do about a 4-3 thriller, but it does help if there's a bit of colour and excitement to throw in there. These days, I'm also recording the Last Word podcast right after the game, so if nothing has happened, that can be quite the chore at 2am, I assure you.
I decided to rank all 23 'other' grounds in League One based on my experience this season. I scored them out of 10 on four criteria – the standard of the game, the atmosphere, how easy/difficult the place was to work within, and lastly, the welcome and general helpfulness of folk at the ground.
Will Forrester just fails to convert a chance at Bristol Rovers - but then it's not an easy place to work (Image: CameraSport - Ian Cook)
23. Bristol Rovers – Apologies to the Gasheads but the Memorial Ground is an awkward place to work, not least because there is no boundary between the home fans and the working press box. Can get really awkward at times.
22. Shrewsbury – A neat little ground smartened up by UEFA after they hosted European football for Welsh club TNS Solutions but a tepid atmosphere and a health and safety nightmare in the press box, which really needs a rethink on layout.
21. Mansfield – A dire game spoiled the trip to Field Mill so they have been done a little with the scoring system. Pretty basic place to work, although they did manage to furnish me with the best parking spot I've had this season.
20. Cambridge – Much older ground than Shrewsbury, so you can forgive some of the cramped conditions. Didn't see some of the friendly faces this season that we had in the past, which coupled with the football made for a disappointing day.
19. Crawley – A really tight little press box and troublesome wi-fi kept me on my toes with this season's visit and even though Wanderers came up with a 2-0 win, this ended up being really long day thanks to technology.
18. Leyton Orient – Quirky, but for some reason the club chose to put anti-pigeon netting across the press balcony, high up on the third floor. Quite a stale game too but three points, nonetheless.
Bolton Wanderers fans celebrate a goal at Northampton Town (Image: CameraSport - Lee Parker)
17. Northampton – Shout out to one of the friendliest stewards on the gate, who always creates a good impression of the club. Poor press box, though, needs an update.
16. Peterborough – Ordinarily one of my favourite places away from football but not an especially glamorous ground to work within. Sam Inwood's performance on the day earns Posh an extra point.
15. Barnsley – Oakwell, I know you so well. Spent a lot of time in that part of South Yorkshire, and the facilities are miles better than they used to be, even if the view is a bit dodgy and Wanderers were dreadful on the day.
14. Exeter City – A long, long way to go. A unique ground and always a good atmosphere, with a bit of drama thrown in by Aaron Morley this season. Spoiled a bit by the fact I tripped on some netting after the final whistle and did my shoulder!
13. Charlton – A press box borrowed from the 1980 Moscow Olympics and steel folding tables that have claimed many a finger, laptop wire or radio cable. There is something nice about The Valley, though, and the folk there are ace.
12. Reading – Clearly the club has fallen on hard times but still a smart place to work and a great atmosphere in the away end for Steven Schumacher's first game, even if the scoreline somehow ended up 1-0 to the Royals.
11. Rotherham – Would be in my top five places to work in League One, and it's always nice to see old mates in the small, busy press room next to the tunnel. Wanderers were awful that cold January day, though, and the fans were rightly unamused.
Great scenes at Huddersfield as Julian Darby claimed a win as interim boss (Image: CameraSport - Alex Dodd)
10. Huddersfield – Some wonderful scenes after the game with Julian Darby and his grandson, and a cracking match. A proper battle against the wi-fi and the glaring sunshine, though, which made the job of match reporting tougher.
9. Stockport – Considering this was Bolton's worst away performance of the season, it speaks volumes for the atmosphere and welcome you get at County these days that they are in my top 10. Great place to work, and one I know well.
8. Wycombe – A smart ground these days and though a goalless draw in December wasn't the prettiest game to watch, there was a great Friday night atmosphere. A good cup of tea there too.
7. Stevenage – Yes, they got a couple of extra marks because Bolton turned up on the night and scored four goals but, all in all, a friendly club who have always made us welcome.
6. Blackpool – A graveyard for Bolton Wanderers results down the years and has never previously been one of my favourites but this year things were much improved, at least off the pitch. The football was still dire but it felt safer to work.
Wanderers fans doing the thunderclap for Jon Dadi Bodvarsson at Burton (Image: CameraSport - Lee Parker)
5. Burton – Another ground we are getting to know quite well and one which has always been neat, tidy and well-run. Bolton rolled up their sleeves for three points and I was delighted to see the Brewers fight on after that to clinch survival for Gary Bowyer.
4. Birmingham – Lots of happy memories at St Andrew's, if not necessarily this season, where Wanderers rather surrendered with their line-up. Still a marvellous atmosphere when the old place is pumped up.
3. Wrexham – Despite a curious low position which means fans obscure your view if they nip down early for a half-time pint, they have put some classy touches to the old Racecourse and the staff were first class.
2. Lincoln – If Sincil Bank were closer, it would be my favourite away ground at this level of football. Same guys have been running the show for years, everything works, and even a woeful Wanderers performance couldn't spoil our day this time around.
Wanderers fans celebrate the win against Wigan Athletic (Image: CameraSport - Alex Dodd)
How my ratings stacked up in the end... (Image: NQ)
1. Wigan – Yep, you read that right. A rare occasion where everything went right against the Latics, even in the press box. A decade of hurt ended on the pitch, a sold-out away end that was in scintillating form and a last-minute winner, sparking a furious re-write. Even the pre-match entertainment put an Ozone Bounce in my step, with hindsight. Cheers MC Finchy!
