RTG’s totally and utterly (we hope) indispensable guide to this season’s away grounds.
THE OPPO – Wolves
DATE – Friday 24 November
KO TIME – 8pm (moved for Sky Sports transmission)
THE GROUND – Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton – click here and here for maps of the area – the circle shows where the ground is.
Molineux Stadium is very close to the city centre, just north of the ring road and close to West Park Hospital. The capacity in Molineux is a shade under 30,000.
Visiting supporters are accommodated in the Jack Harris stand. A maximum of 3,200 away supporters can be accommodated here, depending upon demand.
Tickets are now on general sale from the SAFC Ticket Office priced £10 for adults or £5 for under 16’s and senior citizens.
GOING BY CAR?
A1 south then M1 south (or M18 > M1 if you prefer). Stay on the M1 till jcn 23A then pick up the M42. Just past Sutton Coldfield, take the M6 northbound (or M6 toll – might be worth the £3 fee for the extra speed you’ll be able to pick up) and stay on the M6 until jcn 10. Take the A454 towards Wolverhampton and Molineux will be signposted as you get close to the city centre.
Dedicated football car parks are signposted but your best bet may be to head into the city centre, park in one of the many car parks there, and walk the short distance to Molineux.
GOING BY TRAIN?
The 1421 Virgin Trains service from Newcastle gets to Birmingham at 1736, then change for the 1748 Virgin service to Wolverhampton which gets there at 1805.
Or if you want/need to leave a bit later, the 1522 Virgin service from Newcastle gets to Birmingham at 1836, then change for the 1851 Central Trains service to Wolverhampton which arrives at 1909.
As you come out of the station go straight ahead along Railway Drive, under the A41 Ring Road and turn right – follow the ring road along, and before long you’ll see Molineux – and probably its floodlights. It shouldn’t take more than 15-20 minutes at most.
Unfortunately because the match has been moved to an evening kickoff, there are no trains back to the north east on the same night (see ‘Stopping Over’ section below for details of some hotels.
STOPPING OVER?
Travel Inn, Stafford Road, Wolverhampton, tel 08701 977 277
Travelodge, Pipers Row, Wolverhampton, tel 0870 0850950
Novotel, Union St, Wolverhamton, tel 01902 871100
SCRAN AND BOOZE
Some pubs near the ground are home supporters only, and door staff will ask for proof of your support – eg match ticket/season ticket. The Prince Albert pub, close to Wolverhampton station, is definitely home supporters only. But the ground is so close to Wolverhampton city centre and its relatively large selection of pubs that you may be better off drinking there then making the short walk to Molineux. But again, entry to some pubs is discretionary depending upon if you’re a home or away supporter.
LEND US A FIVER I’M OUT OF CASH
Plenty of cash machines in Wolverhampton city centre.
LAST SEASON
Finished 7th out of 24 in the Championship.
THIS SEASON
10th out of 24
P18 W8 D3 L7 F16 A21 Pts 27 GD -5
LAST MEETINGS
04.02.05 Wolves 1 SAFC 1 (Elliott 12)
02.11.04 SAFC 3 Wolves 1 (Lawrence 57,80; Elliott 68)
20.02.99 SAFC 2 Wolves 1 (Johnston 10, Quinn 90)
12.09.98 Wolves 1 SAFC 1 (Phillips 90)
07.02.98 Wolves 0 SAFC 1 (Ball 88)
20.09.97 SAFC 1 Wolves 1 (Smith 17)
03.02.96 Wolves 3 SAFC 0
Credits: Wolves FC official website, wolvescentral.com, the RAC, Soccerbase, www.multimap.com, National Rail.