Non matchday visit of Haverhill Rovers

The New Croft, Haverhill
Home of Haverhill Rovers (and formerly Haverhill Borough)
Date of visit: 29th October 2016

On the Eastern Counties Groundhopper Day, I arrived in plenty of time ahead of the first game to watch Haverhill Borough. This turned out to be fortuitous, as it allowed me time to wander through the open gate and have a good look around inside the adjacent ground, The New Croft. Both grounds are located within a fairly large sporting complex run by the Haverhill Community Sports Association. The facilities include several junior pitches as well as indoor hospitality facilities.

Haverhill Borough used to share this ground up until September 2016, before moving into the 3G cage next door and which was upgraded to allow it to host senior football. Haverhill Rovers, of the Eastern Counties League Premier Division, continue to call the New Croft main pitch home.

The New Croft certainly has more the feel of a football ground than Haverhill Borough's new home next door. Although it did feel rather bleak and characterless, it offers decent facilities, is spacious, and is certainly neat and tidy. Spectators enter via a turnstile block along one length, and the complex's clubhouse, with a matchday refreshment window, is situated immediately to the left. In front of that and straddling the half way line is a modern all-seater stand, whilst immediately behind one of the goals is a small stand covering terrace steps. There is plenty of grass area between the hard standing around the pitch and wooden fencing lining the ground.