Melbourne Community Stadium – Chelmsford City

Melbourne Community Stadium is primarily an athletics stadium, which is owned by the local council. The largely open stadium is dominated by the Main Stand on the East side. This covered all seated stand is raised above pitch level, meaning that spectators have to climb a small set of steps to access it. It has a capacity of around 1,000 seats. In front of the seated area lower down there are a few rows of terrace. The stand is cantilevered meaning that there are no supporting pillars to impede your view. There are also windshields to either side of the Stand. The main drawback to spectators in this stand as you would expect at an athletics stadium, is that the stand is set well back from the playing action, as there is a long jump area, eight running lanes and the team dugouts situated between it and the pitch.

Opposite on the other side of the pitch just beyond the perimeter is the back wall of the nearby Sports & Athletics Centre. A small overhanging roof has been fitted to this back wall, which also has a large clock centrally positioned, to provide some cover for a few rows of seating below. There is also a small terraced area on this side towards the South end of the stadium, above which a small electronic scoreboard has been put in place. At both ends, the club have installed small temporary blocks of terrace in the area directly behind each goal. One of these terraces at the North End of the stadium, also has a cover. At least the supporters in these areas are located closer to the game being played on the pitch. Unusually the teams come onto the pitch from the South West corner beside the Main Stand.

It is very rare that away fans are segregated at the Melbourne Community Stadium. If fans are to be segregated then visitors are allocated the Sports & Athletics Centre side of the ground, which has a mixture of around four rows of seats, as well as some small standing areas. If demand requires it then a section of seats can be allocated in the Main Stand on the opposite side of the stadium. A total of just under 1,000 fans can be accommodated in these areas, with the Main Stand affording better views of the playing action, facilities, and protection against the weather. Apart from the odd local derby then normally a visit to the Melbourne Community Stadium is a relaxed one, although the players entrance music of the vintage ‘Waltzing Bugle Boy,’ may bring you out of your tranquility!

There is a Clubhouse bar inside the ground, which welcomes away fans. It shows BT and Sky Sports on a large screen and often has real ale. The Clubhouse also offer cooked breakfasts up until 1.30pm. The nearest pub is probably the Red Beret on Melbourne Avenue, but looks like your typical estate boozer. A better bet would be ‘The Flyer’ pub and restaurant, which is part of the Hungry Horse chain. It is situated over the back of the park which is located next to the stadium. Just ask directions to Morrisons and you can’t go wrong as the pub is next door to the superstore. 

Graham White adds; ‘If arriving by train then there are seven pubs in the immediate vicinity of the railway station, which is opposite the bus station, where you can get buses to the ground (see By Train below). They are the Ship, Royal Streamer, White Horse, Barista, Plough, Ale House, Railway Tavern. All serve real ale and are pretty decent pubs. The Barista and Ale House are both listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. If you head on towards the city centre, there are loads more pubs including a Wetherspoons outlet; the Ivory Peg on New London Road’.

From the M11 Junction 7 or M25 Junction 28/A12 follow the A414 towards Chelmsford. On the outskirts of Chelmsford you will reach two roundabouts in quick succession. At the second roundabout where there is a Tenpin Bowling Alley and a Volkswagen Dealership located, take the first exit towards the Widford Industrial Area. Keep on this road for around a couple of miles where you reach a T-junction with the A1060 where you bear left and then turn left again at the traffic lights (still on the A1060) towards Sawbridgeworth. Go through the next set of traffic lights (with a public park on the left) and at the next set turn right into Chignall Road. After passing a zebra crossing, turn right at he modern looking church into Melbourne Avenue. You then will pass another park on your left and just before the tall block of flats, turn left into Salerno Way. Then at the mini-roundabout turn left onto the stadium approach road. 

There is a car park at the stadium which is free, however it normally fills up quite quickly. However there is plenty of street parking available in the surrounding streets.

Chelmsford Railway Station is situated just under two miles away from the Melbourne Community Stadium. It is served by trains from London Liverpool Street, which is a 32 minute train journey away. There is a taxi rank at the side of the station otherwise from the street outside, you can catch any of these First Buses No 54, 56 (towards North Melbourne) or the No 40 (towards Broomfield Hospital). See the First Group website for current timetables.

To walk to Melbourne Stadium from the railway station, should take around 30 minutes. When leaving Chelmsford Station from the front entrance turn right onto Duke Street. Continue past the Bus Station on your left and proceed straight on through the traffic lights into Rainsford Road. You will then pass the County Hotel on your left and on reaching a large crossroads continue straight ahead (Still Rainsford Road). You will then see Admiral Park on your left at which point you take the next right into Park Avenue. At the end of Park Avenue bear left into Swiss Avenue and then at the T-junction, turn left, cross over to the other side of the road and take the next right into Christy Avenue and then turn left into Fox Crescent. At the end of the Crescent turn left onto Langton Avenue. Follow Langton Avenue and at the end of this road you will have reached Melbourne Avenue. Cross over to the other side of the road and enter Melbourne Park, where the stadium is located up ahead.

Booking train tickets in advance will normally save you money! Find train times, prices and book tickets with Trainline. Visit the website below to see how much you can save on the price of your tickets:

All areas of the Melbourne Community Stadium*
Adults £13
Concessions £9
Under 18’s £5
Under 12’s Free

Family Ticket: 2 Adults + 2 Under 16’s £25

Concessions apply to Over 65’s and Students with an NUS Card.

* These prices are for tickets purchased prior to a Saturday matchday, or up to 12 noon on the day of a midweek fixture. Tickets bought thereafter on the day of the game cost £2 more per adult ticket and £1 per concession (Under 18’s remain the same).

Official Matchday Programme £2.50.

Chelmsford City FC fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website).

Braintree Town and Colchester United.

Record Attendance

At the Melbourne Stadium
3,201 v AFC Wimbledon
Conference South, 15th March 2008

At New Writtle Street
16,807 v Colchester United
Southern League, 10th September 1949

Average Attendance
2018-2019: 936 (National League South)
2017-2018: 861 (National League South)
2016-2017: 912 (National League South)

If you require hotel accommodation in Chelmsford then first try a hotel booking service provided by Booking.com. They offer all types of accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets from; Budget Hotels, Traditional Bed & Breakfast establishments to Five Star Hotels and Serviced Apartments. Plus their booking system is straightforward and easy to use. Just input the relevant dates and click on “Search” below or on the hotel of interest on the map to get more information. The map is centered on the football ground. However, you can drag the map around or click on +/- to reveal more hotels in the city centre or further afield.

Official Web Site: www.chelmsfordcityfc.com
Unofficial Web Sites: 
www.claretarmy.co.uk
Fan’s Forum

If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at: [email protected] and I’ll update the guide.

Special thanks to Matt Bradshaw for providing the photos of the Melbourne Community Stadium.