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Broadhall Way
(Stevenage)
Address: Broadhall Way,
Stevenage,
Hertfordshire,
England,
SG2 8RH
Capacity: 7,318 (6,268 Seated)
Possessing a fairly simple but very practical layout, what Broadhall Way perhaps lacks in size, it makes up for in providing a clear view that you really cannot complain about.
Currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Lamex Stadium, Broadhall Way gets its name from the road which passes its northern side (the road is otherwise known as the A602).
The ground dates back to 1961, when it became the home of Stevenage Town Football Club. Stevenage Town were established in 1894 and remained in existence until 1968, when they folded following the conclusion of the season.
Stevenage Athletic Football Club was formed in their place, but the club only lasted 8 years, declaring bankruptcy in 1976.
Stevenage Borough Football Club, who have held the name Stevenage Football Club since 2010, formed in 1976 and eventually moved into Broadhall Way in 1980.
They have played there ever since.
Location and Getting There
Broadhall Way is based on the edge of an industrial estate, around one mile south of Stevenage Town Centre. Located next to a roundabout that forms part of the A602, the Roaring Meg Retail Park is a short while away to the northwest, with residential districts based to the east of the stadium including Shephall and Broadwater.
Coming to Broadhall Way by car is certainly possible.
The stadium itself has a number of parking spaces based mostly around its eastern and western sides, and if you are looking for free parking, it should be possible to find spaces in the nearby industrial estate to the west or in the nearby residential estates to the east. There are footpaths either through woodland or alongside major roads that enable you to get from your car to the stadium.
If you are going to the east though, be sure to check that you are legally allowed to park on the street and are not obstructing any resident’s vehicles.
Stevenage Station, served by Thameslink, Great Northern and LNER, is located near to the Town Centre and walking from there to Broadhall Way can take around 20-25 minutes.
Alternatively, you can walk a short distance to the bus stop outside Stevenage Train Station and catch the 301 Bus Service, getting off at the Retail Park stop a short distance southwest of the stadium.
The journey for this route can take around 15 minutes from station to stadium.
Outside the Ground
The majority of supporters, especially away fans, will approach Broadhall Way on its northwestern side, making use of the network of paths that go underneath the A602 roundabout.
Once past the roundabout, the footpath splits off in two directions, heading towards either the road entrance at the southwest corner of the ground, or up and along past the stadium’s North Stand.
The North Stand is the newest part of the stadium. Originally a terrace that was only three-quarters covered, major work took place on it in the late 2010s, with the new, all-seater stand finally opened in December 2019.
The exterior of the North Stand has a modern-looking feel, consisting of a black brickwork base with black panels low down, silver panels higher up and red trim at the very top.
The very centre of the stand’s exterior contains a large glass pane that leads to the stand’s Main Entrance, whilst the Ticket Office can be found at the western end of the exterior. There two sets of turnstiles that provide entry into the North Stand. Turnstile 4 is to the right of the Ticket Office, whilst Turnstiles 5-6 are at the opposite end, positioned adjacent to the stand's panelled exterior.
Continuing round in a clockwise direction brings you to the East Terrace.
The exterior here is the most basic of the four at Broadhall Way, consisting mostly of grey corrugated iron held above ground by a row of pillars, and the underside of the terraced area being viewable from outside. Private parking spaces are made available right underneath the East Terrace as a result.
The centre of the East Terrace provides two turnstile blocks, with an exit gate in place between them. One of these turnstile blocks, numbered 10-11, is sometimes in use on a matchday. Fans based in the East Terrace normally make use of Turnstiles 7-9 which are on the northern side of the ground. Head down the narrow path past a brick building which holds the Stewards Room, and you will emerge on a foot/cycle path. The East Terrace turnstiles are the first set on your left.
Slightly out beyond the East Terrace is a selection of car parking spaces and Monkswood Lane which goes past the eastern and southern sides of the stadium, eventually leading onto Monkswood Way (A602).
Passing The Broadhall Suite and Bar in the southeast corner, which is often open to both home and away fans on a matchday, brings you round to the South Stand.
The exterior here consists of a brickwork base with grey corrugated iron higher up and a red roof at the very top. Between the brickwork base and corrugated iron is a row of windows which have the Club Offices and Executive Suite on the other side, accessible by a pair of short ramps just outside.
Turnstiles for the South Stand (17-21) can be found near to the southwest corner of the stadium and next to a small brick building which acts as a First Aid Centre and Ambulance Loading Bay.
Directly outside the South Stand’s exterior is a row of private car parking spaces.
The southwest corner of Broadhall Way is usually the part of the stadium most fans will pass if they are heading to either the West Stand, South Stand or East Terrace.
You can find a large sign held above this corner which displays details on Stevenage’s next home game, including the opponent, date and kick-off time.
Continuing round from here brings you to the West Stand, which is the largest of the four at Broadhall Way.
Either end of the West Stand’s exterior shares similarities with the East Terrace opposite, using above ground corrugated iron and the underside of the seating area visible from outside. Private car parking spaces are made available right underneath these parts of the West Stand as a result. The central part of the West Stand exterior though features a large building that protrudes outwards, using a brickwork base and large silver panels in its upper parts. The Stevenage FC Foundation is at the southern end of this panelled building, and around the corner is the Boro Brick Wall. To the left of here is the Away Team Entrance, followed by the Away Ticket Collections Point and the Stevenage Club Shop.
Head further along the stand's exterior from here and you will come to the Red Zone Entrance (Home Team and Match Officials). The Directors Entrance is through doors at the northern end of the panelled building.
The West Stand turnstiles (1-3) are based right at the northern end of the West Stand, accessible from the foot/cycle path that runs alongside the North Stand. There is a small path through the trees that you can use to get to them from the western side of the ground, or alternatively you can take the lower-down path next to the A602.
Immediately outside of the West Stand is the majority of Broadhall Way’s parking spaces.
Inside the Ground
Formerly a terrace, the North Stand is now a single-tier all-seater stand that consists of five blocks of white seating. The three central blocks are the largest and have the letters SFC spelt out in red seating across them.
Your view from anywhere inside the North Stand is perfectly clear as there are no supporting pillars coming down from the roof, but the stand does not have windshields at either end, with just small red walls in place to provide protection from any wind or rain.
The East Terrace contains a single tier of entirely standing terrace, hence it’s name. There are three rows of red, metal bars that run across the terraced area for fans to lean on, though they can also make use of the red wall right at the back. An opening at the base of the stand's centre leads to turnstiles and an exit gate which is opened at the conclusion of Stevenage games.
When attendances are relatively low, Stevenage often cover the southernmost part of the East Terrace with a large sheet. This is done to further increase the distance between home fans in the East Terrace and away fans in the South Stand.
Your view is perfectly clear from anywhere inside as there are no pillars coming down from the roof, which has an analogue clock standing atop its centre and an open space underneath that the matchday camera is often located in.
Much like the adjacent North Stand though, the East Terrace doesn’t have windshields in place at either end. Refreshments can be found over at the stadium's northeast corner, shortly after entering through Turnstiles 7-9. You are separated from the fans using the North Turnstiles 5-6 by a fence.
The South Stand is similar in design to the North Stand opposite.
It consists of a single tier of five white seating blocks, with the letters BORO spelt out in red across the four largest blocks.
Your view of the pitch is perfectly clear from anywhere inside, and there is an electronic scoreboard attached to the roof above the stand which can only be seen by those in other parts of the stadium.
There are no windshields at either end of the South Stand though, with just red walls in place to offer protection.
The Stadium Control Room sits in the southeast corner, and there is a food and drink hub underneath which is sometimes made available for those in the South Stand.
The West Stand is also single-tiered and all-seater. The majority of the seats inside this stand are coloured white, although two of the central three blocks, usually reserved for executives, are coloured red instead. Two sets of the letters BORO are also spelt out using red seating, with one set of letters based at either end of the stand.
Stevenage’s changing rooms, dugouts and tunnel can all be found in the West Stand, which offers a perfectly clear view of the action from every seat as there are no supporting pillars coming down from the roof above.
Much like the rest of Broadhall Way though, the West Stand doesn’t have windshields in place at either end.
Away Fans
Away fans are housed behind the goal in the South Stand.
Depending on the size of the away following, just a couple of blocks, normally the ones near the southwest corner, are made available for away supporters, but a larger amount of the stand can be made available for larger followings.
Fans reach these seats via the turnstiles near to the stadium’s southwest corner (17-21), which is easily accessible by either the A602 or the path that passes underneath it.
Away fans are kept well segregated from home fans during games and are given a perfectly clear view of the action from any seat inside the stand, albeit with minimal protection from the sides as there are no windshields in place.
Matchday Pubs
Pubs available to supporters on a matchday include*:
-The Broadhall Suite (Monkswood Lane, SG2 8RH) (Typically Home and Away Supporters except for High-Profile Games) (Located outside the southeast corner of Broadhall Way itself)
-The Chequers Beer House (164 High Street, SG1 3LL) (Typically Home and Away Supporters) (Located north of Stevenage Station)
-Our Mutual Friend (Broadwater Crescent SG2 8EH) (Typically Home and Away Supporters) (Located east of Broadhall Way)
-The Roaring Meg Retail Park (Great North Road, SG1 1XN) (Home and Away Supporters) (A Shopping Centre with Restaurants that is located on the opposite side of the A602 Roundabout from Broadhall Way)
-The Roebuck Inn (London Road, SG2 8DS) (Typically Home and Away Supporters)
*There is not much in terms of pubs within very close range of Broadhall Way itself.
Overview
In terms of practicality, Broadhall Way has no major faults. All four sides of the stadium are very accessible, particularly if you are arriving on foot, and the views inside are completed unobstructed from any of its four stands.
The recent development to its northern side has made an already good stadium look even more modern and even more practical.
There may well be bigger grounds elsewhere in this part of the country, but there can be no complaints about the matchday experience and view that Broadhall Way offers.
A fine lower league venue.
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