The Peninsula Stadium

Salford City 1-2 Colchester United

22nd February 2020

Salford City are, at the time of writing (February 2020), the most recent addition to The Football League – the 146th by my reckoning.  The club traces its formation back to 1940 as Salford Central, having adopted the current name in 1989, eleven years after taking up residence at their present home, Moor Lane.

Northern Premier League Division One (Pyramid Tier 8) stalwarts for much of their post millennium seasons, Salford City's trajectory bent upwards considerably once that cluster of former Manchester United players known as the Class of '92 (dontcha just hate that phrase), decided to toss some of their spare cash in the club's direction in 2014.

Four promotions in five seasons followed, with Football League status being attained in May 2019 with a comprehensive defeat of Fylde at Wembley in front of just over 8,000 bods.

The Peninsula Stadium from Moor Lane - note the neat floodlights in the shape of the club badge

Entrance to the West Stand on Nevile Road.

A few days before my visit Salford City had just set up another Wembley date – this time with holders Portsmouth in the EFL Trophy Final.  And going into this afternoon's match, I am sure the club would have had their eye on perhaps even a third trip to The Twin Towers The Big Arch, sitting as they did not too far outside the League Two promotion play-off spots.

Getting soaked on the short walk from the car parked on Kersal Road to the stadium, I did wonder what sort of influence the weather may have upon proceedings.  Particularly when I noted the number of brown bits on the pitch.

Just as I took this snap, I received a pic from Son who
was attending Southampton v Aston Villa.
There were sprinklers watering the pitch at St Marys!

Panorama of The Peninsula Stadium, Salford City FC

Salford v Colchester - Feb 2020

Well, just a couple of minutes in, visiting defender Ryan Jackson was first to have a little flounder to himself; his (quite literal) slip allowing home winger Ashley Hunter a free run on goal – which came to naught.

But there was little influence from the elements on Colchester's opening goal – just crappy defending, as the home midfield allowed Kwame POKU to run from inside his own half to the edge of the penalty box unchallenged, then to shoot past Kyle Letheren.  The same player then hit one just past the post, before teammate Cohen Bramall bashed a free kick just over the bar, as the visitors dominated the first period.

Colchester scored a well-deserved second four minutes before the break.  Callum HARRIOT's strike was certainly sweet, but I think it is fair to say he benefited from his attempt taking a skidding bounce off the sopping-wet turf.

Two down, Salford finally woke up, and moments later Ashley HUNTER pulled one back, after some fine work by Scott Wiseman down the right.  And, seconds before the break, Salford could easily have been level when Brandon Thomas-Asante had an attempt fly across the visitors' goal.

The spire of St Paul's Church overlooks the ground.

Panorama of The Peninsula Stadium, Salford City FC

Panorama of The Peninsula Stadium, Salford City FC

Colchester's Frank Nouble is about to be mugged of the ball by Darron Gibson and Ibou Touray

All of which I thought set things up for an intriguing second half.  But unfortunately not: as Colchester battened down the hatches, challenging Salford to break them down in the wind and the rain.  Which, despite enjoying the bulk of possession, they could not.  

Half-time substitute Darron Gibson did his best and, even operating in the midfield slurry, succeeded in picking out some neat passes.  He even had a bash himself which appeared to miss the target by mere inches.  A later attempt was less memorable.  

With 15 minutes or so to go, I think a number of Salford fans perhaps realised this was not quite going to be their day, for the conversation of the handful of young pups in front of me turned from real football to the fantasy kind.  As they discussed with geeky earnestness the relative merits of swopping Sadio Mane for Gabriel Jesus, and whether they should stick with Dominic Calvert-Lewin as captain, I began resignedly thinking: “What the fuck is the world coming to?”

Panorama of The Peninsula Stadium, Salford City FC

Taking down the big flags can never be much fun after a loss.

I like to think there is a bit of the LS Lowry about this pic.

...and this 'un

Moor Lane, going under the title of The Peninsula Stadium these days, presently has a capacity of 5,100 – with about 2,200 of those seated in the two long stands, and the remainder housed beneath covered standing terracing behind each goal.

The ground is certainly adequate for the club's current needs, and whether the stadium will require extensive development (or even a club re-location) anytime soon will, I suppose, depend upon how much loose change The Old Boys have jingling around in their pockets.

One aspect of The Peninsula Stadium which I would suggest the club really do need to address promptly, is the catering area behind the West Stand.  Lots of lovely foodie outlets here, but they are sited way too close to the rear of the stand itself.  The consequence is an unnecessary and, just a little bit scary, crush as one attempts to obtain one's tofu burger and falafel salad.

The Big Crush.