[Albion] Newcastle’s away changing room

[Lady Whistledown]

At Easton & Martyr Worthy, in division two of the Winchester Sunday League, the changing rooms were a shipping container.

Just to be clear - not a CONVERTED shipping container. Just literally, a shipping container.

I too have experienced a shipping container dressing room. I can't remember where it was as it was so long ago- probably somewhere in one of the less attractive Kent towns like Dartford, but yes, that's an experience.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

OK, for context, I've found another photo in which it doesn't look quite so bad, although one of the wall hangings is pretty ugly. But still a bit dingy, and for some reason makes me think of the Shawshank Redemption.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

For context this was the Amex away dressing room around 2019 when we did the tour

 

[Bry Nylon]

Home Dressing Room at Selhurst Park - believed to date from around the time of the second dynasty of Pharaoh Roy of Shirley Hills. Scholars have translated the wall markings as reading ‘Whack it up to the big fella’ and ‘Stick it in the mixer’ which experts now believe to be evidence of primitive tactical instructions, dating from the very dawn of Time itself…

 

[Weststander]

To be honest there's a lot of things that could be done to make away changing rooms uncomfortable.

A steaming .

 

[bhafc99]

Home Dressing Room at Selhurst Park - believed to date from around the time of the second dynasty of Pharaoh Roy of Shirley Hills. Scholars have translated the wall markings as reading ‘Whack it up to the big fella’ and ‘Stick it in the mixer’ which experts now believe to be evidence of primitive tactical instructions, dating from the very dawn of Time itself…

View attachment 197661

Oh, so AFTER the formation of the football club, it being the oldest club in recorded history etc etc etc?

 

[7dialssouthpaw]

A steaming .

someone had to!

 

[dejavuatbtn]

All the millions spent on their ground and players etc, it is disgraceful. To be honest it would make me want to play better. Newcastle should really be ashamed of themselves.

 

[Peteinblack]

I thought this was Dressing Room at Selhurst park?

 

[Dorset Seagull]

Does the old Wembley count? Not that they were up to much by todays standards

 

[Algernon]

These were a shit changing room many years ago.
The ones under the east end of Withdean were horrific too.

 

[One Love]

Not sure if they still play football there but Hampers Lane near Storrington was always fun. Changing rooms were a giant shed and the only running water was a little stream that ran behind the shed.

The pitches above the rocket park up Ditching Road, where you had to play up and down the Eiger, were something like that, only without the stream.

If I remember correctly, you didn't even bother going into the changing rooms but arrived in full kit or changed in your car, which was bigger.

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

Do they have a different dressing room for away teams when they play European games? Cause that doesn't look like it meets UEFA Cat 4 stadium standards. I know the room dimensions UEFA specify are recommended (should be 55m²) so that part doesn't have to be met, but it looks like you'd struggle to get the required space for 23 players to sit and hang their clothes.

Probably another rule they’ve been given a pass on, like having away fans pitch side.

 

[POSKETT AT THE VALLEY]

Not sure if they still play football there but Hampers Lane near Storrington was always fun. Changing rooms were a giant shed and the only running water was a little stream that ran behind the shed.

Oh Hampers Lane. Home of Storrington Priory. Those were the days!

 

[Whitley Bayster]

I too have experienced a shipping container dressing room. I can't remember where it was as it was so long ago- probably somewhere in one of the less attractive Kent towns like Dartford, but yes, that's an experience.

They have them at Selhurst just jazzed up a bit with some graffiti

 

[Guinness Boy]

It doesn't look too dissimilar to Southwick FCs changing rooms at Old Barn Way which I used a few times. It's also much worse than the dressing rooms in the old (decommissioned 2008) Taipei Soccer Stadium which was one of the regular venues for the expat league I played in, as well as the venue for our annual tournament.

Zhongshan Soccer Stadium - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Obviously both grounds generated revenue by hiring the pitch and facilities

 

[pb21]

Do they have a different dressing room for away teams when they play European games? Cause that doesn't look like it meets UEFA Cat 4 stadium standards. I know the room dimensions UEFA specify are recommended (should be 55m²) so that part doesn't have to be met, but it looks like you'd struggle to get the required space for 23 players to sit and hang their clothes.

Probably another rule they’ve been given a pass on, like having away fans pitch side.

Was just wondering if there is a minimum spec?

Presumably is, or should be, one that teams agree too.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

"lighting levels reminiscent of a mushroom farm," - that made me spit my tea out. Beautiful imagery.

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

Was just wondering if there is a minimum spec?

Presumably is, or should be, one that teams agree too.

UEFA stadium categories - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

This is what a cat 4 should have for changing facilities. (Cat 4 is required for the group/league stage onwards of all 3 European competitions).

Sanitary facilities:

• 6 showers
• 3 separate seated toilets

Player changing area (recommended dimensions: 55 m2 (590 sq ft)):

• Seating and clothes-hanging facilities or lockers for at least 23 players
• 1 large refrigerator
• 1 TV monitor (with appropriate connections for projecting) or 1 tactical board

Team official changing area (recommended dimensions: 20 m2 (220 sq ft)):

• Seating and clothes-hanging facilities or lockers for at least 7 team officials
• 1 table
• 2 chairs

Physiotherapy (recommended dimensions: 15 m2 (160 sq ft))

• 3 massage tables

Storage (recommended dimensions: 5 m2 (54 sq ft)):

• 1 table and/or free storage space

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

Do the Amex stadium tour - the contrast between the two changing rooms is quite something.

And from doing the tour a while ago, the contrast was explained as deliberate!