From the hills of Forest Green to the flat lands of Cardiff.

The contrast between the countryside ground at Forest Green to the modern stadia of Cardiff City was immense. For walkers it was a case of highs and lows. The ascent to Forest Green took effort while the walk to Cardiff City’s ground was a pleasant walk that took in the River Taff. Situated in the Leckwith area, a thirty minute walk from the city centre it ticks all the boxes of modern stadium, out of town, car parking and shopping. An astute supporter could see a game then click and collect the weekly shop after the game. Its one way to celebrate a home victory. Or you could go to Coyote Ugly to lament a defeat and cry into your cocktail. As a member of the Sutton Slow Lane I picked an early night in a hotel bedroom.

The irony is that Forest Green are moving to the Cardiff City Stadium model with their own plans for an out of town stadium with a twist. It’s being built with wood, an idea that’s not as barking as you think. Soon we might see skyscrapers built not from concrete but wood.

I enjoyed both the FGR stadium on top of the hill and Cardiff’s out of town stadium. For Sutton Utd fans both new and old it felt from the heights we looked down to the pitch that we as a club had reached new heights. It was all a bit unreal. We’d arrived, took the lead, competed and ended up losing 3-2 to a Championship team that has capacity for thirty two thousand fans. Far less attended last nights game but the Sutton faithful numbering around three hundred brewed up a storm of noise.

I did however carry over one thing from Forest Green to Cardiff City Stadium, I had a vegetarian pie.

I’m jumping off the away train for now but respect to the faithful who head to Salford City. The wins will come, we just have to keep faith in Matt the Managers plan.