Reading v Palace - Tues 13th Sept 2005 8pm
Reading v Crystal Palace
Tuesday 13th September 2005 8pm
Ground Name: Madejski Stadium
Capacity: 24,200 (all seated)
Address: Bennett Road, Reading, RG2 0FL
Main Telephone No: 0118-968-1100
Ticket Office: 0118-999-1871
Away fans are located in one end of the stadium, in the Fosters Lager South Stand, where up to 4,300 can be accommodated (although the normal allocation is 2,100). The facilities in this stand are excellent with plenty of leg room and the views of the pitch are superb
Please also note that smoking is not allowed in the seated areas of the stadium. There are also reports of over zealous stewarding so be careful!
TICKETS:
Adults £19.00, over 65 £11.00 Under 21s £11.00.
In previous years - students on production of an official NUS card will be a reduced price, please note you will be asked to produce your card at the turnstiles on the day of the match.
Please note that the prices at that Madejski on the day of the game will increase by £3.00, so please make sure that you purchase your tickets in advance for this match. If you do buy on the day you will need to purchase at South Stand ticket office located between gates 9 & 10
DISABLED SUPPORTERS
A total of 128 wheelchair spaces are available in all stands admission price includes 1 helper. Visually impaired supporters should contact Norman Dyer on 0118 966 1406
Pre-booked disabled badge holders are entitled to free parking.
HOW TO GET THERE BY CAR
If you are travelling along the M4 from the west you can see the stadium on your left. Leave the M4 at Junction 11, bear left on to the A33 relief road which leads you directly to the stadium. The Madejski Complex is well signposted from Junction 11.
As there is one exit from the motorway please allow plenty of time for your journey.
If you find yourself in the centre of Reading and you follow signs to Reading FC, you will end up at the old Elm Park ground which has been demolished. The stadium is sign posted 'Madejski Stadium Complex'
CAR PARKING
There is a car park at the ground and at the nearby speedway track (both £5). They hold about 2,500 cars between them. However if you do not arrive in good time before the game you may find that they are already full. The official car park is often sold out in advance of the game thanks to car park season tickets and pre-paid vouchers. Although it's possible to get a space - you're not likely to. It's best to avoid the official car park and head to one of the other sign-posted alternatives.
Greyhound stadium/speedway 500 spaces 3 mins walk from stadium. From junction 11 drive past stadium and past B&Q retail park. Straight ahead at traffic lights past Green Park take next left. Normally full 1 hour prior to kick off. £5 per car.
The club operates a park & ride scheme at Foster Wheeler at Shinfield Park. For the return shuttle bus the cost is £2.50 for adults and £1.20 for children. From Junction 11 on M4 take B3270 to Earley & then follow signs to Football car park C. Recommended for Away fans
It is not recommended to park in the nearby Business Park, unless there is an individual unit charging for matchday parking otherwise you may find yourself with a parking ticket or clamped. Although maybe buying something might get you out of this!
HP Invent imperial way 900 spaces. £5 per car. 5 mins walk to stadium. Towards Reading on A33, turn right at 1st roundabout signposted Football car park B normally full 30 mins before kick off.
The Club in the interests of crowd safety, now prevent traffic from leaving the car parks, until ten minutes after the final whistle You can also park at the Post House Hotel on Basingstoke Road. It costs £3 per car and although a 10-15 minute walk away from the ground, you may find it easier to get away from, than some of the other car parks, after the game.
If you want street parking, don't bear left onto the relief road as you leave Junction 11, continue straight on and you will pass a few roads on your right, park in one of these and walk to the ground (10-12 minutes). Dont park on the A33 as it is a red route.
You can park at the railway station, or Gerrards Street car park in the town centre is also near the bus stop. The problem here is that town centre car parks are about a pound an hour, so can be costly. It's also possible to park on the other side of the M4 (ie. not town side) if you don't mind a half hour walk. You'll find plenty of parking if you turn of the M4 at junction 11 and head towards Basingstoke on the A33. Immediately turn off at the first roundabout sign-posted to either Grazely or Three Mile Cross and find a space. The walk is quite a trek back over the motorway (up to 45 minutes each way!), but it definately beats the traffic
Pre-booked motorcycles are entitled to free parking.
There are 100 secure spaces for bicycles next to the stadium
.
COACHES
Depart Holmesdale Road at 4pm. Cost Gold members £20, Season ticket/members £22.50, Guests £25.00
BY TRAIN
Trains leave London Paddington for Reading about every 10 minutes taking
about ½ an hour. Trains also leave Clapham Junction directly to Reading
about every quarter of an hour, journey time is about 1Ό hours.
Trains from Clapham to Reading take 1hour and 10minutes - but are handy as anyone living on the Selhurst - Victoria line can just change at Clapham.. There are 4 or 5 trains an hour as well so no problems that way... Fast train Paddington - Reading takes about 30minutes but you have to get to Paddington...
Get the train to Reading mainline station and then the No 79 'Football Special' bus which departs from stop SQ. The buses leave just down from the station about every 5 minutes between 18.00 & 19.25. Once you come out of the main station entrance turn right and they are about 200 yards down the road on the opposite side - there is normally one waiting. Bus takes about fifteen minutes to get to the ground. It is recommended you get in the bus queue no later than 45 mins before kick off as football traffic goes down same dual carriageway to game. For an evening game this will probably be even busier. The return buses are from Northern Way every 5 minutes & there may be queues after the game. Return Buses every 5 minutes between 21.45 & 22.25. Fares are £2.50 adult return, £1.25 child return, family £3 return
The bus from the station is good provided that away fans do not cause any trouble. If you do then the buses refuse to pick you up after the game. The police escort for the buses may mean its a longer journey after the game, so bear this in mind in terms of return trains.
If you choose to walk, its around 3 miles and could take you over an hour.
BY TAXI
If you're running a bit late for a bus then Taxis leave from immediately outside the main entrance of the station (opposite the Three Guineas pub) and will cost about six or seven quid for get you to the ground. Whatever, you'll need to make sure you're on your way out of the town centre at least half an hour before kick-off or you'll miss the start for certain!
BUSES
Local reading buses no.s 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 run from various areas locally.
WHERE TO DRINK
Apart from a Harvester which is good for families on the road towards Reading, there are no pubs near the ground. So either drink in the town centre where there are dozens of pubs or alternatively there are bars at the back of the stands, where Courage, Fosters (£2.40 per pint) & Guinness (£3 per pint) are on offer. Friar Street in the town centre has about 10-15 different bars and pubs to choose from, which are all pretty friendly. However, not many of these town centre pubs allow fans in wearing colours. The only one that has been recommended for a pre or post match pint is the Pitcher & Piano, 18 Friar Street (0118 958 8964). About a quarter of a mile from the station it's like all the other Pitcher & Piano pubs with a decent menu and large screen satellite televisions. The Walkabout in Wiston Terrace, off Friar Street, allows in away fans wearing colours.
For those people going by train - across the road from the station is the Forum pub which good for a pint, but they don't allow you in wearing colours. Also nearby is Bar Oz. Also if you've come by train or want to be close to the bus stop you can try the Three Guineas at the station. Also The Broadwalk pub (nice food, 5 minutes walk from station, SKY TV.
The other option is The Engineers Arms in Whitley which also does food, about 20-25 minutes walk to the ground, further down the road from the Havester. Find the Engineers arms down the old A33 Basingstoke Road - head away from the Madejski Stadium at a roundabout and walk (drive) down Whitley Wood Lane - you'll see the pub just past the next roundabout down that road.
There is also the Millenium Hotel. They only let 600 people in but they will not let anyone in away colours in the door.
FOOD
Next to the ground on a Retail Park are the following food outlets; McDonalds, KFC & Pizza Hut.
IN the ground - food outlets in the concourse of the South (away) Stand. Hot Dogs are 2.50, but your best bet is probably a pie. However the pie I had last visit was awful! Queues are normally pretty bad.
There are burger fans outside the ground as usual!
For anyone planning to stay in reading the tourist office number is 0118 956 6226 or www.readingtourism.org
|
