Preston North End v Crystal Palace - 10th Aug 2002
Preston North End v Crystal Palace
10th August 2002 K.O. 3pm
Ground Name: Deepdale
Capacity: 21,500
Address: Sir Tom Finney Way, Preston, PR1 6RU
Main Telephone No: 01772-902020
Ticket Office: 01772-902222
Fax No: 01772-653266
Away fans have been moved from the Pavillion Stand into the modern Bill Shankly stand at one end of the pitch. Up to 6,000 fans can be accommodated, views and facilities are excellent.
DISABLED FACILITIES
All in the Sir Tom Finney Stand, with 100 spaces at pitch level, and 10 more on an elevated platform. Please book in advance for these spaces or match commentary for blind supporters on 01772 902020
PALACE TRAINS
Depart Kings Cross at 9.10am, arrive Preston at 1.53pm (via Leeds)
Return train departs Preston at 6.16pm arriving Kings Cross at 10.47 pm.
Tickets on sale at the Charlton game – fare is £41 - around 15 tickets left.
Its quite a walk from the railway station to the ground, I would say about
20 mins at least (about 1.5 miles) and there are a number of ways to do it the simplest
route not the shortest giving you maximum chances of food
etc. (there is no 'decent' food around the ground)
The station is built on a hill and has several exits so the first step is to get you to the end of Fishergate nearby.1. If you leave the station through large glass doors next to the ticket office, you find yourself at the bottom of a wide sloping approach road with a taxi rank on the right-hand side. Walk up the hill, turn right when you reach
the main road. You will find yourself on a bridge crossing the railway lines,
with Ball's shoeshop on your left across the main road. Cross the little station
approach road on the right and continue in that direction. The main road
directly in front of you at this point is called Fishergate.
2. If you leave the station through any of the other exits, you will
find yourself emerging onto a sloping station approach road called Butler
Street, with short-term car parking bays lining the road in front of you. Turn
left and go up the hill, crossing the road at the pedestrian crossing near the
top. You will see the rather hefty Fishergate Shopping Centre on your right as
you go. When you come to the main road turn right. The main road that carries on
straight ahead (not downhill) is Fishergate. it will be very busy with shoppers, as you walk along here you will see lots of all the usual town centre food chains e.g. Kentucky,pizza hut etc but the best chippy is further along on your right down a
street called Cannon Street just about opposite Marks and Spencer to
get to the ground you need to keep walking along Fishergate you will pass
a night club on your right called Tokyo Joes just keep going past the
church -keep going - you will notice that the street becomes much more run
down - the street your now on is Church Street....keep going straight on
till you get to the very end....you will be at a junction with some flats on
your left a pub called The Lamb (being refurbished) on your right...and
opposite you will see the Prison and a lump of grass with some flats
behind.....basically you want to head for this lump of grass.....the
junction is a very busy one....you need to cross over the dual carriage way
on the opposite side to the Prison....and walk in front of the grass and
opposite the Prison...as you walk around the grass you will see a pub in
front of you...and a road to your left....this road is Deepdale Road....you
just walk straight down it....all the way to the ground.....I don't think
you can see it until you go over a little railway bridge just past Kwik
Save....there are some food places along Deepdale road...but none I could
recommend....
A taxi from the station costs around 2.70
All buses from the railway station go to the bus station - from there buses nos 5, 6 & 19 run along Deepdale Road.
Or walk to the bus station - turn right along Fishergate and head for Guildhall.
There are three options if you've arrived at the bus station:
1.You can make your way to departure point of the Number 19 service.
This passes right next to the football ground on its way up to the hospital. I
think the fare is 74p – well it was last year! (NB exact change only)!
2.You can take either subway exit, emerge near a taxi rank and expect to
pay about £3.00 to £4.00 for the cab ride to the ground.
3.If you're arriving during normal shopping hours you can take the
subway exit signposted to the Guild Hall, make your way through a supermarket
followed by a shopping arcade, emerge in front of the Guild Hall and turn left.
Keep going this way until you come to a t-junction, then turn left into Church
Street and carry as per route from the train station
4.You can take the other subway (signposted St George's Centre (?)).
Once outside the bus station, turn left, then right immediately before the Guild
Hall (large, elegant brick building visible in front of you), then left again at
the end of the road. Keep on and you come to a t-junction, turn left into Church
Street and again as per route from the train station.
HOW TO GET THERE AND WHERE TO PARK
From South and East and North: The route from the M6 is the same whether you're coming North or South, and the M55, M61 and M65 all join the M6 just outside town. Also this is probably the most direct way, which is good. From the M6 (either direction), leave the motorway at Junction 31, a rather extensive junction which straddles the River Ribble Preston is signposted. You'll find yourself going up a hill, the charmingly-named Brockholes Brow, with local landmark 'The Tickled Trout' on your right hand side (often a police speed trap on the hill, so stick to 40). After about three quarters of a mile you'll find yourself at a little roundabout, (Speed camera by the BP garage on the left)overlooked on one side by a cemetery and on the other by 'Heskeths Arms'. Turn right here onto Blackpool Road. Carry on for just over a mile, (though you'll probably see the Deepdale floodlights on your left before too long) until you come to a major road
junction with traffic lights. Here you turn left, either at the lights themselves or down the small slip road immediately before them. Deepdale will be visible almost immediately on this road, which was recently renamed Sir Tom Finney Way.
Alternatively from North: Take M6 then M55 to junction 1. Follow signs for Preston A6. After 2 miles turn left at the crossroads into Blackpool Road (A5085). Turn right after .75 miles into Deepdale.
From West: Exit M55 at junction 1. Then as North
PARKING
The club hopes to provide some parking for visiting fans behind the new Bill Shankly Stand. Alternatively, local schools eg in Moor Park Avenue and St Stephen’s Road (off Deepdale Road) offer safe parking for up to 2.00. Plenty of street parking around ground - although avoid Lowthorpe Road, Hollins Road, Parkside, and St Stephen’s Road, which are emergency access routes. Cars parked there will be towed away.
There is some car parking space in front of the Tom Finney Stand, but this tends to be taken up by directors, guests of directors, sponsors, corporate types, and so on.
Other than that there is limited parking space in the neighbouring streets. You shouldn't have any difficulty finding your way to the ground as Deepdale towers over most surrounding buildings
PUBS & FOOD:
Preston is bursting with interesting pubs, some of which are historic buildings in their own right.
Preston fans as a whole are a friendly bunch and you will be made welcome in
most of the pubs out of the town centre...and the ones in the centre but
they might not let you in if there are a lot of you......if your going to
get any hassle at all it will be in the pubs on Church Street although the following which are all virtually next to one another on Church St. should be ok: Wall Street, Yates's and The Old Bull. Church Street is the run down bit before you get to the Prison..if you want to have a rest as you walk down here I would recommend The Bluebell (see below) a quiet pub set back off church street on the right.....
The Deepdale - away fans are always welcome and its only 2
mins from the ground. If your coming by coach just
ask the first Prestonian you see where The Deepdale is about 2 mins
from where the coaches drop you though it involves a couple of
turns left or right depending on where the coach drops you.
To get to the Deepdale Pub....as you walk down Deepdale road you will pass
the bus depot (with a Victorian facade..after the railway bridge) on your
left and see the ground further down on your right...and some traffic lights
in front of you...turn right at these traffic lights on to St.Georges
road..walk straight down this road and you will come to a mini roundabout
and the road forks.....the Deepdale is on your Right..
Black Horse,166, Friargate (near market). Open 10.30 am to 11.00 pm on Saturdays. (01772 204855). This Robinson's pub, selling as wide a range of their real ales as you'll see anywhere, is also a listed building. It is quite near the station and well worth a visit. It also serves food at lunchtime.
Flax and Firkin at the Corn Exchange, Lune Street (off Ringway A59). Open 11.00 am to 11.00 pm on Saturdays. (01772 880046). This pub, quite near the station, occupies the oldest part of Preston's public hall and serves real ales. It has a large TV screen showing sporting events, and also has an outside drinking area, a limited amount of parking space and serves food both at lunchtime and in the evening.
Greyfriar, 144 Friargate (at the junction with the Ringway). Open 11.00 am to 11.00 pm on Saturdays. (01772 558542). This Wetherspoon's pub is comfortable, serves real ales and has a nonsmoking area. Food is served at lunchtimes and in the evening and it is quite near the station.
Mitre Tavern, 9091 Moor Lane, (A5071/A6 junction). Open 12 noon to 11.00 pm on Saturdays. (01772 251918). This pub is described in CAMRA's Good Beer Guide (GBG) 2000 as a "welcoming pub with a comfortable lounge and a basic vault for pool and darts." It also sells real ales and has parking space. Unfortunately, no food is served on Saturdays.
Moorbrook Inn, 370 North Road (junction with A6). Open 12 noon to 11.00 pm on Saturdays. (01772 201127). This pub, which serves Thwaites Bitter, has an outside drinking area.
New Britannia, 6 Heatley Street. Open 11.00 am to 4.00 pm on Saturdays. (01772 253424). This towncentre pub which serves lunchtime food and real ales is the current local CAMRA Pub of the Year. It also serves real cider, has an outside drinking area and is quite near the station.
Old Black Bull, 35 Friargate (at the junction with the Ringway). Open 10.30 am to 11.00 pm on Saturdays. (01772 823397). This pub is described in the GBG 2000 as "a large Tudorfronted, towncentre pub" with "a games area and a large lounge". It serves food at lunchtime, has a large range of real ales plus real cider, and there is live music on Saturday evenings. It also has an outside drinking area and is quite near the station.
Olde Blue Bell, 114 Church Street. Open 11.00 am to 4.00 pm and 7.00 pm to 11.00 pm on Saturdays. (01772 251280). This pub is described in the GBG 2000 as the "oldest pub in Preston" with "good value food" which, on Saturdays, is served at lunchtime. Samuel Smith's Old Brewery Bitter is the only real ale sold here.
Olde Dog and Partridge, 44 Friargate (off the Ringway). Open 11.00 am to 2.30 pm and 6.00 pm to 11.00 pm on Saturdays. (01772 252217). This towncentre pub serves real ales and, according to the GBG 2000, "superb value lunches". It is quite near the station.
There is one other pub which may be worth trying, The George Hotel, 89 Church Street is a Thwaites pub which is listed in the book "Traditional Pubs of Old Lancashire" (published in 1992). I do not know its opening hours or the 'phone number.
The Sumners, just up Tom Finney Way (used to be Deepdale Rd) from the ground. Go towards Sainsburys and away from the Town Centre and it should take five minutes. It's on the right at the junction with Watling Street Rd. It should be full, but friendly. The Sumners is a perennial favourite with home fans and always has a
lively but friendly atmosphere before games. Away fans usually mix happily with
the locals and on sunny days many people stand outside. The food is good and
reasonably priced. The only downside to The Sumners is that it can get very busy
and getting served before big games can take a while. But if you get there early
it's probably the best place for a drink. It’s a large modern pub bar with quieter sit down area - although both areas get packed on match days. Full menu served 12-7. Large screen TV’s, pool, darts, beer garden. Open all day from 11.
The Garrison, 194 Watling Street Road is on the opposite side of the road and should be just as good but I don't think it serves Boddingtons though! It’s a more traditional locals pub with food served 12-5. Families welcome, pool, big-screen TV. Open all day
The Legends bar/night club at the back of the Sir Tom Finney stand on match days opens up one large room with eating areas welcoming home and away supporters. Bar snacks served 12-3, 9.30-2am. Families welcome before the game. Open Saturdays 12-3 & 9.30-2am.
The Hesketh Arms - Corner of Blackpool Road and New Hall Lane (on way to ground from M6) 01772 791 972 Large pub - popular on matchdays. Large range of meals served all day. Pool, darts, big-screen TV, car park, . Families welcome. Coaches and large parties must book in advance - open all day.
The Internet football fans guide says that the best pub for away fans is the Toy Solider, on the Deepdale retail park, off Blackpool Road before Deepdale if you come off the M6 at junction 31.
I have been told that the pubs to avoid are the two by the railway station (one is The Railway - although we stopped in there en route to blackburn previously and it seemed fine).
Alcohol is served within the ground – the bars remain open during the game and the game is shown on TV’s on the concourse!
There are plenty of fast food outlets in the St. Georges Shopping Arcade.
The pies in the ground are said to be some of the best around. There are also bacon rolls & burgers and vegetarian butter pies.
Nearest food outlet to the ground is Clare’s pantry - corner of Deepdale Road and St Stephen’s Road. Open from 8am - 3pm. Other usual outlets on various routes to the ground.
OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST
You are only 20 minutes or so by car from Blackpool, so why not make a weekend of it. Blackpool is not Britain's premier seaside resort for nothing. So why not make a weekend of it. If you're feeling brave than why not get on the UK's largest and fastest roller coaster, 'The Big One' at the Pleasure Beach. Only one word of caution, look at the other fixtures going on, on the same day in Manchester/Bolton/Preston etc... as your game. Simply because other away supporters attending these games will also be probably be heading to Blackpool after the game as well. So if there is a particular group of supporters from a club who you would rather avoid - then bear it in mind! (e.g Burnley are playing Brighton…… )
I picked up quite a bit of info on Preston and Blackpool - including places to stay in Preston etc - but if anyone wants any further info please e-mail or PM me and I’ll do my best!
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