Coventry v Palace - Sunday 9th May 1pm
Coventry v Crystal Palace
Sunday 9th May 2004 kick off 1pm
Highfield Road
King Richard St, Coventry, CV2 4FW
Main Telephone No: 024-7623-4000
Ticket Office Enquiries: 024-7623-4020
Ticket Booking Line: 024-7657-8000
Fax No: 024-7623-4099
Official Web Site: www.ccfc.co.uk
TICKETS: Adults 18.00, O.A.P.s 9.00, Juniors 6.00. Interestingly these are the same prices as the last time we played them.
TICKETS FOR THE AWAY END ARE NOW SOLD OUT.
Away fans are located on one side of the pitch, in the Mitchell & Butler Stand. Just over 4,000 away fans can be accommodated on one side of this stand, next to the McDonalds family stand. Away fans occupy both the upper and lower tiers of this stand, with tickets to the upper tier normally sold first. In the upper tier there is one supporting pillar which may obstruct your view. Leg room is quite tight too. The Highfield Road Stadium is less than a mile from the city centre.
Disabled fans
4 spaces for away supporters in Clock Stand in elevated position. Visually impared fans: 10 places for both home & away in Clock stand, 5 headsets available, 2 used on a regular basis. Spaces for ambulant disabled supporters upon request.
Contact: Loretta Thomas, 09068 121066, e-mail info@ccfc.co.uk
Street parking only for Away Supporters.
PALACE COACHES:
Leave Holmesdale Road at 8am (due to roadworks on the M25). Gold members 17.60, Season Ticket Holders/Members 19.80, guests 22.00
PALACE TRAIN:
Silverlink train leaves Euston at 9.41 – arriving Coventry at 11.40. Return train leaves Coventry at 3.56 arriving back in London at either 5.44. Cost £13 or 4 for £45. The last booking for these tickets is on Saturday at the Walsall game.
For further info call Chris or Gildo
For information on train times and fares, please contact the National Rail Enquiry Service on 0845 7 48 49 50. Please note there are engineering works affecting virgin lines & silverlink lines over the weekend.
The way to Highfield Road is clearly signposted from the station . It will take approx 30 mins to walk it’s around 1 ½ miles from the station. Follow the signs to the shopping centre and then to the Bus Station. Out of the back of the bus station through the car park and under the flyover. Then cross a roundabout and go up Walsgrave Road. The ground is up Swan Lane on the left.
Or come out of the station and walk straight ahead, using the series of subways and bridges which go over the ring road towards the City Centre. These take you to the Bull Yard (a small park/garden) next to Warwick Rd. Carry on up the ramp past HMV and the banks and when you see Cathedral Lanes and the Lady Godiva tent, turn right. Go down this road passing the Council House (on the left) and the old Odeon (on the right . You then walk under the ring road. This is now Gosford St. Keep on this road until the traffic lights of Sky Blue Way, where you cross over into Walsgrave Road, then depending on which stand you are in, take either the first, second, or third on your left where you will see the mighty Highfield Road stadium in front of you,
Or exit station and head towards station pharmacy and post office and turn right. Straight on at crossroads into Park Road. At end of road enter underpass and in central area take 2nd exit. Follow signpost into Park Side (Cornercroft Engineering on the right) then 1st left by London Road Social Club into Paradise Street. AT end of road go left down ramp and right into underpass. Keep right , back under archway towards The Plough Pub. Turn left in front of pub and then right into Gulson Road. At end of road walk diagonally right across park to Swan Lane.
BUSES
Alternatively there is a bus stop right outside the station. The number 17 and 27 buses stop at Gosford Green, 3 mins walk from the ground. It should cost approx 80p for a one way ticket from the station to the ground.
There are lots of buses leaving from Pool Meadow Bus station in the city centre, which stop at Gosford Green. No’s 7, 8, 32 & 33.
PLEASE NOTE NO CHANGE IS GIVEN ON BUSES IN COVENTRY.
For further information please contact Travel West Midlands on 0121 254 6322 or look at their website at www.travelwm.co.uk.
There is also a taxi rank at the station. It will cost approx £4 for a taxi to the ground from the station.
HOW TO GET THERE BY CAR:
Take the M40, not the M1, which is not only invariably far more traffic free but provides a direct route into the ground from the exit, around which there is a fair amount of street parking available.
Leave the M6 at Junction 3. Take the A444 towards the city centre. Go across four islands and at the fifth island turn right (signposted Football Ground). Turn left at the next island, follow the road around to the right and at the next island bear to the left. The ground is a short distance down this road on the right. Street parking.
From North & South
You can also leave the M6 at junction 2 onto the A4600 following signs to the city centre. Continue for around 3 miles until you pass under flyover. Turn right at traffic lights into Swan Lane, stadium is on left hand side approx half a mile along road.
Also From the South
Take M40 to Junction 15 onto A46. Continue on A46 which changes to A4114 for approx 10 miles. Then take A423 signposted city centre. After approximately 2 miles take A4600 signposted Leicester. Follow this road bridge turn left into Swan Lane. The Ground is on the left.
From the North
Take the M1 to Junction 21 and join the M69 continuing at Junction 2 onto the A4600 following signs to the centre. This road becomes the Walsgrave Road which turns right into Swan Lane. The ground is ahead on the left.
From the West/East
Approaching on the M6 in either direction, turn off onto the A4600 at Junction 2. Then as route for North. Or take M40 leaving at junction 15 (then as above)
From the East you can exit M69 at junction with M6 onto the A4600 (then as above)
If you are planning to come up on the M1 then the best bet (advice from a Coventry fan) is the M1, M6 at J19 of the M1, then, at J2 of
the M6 either the A4600 or A46 (46 might be quieter as it's slightly less
direct).
If you are driving all the way to the ground, and you take the 4600, it's
straight down there for three or four miles towards the city centre. At
one point there is a small roundabout where you need to go right, shortly
after that you go through a busy shopping area, under a road bridge and
you need to take a right at the lights immediately after that (B4110, Swan Lane). You'll see the ground on your left.
If you take the A46, go down it for 2-3 miles, then right onto the A428.
Stay on this for about 2-3 miles, then go left up the B4110 (Kingsway).
This joins the 4600. Go straight on at those lights, and you're in Swan
Lane, and the ground will appear on the left.
There are ways of getting there from the south of the city (rather than coming in from the north east of it via the M6), eg coming in on the M45
or M40, but I don't think they are much use for getting to the north-east
side of the city.
PARKING
********
Although the signs will direct away supporters to park on the south side of the ground, PW suggests going up to Harnall lane east, Swan lane or down to Freehold St which is just north of the ground.
PW also suggests that it is unwise to have any Palace paraphernalia on display, as this is one of the worse areas of Coventry. Also the further you go down Harnall Lane towards the flats the more chance that you will experience problems.
However, it is the away supporters end and if after the game you drive to the end of Harnall Lane East (towards the flats) turn left at the traffic lights and then at the second set of lights turn right you are back on the ring road.
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetma...50&y=279750
There is also some car parking off Kingsway. Small shoppers car park at Far Gosford 1.80 for 5 hours or 60p after 6pm.
The advice from a Coventry fan is as follows : People generally just park in the roads around the ground - there are no restrictions as far as I know. However the parking spaces do fill up, and it is a madhouse after the game, so you would be better off parking on one of the side roads a bit further up on the 4600, ie before
you reach the 4110, and walking down. Personally, I would suggest parking in one of the side streets somewhere between the roundabout mentioned in the directions, and the shopping centre
PUBS
*****
Coventry fans are generally a tolerant bunch. There isn't too much of a loony element, and all the pubs round the ground have tolerated well-behaved away fans. Avoid the Sky Blue Tavern, which is just outside the ground, and the Old Ball on the A4600 (has a reputation).
The traditional haunt of the away fans, the Sky Blue Tavern, is no longer in business, so you will need to travel further a field to get a pint.
The Internet Football Fans’ Guide recommends the Rose and Crown, on Walsgrave Road. This was the pub of choice pre & post match last season. It does decent food, and has a seating area outside if it is a nice day. Children are allowed in the conservatory area.
The internet football fans guide also states 'the best decent pubs near the ground (and they are few and far between) are the Rose and Woodbine in Barras Green, just to the North-East of the ground (Basic pub-chain owned local in residential area just a few minutes walk away from ground). CASK BEERS: C-T: Ansell's Mild, Tetley Bitter. Guest Beer and the Biggin Hall Hotel which is on the Binley Road, which is the main road approaching the ground from the East. Biggin Hall, Binley Road (as you approach the ground from the east, about a mile from Highfield Road).
Superb traditional hotel with a reputation for serving good ale. Naturally it's a Good Beer Guide regular, and is also now one of CAMRA's dedicated 'heritage' pubs on the national inventory. Well worth a visit.
Hastings on Clay Lane 5 mins from ground with separate bars for home and away supporters who are always welcome.
I was told us last year of a Palace-friendly drinking establishment in Coventry.
Massey Ferguson Sports & Social Club, Broad Lane, Coventry Tel: (024) 7646 5838
Open from 11:30am with a good selection of beers and hot and cold food available. Children welcome. It's not exactly local for the ground (it's on the south east outskirts of the city), but is a small diversion for fans travelling from the south via M40/A46. It's about a 20 minute cab ride to Highfield Road, there's free, secure parking and the stewardess' husband is a Palace fan and the bar staff are made to wear Palace
shirts when we're in town!!!
Map details: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetma...7&A=Y&Z
Flanker & Firkin Greyfriars Lane 02476 226661
Corner of Salt Lane. Pool table, food available. Usual range of Firkin ales.
The Varsity Little Park Street 02476 630862
Supposedly a student pub but last year there seemed little evidence to support this!
I can’t vouch for the welcome away fans will get from the following as they were recommended for Coventry fans, but they might be worth a try!
White Friars, Gosford Street (en route from City Centre to Highfield Road).
Excellent W&D/Marstons pub, in 'Ye Olde' style, but in genuine low-beamed tudor building. Conveniently located for a pre or post-game pint, and offering good choice for the Gosford Street area. CASK BEERS: W & D: Banks Mild, Bitter, Marston's Pedigree, Cameron's Bitter, Guest beer (often from the Church End brewery in Rugby)
Flying Standard, Trinity Square, City Centre.
Coventry's first Wetherspoon pub, opened late in 1999 in typical JDW style. As in every Wetherspoon outlet, the beer is good and cheap, food is available all the time, and is exceptional value. There is a second upstairs bar which only carries a limited range, so be sure to 'inspect' downstairs for the guest beers. As of the 2000-01 season, they have unfortunately adopted a 'no football colours' policy, so if you want to wear replica kit and enjoy a 'Spoons, you'd be better off getting the train to Leamington, and going to the 'Benjamin Satchwell' which is a bit nicer anyway. CASK BEERS: ScotCo: Theakston's Best, Courage Directors, Whitbread: Boddington's Bitter, Plenty of Guest beers from the JDW list.
New Inn, Bull's Head Lane (by the cricket ground).
Conveniently located half-way between the Biggin Hall Hotel (above) and Highfield Road. Especially welcoming to away fans. CASK BEERS: Morland's Ruddles Best, Ruddles County, Old Speckled Hen, occasional guest/other beer from Morland-Ruddles range.
Elastic Inn, Ford Street, City Centre.
Coventry's most famous pub, now just a run-of-the mill C-T house, but conveniently located on the way back to the City Centre from Highfield Road. CASK BEERS: C-T Ansells mild, bitter, Tetley Bitter. occasional guest beer from C-T range, and often Everards Tiger as a regular guest.
Greyhound, Much Park Lane, City Centre.
Charles Wells pub on the east side of the city centre, can be a bit student-y. Bar Billiards. CASK BEERS: Charles Wells Eagle, Bombardier, Fargo. Mansfield Mild. guest beer/Mansfield seasonal ale.
The Rocket, Warwick Road (right by the station).
Bass pub very near the station, and therefore highly convenient for going to/from home and/or away games. Decent food. Big screen TV for Sky Sports. Quiz nights. Unfortunately they stopped selling real ale a short while ago.
FOOD
There are some good take-aways - sarnies, bacon butties, kebabs etc on the 4600 near the ground. If you want a good curry house I would recommend taking a walk (or fetching the car) and going a little further into town to the Gosford Balti House, which is good although popular with city fans. Carry on down the A4600, then, at the big traffic lights just ahead, go straight on (I think you can do this) into Gosford Street. The Curry House is towards the end of the road on the left, if I remember rightly. Actually, there are also some good pubs down here, so you might want to have a drink down here as well.
Chicken Balti Pies are available for £2 in the ground
LOCAL RADIO
BBC Coventry & Warwickshire – 94.8fm. Mercia 97FM, BBC Radio WM 95.6FM
(Caveat - please note not all information can be completely confirmed, so please don't blame me for any mis-information!)
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