Written by Max
Ground #74
Saturday 13th December 2025
EFL League 2
Tranmere Rovers 1-4 Crewe Alexandra
Attendance: 6,752
Entry: £23
Tranmere Rovers were founded in 1884 as Belmont Football Club before adopting their current name just 1 year later. In 1921 the club were invited to become founder members of the football league third division.
The most successful period for the club was the 1990’s when they would spend the majority of the decade in the 2nd tier and came close to earning promotion to the Premier League, but missed out in the play offs on 3 occasions. In the year 2000 they even made it to the League Cup final but lost 2-1 to Leicester City at Wembley.
In 2001 the club were relegated into the third tier where they would become a stable side remaining here for 13 seasons. After this though a crazy decade would begin as the club suffered back to back relegations seeing the club drop out of the football league for the first time in 94 years. After 3 years in the National League, Rovers then bounced straight back to the third tier with back to back promotions in 2018 and 2019. The club have since returned to the fourth tier which is where they find themselves today.
Today they took on Crewe Alexandra in a game between two mid table sides on contrasting runs. The visitors came into the game on a poor run of form, without a win in 4 and having drawn to bottom of the table Newport in mid week, Meanwhile Tranmere were going into it on the back of a 3-0 win and were looking to climb the table towards the play off places.
Ahead of kick off the mood in the away end was rather negative and the questions were not of whether we would lose but of how many we would lose by. This negativity was backed up with good reason too as The Alex hadn’t won at Prenton Park since 2000.
On 17 minutes though the visitors would take a surprise lead after a good bit of play down the left. The ball was crossed deep and then pulled back for the ever reliable Max Sanders to stroke it into the bottom corner.
Shortly after it should have been 2 as on loan striker Emre Tezgel powered through on goal but his attempt was well saved by the 44 year old Tranmere keeper.
Right on the stroke of half time The Alex won a dangerous looking free kick. It was one of those that seemed too close to the goal and usually ends up either smashing into the wall or going high and wide over the stand. Not this time though as a clever free kick routine saw the ball played sideways to Sanders who curled a beautiful effort into the top corner to double his and Crewe’s tally and give the visitors as deserved 2 goal lead going into the break.
Into the second half and again it was Crewe that were looking the more dangerous. Manager Lee Bell has been criticised this season for his negative playing style, but his much more attacking formation today was paying off. On the hour mark a dubious looking penalty was given and then slotted home to make it 3-0!
The Alex were looking dangerous every time they came forward, and a well worked counter attack in the 70th minute saw Crewe score a 4th! Cue mass exodus from the home supporters who had seen enough!
The few who stayed were treated to a late consolation goal as Crewe defender James Conolly scored his 2nd own goal of the week, but it was far too late to worry the Crewe fans who were in party mode in the away end. The 25 year Prenton Park hoodoo was over!
Now to rate our day in Birkenhead:
Location: 6/10
Prenton Park stadium is located, unsurprisingly, on Prenton Park Road around 2 miles from Birkenhead. There are 2 pubs located right near the ground, one of these aptly named ‘The Prenton Park’.
If like us you are traveling to the game from the other side of the Mersey, the easiest way to seemingly get to the ground is by getting the metro train from Liverpool to Chester getting off at Rock Ferry station. From here it is around a 25 minute walk to the ground.
Ahead of the game we had been made aware of a festive fan zone that the Tranmere Rovers supporters trust had put on so ahead of the match headed to this as it was just a short walk from the away end. We were greeted with a friendly atmosphere with both home and away fans welcomed and enjoying a pre match drink ahead of kick off. There was also a food bank collection ongoing
Kit: 7/10
This seasons Tranmere kit consists of white shirts socks and shorts. The shirt has a subtle black pinstripe design as well as green and blue around the collar and down the sides. The sponsor fits in nicely and although I’m not usually a fan of white kits it’s nice to see some thought put into the design.
Another point is the shirt is made by the brand ‘Mills’ which we had never heard of before
From the away end it was difficult to get a decent photo of the shirt so I have used the below from the official Tranmere Rovers kit release
Facilities: 8/10
The away end at Tranmere is a large stand behind the goal and this allows for a big area underneath for fans to congregate before the game.
There were 2 counters, one selling just drinks and another with food too allowing fans to be served quickly. There was then plenty of space between the two kiosks for fans to stand. Definitely one of the better away end concourses we have come across so far on our travels.
Look: 8/10
Prenton Park has been home to Tranmere Rovers since 1912 and has a total capacity of just over 16,500 making it the 3rd biggest at this level behind MK Dons and Notts County
The oldest remaining stand at the ground is the Main Stand having been opened in 1968. this is also the largest stand holding just under 6,000 fans.
Opposite this is the smaller Johnny King Stand which holds around 2,400 fans. The away end which we were in for todays match is known as ‘The Cowshed and has a unique lopsided look with more rows of seating on one side than the other.
Last, and certainly not least is the huge kop stand which towers over the rest of the ground. Up until 2000 part of this stand was given to away fans but now the 5,600 all seater stand belongs to the more vociferous home supporters, although there weren’t too many of them left by the time this game came towards its conclusion!
Food and Drink: 3/10
Once into the ground we joined one of the fast moving queues and headed towards the food counter. Sadly though only a very limited number of very sad over cooked looking pies seemed to be available so we bailed and made our way up to the stand,
Drinks wise was the usual generic plastic bottled beers such as carling and Kingstone press cider. Luckily we had already been to the fan zone pre game where I went for a German Pilsner while Emma opted for a festive Baileys hot chocolate
Sadly it seems to be a common theme that the higher up the leagues you go the more depressing the food offerings get, and this is yet another example of this.
TOTAL SCORE 32/50
It had been over a month since we had been to a game, and almost 9 months since we’d last seen Crewe, and what a game to choose to return for! It wont be anywhere near that long before we next see The Alex in action as we will be at Meadow Lane in January to see them take on Notts County.
Back to this game and it was an enjoyable afternoon in Birkenhead, obviously made alot better by the result. Prenton Park is a ground we both liked and a club who’s fans I have a lot of respect for. As was obvious by the state of the trains heading back from the other side of the Mersey while we waited after the game, alot of locals choose the easy option to support Liverpool so we have to say fair play to anyone who decides instead to support their actual local team and watch 4th tier football instead.
If you would like to see where this places Prenton Park in our Football League leader board click here: THE 92
If you’d like the non-league grounds we have visited click here: NON LEAGUE
Emma’s Ground Guide 