Blackfriars Stadium

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Blackfriars Stadium
Location Blackfriars district, Tiegang, International Mandate
Surface Grass
Tenants
International Mandate national football team
Blackfriars FC

Blackfriars Stadium is a football stadium located in the Blackfriars district of Tiegang in the International Mandate. Adjacent to the infamous local pub, the stadium is used to host home games of both the Mandate's national team, the pub's club team Blackfriars FC, as well as the odd smattering of various other sporting and cultural events, as and when needed. The stadium is also used for training sessions and for sports lessons by the School of the High Inquisitor of Tiegang. The stadium is sandwiched behind the back of the Blackfriars' Redux, and the local asylum.

The stadium is comparatively old and dilapidated compared to the more functional and modern grounds featured in the professional football-playing leagues of Micras. In one corner of the ground, sports equipment is stored in a cage that is open to the elements, separating the Redux End from the fourth terrace.

The stadium's owner is not publicly known, however it is thought to be a patron of the Redux, whose elusive figure can sometimes be spotted in the Redux End during matches. Ticket prices are often haggled for outside the entrances by fans during domestic league games, with club officials often demanding higher prices to be payed by foreign nationals and non-regulars, who they, often correctly, assume will faulter during the negotiation process, though during international matches, officials from the AEFA and FMF are on hand to prevent this practise, though some harassment of visiting fans has been known to occur.

The Ground

The Redux End

The ground sits behind the back of the Blackfriars' Redux, with an alleyway connecting the beer garden to the back of one side of the stadium. Only accessible from this alleyway, the Redux End, as it is commonly known, is for the exclusive use for patrons of the Blackfriars' Redux, and is capable of holding just 330 fans, though it is rarely filled with the exception of on the most noteworthy of matchdays. Access to the stand is only given by permission of the landlord, who is known to often be disinterested in the sport, and usually only permits access to the most regular of patrons. The stand consists of three steps that run the width of the pitch behind one goal, with the bottom step raised about two metres above the goal and set one metre behind it to provide a greater view of the field to its spectators. Spectators may wander freely backwards and forward along the alley to collect food and drink from the bar and bring them to the stand to watch the game. The Redux End is however one of the few parts of the stadium not to have a roof, and it is often seen to be empty on matchdays when the weather is inclement, with perhaps the exception of one mysterious and shady figure, who is often seen taking sips of his dubious drink, and is unresponsive to the match itself.

The Clubhouse Stand

The clubhouse stand serves as the main spectator area. The stand is sheltered by a roof, and is split into two tiers, with the upper section containing 500 seats for dignitaries, bordered to the back by dining facilities, however the quality of the food served in them is left to be desired. The lower tier is an all-standing terrace, which is capable of holding 3,000 spectators, although due to the lack of quality of the domestic league, this stand is usually only full for international matches or games in the AEFA Champions' League. This stand, like the Redux End, is raised by two metres, to provide room for the changing rooms and clubhouse below. The away changing rooms is particularly small, only just meeting FMF standards, and the showers in them regularly, and somewhat suspiciously, become faulty, during games against foreign teams.

The Asylum End for the exclusive usage of the Foreign Hoards

The Asylum End, as it is known for short, is considered the ground's away end, and can hold a total of 1,500 supporters. A relatively large stand, its roof is rumoured to be lined with a substance that causes ailments to visiting fans, although this claim cannot be proved either way. On the same level as the pitch, this stand has a large bar which fans are invited to use, probably to give local police and excuse to train in riot control. The stand is creaky and often rocks during matches where visiting supporters are particularly animated. A fence infront prevents fans from having easy access to the pitch, though it is set back about 3 metres from the pitch to provide a chance to place police in the event something happens.

The Fourth Terrace

The Fourth Terrace is often left empty during matches, and is relatively small, backing on to a sideroad. As a result, the stand only holds 1,500 fans, despite running the length of the pitch. Like the Clubhouse Stand and the Redux End, it is raised two metres above the pitch, and infront of it the dugouts are located. This stand has no roof, and is mostly considered not fit for purpose, though a safety certificate is held, presumably one which was ascertained through a bribe to local officials.