This wasn''t my first visit to the Hawthorns- I''d been many times before back in the 80''s when both ends of the ground were still terraced, but as the Hawthorns is the closest league club to my hometown (beating Molineux by about 4 miles) I decided this was the best place to start my attempt at the 92. Over the road from the ground, on the corner of the Birmingham Rd/ Halfords Lane, is the Fanzone, which is open to both home and away fans and is usually a nice friendly atmosphere. In the Zone are several food/drinks outlets, a large video screen where early kick-offs are shown, a kids fun area and a stage. The stage is used to chat with the mascots, present live music and also chat to the odd former Baggie or two. In this area is a Greggs which is located in a former pub on the site. On the corner of the East stand/ Birmingham Rd stand are the Astle gates, a memorial to Baggies legend Jeff Astle. Through these gates are the ticket office, a well stocked club shop and access to the East stand hospitality boxes. Also in this area is a statue of another Baggies favourite Tony ''Bomber'' Brown. Access to the ground is via the now familiar automated ticket scanning turnstiles. The concourse, at least in the Birmingham Rd stand is roomy and has food and drink outlets, toilets and tv screens-usually tuned to Sky Sports. Inside, the stadium is a fully covered all seater. The ground holds 26,500 spectators, with the away fans,up to 3,000, housed in one half of the 5,000 capacity Smethwick End behind the goal, although for Cup ties the entire Smethwick End can be allocated to away fans. The other half of the stand is for the very vocal home fans. The stands are more or less of the same height and have all blue plastic seating and as the corners are filled, the stadium is fully enclosed. The East Stand is a single tier cantilever which runs the length of one side of the pitch. It holds just over 8,000 spectators and has hospitality boxes running the full length of the rear of the stand. Opposite is the West or Halfords Lane Stand. This is a two tier stand with a capacity of just under 5,000. Whilst the lower half is seating the upper tier houses the VIP boxes. Above this tier, in the roof space, is the TV gantry and press and commentators section. Although this stand was refurbished as recently as 2008, the lower tier has a very cramped feel to it. this also applies to the refreshment area under the stand. This stand also houses the dressing rooms, the tunnel and the managers area. Opposite the Smethwick End is the 8000 capacity Birmingham Road Stand, known by the locals as The Brummy Road End. This is a single tier but is split in two by a walkway which links the entrance/exit steps. A lot of noise is generated from this stand when they get going and the Baggies always play towards this end in the 2nd half of their home games. The small quadrant between the East Stand and the Smethwick End is known as Millenium Corner, and the section between the East Stand and the Brummy Road End is called Woodman Corner and was named after the pub which was demolished to make way for the new stand. On the back wall in the Woodman Corner is a 3d model of the Albion crest - a thrush, or throstle, standing on a football. This was previously positioned above the scoreboard on the roof of what is now the East Stand and was moved during the redevelopment of the ground. it now sits proudly in Woodman Corner, or as I call it, The Throstle End. The Hawthorns also has two large video screens in opposite corners of the ground, and the floodlights are set on each of the front corners of the roof of the stands behind either goal. And so to the game itself. As I was late getting to the game (see Walsall v Bury for that) I only heard the roar of the crowd when McCauley scored the Baggies goal. Unfortunately that was the highlight for West Brom as they conceded a Kevin Mirallas goal just on half time and eventually lost to a Gareth Barry goal. Oh and it was raining as well!! End of Season 16/17- Everton finished 7th on 61 points.