B>RTG’s totally and utterly (we hope) indispensable guide to this season’s away grounds.
THE OPPO – Everton FC aka The Toffees
DATE – Saturday 29 or Sunday 30 January
KO TIME – to be confirmed
The FA Cup 4th round takes the Lads back to Goodison Park for the first time in two years. The last time Everton and Sunderland played at Goodison in the FA Cup was in the third round in 1966, when the Toffees beat the Lads 3-0. The Toffees went on to beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-2 in the Final.
THE GROUND – Goodison Park, Liverpool – click here and here for maps of the area – the circle or arrow in the middle points to where the ground is.
Goodison Park three miles north of Liverpool city centre; the nearest railway station is Lime Street, and the nearest Merseyrail station is Kirkdale (Northern Line), about a mile from the ground.
Visiting supporters are accommodated in part of the upper section of the Bullens Stand (opposite the main stand). Sunderland can claim tickets for up to 15% of Goodison’s total capacity of 40,569 – in other words we can ask for 6,085. However Everton could give us more voluntarily.
Ticket details will be posted on RTG’s ticket news pages as soon as the club gives us them.
GOING BY CAR?
Go down the A1 then at Scotch Corner take the A66 westbound. When you reach Brough, take the A685, go through Kirkby Stephen and pick up the M6 southbound at jcn 38. Stay on the M6 till you reach jcn 26 then take the M58 westbound. Stay on the M58 till it ends the pick up the M57; leave at jcn 4 and turn right into East Lancashire Road (A580). Follow the road across Queens Drive into Walton Lane. Goodison Road is a short distance along, on the right.
Parking in the area around the stadium is mostly ‘residents only’ schemes so watch where you park, and please park considerately. There’s some off-street parking at the top of Scotland Road, otherwise there are numerous school car parks and the like who’ll charge a couple of quid to park for the afternoon. Get there in plenty of time though – little chance of finding somewhere less than an hour before kickoff.
GOING BY TRAIN?
(Based on a Saturday 3pm kickoff)
The 9.25am Virgin Trains service from Newcastle gets to York at 10.23, then change for the 10.37 Transpennine Express which arrives at Liverpool Lime Street just before 1pm.
Or the 10.25am Virgin Trains service from Newcastle gets to York at 11.24, then change for the 11.37 Transpennine Express which arrives at Liverpool Lime Street just before 2pm.
It’s three miles from Lime Street to the ground which would take you about an hour to walk – get a cab! Or make your way to Queens Square bus station and catch one of the following buses: 1, 2, 19, 20, 311, 345, 350.
Coming back, the 6.22pm Transpennine Express from Lime Street gets you to York just after 8.30pm then change for the 8.46pm Virgin Trains service to Newcastle.
STOPPING OVER?
Express by Holiday Inn, Albert Dock, Liverpool tel 0151 709 1133
Holiday Inn, Lime Street, Liverpool tel 0151 709 7090
Travelodge Liverpool Central, Haymarket, Liverpool, tel 0870 191 1656
Travel Inn, Vernon Street, Liverpool, tel 0870 238 3323
SCRAN AND BOOZE
There’ll be no shortage of options in Liverpool centre but a Toffees season ticket holder tells us there’s not much choice closer to the ground apart from some takeaways on County Road (eg KFC). Inside the ground it’s the usual ‘pie and pint’ catering.
Almost all the pubs in the area should be safe for away supporters but obviously don’t go shouting your mouth off or generally winding up the locals. Our EFC season-ticket-holding friend tells us he can’t remember any bother with Sunderland supporters in the past and that there’s always been a fairly good level of respect from both sides.
LEND US A FIVER I’M OUT OF CASH
Again, no shortage in Liverpool centre, otherwise there’s a Barclays on County Road, not far from the ground, and another in Navshai newsagents, again on County Road.
THIS SEASON
Currently 4th in the Premiership (@ 10th January).
HOME FORM
P11 W8 D1 L2 F15 A11 Pts 25 GD 4
LAST MEETINGS
18.01.03 Everton 2 Sunderland 1
24.08.02 Sunderland 0 Everton 1
12.01.02 Everton 1 Sunderland 0
22.12.01 Sunderland 1 Everton 0
19.05.01 Everton 2 Sunderland 2
04.12.00 Sunderland 2 Everton 0
PLAYED FOR BOTH SIDES
Kevin Kilbane, John Oster, Gavin McCann, Brett Angell, Ian Atkins, Peter Beagrie, Rod Belfitt, Paul Bracewell, Don Hutchison, Bobby Mimms, Ian Snodin, Mick Buckley.
Credits: Everton FC official website, John Dufton, Anthony Flack, Rough Guide to English Football, Soccerbase, www.streetmap.co.uk, National Rail, Multimap, Link, RAC.