As part of the Everything Orient series 'Away Days', @QuaneRoman reviews his adventures at football grounds across the country and takes a look at everything from the best ground, the best food and most importantly, the best pubs. Next up, Ebbsfleet United.
Stonebridge Road
Capacity: 4,769 (2,179 seated)
Occupant: Ebbsfleet United F.C
Town/City: Northfleet, Gravesend
Orient were back on the road for the first time in 2019 for a league fixture, the short trip to north Kent for The O's looking to bounce back from a defeat against Salford two weeks ago.
1) The Journey - 9/10
For me this was a very straight forward journey as I got the bus from literally outside my house to Greenhithe Rail station, taking 20 minutes. Then it was a short three minute train ride to Swanscombe to complete the trip.
2) The Area - 2/10
After getting out the station incredibly early, just before 11:30 to be precise, we had a look around Swanscombe High Street. It wasn't the most energetic, longest or even colourful high road, a place that didn't have much going on from it's stretch from the station to the Chinese near the houses and country lanes.
Later, when heading to the ground, we walked on a main road down hill to the town of Northfleet (no longer in the Borough of Dartford but Gravesham) over high speed railway lines and along probably the most narrow bit of pavement I've ever seen. Along this bridge we had a great view of the chemical banks of the dirty river, the Swanscombe marshes and a picturise view of Grays in Essex opposite the river.
3) The Pubs - 8/10
We were the first Orient fans in the George & Dragon this year having arrived the earliest we ever had for a Southern away day, last year many O's fans descended on the Swanscombe located pub which from my memory a quite loud and friendly atmosphere.
Thankfully Orient fans and people we knew followed not long after our arrival, a good pub in the heart of town which is actually for sale if anyone is interested!
A good book on the shelf about a time when Gravesend had the most pubs per square mile in the country, coincidently the book was called - A pub on every corner. The pub was absolutely rammed with Orient, you couldn't move inside or out, even in the bogs, they were even running out of Tap Beer towards the end.
4) The Ground - 3/10
After leaving the pub late we were welcomed with a massive que of over 250 O's fans along the back of the away end with 10 minutes till kick off and only 2 turnstiles open.
We missed the first 5 minutes and walked in to see the away terrace absolutely rammed, again you couldn't move.
Stonebridge Road is your average Conference ground, an old stand at the side, a singing stand behind the goal called 'The Plough End' and a new office stand which was opened fully against Orient last year.
5) Food and Drink - 7/10
After seeing over 1,500 heads on the terrace I decided to take advantage of an empty burger van que ordering a cheeseburger with chips.
A very good burger for this level, a lot better than most grounds, however the salt came out like rocks similar to what Councils would use to grit their roads.
Despite that a very good burger and chips at least I could eat mine this time unlike at Fylde when it went up in the air following Orient's second goal.
6) The View - 1/10
A very restricted view where we were, everyone jumped up and nearly started celebrating for a shot that apparently 'pee rolled' across the floor. I guess we didn't miss much at the end of the day.
7) The Programmes - 2/10
No programmes, or by the time we got there anyway, I saw something on Twitter that they didn't have many but to be honest I wasn't expecting us to get one anyway due to the crowds.
8) The Atmosphere - 2/10
Very dull atmosphere from both sets of fans, I feel if we scored first the away end would've been rocking, but in reality it was poor quite dull the odd sound of the Ebbsfleet trumpet now and then but that was it.
9) The Away Support - 10/10
Amazing away support, O's turning up in numbers as over 1500 O's fans made the trip to north Kent.
10) The Performance - 2/10
Poor result, poor performance. Several players struggled but when we did break there keeper was there having possibly one of the games of his career. Take the result on the chin, we go again.
TOTAL - 4.6/10
AWAYDAY STANDINGS
1. AFC Fylde 7.3/10 2. Maidstone United 7.3/10 3. Wrexham AFC 7.1/10 4. Salford City 6.9/10
5. FC Halifax Town 6.1/10
6. Braintree Town 6.1/10
7. Maidenhead United 5.7/10
8. Ebbsfleet United 4.6/10
* Awaydays on the same rating are rated higher on personal enjoyment, for example I personally enjoyed Fylde slightly better to Maidstone despite being given the same rating.
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