Stoke v Palace - Tues 25th November 2003 7.45pm
Stoke City v Crystal Palace
Tuesday November 25th 7.45pm
Ground Name: Britannia Stadium
Capacity: 28,383 (all seated)
Address: Stanley Matthews Way, Stoke On Trent, ST4 4EG
Main Telephone No: 01782-592222
Ticket Office: 01782-592200
Away fans are housed in the separate Big AM Stand at one end of the ground, where up to 4,700 supporters can be accommodated though it is rarely filled. Inside is more basic than the home stands, however there are all your toilets and bars where you can have a drink and something to eat for reasonable prizes. The Stand offers great views of the stadium and pitch and is next to the tunnel. It is worth bearing mind that the Stoke fans are passionate about their club and this can make for an intimidating atmosphere. Exercise caution around the ground. There is a hooligan element so it may be advisable to hide colours.
TICKETS
Priced £17 Adults, U17s & Senior Citizens £10. U11s £9. On the day of the game the prices will increase to £19 & £12 for all concessions
DISABLED FACILITIES:
28 spaces for away wheelchair supporters mid-tier in the Signal Radio Stand. Restricted view at times. For Blind supporters Hospital Radio with allocation for 20 supporters, choice of sitting anywhere in the stadium. 10 Parking spaces for wheelchair supporters. 120 spaces reserved for orange/blue badge holders.
HOW TO GET TO THE GROUND
COACHES:
Depart Holmesdale Road at 1.30pm. Gold members £19.20, Season ticket holders/members £19.80 & Guest £22
BY CAR:
Coming from the North
You have two choices if you're coming to the Britannia Stadium; either to come off the M6 at Junction 16 or Junction 15. Junction 15 is generally recommended with the only time it's really worth getting off at Junction 16 is if there's road works before Junction 15.
If you do come off at Junction 16 and head south along the A500. Just keep on going until you pass two traffic light regulated roundabouts. As soon as you're clear of the second one you'll see the signs for the Britannia Stadium, the A50 and Derby. Turn left here and head up the A50 to the Heron Cross roundabout, where you'll be able to get on the right side of the road to enter the Britannia Stadium site.
Coming from the South, North from junction 15, West, North West, South West
If you've taken the smart route and stayed on the M6 until Junction 15 take the A500 to Stoke-on-Trent, at the first exit take the A34 to Stone, follow signs for Trentham, at the next roundabout turn left onto Trentham Road (A5035) stay on this road till you reach the junction with Stanley Matthews Way. Alternatiavely drive along the A500 for a few hundred metres and the Britannia Stadium will come into view. Continue along the A500 until you see the turn-off signs for the Britannia Stadium, the A50 and Derby. You'll have to drive past the stadium first (there's no right turn here!) to reach the Heron Cross roundabout where you'll be able to turnaround and head back down to the Britannia Stadium.
Coming from the East, North East, South-East
If you're coming along the A50 then you simply can't miss the Britannia Stadium. As you approach the end of the A50 you'll see the Holiday Inn, a Harvester Restaurant and then the slip-road which takes you to the Britannia Stadium. It simply couldn't be easier. If you somehow miss the slip-road then simply carry on down to the bottom roundabout, turnaround and head up to the Heron Cross roundabout from where you'll be able to go back and have another try!
Where to park
PARKING
The internet football fans guide states that the Michelin car park, that was designated for away supporters is no longer available. Visitors can purchase car park tickets from their own club (at £5). Your car will be safe if you were to park here and its right next to the away end. To gain access to the Official Car Park, South Car Park, leave the M6 at Junction 15, take the A500 towards Stoke, and then take the A34 towards Stafford. Turn left at the first roundabout, (the Trentham Gardens roundabout, the car park is signposted from here), and then turn left at the third set of traffic lights to take you up to the stadium. There are still some parking spaces at various commercial sites between the old Michelin Car park and the site of the Old Victoria Ground.' Bear in mind though that if you do park by the old Victoria ground, allow a good 20 minutes to walk (mostly uphill) to the stadium.
Parking at the stadium is very restricted. If you haven't obtained a car-parking pass from your own club, prior to making your journey, then don't even think about trying to park at the stadium itself...
If you're early enough you can try parking on the 'Power League' car park which is less than two minutes walk from the away end. The cost for parking there is about £3 but there are limited spaces and if you're not there about two hours before kick-off then you're probably not going to get a place.you’ll see the sign for Power League as you exit the A50 and follow Stanley Matthews Way around the stadium till you get to it on the left.
You can try pulling off onto one of the roads near to the ground and parking there but you run the risk of getting a ticket, or even getting clamped, as many of the estates near to the Britannia Stadium are 'Residents Only' parking. Your best bet by far is to follow the signs on the A500 and A50 for 'Campbell Road' which is easily found by looking out for the big Michelin Factory which partly sits on that road. Once you're on Campbell Road look out for specially laid out parking places, especially 'Booker Cash & Carry'. Booker usually charge £1 to park there (though others may charge more?) and if you do park there then you're faced with about a 500-600 metre walk to the Britannia Stadium. Follow either the pedestrian signs for the Stadium or the flow of others walking that way!
Alternatives are to park in the nearby town of Stoke, You’ll need to follow signs for the Michelin and find parking around there. Or you could take the exit nearest the Britannia Stadium off the A50 up and turn into Heron Cross and find the football parking there. Your car will be safe.
Going by train by train
Taxi
The taxi rank is right outside the train station.... should cost you no more than £3 to travel to the Britannia Stadium where you can be dropped off right outside the away end.
Bus
Turn right as you walk out of the station and keep going until the enxt right, which will take you under a railway bridge. Head straight towards the City Council building in front of you and then take a left towards the church. Directly outside the church you will see some bus-stops and from there you can take a £1 return journey to the stadium. Buses leave from the stadium straight after the game but make sure you get on the right one!
Walk
If you choose the scenic route then turn left as you come out of Stoke-on-Trent train station and keep walking until you reach the next left. Walk towards the roundabout in front of you and then go left down the underpass. Here you will see the canal and you simply head left, back in the direction of the train station itself. This should take around about 15-20 minutes.
If you decide against the canal work then turn right as you come out of the station and keep going until you reach the next right. That takes you under a low railway bridge and you head towards the large council buildings directly in front of you as. Go left past the Council buildings and keep the big church (St. Peters) on your left. When you've gone past the bus-stops you'll need to cross over the road and onto Campbell Road (small graveyard on the left). Once you're on Campbell Road just keep on going in a straight line until you reach the end of the road; at which point you'll be on the main pedestrian route to the stadium which is both sign-posted and usually producing a steady line of people on matchdays. This should take you no more than about 30-35 minutes from the train station, but also takes you past the Victoria ground, Stoke’s old ground
PUBS
There are a distinct lack of pubs near to the ground as it is built away from other buildings. Therefore I would recommend that you grab a drink on the way into Stoke, which is probably the best thing to as it is not recommended that any visiting supporters drink in stoke on trent for safety reasons however they are usually welcome at the Staffordshire Knott in Handford (from Junction 15 of the M6, take the A500 towards Stoke and the pub is near to the junction with the A34). Otherwise there is a bar at the back of the away end, but this can get very busy.
There is a Holiday Inn and Harvester Pub next to the ground. Car parking in the Harvester car park is £3 The Harvester pub does not allow fans to display colours inside the pub.
A good bet these days is to use the bar at the Power League five-a-side complex which is about 150 metres behind the away end at the Britannia Stadium. Away fans are welcome, beer is reasonably priced and if you're early enough you can park your car there for about £3.
If you feel you have to go for a pint then I'd recommend using The Plough which is very close to the recommended parking at 'Booker cash & carry' and is also at the end of Campbell Road if you've chosen to take the longer route to the stadium. The Plough welcomes both home and away supporters Just across from the road from the Plough is the Gardeners Retreat and visiting supporters do occasionally find their way there before the match.
If you've arrived at the game by train then getting a pint is quite easy. Just turn right out of the station and walk until you see the Roebuck Hotel and the Fawn & Firkin across the road. Both pubs are popular with away supporters and you can always walk on to the Britannia Stadium from there or get a taxi to the game from outside the station if you just have to stay for that one last pint!
It is NOT recommend that you go into Stoke town itself to get a drink. Most of the time you'd probably be perfectly safe to do so but there have been some very nasty incidents in the past and it simply isn't worth the risk.
If you're looking for a good drink before the match then don't forget that beer is served inside the ground as soon as the turnstiles open. It may be in plastic glasses and of inconsistent quality but it does the trick if you're gasping for some ale.
Food
You can get fed inside the ground with the sizeable catering facilities available to visiting supporters but it's football food and it's bloody expensive. If you're thinking of coming to the ground and getting something to eat from a mobile burger van or chippy then forget that option now there are no catering outlets available within the immediate environs of the stadium itself. if you're walking from either Heron Cross or Campbell Road then you'll bump into some little burger wagons but nothing closer than 300-400 metres from the ground.
If you've made our own way to the stadium then far and away your best bet is to head towards Stoke town and throw yourself at the mercy of one of the many little cafes that abound in the main town shopping area. There's a large student population in Stoke-on-Trent so most of the cafes are very attractively priced in an attempt to win their custom. If you're walking along Campbell Road then there are two superb sandwich shops the first is on the left hand side shortly before you pass the old Victoria Ground site and is a firm favourite with many Stoke supporters. Further up Campbell Road and just a few metres away from the Plough is another sandwich shop. It’s reported to be good and it's very handily placed for those who've parked at 'Booker Cash & Carry' or who're drinking in the Plough itself.
There is one other possibility you could look into if you're feeling a bit adventurous and it's one that could solve your parking problem as well. There is a Harvester restaurant across Stanley Matthews Way from the Britannia Stadium. If you have a meal there then I believe you are allowed to park your car on their car park (parking there without eating will likely see your car getting clamped or towed away!). The food inside is excellent and more and more supporters and their families are dining at the Harvester as part of their matchday experience.
For even more information go to:
www.oatcake.co.uk
Accomodation in SToke
Find out even more information by following this link...
The Tollgate Hotel & Leisure
Telephone... 0044 (0)1782 313029
The Express Holiday Inn Telephone..... 0044 (0)1782 377000
Hilton Hotel Telephone... 0044 (0)1782 202361
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