West Brom v Palace - Sunday 21st April 2002, 2pm
West Bromwich Albion v Palace
Sunday 21st April - KO 2.00pm
The Hawthorns, Halfords Lane, West Bromwich, West Midlands, B71 4LF
Tel no: 0121 525 8888
*TICKETS*
This match is strictly ALL TICKET
14.00 for adults and 8.00 for concessions
Palace Box Office: 020 8771 8841
WBA (Tickets / Enquiries) : 0121 553 5472
Away fans are housed in the Smethwick end, which is also a relatively new stand. This end is sometimes shared with the home supporters, dependant on the size of the away contingent. The facilities and the view of the pitch in the Smethwick end are good although the leg room isn’t fantastic. The normal allocation is 3,000.
TRAVELLING TO THE HAWTHORNS
Coaches:
Depart Holmesdale Road at 9am
Gold / Members 12.25, Season / members 14.85, Guests 16.50
*By Car*
The Hawthorns is one of the easiest football grounds to find.
M40 to end. M42 (westbound) to end. M5 (northbound) to J1. At the
top of the slip road turn right at the roundabout (towards
Birmingham), and the ground is half a mile up this road.
From North, East and West - exit M6 at junction 8 - onto M5. After 0.7 miles exit M5 at junction 1. For the ground turn left at the roundabout into Birmingham Road.
*Parking*
Parking is available opposite by the cemetery, but there are long
queues after the game... A good option might be to park at the West
Bromwich Moathouse (see below). Other possibilities are parking at
the back of Bradford's Bakery (on Birmingham Road, signed just before
the ground), or trying free street parking on Kenrick Way (second
exit from motorway roundabout- signposted Oldbury A4182). It is ten
minutes from the ground- just walk down Birmingham Road.
Beyond Birmingham Road is the High Street - Street parking down this road - or carry on down the high street and park in one of the town centre car parks for 50p. Mile and a half from the ground though - but you can catch a 74 bus or the Metro to The Hawthorns from opposite Safeways.
If you get there early there is a club car park in Halfords Lane - for 3.00. At the motorway roundabout follow signs to matchday parking - at next roundabout turn left into Dartmouth Road. After half a mile or so turn left into Halfords Lane.
There is also a car park at The Hawthorns station (3.00).
*By Rail*
Upon arriving at Birmingham New Street, it is necessary to get a
train, bus or taxi to the ground. Trains leave New Street twice an
hour for Smethwick Rolfe Street Station (10 and 40 past the hour, and
a journey time of 6 mins), which is a mile from the stadium.
Otherwise you can leave New Street and walk to Snow Hill Station,
where trains go to Hawthorns Station (which is a few hundred yards
from the ground).. (To get to Snow Hill
from New Street is about a ten minute walk or a couple of quid by
taxi).
To walk to the ground from Smethwick Rolfe Street, turn right out of
the station and immediately left into North Western Road, which runs
by the railway line and then bends to the right. Straight on at
traffic lights into Halfords Lane, and the ground is on the right.
This takes about 10-15 minutes, but is mostly uphill.
If you want to cut out the in-between train, a taxi direct to the
ground is about ukp6.00-7.00 from New Street, or buses 74,78, and 79
will get you from Birmingham city centre to the ground. The bus
drivers don't give change!!
Trains
Please be aware that silverlink trains are due to be on strike over the weekend of the game. Virgin trains are however unaffected.
*DISABLED FANS*
Wheelchair Spaces- up to 12 spaces for away fans at the Smethwick
EndCost- free for disabled person, full price for helper. Booking- must book in advance. Parking- none available. Blind facilities- home & away fans housed in the Halfords Lane Stand (For further info. contact Diane Aston at West Brom on 0121 525 8888)
*Eating / Drinking*
Apparently the pubs near the ground can be a bit rough. One good bet is to drink (and park as well) at the West Bromwich Moathouse. This hotel charges for secure parking on matchdays, but this might be refundable at the bar. There is also plenty safe (free) parking on the streets around the Moathouse. To get there, take a left at the roundabout at the top of the sliproad off
the M5. There is a right hand turn (with feeder lane) marked for the
Moathouse. Several of us have been there for the last couple of years - and were made very welcome.
The following is a comprehensive list of pubs and tips compiled by
Tony Matthews a couple of seasons back - with a couple of added bits of info.
'The Vine'. 152 Roebuck Street. The telephone number is 0121 553 2866 and it's open all day on Sundays (ie 12 noon to 10.30 pm). It is described in the Good Beer Guide as a "tiny corner pub" selling real ale and "extended to accommodate a spectacular Indian barbecue". It also has a garden.
This Banks' pub is about ten minutes walk from the ground
and serves good food (it's run by Asians, and the barbecued chicken
tikka just BEGS to be eaten). It also has plenty of seats and a
children's play area at the rear, making it ideal for families as
well. To get there, follow the sign to 'West Bromwich Town Centre'
from J1 of the M5 (i.e. the opposite direction to the ground), and
take the first left into Roebuck Street. 'The Vine' is on the left
hand corner of the T-junction at the end. It is also a good place to
park (street parking), and walk to the ground along the new Metro
train line under the motorway, which brings you out in Halfords Lane
just south of the ground.
Continuing towards West Bromwich there is another pub called Desi Junction, which does a Balti Buffet.
About a mile from the ground is 'The Uplands' as far as I know,
there are no problems there for away supporters.
The traditional spit-and-sawdust of 'The Wagon and Horses' at the
bottom of Halfords Lane may appeal, but I understand football
supporters in general aren't made welcome.
Pubs outside the ground include 'The Woodman'. This appears shut on
matchdays, and regulars knock for entry. Away supporters can only get
in if very early and discreet. The pub has been decorated in Albion
souvenirs and wallpaper. The bar staff wear club shirts. Across the
road from this pub is the best catering point, offering chips and
soup amongst other 'delights'. Similarly, 'The Hawthorns Hotel' (M&B)
on the opposite side of the ground operates a membership scheme. If
discreet and early, you MIGHT slip in.
Down Halfords Lane is the 'Throstles Club', formerly private run but,
after an eighteen month struggle, finally taken over by WBA. The place has now been enlarged and completely rebuilt to include a bigger club shop and ticket office. The Supporters Club has now taken over the bar area and hope to be able to invite away supporters in as guests. Until then, it's Members only again, but away supporters do sometimes slip in.
Visitors are often directed down Birmingham Road towards Birmingham.
If you keep walking for about a mile, a couple of basic pubs can be
reached. The beer tastes good but the pubs are in Handsworth, which
does make a lot of people feel rather uneasy.
So what do serious drinkers do? Here's a few suggestions. They are
all a few minutes drive away, but are worth it.
'The Wagon and Horses' (Church Street, Oldbury). An unusual carpeted
real ale and guest beer establishment serving Everards Old Tiger and
Old Original and Sammy Smiths. Also food is available. It's popular
so be early. This pub is reached via J2 of the M5 (the next junction
southwards after the Hawthorns). At the island, take the last exit,
the A4034 signed for Oldbury. After 3/4 of a mile, head straight on
at the roundabout. (The Savacentre should be on your left, bus
station on right.) 200 yds on there's a further roundabout. Straight
on into Church Street. Pub on right. There's another pub close to it
called the 'White Swan'- which looks most tempting- until you see all
the dress restrictions on the door. Amongst others is the instruction
SMART DRESS ONLY. In Oldbury??
'The Jolly Nailer' (Lyndon, West Bromwich). Leave the M5 motorway at
J1 and (assuming you were heading south) take the last turning,
signposted A41, Wolverhampton, Dudley. This is the Expressway. Carry
on until the first roundabout. Turn right into a dual carriageway
(the fire station will be on your left) and then take the first right
into Lyndon. This traditional two room boozer will be on the right,
facing Sandwell Hospital. This pub is HQ for the WBA STROLLERS, the
supporters football team and where all their guests are taken. One
room has been redecorated as a 'Strollers Lounge'. Bitter is around
1.10 a pint, need we say more? Within a few hundred yards are
several other traditional boozers which comprise the West Brom
Hospital Run- much favoured by stag night parties.
'The Wheatsheaf' (Holdens and excellent food), 'The Old Hop Pole'
(Holts), and 'The Oddfellows' (Guest beers) all in the High Street,
West Bromwich. Leave the M5 at J1, and assuming you are heading
south take the last turning signed A41, Wolverhampton, Dudley. This
is a fast dual carriageway. Straight on at the first roundabout. At
second, roundabout, turn left and left again. You'll pass an old
clocktower. Pubs are 200yds down the road on the left and right, 1.7
miles from the ground. As an alternative to driving, a 74 or 79 bus
(every 5 mins) will get to the pubs and back, so you could park by
the ground and catch a bus. Incidentally, using the pubs by West
Bromwich bus station ('The Sandwell' and 'The Wagon and Horses') is
not advisable as they tend to be frequented by the noisiest home
supporters.
Alcohol is available in the ground.
Balti Chicken pies are available in the ground. Other than that Cornish Pasties, Steak & Kidney, Meat & potato pies are available. Not much for vegetarians in the ground though.
Food
Nearest to the ground is the Grill House on Birmingham road - serving meals such as chicken and chips for 99p. West Bromwich High Street, signposted from the M5 has several takeaways - including ‘the Fish Inn’. The pedestrianised shopping area has the usual array of KFC, Macdonalds etc plus others.
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