Nottingham
Nottingham is rather spoilt when it comes to sporting venues. Within a relatively small area you have the City Ground, home of Nottingham Forest, Meadow Lane, where Notts County play their football, and the iconic Trent Bridge cricket ground, one of the most famous venues in the world of cricket.
With three such established sporting neighbours, it is perhaps inevitable that Nottingham Rugby Club doesn't quite enjoy the same glamour or recognition. Its ground is within half a mile of this illustrious trio, but in sporting terms, it occupies a rather different world.
However, don't make the mistake of assuming that smaller automatically means worse. Nottingham Rugby offers something that the larger venues can struggle to provide: a friendly, welcoming atmosphere where the emphasis is firmly on watching the game rather than being processed through the machinery of a major sporting event.
It might not have the architectural splendour of its neighbours, but there is something rather appealing about a rugby ground where you can get close to the action without feeling that you need a second mortgage to afford the privilege.
Getting There
One of the advantages of Nottingham Rugby's location is that you are not particularly far from some excellent alternatives if you fancy making a day of it.
The football and cricket grounds are nearby, and there are several pubs within walking distance where you can enjoy a drink and something to eat before or after the rugby. This is particularly useful because, as we shall discover, the food selection inside the ground is not exactly going to win any awards for culinary innovation.
As with any sporting venue, it is worth checking the arrangements for your particular match before setting off, especially if you are driving. Parking can be an issue around popular sporting locations, and the presence of other major venues nearby means that the area can become busy when fixtures coincide.
The Ground
Let's be realistic. Nottingham Rugby is not going to be mistaken for one of the great cathedrals of the sporting world.
It is a relatively modest venue, and the facilities reflect its position in the rugby pecking order. There is nothing particularly spectacular about the ground itself, but nor does it need to be. Rugby is a wonderfully straightforward game to watch, and you don't necessarily need acres of hospitality suites and enormous video screens to enjoy it.
There are two stands, which at least provide some proper seating for spectators who prefer not to spend the afternoon standing around the touchline. Unfortunately, there is a rather significant drawback to their design.Pillars obstruct the view from parts of the stands, and this is not merely a minor irritation when you are trying to follow a game of rugby. The action moves around the pitch, and the last thing you want is for a conveniently positioned piece of structural engineering to conceal the very thing you have paid to watch.
Personally, I found the obstruction sufficiently annoying that I eventually gave up on the seating and went walkabout to watch the match from elsewhere around the ground.
Now, there is something to be said for wandering around a rugby ground and finding your own vantage point. At smaller venues, you can sometimes get surprisingly close to the action, and a change of viewpoint can give you a completely different perspective on the game.
However, having paid for admission, you shouldn't really have to conduct a reconnaissance mission to find somewhere you can actually see what is happening.
It is a shame because the presence of two stands suggests that some thought has gone into providing spectators with a proper place to watch the match. Sadly, the pillars rather undermine the exercise.
If you are particularly keen on sitting down throughout the game, I would suggest checking the seating arrangements when you arrive and choosing your position carefully. Otherwise, you may find yourself doing what I did and abandoning your seat in favour of a wander around the ground.
Food and Drink
And so we come to the catering, an area where Nottingham Rugby has plenty of room for improvement.
The selection available inside the ground is decidedly limited. There is the ubiquitous burger van, which has become something of a permanent fixture at sporting events throughout the country, together with a pizza van and a crepe van.Now, I have nothing against a decent burger or a freshly cooked pizza, and I appreciate that smaller rugby clubs cannot offer the same range of catering outlets as a major stadium. Nevertheless, the choice here is hardly extensive.
If you are hoping for a wide selection of food, or something a little more adventurous than the usual match-day fare, you may find yourself disappointed.
There was, however, one rather pleasant surprise. I tried the crepe, and it was actually very tasty. It is always nice when one of these smaller catering outlets turns out to be better than you might have expected, and the crepe was a definite highlight of the food offering.
So, while the overall choice is limited, it would be unfair to suggest that everything on offer is disappointing.
My advice would be to take advantage of the pubs in the surrounding area before the match, particularly if you want a proper meal rather than a quick bite from a van. There are several decent establishments within walking distance, giving you the opportunity to enjoy a more substantial lunch and a drink before making your way to the ground.
This is one occasion when a little advance planning can make a considerable difference to your match-day experience.
The Atmosphere
Here is where Nottingham Rugby can hold its own against its considerably more glamorous neighbours.
The ground may lack the grandeur of Trent Bridge or the scale of the nearby football stadiums, but it offers a more intimate and welcoming environment.At the larger venues, there is inevitably a certain amount of organisation, security, crowd management and commercial activity. That is understandable when tens of thousands of people are involved, but it can sometimes make the whole experience feel rather impersonal.
Smaller rugby grounds tend to be different. You are there primarily because you enjoy rugby, and there is often a greater sense that supporters are part of the occasion rather than simply customers passing through the turnstiles.
Nottingham fits comfortably into that category.
It may not have the facilities to rival the big boys, but there is something refreshing about a club where the experience is less about corporate hospitality and more about watching a game of rugby.
Of course, the atmosphere will depend on the fixture, the opposition and the size of the crowd. A local derby or an important league match will inevitably generate more excitement than an ordinary afternoon fixture.
Nevertheless, the friendly and welcoming character of the place is an important part of its appeal. With no exceptions all the stewards and security staff I encountered were friendly and welcoming.
Final Thoughts
Nottingham Rugby is a ground of contrasts.
On the one hand, it is surrounded by some of the country's most recognisable sporting venues, and it would be absurd to suggest that its facilities can compete with those enjoyed by the occupants of the City Ground, Meadow Lane or Trent Bridge.On the other hand, it offers a friendly and welcoming alternative that has its own attractions.
The two stands are a welcome attempt to provide proper spectator accommodation, but the obstructed views caused by the supporting pillars are a genuine frustration. In my case, they were sufficiently irritating to send me off on a tour of the ground in search of a better place to watch the rugby.
The catering is another area where expectations need to be kept under control. A burger van, a pizza van and a crepe van will keep some people happy, but the choice is hardly extensive. Fortunately, the surrounding pubs provide a sensible alternative, and that tasty crepe deserves a mention for being rather better than I might have expected.
Would I recommend a visit? Yes, particularly if you enjoy rugby at the more intimate end of the sporting spectrum and appreciate a friendly welcome.
Just don't expect the architectural splendour of the neighbouring stadiums, and be prepared to move around if you find yourself sitting behind one of those inconvenient pillars.
Nottingham Rugby may not be the most glamorous ground on the circuit, but it has something that money cannot always buy: a welcoming atmosphere and a sporting experience that feels refreshingly down to earth.
And if you are visiting Nottingham anyway, you could do considerably worse than adding a rugby match to your sporting itinerary.
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