The Bulls face what looks likely to be a tricky opening encounter in the Evo-Stick League Southern Division One South & West with a trip to AFC Totton on Saturday, 6 August.
However, the 3,000 capacity Testwood Stadium is a very modern facility and one which will easily accommodate what is anticipated to be a large, and vocal Hereford following.
Last season Totton finished 15th in the division, winning 14 and drawing 6 of their 42 league games. This year their first priority will be to stiffen a defence which leaked 81 goals, with only four other clubs shipping more last term. Indeed, Totton only managed to chalk up 5 clean sheets in the SL S&W at their Testwood home all season. However, on the flip side Totton thrashed Bishops Cleeve 7-0, and Bashley 4-0 on two of the rare occasions their defence stood firm.
AFC Totton have added striker Dan Munday to their squad this summer. Munday bagged 25 goals in 42 appearances for Sydenhams Premier outfit Blackfield & Langley last term. An ex-Dorchester and Poole Town youngster, Bournemouth-based Munday had a brief taste of Southern League football with Wimborne last season.
AFC Totton were formed in 1886 and were originally known as Totton Football Club with ‘the Stags’ being affiliated to the Hampshire FA in the New Forest League.
Totton continued to feature in the local leagues before relocating to Testwood Park in the centre of the town in 1933 where they remained until February 2011 when they moved to the brand new Testwood Stadium a mile away at Calmore on Salisbury Road. The stadium reputedly cost £2.5 million to build.
The Testwood Stadium is located in a sports complex on the northern edge of Totton. It is one of two stadiums within the complex (the other being Little Testwood Farm which is the home of Totton & Eling FC). The area is 1.5 miles north-west of Totton railway station.
The Main Stand is a 268 seat structure by the half-way line on the eastern side of Testwood Stadium. A suite overlooking the pitch is contained at the top of this stand which makes it stand apart from many other clubs at this level of the pyramid. Adjacent to this is a clubhouse and food outlet towards the northern goal while a club shop sits next to the stand towards the southern goal. This side of the ground also houses several rows of uncovered concrete terracing which extends towards both goals.
The other seating area is on the western side of the ground with a thinner stand covering 4 rows of benches. As with the eastern side of the ground there are several rows of uncovered concrete terracing heading towards both goals. The space behind the two goals at the northern and southern ends of the ground is limited so there are just a couple of rows of uncovered terracing in these spots.
Testwood Stadium will not appeal to everyone due to its ‘purpose built’ look and feel, however it is up to Conference South standard and unlike many other clubs at this level in the non league pyramid it has seats on two sides of the ground and terracing on all four sides, meaning that the entire crowd have a raised view.
Head groundsman Ken Dunwell, alongside staff Ted Rose and Bob Coombs, have produced an excellent surface and come August the pitch will be in tip-top condition.
Getting There – By Car:
The Ground is on the A36 from the centre of Totton on the Salisbury road and is situated adjacent to Calmore Roundabout.
If coming from the M27 Exit at Junction 2 and follow signs to Central Totton, after approximately 3/4 mile the ground is one the left for car parking pass the ground and at the roundabout take the first exit on to the industrial estate.
The postcode for SatNav users is SO40 2RW.
Parking: As far as parking goes the best bet is Brunel Road in Calmore industrial estate. There are no double yellow lines and it is quite a long road so there should be plenty of space to park. To find Brunel road if you are coming off of the M27 motorway (Junction 2 is the nearest to us) head down the A36 towards Totton and when you see our ground on the left, go just past it to Calmore roundabout and take the first exit off of the roundabout and that is Brunel Road. When you have parked your car in Brunel Road walk back to the roundabout and you will see a house on the right, just past the house on the right there is an entrance to a footpath leading to the ground, take the footpath but keep to the left DO NOT TAKE THE FOOTPATH ON THE RIGHT or you will end up in the Testwood lakes.
This is the nearest parking to the ground and there will be enough room to accomodate all who would wish to travel by car, do not park in nearby residential roads, as they are no nearer the ground than this parking.
By Bus:
Hereford Away Days will be operating coaches to the game with the details as follows:
Route: Hereford – Ledbury – M50 – A417
Coach Details:
Leave Hereford – Radfords 09:00
Leave Ledbury – Market House 09:30
Bookings: Text only – Reg – 07958 176 937
Cost: £15 Members, £20 Non-Members
If based in the Southampton Area, Bulls supporters could catch a Solent Blue Line bus service from Southampton to Calmore Roundabout within 150 metres of the ground, the fare from Southampton is approx £4 return for adults.
By Train:
Totton station is approximately 1 1/2 miles from the ground, the easiest way is to get a taxi or use the Solent Bus Line service as described above. To walk exit the station on Platform 1 side at the end of the road turn left and walk approx 1/4 mile into centre of Totton (Taxi Rank is opposite Elephant & Castle Pub next to HSBC Bank) at roundabout in centre take the road marked Salisbury, stay on this road for approximately 1 1/4 miles ground is at roundabout on right hand side. If you are coming by train, turn left as you walk out of the station, there is a MacDonalds right opposite the station if you need food if you want a few pints you will see two pubs in Totton town centre 5 mins from the station, one is called the ‘Elephant and Castle’ and the other is called ‘The keys’. The town centre where those two pubs are is around half an hour from the ground on foot, I’d recommend catching the No12 Bluestar bus from outside Lidl and Jollyes and get off at the Breeze Volkswagen garage and the ground is a few minutes away on the opposite side of the road from the bus stop. The fayre is approx £2 one way and £3 return from Totton town centre.
Specific Arrangements
It is expected the ground will be segregated for this match, with Hereford supporters likely to be directed towards Turnstile A which is behind the North goal (Furthest from the roundabout). If so, Hereford supporters will be allocated the terracing behind this goal and part of the North East side terracing in front of the club house.
If the club operate similar arrangements to those used previously Totton supporters will use turnstiles B & C which are located behind the West Stand, this is the side that runs parallel with the main Salisbury Road.
Inside the ground the main stand is for Seated ticket holders whilst all other ticket holders may use any part of the ground apart from the North end reserved for the away fans, the small seated stand on the West Side is unreserved and supporters can use this on a first come first served basis. For non seat ticket holders this will be the only covered area available.
Eating & Drinking: Ground
The Club House bar is expected to be reserved for Hereford supporters and can only be accessed from within the away section. Totton supporters will have exclusive use of the function suite which can be accessed from behind the main stand. There will be various food outlets within the function suite and around the ground.
As for pubs. IF you are not going to use the clubhouse in the stadium then there is a pub called ‘The Testwood’ less than 10 minutes away. To find the Testwood you would carry on past the Calmore roundabout and it is about a thousand yards down the A36 (Salisbury Road) on the left hand side. You can just see it if you look down the road from the roundabout. There is another pub called ‘The Saxon’ in the Calmore housing estate opposite the ground. To find the Saxon take the 3rd exit off of calmore roundabout and keep to the right follow the road round and take the 2nd turning on the left called Calmore Drive, follow that road for about 500 yards and the Saxon is on the left.
For those travelling from further afield The Vine Inn & Mortimers Tavern at Ower are approximately 1 mile towards Salisbury on the A36.
Just to let you know that the company called Mansells referred to in this piece have now moved. So please do not park in that car park as you may well get clamped.
As far as parking goes the best bet is Brunel Road in Calmore industrial estate. There are no double yellow lines and it is quite a long road so there should be plenty of space to park. To find Brunel road if you are coming off of the M27 motorway (Junction 2 is the nearest to us) head down the A36 towards Totton and when you see our ground on the left, go just past it to Calmore roundabout and take the first exit off of the roundabout and that is Brunel Road. When you have parked your car in Brunel Road walk back to the roundabout and you will see a house on the right, just past the house on the right there is an entrance to a footpath leading to the ground, take the footpath but keep to the left DO NOT TAKE THE FOOTPATH ON THE RIGHT or you will end up in the Testwood lakes.
As for pubs. IF you are not going to use the clubhouse in the stadium then there is a pub called ‘The Testwood’ less than 10 minutes away. To find the Testwood you would carry on past the Calmore roundabout and it is about a thousand yards down the A36 (Salisbury Road) on the left hand side. You can just see it if you look down the road from the roundabout. There is another pub called ‘The Saxon’ in the Calmore housing estate opposite the ground. To find the Saxon take the 3rd exit off of calmore roundabout and keep to the right follow the road round and take the 2nd turning on the left called Calmore Drive, follow that road for about 500 yards and the Saxon is on the left.
If you are coming by train, turn left as you walk out of the station, there is a MacDonalds right opposite the station if you need food if you want a few pints you will see two pubs in Totton town Centre 5 mins from the station, one is called the ‘Elephant and Castle’ and the other is called ‘The keys’ The town centre where those two pubs are is around half an hour from the ground on foot, i’d recommend catching the No12 Bluestar bus from outside Lidl and Jollyes and get off at the Breeze Volkswagen garage and the ground is a few minutes away on the opposite side of the road from the bus stop. The fayre is approx £2 one way and £3 return from Totton town centre.
Hope this helps.
If you have any further questions drop me an email and i will do my best to get back to you.