All this since Tuesday...

                                         

                                                                   

Frankly, I'm amazed. I thought I would pay a visit to the local football ground since the weather was good, just to see how things were progressing with the new - and temporary - stand being built in preparation for the start of the new season, and new league AFC Bournemouth will be playing in. 

I was more than surprised at the speed things are coming along, and shortly after my arrival during mid-afternoon the telescopic boom crane was being retracted by its operator (top right), having hoisted the last of the horizontal steel girders that form the outer shell into place. The bottom photo shows the full extent of progress in only two days.

I had originally planned to shoot every few days, but for the time being it seems that daily visits are necessary to keep up with the pace.

Top: 24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 1/1250 second at f/5.6. ISO 200

Below: 12-24mm f/4 AF-S Nikkor. 1/500 second at f/11. ISO 200 

© 2013

                                                                                      

18 days to get it finished...

The pace of the construction for the new temporary stand at AFC Bournemouth's ground has caught me somewhat off guard. Having passed-by yesterday, I was surprised to see that half of the steel framework was already in place, and even more so today to find that it is nearing completion - the framework, that is, not the stand itself. They are certainly not hanging about.

Of course, modern construction techniques are more streamlined - in this case each part being numbered so that it is not much more involved that assembling a toy construction set, albeit on a larger scale - but there is now even more incentive to get the section finished.

It was announced yesterday that Real Madrid - yes, that Real Madrid - will be playing a pre-season friendly against the local team on 21st July. Not long, then, to put it all together and install the seating for what will no doubt be a sell-out match, and something of a culture shock to the Spanish side visitors. I will keep you posted.




12-24mm f/4 AF-S Nikkor.
Both images: 1/640th second at f/8. + 0.67 EV compensation. ISO 250


© 2013

AFC Bournemouth's last stand...

Far be it for me to push football during the summer months - some say there is more than enough of it during the ever lengthening season - but occasionally I intend to post the progress of the development of the local team's ground.

AFC Bournemouth, to be precise. As a one-time supporter (long, long ago), I was pleased to hear the recent news that for last year's efforts they had gained a promotion to the Football League Championship - level 2 in the English league system. If memory serves me correct, the last time this happened for them was in 1990 (then League Division 2), and they were able to continue in their existing ground since the capacity was deemed adequate for the larger gates they undoubtedly received at the time. Fast-forward to the 2013-14 season and things are a bit different.

They had a new stadium built in 2001 - still on the same site as the old ground, which has been there since 1910 - but with a capacity of just 9,600 fans. For reasons unknown to me (but probably financial), the re-build contained only three stands, which was fine for the level they were playing at in that period, but now something needs to be done. From what I understand, a new, temporary stand is to be built along the South Eastern edge to accommodate the expected greater influx of patrons during the forthcoming season, and it is this that I intend to document with my camera.

Let's hope The Cherries have some much-needed success - and continued input from their Russian benefactor - and can remain in its new echelon for years to come. Maybe even get something more permanent?  Mmm...that's nice, Max.



12-24mm f/4 AF-S Nikkor
Top: 1/400 second at f/11. + 0.33 EV compensation. ISO 250
Right: 1/320 second at f/11. + 0.67 EV compensation. ISO 250



© 2013