Forest v Palace - Sat 13th March 2004 3pm
Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace
Saturday 13th March 2004 k.o. 3pm
Nottingham Forest
Capacity: 30,602 (all seated)
Address: City Ground, Nottingham, NG2 5FJ
Main Telephone No: 0115-982-4444
Ticket Office: 0115-982-4445
Official Web Site: www.nottinghamforest.co.uk
Whats The Ground Like
The Bridgford Stand where the away supporters are housed (in the lower tier) is a strange affair, as one third of the stand is smaller than the rest. You can see where the roof dips down to meet the lower part. Upto 4,750 away fans can be accommodated. The facilities and view of the action are good. The stewards do tend to spend much of their time getting people to remain seated. Access to the visitors' turnstiles is through The Brian Clough Stand car park via Scarrington Road off Lady Bay Bridge. It is also possible to follow Colwick Road (and Orston Road), to get to these turnstiles, this can be found halfway along Radcliffe Road next to a pedestrian crossing.
Tickets: Adults £22.00, Over 60’s £15.00 Under 16s £1, Students (under 23 & on production of a valid NUS card) £10.00
Disabled facilities
Space for 22 visiting supporters in the front row of the Bridgford Stand Lower Tier. Free for disabled person, full price for helper. Booking is advisable. Parking - limited availability in the executive stand car park. Blind facilities - 40 seats with plug-in earphones for full match commentary. These places must be booked 14 days in advance.
How To Get There And Where To Park
Palace travel:
Coaches - Depart Homesdale Road at 9am, Gold members £19.20, Season ticket holders/members £21.60, guests £24.00
Train: Depart St. Pancras 10.55 am
Return 5.30pm - arrive St. Pancras 7.11pm
Directions to the ground
There are a variety of routes from the south to the Forest's City Ground,
while from other directions there is usually one logical route. Consequently
whichever choice of route you take you should allow plenty of time for your
journey. Nottingham and it's suburbs is one of the most congested cities in
the country. From any direction it will take at least 20-30 minutes from the
M1, or longer from the A1. If you come up the A1 the route is easier but
takes longer.
From the South/M1:
******************
Leave the M1 at Junction 24 signposted Nottingham South/A453. Follow signs
for Nottingham until the A453 becomes a dual-carriageway as it passes the
Trent University site at Clifton. After the next set of traffic lights
(Fabis Drive/Farnborough Road), get in the left-hand lane and exit the
carriageway.
At the roundabout take the first exit signposted Wilford/West
Bridgford/B679, and continue straight ahead towards Nottingham. This road
terminates with traffic lights at the major road-junction with the A60 and
A606. Turn left here on to a dual-carriageway. Get in the right-hand lane
ready to turn right in the second filter lane, signposted A52/Grantham
(Radcliffe Road). The ground is on your left. The easiest parking is found
by continuing on Radcliffe Road and bearing sharp left at the next set of
lights.
This takes you over the River Trent on the Lady Bay Bridge passing the City
Ground on your left. Get into one of the right-hand lanes at the traffic
lights and turn right (dual lanes). If you are early enough you can park "on
street" in the industrial estate on the right, behind the Jet Station, (be
careful turning right). If you're not early then get into the left hand lane
and park in the retail Park on your left at the next set of lights. Your
only other option is to go back around the roundabout - straight over the
lights towards Notts County's ground - and park in one of the match-day pay
car-parks on your left.
Walk back over the Lady Bay Bridge towards the ground - it's only 5 minutes
walk. Palace fans are in the Bridgford Stand which is the opposite side of
the stadium from the Trent End which you come to first.
From the South-East/A1
************************
Leave the A1 at Grantham, signposted A52/Nottingham. Continue on the A52,
over the A46 roundabout, following signs towards Nottingham. (The A52 is
heavily used by large vehicles and can often be frustrating as there are few
overtaking opportunities). The road goes past Radcliffe On Trent and becomes
a dual carriageway leading up to the National Water Sports Centre at Holme
Pierrepont. The A52 becomes the Nottingham ring-road at the next major
roundabout - just after the Little Chef on your right but at this island
continue straight on (the second exit) into West Bridgford. At the next
major junction keep left and the ground is on your right. For easier parking
take the lane for the Lady Bay Bridge at this junction and follow the
instructions above.
Alternative (longer, but easier) route:
---------------------------------------
Leave the A1 as above, but turn right (3rd exit) at the junction with the
A46 signposted Newark/Lincoln. Continue on the A46 and at the next
roundabout take the first exit, A6097.
Continue on this road, over the River Trent and turn left on to the A612 at
the roundabout just after the road becomes a dual-carriageway. Stay on the
A612 all the way into Nottingham, passing Nottingham Racecourse on your
left. You will catch sight of the ground on your left. Just before the next
set of lights (a large roundabout), you can enter an industrial estate for
on-street parking. Alternatively turn left at the lights and take any
turning on your left. Another alternative is a retail park just past the
lights on your immediate left. After parking follow the match-day crowds -
the ground is visible everywhere but don't confuse it with Notts County!
From the West or North/M1
*************************
This is the most difficult approach to the ground as you must either use the
ring-road or go through the city centre. Both routes can be difficult and
the ring road is easiest.
From the M1 Junction 26 signposted Nottingham North/A610. Follow signs for
Nottingham/A610 until you reach the ring-road, where you will see signposts
for football and cricket traffic. Get in the right-hand lane here and turn
right at the lights. It's a good idea to move over to the left as you do
this, as the junction is very busy and you have to wait for the next set of
lights to change. If you don't you can get stranded in the middle of a
three-lane speedway! Now follow the instructions 'From the Ring Road' below.
Or from the west approach via the A52 from Derby to the Nottingham Ring Road, along the Stapleford Bypass. Turn right onto the Ring Road (A52) and follow routes as above. Alternatively, from the M42, follow the A453 to the Clifton Bridge complex and follow routes as from the south
From the North/A60/A614
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There won't be many coming this way, but stay on the A60 until you come to
the ring road. Follow signs for Football and Cricket traffic until you reach
the major junction with the A610.
From the Ring Road
------------------
Continue on the ring road and stay in the inside lane passing the hospital
on your left. Where the road becomes three lanes stay in the middle lane,
passing Carlton TV on your left. Continue over the River Trent (Clifton
Bridge), and as you descend ensure you bear right into the tunnel
(signposted A453). Take the slip road on your immediate left as you emerge
and take the third exit at the roundabout, signposted Wilford/West
Bridgford/B679.
Continue straight ahead towards Nottingham. This road terminates with
traffic lights at the major road-junction with the A60 and A606. Turn left
here on to a dual-carriageway. Get in the right-hand lane ready to turn
right in the second filter lane, signposted A52/Grantham (Radcliffe Road).
The ground is on your left. The easiest parking is found by continuing on
Radcliffe Road and bearing sharp left at the next set of lights.
This takes you over the River Trent on the Lady Bay Bridge passing the City
Ground on your left. Get into one of the right-hand lanes at the traffic
lights and turn right (dual lanes). If you are early enough you can park "on
street" in the industrial estate on the right, behind the Jet Station, (be
careful turning right), if not then get into the left hand lane and park in
the retail Park on your left at the next set of lights.
Walk back over the Lady Bay Bridge towards the ground - it's only 5 minutes
walk. Palace fans are in the Bridgford Stand which is the opposite side of
the stadium from the Trent End which you come to first.
Car Parking
***********
There is a large car park at the ground.
The council car park operate a car park on matchdays at Victoria Embankment - they charge 3.00 but it’s only a 2 min walk to the ground. Access is via Clifton Bridge complex to Queens Drive and then Riverside Way.
The nearest large pay car parks are in the vicinity of the station. The
Broadmarsh is excellent but on Saturdays is generally full although the top
tier usually has spaces. Just outside the station is the Queens Road
pay-and-display which is more expensive.
There are the usual private pay match day car parks around the ground. There
really isn't much on-street parking near the ground that isn't earmarked by
the locals.
Parking prohibitions are in force on match days around the ground. South of the river in West Bridgford it is permitted to park in the side streets; however, it should be noted that this parking is in short supply and is unpopular with residents. There are also a number of places on the opposite side of the Trent, including Notts County’s Meadow Lane ground, which charge about £2 to park.
From the railway station
************************
The City Ground is 20 minutes walk. Come out of the station entrance and
turn left through to Queens Road. Go to the end of Queens Road and turn
right on to London Road. Cross over London Road when convenient and continue
along it until you get to Trent Bridge, passing Notts. County's Meadow Lane
ground on your left. The Forest ground is on your left just over Trent Bridge.
Alternatively out of the main station entrance, turn left & left again & follow road down to dual carriageway & then turn right. Ground is 3/4s of a mile down dual carriageway on left just over Trent Bridge.
Incidentally the City ground is actually in the county, while Notts.
County's ground is in the City!
Buses
From the Broadmarsh Centre - (turn right out of the railway station to the T-junction with canal street - it’s directly ahead of you.. Buses have names instead of numbers - take Keyworth Connection, Cotgrave Connection or the Rushcliffe Line. After the match - football specials run back to the city centre
Where To Drink?
The Larwood & Voce, Fox Road (off Radcliffe Road) is about five minutes walk from the away end & is the pub of choice. Disabled facilities. Open 11-2.30 & 5-11.30 - is on the opposite side of the cricket ground from the Trent Bridge Inn - good for a drink straight after
the match. Usually a good mix of away and home fans – but has become the unofficial pub for away supporters It adjoins the cricket ground (Trent Bridge) and can be found by turning off Radcliffe Road (the big road next to the ground parallel to the river) at the brown office building beside a pedestrian crossing. The pub is about 75 yards up this road (Fox Road) on your right.
The Magpies - Meadow Lane. Open all day. Daily lunch specials
DC’s - 152 London Road. Sandwiches. Open all day from 12
The Fellows. 54 Canal Street - Families welcome. Open al day
The VAT & Filddle - 12-14 Queen’s Bridge Road (near railway station) Snacks served 12-3 & 5-8. Open all day.
The Norfolk Hotel - 68 London Road
The Bentinck Hotel - Station Street (opposite Station) - hotel-pub serving basket meals all day.
Casa – formerly known as the Aviary - is on Trent Bridge itself - and normally has food available as well. However this was closed to away fans last year.
Yates's in the centre of the town by Market Square.
The Stratford Haven is just down the road from the Larwod & Voce - also does food and usually has a mixture of home & away fans.
Hooters www.hootersnottingham.com - is on London Road A6011- and is (apparently!) a must for all red-blooded
males. It is a large pub/restaurant where you are served by model-
type girls wearing next to nothing!! (out of station - left into
Queen's road - following Road to where it meets London Road - cross
the main road - slight left and it's on the right) Apparently also serves food.
Apparently a couple of seasons ago many Palace supporters were being directed to the
actual Trent Bridge Cricket Ground which has a large friendly pub on the
side of it. This is less than 5 mins. walk from the away end of the
ground. Has a Nice atmosphere, no trouble. It's only available when there's no cricket – so best to check first.
Most of the city centre pubs are more than safe to use. If anyone fancies an early beer or food, there is a cafe/bar in the old cattle market which is next to Notts County's ground. This is open by 8.00am on a Saturday!
The Southbank near the ground and the King John in the city centre should be avoided
Trent Bridge Inn - which backs onto the Cricket Ground has doormen checking tickets to make sure you are a home supporter - and so should also be avoided.
Alcohol is available in the ground - Fosters, John Smiths & Guiness
Food guide
There is a cafe on Trent Bridge. The Bridgford Restaurant is situated in a row of shops on the Radcliffe Road. Papas - sells burgers, kebabs, jacket potatoes & pizza. There is also a Macdonalds on the Radcliffe Road. On the London Road is the Pink City Balti Palace.
For those into memorbabilia there's a newsagents selling loads of old programmes just along between the station & the ground
.If you are planning on staying in Nottingham - everything is pretty
much walking distance from the Market Square. Nottingham Tourist
Office is 0115 9155330 . If you have time to spend in the city centre there are a vast number of pubs, clubs and eating places. For a bit of history visit the Trip to Jerusalem near the castle which is a very nice pub!. Nottingham on a Saturday night is very busy and according to the forest website anyone over the age of 20 will feel pretty ancient!!
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