Awaydays: Craven Cottage, Fulham

Because we feature Championship away trips too...

Getting there:
From the North: Take the A1/M1 to North Circular A406 follow signs for Harlesden A404, then take the A219 to Hammersmith. When on Broadway follow signs for Fulham, turn right after 1 mile into Harbord Street then left at the end for the ground. From the South/East: Take the South circular A205, follow signs for Putney Bridge A219, cross the bridge and follow signs for Hammersmith for half a mile. Take a left into Bishops Park Road, then right at the end. From the West: Take the M4 to the A4. After two miles branch left into Hammersmith Broadway, then follow signs for Fulham. Turn right after 1 mile into Harbord Street then left at the end for the ground. Or buy a Sat-Nav.

The nearest tube is Putney Bridge on the District Line. Being situated on the banks of the Thames, travelling to the Cottage by boat is an option. Away fans have been known to hire ‘booze cruises’ that pick fans up in Central London and ferry them down the river with a healthy supply of booze so that they are adequately merry by the time they arrive.

Around the ground:
Pub: The Crabtree on Rainville Road is about a ten-minute walk from the ground and is always very accommodating to away fans. The Zulu Bar on Fulham High Street is another good pub in close proximity that is always bustling with away fans on match days. If this is too busy, then there are several other pubs along the same street that are worth a visit.

Grub: There are plenty of fine eateries in the lovely upper class area of Putney. The use of the word grub is frowned upon there. Fulham High Street provides ample places to grab a quick bite as well as the usual mix of burger and hotdog vans and stalls in and around the ground.   

Inside the ground:
Fans/Atmosphere: Fulham fans are notoriously quiet. Having a somewhat bizarre neutral section doesn’t help. Away fans normally outsing the home fans, though you can’t blame them really as they haven’t had much to shout about this season.  

Bogs and Pies: Fulham offer the usual array of food and lukewarm beer to fans. Expect to pay around £3 a burger and £3.50 a beer. The phrase function over fashion comes to mind when thinking about the toilets.

Stewards/Police Friendliness: Fulham fans can be considered the least threatening in English football. Saying that there is normally a noticeable police presence at the ground just in case, (0.000001% chance of trouble) anything does happen.

Fact!
Woy Hodgson is the sole reason why there are still small doubts as to whether humans are descendents from monkeys

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Posted by: Lex

Awaydays: Old Trafford, Manchester United

It's the big one in the North West...

Getting there:
By road, leave the M60 at either junction 7 or 9. From junction 7 - route from clockwise M60. Leave the M60 at junction 7 and join the A56 Manchester bound. Follow signs for Manchester United then  turn left into Sir Matt Busby Way. The car park is situated right in front of the stadium. From junction 9 - route from anti-clockwise M60. Leave the M60 at junction 9 and join Parkway A5081 towards Trafford Park. At the first roundabout take the 3rd exit onto Village Way. At the next roundabout take the second exit onto Wharfside Way. Turn right at the junction with Sir Matt Busby Way. Car parking is situated on the left in front of the stadium.

Alternatively you can travel via the Metrolink, which stops at Old Trafford Station, just five minutes away from the ground. It'll be chocker and a bit crammed, but it'll give you a good opportunity to bond with fellow fans. By bond, we mean your hands may end up places you didn't want them to be...

Around the Ground:
Pub: The Dog and Partridge is described as the place to go for a pre-match drink and sing-song. Your typical old-fashioned pub, it’s crowded and smelly, but somehow still worth a visit. If you fancy something a bit quieter, then The Quadrant on Kings Road is about 10 minutes walk from the ground.

Grub: Like at any other ground in the country, Old Trafford is surrounded by burger vans offering the finest in post or pre-match burgers, hotdogs and chips. Other than that, every eatery in Manchester is packed on match-days, so basically eat wherever you can get served.

Inside the Ground:
Fans/Atmosphere: Although some claim that the atmosphere at Old Trafford isn’t what it used to be, when the 75,000 strong crowd at the Theatre of Dreams is in full voice, it can still generate enough noise to wake a baby.

Bogs and Pies: As the Premier League's most impressive stadium, it's no surprise that Old Trafford boasts better than adequate facilities. But don’t forget 70k plus are using them, so don’t expect the ultimate in luxury. As for Pukka Pies, you cant beat ‘em.

Stewards/Police Friendliness: Stewards are as they are at most grounds; they can be a pain but if you do as you're told there won’t be a problem. As you would expect, there's always a big police presence at Old Trafford, but the same rule applies. Beware though, there are often lots of mounted police around, so watch out for what they leave behind. The horses of course, not the police.

Fact!
An anagram of Old Trafford is Lard Trod Off...

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Posted by: Lex

Awaydays: Oakwell, Barnsley

Just in time for their home FA Cup quarter-final tie against Chelsea...

Getting there:
By road, leave the M1 at Junction 37 and take the A628 towards Barnsley. Stay on this road (the ground is well signposted) and you will eventually see the ground on your right. There is a fair sized car park located at the ground. Alternatively, Barnsley railway station is about a ten minute walk away. This station is served by trains running between Sheffield & Leeds. From the train station turn left away from the town centre and head towards the bridge that the dual-carriageway runs over. Go under the bridge and turn left up the slip road and then take the first road on the right and head towards the Metro Dome leisure complex at the top of the hill.

Around the ground:
Pub: Be warned, unless your favourite film is Football Factory, wearing colours in town is not advisable. But there are plenty of decent pubs in town such as a Weatherspoons and O’Dwyers which is a popular haunt for home fans, with away fans allowed in small numbers. Also, if you fancy a stint on the treadmill before the match the Metrodome is an all-in-one leisure centre based just a short two minutes from the away turnstiles. If exercise before a match is not your thing, a) we thought not, and b) worry not, it has a bar.

Grub: The aforementioned Metrodome serves food as well as a tipple, or again visit town where there are your usual top class pre-match eateries such as KFC and Burger King, while various burger vans surround the ground.

Inside the ground:    
Fans/Atmosphere: For big games at Oakwell, theres nowt better. The home fans are passionate and get behind the team with vigour. Some of the fans do have a reputation, but if you aren’t looking for trouble you wont find any, and the club pride's itself on being a 'family club'.
        
Bogs and Pies: As there are three new-ish stands, the toilets are of a decent standard and do a job, if you excuse the expression. Food is football ground standard, not the best but not the worse.
            
Stewards/Police Friendliness: The stewards aren’t the most friendly and some of them seem to have a chip on their shoulder, but you just have to put up with it. Like you were told at school, backchat gets you nowhere. Police are only around for the bigger games, tend to be very low profile and the South Yorkshire force aren’t too bad.

Fact!
Dickie Bird, Michael Parkinson and Darren Gough are all avid Barnsley fans.

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Posted by: Lex

Posted by: Lex