Blackpool v Palace - Sat Jan 4th - FA Cup 3rd Round
Blackpool v Crystal Palace
Saturday January 4th
FA cup 3rd round.
Stadium Address: Bloomfield Road, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY1 6JJ.
Telephone No: 01253 405331
Email: info@blackpoolfc.co.uk
http://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk
Bloomfield Road is another ground undergoing complete re-development. Work commenced in March last year and 11 months later the new Mortenson (north) and Pricebusters Matthews (west) Stands were opened. The work on the rest of the ground is on hold pending financial discussions.
Away fans are now housed in the South Stand seats, behind one goal. This stand has quite a low roof apparently, so it should be possible to generate a bit of noise. 1,500 seats are available. It has terracing to the front, however because the pitch has been raised and moved north-eastwards I understand that it is no longer in use, unfortunately. However I have also read that if the seats are sold out the terracing tickets will be made available!! It can be very cold though!!
TICKETS
adult tickets are £15.00, adult concessions £11.00 and juniors (under 18's) £8.00.
THIS MATCH IS ALL TICKET
GETTING TO THE GAME
By Car:
M1/M6 to junction 32 where you pick up the M55. Follow to the outskirts of Blackpool, exit at junction 4 and turn right onto the A583 dual carriageway (Preston New Road). Continue ahead for approx. two and a half miles to the end of the dual carriageway, where you bear left at the junction into Waterloo Road. Go ahead for approx. three quarters of a mile, then turn right at the junction with Central Drive. Bloomfield Road is the third left, and the ground is on your right.
Large pay & display car parks are located across the road from the ground costing £1
BY TRAIN
If going by train and coming back the same day go to Blackpool South
rather than North, this will mean you changing at Preston and trickling
along through a handful of stations for 35-40 minutes but the South
station is within walking distance of Bloomfield Road whereas Blackpool
North is a good taxi ride away.
The West Coast Virgin route is (allegedly) free of engineering works this weekend, as an alternative it is possible to be Blackpool-bound with GNER via Leeds. Although Blackpool South is much closer to the ground, the majority of trains only stop at Blackpool North, which is a cab ride away. The 07:10 from Kings Cross arrives Leeds 09:32, then the Arriva Trains Northern connection leaves at 10:18, arriving Blackpool North 12:24.
For the return, the ATN train leaves B. North at 17:47, arriving Leeds 20:03. The GNER connection leaves 12 minutes later and arrives Kings Cross at 22:47.
The ticket situation is a little more complex than normal. The cheapest way to do the trip is to buy two tickets - one for each train company. The GNER tickets are the Daypex return to Bradford at £24.00, or the Fab4 (again, to Bradford) at £54.00, booked in advance. The ATN ticket (return from Bradford to B. North) is the standard walk-on fare of £17.00 and can be purchased at Leeds station on the day.
All tickets via Gildo & Chris have now gone. The tickets for the group booking are on the 8.30 from Euston – arriving Preston at 12.27 & leaving at 12.49 arriving Blackpool North at 13.18. Return train leaves Blackpool North at 5.47pm, arriving Preston at 6.11pm, leaving at 6.20pm to arrive in Euston at 10.12pm. Useful tip for anyone on this train if we arrive late to Preston but before the 6.31pm, the best bet is to get the Birmingham train & change at Stafford as this catches up with the 6.20, and has more connections than waiting for the 7.15pm at Preston.
The ground is 1 ½ miles from Blackpool North. Bus station outside – no.s 22, 22A, 11, 11A, 12 & 12A go either side of the ground.
By foot – follow the signs to the sea front – turn left & follow the seafront for 1 1/3 miles turn left into Lytham Road & left again in 300 yards into Bloomfield Road.
BY COACH
Departs Holmesdale Road at 7am. Gold members £20.00, Season ticket holders / members £22.50 & Guests £25.00
PUBS
You should be able to drink in the Dog and Partridge on
Lytham Road before the game without any hassle, or even the Royal Oak
Hotel again on Lytham Road - (both are en route from B&B to ground). Blackpool fans go in the Bloomfield at the far end of Bloomfield Road, there's not normally trouble in there but it can be a bugger to get served as it gets packed before matches.
‘Old Bridge’ (124 Lytham Rd) also has no problem with away fans. It’s not a bad pub, has Sky and a couple of pool tables but no ale on tap ( ) or hot food. There is also a JD Wetherspoon pub (The Auctioneer) further along Lytham Rd (near Blackpool South Station), but still easily walkable from/to the ground (10mins), which also has no problem with colours, welcomes all fans, and has guest beer on tap at £1.35/pint at the moment!!! It also serves good food.
The Dunes pub on Lytham Road (Airport End) is recommended on the internet away fans guide.
The Swift Hound in Rigby Road just past the other end of the ground is away fan friendly (although it employs doormen on match days) colours are not a problem. The Manchester on the corner of The Promenade and Lytham Road also welcomes away fans and again, colours are not a problem.
FOOD
In the ground – Holland Pies for £1.50
ACCOMMODATION
If you're staying over you can get cheap B&B's in either Withnell or Osbourne Road, these are about 10 mins walk (max) from Bloomfield Road and
also within walking distance of South station. Both these streets are off
Lytham Road.
Also the Internet Football Fans guide recommends the Wimbourne Hotel www.wimbournehotel.co.uk
Whatever you end up doing you'll find that plenty is still open in the
Pool even in darkest January, so you should have a good weekend. Beware
though it'll be freezing!
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