"Atmosphere par excellence"

Windsor Park is a ramshackle affair of a ground, and all the more glorious for it, even if parts of it belong in the Seventies and Eighties. On International nights the atmosphere excels, suprassing much more famous and larger grounds. I can only comment on grounds I have attended but, as a veteran of numerous Old Firm games and most of the top stadiums in England, Windsor Park is up there with the best of them when it comes to crowd noise. When England went down 1-0 the place positively rocked, just as it did when Spain were put to the sword 3-2, with a certain David Healy scoring a hat-trick. The old Spion Kop was regularly filled to bursting, especially on the night we beat Israel 1-0 to go to Spain 1982. Even better, Glentoran are regularly sent back to East Belfast with nul points, and a certain Martin McGaughey hat-trick in front of a massed Kop will live with me for ever. The ground is undergoing major change but things, and times, move on, and the improvements are much-needed to cater for a modern audience, although I always hanker for the old ground.

Location

A walk, or a short bus ride from town, although good pubs are lacking in the immediate area. I would recommend the Edinburgh Club, just off the Lisburn Road. A small but welcoming club that is usually busy pre-match.

View

Old, but comfortable. The South Stand, soon to be replaced, is cramped and is the least favourable part of the ground, and avoid the Kop stand if you have sensitive ears. Otherwise views are good.

Facilities

Toilets are fine/functional.

Food & Drink

Standard to poor football fare. Then again, few places provide food that would/could be described as "quality".

Police & Stewards

Stewarding provided by home fans and is fine.

Atmosphere

See first section, on International nights it is electric.

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