Chinnor
If Ampthill is a reminder that the word stadium can sometimes be doing rather too much work in the Championship, Chinnor is another good example. Kingsey Road is very much a rugby club rather than a purpose-built professional sports ground, and that is part of its appeal.
Chinnor are based just outside Thame in Oxfordshire and have come a long way in a relatively short time. They are now established in the Championship, but the surroundings still have the feel of a traditional local rugby club, with the clubhouse, pitches and supporters all centred around the main ground.It isn't a huge place and you won't find acres of expensive seating or corporate boxes. Instead there are areas around the pitch where you can stand and watch, together with a relatively modest covered stand. The club has also been working on improving the facilities, including plans for more covered seating. In other words, Chinnor are gradually adding the bits you need for Championship rugby without losing the character of the place.
And that is probably the right approach.
Kingsey Road is spacious, friendly and pleasantly uncomplicated. You arrive, find somewhere to park, wander into the club and watch the rugby. There is no need to spend half your afternoon trying to find your seat in some enormous concrete bowl.
The clubhouse is at the heart of things and there is plenty of space for supporters to eat and drink before, during and after the game. There is also a large marquee used for hospitality and events, so Chinnor can cope with considerably more than the basic clubhouse might suggest.
One of the things that makes Chinnor interesting is the contrast between the surroundings and the rugby being played. This is still a semi-professional club, with players holding outside jobs, yet they are sharing a league with some clubs with considerably greater resources. The club itself is quite open about wanting to grow, but also about doing it sustainably.The community side is still very important. Chinnor has a large mini and junior section and plenty of volunteers, so on a Saturday there is much more going on than simply the first team. That gives the place a genuine rugby-club atmosphere rather than the feeling that everything has been built solely around the first XV.
There is also plenty of ambition. Chinnor have invested in the ground and facilities and are continuing to improve the floodlighting and spectator facilities. They even managed to attract Leicester Tigers for a pre-season game, which is quite an indication of how far the club has progressed.
Don't expect the polished surroundings of a Premiership ground. That's not what Chinnor is about. If you want padded seats, giant screens and enough corporate hospitality to sink a small battleship, look elsewhere.
If, however, you enjoy watching good rugby at a club where you can still feel that you are actually at a rugby club, Kingsey Road fits the bill rather nicely.
Chinnor are clearly trying to move forwards, but hopefully they will do so without losing the traditional character that makes grounds like this worth visiting. The Championship needs clubs like Chinnor just as much as it needs the bigger professional outfits.
Prices correct as at September 2026
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