Southampton FC - away supporters' guide
RTG’s totally and utterly (we hope) indispensable guide to this season’s away grounds.
THE OPPO – Southampton
DATE – Monday 9 April
KO TIME – 5.15pm (kickoff time moved for Sky Sports)
THE GROUND – St Mary's Stadium, Southampton – click here and here for maps of the area - the red circle shows where the ground is.
St Mary's Stadium is just to the south of the city centre, close to the main A33.
Around 3,200 away supporters are accommodated in the Northam Stand but according to demand, this can be increased to a maximum of 4,700.
TICKETS
Priority for season ticket holders lasts until 3pm on Saturday 24 March - voucher 48 required. General sale will commence at 10am on Thursday 29 March, subject to availability.
Adults £26, senior citizens and U20's £19 - U12's - £1.
GOING BY CAR?
Like the recent trip to Plymouth, travelling supporters are looking at another massively long trip - some five to six hours.
From Sunderland do the usual A19/A1/A1(m) route then onto the M1 southbound.
Stay on the M1 to junction 15A in Northamptonshire
Stay on the A43 for around 25 miles, following signs initially for Oxford and the M40 (ie westbound)
Join the M40 at junction 10 and stay on that road for just over five miles
Leave the M40 at junction 9 and take the A34 southbound
Stay on the A34 for around 60 miles then take the M3 joining at jcn 9 (Winchester)
Stay on the M3 for 10 miles then join the M27
Leave the M27 at junction 8.
Southampton FC advise away supporters NOT to take cars into Southampton city centre but to follow signs for the away supporters' dedicated park and ride service; the signs begin when you leave the M27. The park and ride is available at a charge of £3 per vehicle payable on entry, exit the M27 at junction 8 and follow the AA signs for Away Park and Ride. The car park is secure, stewarded and has toilet facilities. It is a 25 minute bus ride to the stadium. The shuttle bus will drop passengers off and pick-up after the game in Rochester Street and Wilson Street, opposite the stadium on the other side of Britannia Road. Police and stewards will be available to help with directions.
GOING BY TRAIN?
The 8.31am GNER from Newcastle gets to Kings Cross at 11.50am, then nip across town to Waterloo station, and catch the 1.05pm South West Trains service to Southampton which gets there just before 3pm
The 9.35am GNER from Newcastle gets to Doncaster just before 11am; take the 11.04 Hull Trains service to Kings Cross which arrives at 12.44pm. Nip across town to Waterloo station then catch the 2.05pm South West Trains service to Southampton which gets there just before 4pm.
You're not going to get back home the same night because of the rescheduled kick off - see National Rail's website for the following day's train times.
To search for alternative train times and book tickets visit National Rail's website.
Alternatively ALS are running their usual coach service.
STOPPING OVER?
Southampton Travelodge, Southampton - 0870 191 1711
Premier Travel Inn, Southampton - 0870 238 3308
Holiday Inn Express, Southampton & Southampton West - 0870 400 9670
Holiday Inn, Southampton - 0870 400 9670
Also: don't rule out staying in Winchester, Portsmouth and Eastleigh which are also close by.
Click here to visit the Southampton tourism website's accommodation listings. Word of warning: it’s school Easter holidays – hotels and B+B’s will all be busy – ring around as soon as you know you’re going, to sort your accommodation out.
SCRAN AND BOOZE
There’s no shortage of pubs and places to eat in the centre of Southampton and most are happy to serve away supporters. The Coopers Arms is close to the away supporters' dropping off point, and serves both home and away supporters.
LEND US A FIVER I’M OUT OF CASH
Plenty in Southampton city centre.
LAST SEASON
Finished 12th of 24 with 58 points:
THIS SEASON
P35 W16 D11 L8 F56 A39 Pts 59 GD 17
HOME FORM
P18 W11 D5 L2 F27 A13 Pts 38 GD 14
LAST 6 MEETINGS
11.11.06 Sunderland 1 Southampton 1 (Wallace)
28.01.03 Sunderland 0 Southampton 1
28.12.02 Southampton 2 Sunderland 1 (Flo)
23.03.02 Sunderland 1 Southampton 1 (McAteer)
15.12.01 Southampton 2 Sunderland 0
28.04.01 Southampton 0 Sunderland 1 (Kilbane)
TRIVIA
Their current keeper is former Sunderland keeper, Kelvin Davis - in midfield they have former Sunderland favourite, Chris Makin. Manager is a former Sunderland player of the 1980's George Burley.
Credits Southampton FC, Southampton City Council, Multimap, Football Ground Guide, Soccerbase, The RAC, National Rail.
Cardiff City FC - away supporters' guide
RTG’s totally and utterly (we hope) indispensable guide to this season’s away grounds.
THE OPPO Cardiff City
DATE – Saturday 31 March
KO TIME – 3pm
THE GROUND – , Ninian Park, Cardiff – click here and here for maps of the area - the arrow/red circle show where the ground is. Not to be confused with either the Arms Park or the Millennium Stadium!
Cardiff is in south-east Wales, 150 miles west of London. The ground is just south-west of Cardiff city centre close to the Grangetown area and conveniently close to Ninian Park railway station with a direct link to Cardiff Central then onwards to London Paddington.
AWAY SUPPORTERS
Up to 2,000 away supporters are housed on one side of the John Smiths Grange Terrace – a mix of seating towards the front, but terracing towards the rear of the stand.
TICKETS
Tickets for this game have sold out and the game is all-ticket - there will be no cash turnstiles on the day.
GOING BY CAR?
If you want a route that’s almost exclusively motorway, then it’s A1 then M1 then M25 then M4 – but it’s not the most direct route – the most direct route involves a few A-roads:
From the north east, take the A1 southbound to jcn 35 Doncaster then M18 westbound. Follow signs for ‘M1 South’, and you’ll join the M1 southbound at jcn 32 Stay on the M1 until you get to jcn 23A – branch left and join A42 – after 18 miles join the M42 motorway.
Stay on the M42 all the way to the M5 south. At jcn 8 take the M50 signposted "S. Wales, Ross".
At the end of the motorway the road turns into the A40. After you pass Monmouth Travelodge on the opposite side of the road turn onto the A449 signposted ‘Newport’
After 10 miles join the M4 signposted ‘Cardiff’ leaving the motorway at jcn 29 for the A48M signposted ‘Cardiff E & S’.
After 13 miles take the A4119 signposted ‘City Centre’ then half a mile later straight forward at the lights onto Llandaff Road. At ‘The Corporation’ pub turn left then sharp right. At the next lights straight forward onto B4267 signposted ‘Penarth, Dinas Powys’.
At the next lights turn left into Sloper Road and you’re there!
Parking in Cardiff city centre may be problematic (and it’ll be busy on a Saturday with shoppers but there’s a large-ish car park at the ground.
GOING BY TRAIN?
If you want to get there in time for a drink, the 6.46am Virgin service from Newcastle arrives at Bristol Parkway at noon, then change for the 12.08pm First Great Western service which arrives in Cardiff at 12.47.
If you're just going for the game and don't need too much extra time for a drink - the 8.24am Virgin service gets to Bristol at 1pm, then change for the 1.08pm First Great Western service which arrives in Cardiff at 1.47pm.
Going home: The 5.25pm First Great Western service arrives in Bristol at 6pm, then change for the 6.09 Virgin service to York, which gets there at 9.54pm. At York change for the 10.39pm GNER which will get you back to Newcastle at 11.46pm.
Alternatively the 5.25pm First Great Western from Cardiff to London Paddington arrives at 7.30pm; nip across town to Kings Cross then catch the 8.15pm GNER service, which arrives back in Newcastle at 11.46pm.
For full timing details, fares and to book, go to National Rail's website.
Ninian Park is a mile west of Cardiff Central Station but if you’re walking be careful – like Millwall, Cardiff seems to have a reputation as far as trouble's concerned.
STOPPING OVER?
Cardiff Backpacker, Neville St, Cardiff – tel 029 2034 5577
Crowndale Bed & Breakfast, Cathedral Rd, Cardiff, tel 029 2034 4060
Travelodge Cardiff Central – tel 0870 191 1723
Travel Inn Cardiff Bay – tel 08701 977 050
Holiday Inn Express, Cardiff Bay – tel 02920-449000
If you fancy really pushing the boat out, stay at the St David’s Hotel and Spa in Cardiff Bay, one of the most distinctive buildings in Cardiff (pic here).
SCRAN AND BOOZE
You’ll have absolutely no problem finding somewhere in Cardiff city centre to eat – it’s a busy area, with lots of choice. If you get there in plenty of time, there are some nice cafes and restaurants down in the Cardiff Bay area (infact if you’ve got time and it’s not chucking with rain, it’s nice for a look round that area anyway). Click here for a guide to the city’s eating places.
Like Millwall you’re advised to be very careful where you drink, and either don’t wear your colours at all or keep them under wraps. Most pubs in the city centre are fine for visiting supporters, with the notable exception of ‘The Borough’.
‘The Lansdowne’ on Lansdowne Road is run by a Cardiff City supporter, wall-to-wall with Bluebirds memorabilia, but visiting fans are apparently safe to drink in there and is only a few minutes’ walk from the ground. There’s also the Cornwall Hotel , another which welcomes away fans. Avoid the ‘Ninian Park’ and ‘Royal Exchange’ though.
LEND US A FIVER I’M OUT OF CASH
There are plenty of cash machines in Cardiff city centre.
LAST SEASON
Finished 11th out of 24 with 60 points
THIS SEASON
Currently 21st of 24 with 43 points:
P35 W23 D11 L8 F50 A36 Pts 59 GD 14
HOME FORM
P18 W10 D6 L2 F30 A13 Pts 36 GD 17
LAST 6 LEAGUE MEETINGS
31/10/06 Sunderland 1 Cardiff 2 (Brown)
26/02/05 Sunderland 2 Cardiff 1 (Breen, Stewart)
11/12/04 Cardiff 0 Sunderland 2 (Whitehead, Lawrence)
21/02/04 Cardiff 4 Sunderland 0
14/10/03 Sunderland 0 Cardiff 0
03/05/80 Cardiff 1 Sunderland 1
TRIVIA
If you decide to make a weekend of it and stay over in Cardiff or nearby, there’s loads to do. In the city centre you can get on one of those sightseeing bus tours where you pay one fee and ‘hop on/hop off’ as many times as you want in a day – they’re good for helping you get your bearings.
The Cardiff Bay area has been vastly improved in recent years and now has some nice café’s, bars and restaurants. If you’ve got nippers, they might appreciate the Techniquest centre - a hands-on centre where kids can explore science experiments and have fun doing it.
The Millennium Stadium is slap bang in the middle of the city centre (you can’t miss it). Tours cost £3 for adults and £2.50 for children, call 02920 822 228 to pre-book a tour.
If you fancy a bit of culture go to Cardiff Castle (again, right in the middle of the city centre) or the National Museum & Gallery at Cathays Park (city centre).
Credits Cardiff City FC, Cardiff City Council, Multimap, Rough Guide to English Football, Qjump, London Clarets, Soccerbase, streetmap.co.uk, The AA, Flared Hicks, BBC.
