FROM THE STANDS: West Ham United Women vs. Man United Women
- gamedaygossip01
- Mar 6, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 7, 2024
A cold, yet bright afternoon in East London which saw West Ham host Man Utd in Week 15 of the Women’s Super League.
Event: Women’s Super League ― Game Week 15
Date: Sunday, 03 March 2024
Ground: Chigwell Construction Stadium
Location: Dagenham, Essex
Attendance: 3,171
Final Score: West Ham 1 - 1 Man United
Nestled between terrace houses and a trading estate on the east side of Greater London, Chigwell Construction Stadium is home to West Ham United Women (including non-league ‘Dagenham & Redbridge’) who hosted Manchester United Women in a must win game for both teams as West Ham fight off relegation while Man Utd aim for Champions League next season. A game expected to be won as Man Utd hit 5 past West Ham at Leigh Sports Village in the reverse fixture back in November.
Travel:
Getting to the stadium wasn’t too difficult despite the challenge of navigating London, accessing the stadium via public transport was straightforward. After disembarking the coach at Victoria and heading straight for the train station, the Underground is the first point of call. From there an easy 45-minute ride on the District line (towards Upminster) directly to Dagenham East. Upon exiting the station, turn left an easy 5-10 minute walk to the ground which is clearly signposted.
As I approached the stadium, I was immediately struck by the classic English “football ground” styling commonly seen at lower league team venues. Upon entering the grounds, stewards were readily available to guide both sets of supporters to the correct gate and turnstiles. I found Dagenham itself seemed quite welcoming, the stewards generally relaxed. Entering the stadium was a breeze, requiring simply scanning the digital ticket and passing through the traditional turnstiles.
Food & Drink:
Pre-match food and drinks were as anticipated, with options including tea, coffee, and a range of soft drinks were available. Burgers, chips, hotdogs, chocolates & and crisps were also available on the menu. I would recommend taking cash as there is a minimum spend of £6 for card transactions but a burger with a tea will cost over £7. The burger which I had chosen was fresh, warm although there were a bit stingy with the amount of fried onions provided. PG Tips tea was available, and I had no complaints as it was served nice and warm.
Toilets:
The toilets were basic, which is fairly standard for a stadium of this size. They felt like a cleaner version of public toilets commonly found in any town centre. Entrance doors not found.
The Stands:
Away fans are located in the standing-only, open-air, Bury Road End which is situated behind one goal. The stands themselves offer a good view as they are elevated up from pitch level and the lower steps are just a few metres from the pitch side. Due to the large number of away fans the area can become crowded, with fans almost elbow to elbow in some cases. It would be recommended to be prepared for the weather conditions. The only major drawback from this is the players’ tunnel is adjacent to this stand on the far side of the pitch which caught me out at the start of the match. A small section of limited away fans were offered covered seating which is located to the left side of the standing terrace.
Atmosphere:
The West Ham Women’s fans left much to be desired, displaying a subdued atmosphere throughout the majority of the game. They were generally, very subdued throughout the game, only really providing any significant noise after scoring and occasionally singing a song thereafter. Since the away section was open, chants were audible from both sides of the supporting fans section.
Other Facilities:
No other facilities seen or used.
Final Thoughts:
Despite a disappointing draw for Manchester United, a lack of real determination until the final quarter of the game and Rachel Williams missing an open net for a certain goal in the final moments of the game, it was a good day overall. Chigwell Construction Stadium left a positive impression. While the stadium and its amenities may not be luxurious, the ease of access and friendly atmosphere contribute to a relatively stress-free experience.The away stand offered a good view of the pitch, despite being somewhat crowded. Overall, it provided a classic English football experience and an enjoyable day to watch the match.
Ratings:
Match: | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 5/10 |
Stadium: | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 6/10 |
The Stands: | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 5/10 |
Atmosphere: | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 5/10 |
Food & Drink: | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 6/10 |
Prices: | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 5/10 |
Toilets: | ⭐⭐⭐ | 3/10 |
Staff: | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 8/10 |
Transport: | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 8/10 |