Plan Your Soccer Travels

Neutral Fan Travel Tips: Coventry City

Bob Kellett — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:47:48 +0000

The Ricoh Arena, in my opinion, is not particularly built with the casual fan in mind and is positioned well away from the main city train station and further towards the outer regions of what feels like the Midlands, let alone Coventry. If you don’t know someone in the city, driving is probably the best way to get there but word of mouth suggested that unless you had a season ticket the club also charged a fair whack for the privilege of parking too. So if you can find some people to car pool with I’d thoroughly recommend it; otherwise you could be in for an extremely long walk or a pretty expensive taxi ride.

Plan your Trip to watch Coventry play

That said, the ground is a typical, flat pack community stadium and has pretty much everything you need on site. The city centre is not the most glamorous of locations, with new malls and restaurants apparently scattered around the place much further afield so there is little point in taking a detour to see what’s on offer before the game. The only attraction I found worth having a look around was the remains of the famous Coventry cathedral, which was bombed heavily in the Second World War and offers a poignant take on just how badly the city was affected. This is more of a half hour tops activity though, just so you’re aware.

Where you really want to be heading for some pre-match entertainment in my view is the casino built under the Ricoh that really could be a piece of Las Vegas shipped into the centre of the UK. Bizarrely greeted by palm trees and water features the space is really impressive and offers a great bar, roulette tables and slot machines all surrounded by gathering fans catching up with each other and talking about the game ahead. You could quite happily spend a couple of hours passing time in there and with little to no other bar life around the stadium it’s probably the best place to spend your time before entering the ground.

Inside the Ricoh the atmosphere is subdued at best. This is not a place to come if you’re looking to sing and chant all game and more designed to meet the modern standards of comfort and hospitality in the 21st century. It’s a well maintained ground with all the facilities you could wish for if you’re just looking for an afternoon of watching some Championship football in a bit of peace.

Definitely buy a programme though; if your programme number matches the digits they read out at half time you get the chance to enter the field of play and score a goal from the half way line for £1000. A very good half time prize which is well worth having a go for (if you don’t buy a ticket you don’t win the lottery as they say.)

The casino is part of the local community and hosts live entertainment amongst other things long into the night so instead of heading back into town it seems like a much better idea to take a stroll down the palm tree surrounded stairs and get straight back to the roulette tables post match. Alternatively, there is Europe’s largest ever Tesco’s (when built) just across the road. So if you’ve got a long journey ahead of you grab some beers and get ready to enjoy the trip…Probably not much of a photo opportunity moment though … which pretty much sums up the city of Coventry in all honesty.

Neutral Fan Travel Tips: Nottingham Forest

CJH — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 00:37:57 +0000

The City Ground is arguably home to one of the most famous clubs in English history with the Brian Clough era at Forest well known for bringing two European Cups to the Nottingham team. With a bustling university population and a vast appreciation of football contained in the walls of the city, it is well worth a visit for a travelling fan.

Plan your Trip to Nottingham to see Forest play

For those wanting to pick up on the famous son of Nottingham Robin Hood, you may be a tad disappointed to learn that Sherwood Forest sits a good 18 miles outside of the centre and thus, anyone wishing to visit the area really needs access to a car. That said there is plenty more to life in Nottingham than Robin Hood and his merry men and if you’re only visiting for a day there is more than enough to keep you entertained pre and post game.

For example, Nottingham is also home to the American chain Hooters, the only city in England to be so. It’s become quite a quirky attraction for the city and being a short 10 minute walk from the ground, and right by the train station its well worth a visit if you get the time. The building itself is quite impressive and for a really fun themed bar to prepare for the game or drown your sorrows, it’s a great place to start.

Because of the popular university there are also many other nice little pubs and bars scattered around the city, all offering a good selection of food and beer. I found a place called Dino’s, which was an absolutely perfect little spot to grab some lunch before the walk to the game. Several other Forest fans clearly agreed so it was also quite a good place to strike up conversation with the locals about their team too.

Not that you’d miss it, but whilst you’re in Nottingham check out the other two famous stadiums Meadow Lane and Edgbaston cricket ground. You might as well, they’re all on the same road! It’s quite a remarkable site to witness three iconic stadiums all along one stretch of tarmac and the likelihood is such planning will probably never happen again. So it’s a good time killer to wander round the outside of Notts County’s home before taking the very short stroll up to the City Ground.

Forest’s ground is right beside the River Trent and for an absolutely glorious view of the city landscape, and the river running by during the game, sit up in the Brian Clough upper stand, which also offers a pretty perfect view of the game itself. The ground is a passionate one, proud of it’s heritage and the noise and atmosphere created will excite any football fan.

Neutral Fan Travel Tips: Newcastle

Bob Kellett — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:52:04 +0000

St James’ Park has been used for football since 1880 so it’s somewhat of an understatement when I say you feel like you’re walking around a historic venue when you’re there. It perches above the city like a castle overlooking the people and is positioned slap bang in the middle of the bustling centre. A five minute walk from the main railway station the stadium is in an absolutely ideal spot for visitors attending the ground for the first time. What’s even better is that because of the hill it sits on, you can see it from almost any angle. This is a unique footballing experience and an absolute must for any football fan.

Plan your Trip to Newcastle to see the Magpies play

Of course, the city with many of it’s famous landmarks like the Tyne Bridge is there to explore, but I recommend getting to the ground as early as possible; everybody else does. At least two and a half hours before kickoff fans swarm to the ground and begin to gather around the outskirts taking in a beer or some conversation. These are passionate people who see their team as a lifestyle and just being in amongst it all is very exciting.

Another reason for the mass flocking around the ground is that St James’ Park has without doubt one of the best stadium bars in the land. The Aptly named Shearer’s Bar is apparently so well laid out, that it invariably becomes just another location for party goers out on the town in the evenings. The decor, space and readily available beer, without the usual football queues, is a breath of fresh air and the perfect place to get a pre match pint. There are tons of other pubs around which I’m sure are equally as accommodating but for me, there is no real need to look beyond Shearer’s.

Being around the ground also means you can nip down to the player’s entrance, hidden under the depths of the stands which is quite open for a Premier League ground. Fans huddle around the away team bus and jeer as the players walk into the entrance way and it’s quite amusing to get involved. Being fortunate enough to be there for a televised game it was also rather exciting seeing the TV cameras beaming light on the arrival and trying to get your head in shot.

Once inside be sure to get a ‘Mag Pie’, a clever twist on United’s nickname (and hopefully not actually the bird) and enjoy the amazing spectacle which is St James’ Park. As a stadium which holds over 50,000 people it really is a stunning site when you first see it. When you take your seat don’t be alarmed at just how friendly the Geordie people are. They will no doubt talk to you about the team, hug you when a goal goes in and in general treat you like one of the family. It’s quite surreal, but immensely enjoyable. If at any point you don’t understand the rather strong northern accent, just smile, and then scream something at the referee.

Last but by no means least, prepare for a night out on the town. Newcastle comes to life at night and you can see why the players constantly get caught out until the early hours in swanky night clubs. The choice is endless, and every bar or club is just as enticing as the last. The whole stadium descends back into the city and a night out on match day is not worth missing. With prices reasonably cheap, calling a taxi back to the station isn’t the end of the world if needs be.

Neutral Fan Travel Tips: Manchester City

Bob Kellett — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 21:54:57 +0000

The City of Manchester Stadium was built as part of the Commonwealth games held in England in 2002. Therefore it’s designed as more of a complex of entertainment rather than just a football ground. Whilst there are plenty of pubs to stumble into in the centre of Manchester I’d recommend giving yourself enough time to actually sample the club’s selection that spews out around the ground. There’s often live music or some kind of show on the main stage whilst the bars (named after City legends) give you a good opportunity to do a bit of a crawl whilst appreciating the history of Man City.

Plan your Trip to Manchester to watch City play

The ground is the only one I’ve ever visited which sells the rather northern tradition of chips with curry sauce. Whilst that may have a few of you reaching for the nearest bin in disgust, it actually tastes pretty incredible. Give it a whirl and you could be swayed by the idea.

The stadium inside is a master class of spectator accommodation. I doubt there is a single seat in the house which would be considered a bad view. I was at the very, very top of the stand and I’d have to suggest doing the same thing providing you’re not terrified of heights. If you’re high enough you can see the skyline of the city as a backdrop and the rows are steep enough to get a really great view of the game. People tend to stand up a lot when there’s any kind of action in and around the penalty box so if you can get a seat right at the back it’s quite an awesome sight to witness thousands of people leap up in unison like a planned Mexican wave.

To and from the ground, as strange as it may sound, try not to follow the signs taking you towards ‘Sports City.’ The problem is the route planners have been almost too efficient and given supporters at least ten different ways to get to the ground from the city centre. This often means a sign will lead you one way only to be contradicted by another sign pointing in the other direction.

Don’t leave Manchester without getting a curry. The place is absolutely brimming with fantastic curry houses and if you can get yourself to the ‘curry mile’ just out of town you’re in for quite a treat. A mile of curry houses competing for your custom pretty much means that everybody has to be on their game, so you’ll struggle to find a bad one.

Finally, the half Scottish blood in me would like to stop Manchester Piccadilly station charging everyone for the opportunity to take a natural break. Their facilities force you to part with your change, which I’ve always considered outrageous. But as a pretty good counter measure, there is an in-built pub at the station which has it’s own toilets and doesn’t cost a thing. I snuck in there and felt like I’d taken the moral victory. So if you feel like doing the same, go for it.

Neutral Fan Travel Tips: Everton

Bob Kellett — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 17:51:12 +0000

Everton’s Goodison Park is nicely traditional in the sense that it’s surrounded by terraced housing and at the centre of a community. That said there is not an awful lot to do around the ground so give yourself plenty of time and head into Liverpool City centre first. The Metro trains that journey the 3 stops to Kirkdale (nearest station to Goodison) take no time at all and run frequently so you don’t need to be worrying too much about making kick off in time.

Plan your Trip to Liverpool to watch Everton play

Be prepared to delve into the history of the Beatles, who feature prominently throughout the city. Albert Dock is just a short walk away from Liverpool Lime Street Station (20 minutes tops) and it’s definitely worth a visit. The Beatles story, at £12.95 per adult is worth a look if you have enough time to do so, although according to the expert (fanatic) on the door a 2 hour slot is the minimum recommendation to take it all in. Alternatively you can spend that time listening to various Beatles albums in the plush looking bars populating the dock area.

I found out about this one particular pub all too late but if you can find it try the Blue Liver Bird for a real Everton experience. I’m reliably informed that they don’t screen an England match in there unless at least two Everton players are featuring…That is what you call loyalty. Have no idea what’s the beers like, but providing you’re not wearing red you’re bound to meet some interesting characters.

When buying a ticket for the game make sure you note whether your seat has an ‘obstructed view’. Normally, especially in the modern grounds, this just means you’re quite far away from the action. But at Goodison Park it can literally mean you can’t see one half of the pitch. I had a pole right in front of me and missed two of the goals because it. It can be quite frustrating having to lean around your neighbour to catch a glimpse of the action…For them even more so I suspect. To avoid any chance of this book your seat behind the goal in the Park End Stand. As the most modern stand in the ground, it’s noted that architecture has moved on somewhat, and taken away the need for poles to prop up a construction.

Definitely make sure you give a Chang beer a try too. For me, it’s the best pint I’ve had in a football ground for a long time. Unfortunately that sentence doesn’t necessarily mean too much as most pints in a football ground are truly shocking. But Chang was certainly up there as one of the best. You can actually taste it for a start!

Finally, if you’re looking to hop back on the metro after the game, make sure you note landmarks to follow back whilst it’s still light. Coming out of the game to darkness I struggled amongst the never ending streets of terraced housing to work out in what direction I’d initially come from. So after walking around for close to an hour I found a Metro stop 3 stations further down the line than I needed to be. So unless you fancy a similar adventure, leave breadcrumbs.

Travel to Germany to Watch the Champions League

Bob Kellett — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 23:17:00 +0000

The 2010-11 UEFA Champions League is here, and three German sides have made the cut. On the rise in Europe, the German league has quality from top of bottom, and three of their best will compete for the most prized trophy in club football, in three different German cities. If you’re a football fan, and you’ve ever wanted to travel to Germany, now is the perfect time. After you’ve read about each location and picked which one (or ones) you want to visit, use the form below to search travel sites all over the web for the best possible price:

Also, don’t forget to get your Champions League tickets early – they can sell out fast!

Munich

The most successful club in German football history, Bayern Munich have been champions of Europe four times, and reached the final last season. They will be hungry to do one better, and make it five titles, but first they’ll have to get past teams from Italy, Switzerland and Romania in Champions League Group E. Their matches in Munich:

15 September 2010: Bayern Munich vs. AS Roma (Italy)
19 October 2010: Bayern Munich vs. CFR Cluj (Romania)
8 December 2010: Bayern Munich vs. Basel (Switzerland)

Gelsenkirchen

This western German city is best known in football circles as home to Schalke 04, one of Germany’s top clubs. Schalke have been champions of Germany 7 times, but haven’t lifted the league trophy in over 50 years. They’ll be looking to get back to the glory days as they take on teams from France, Portugal and Israel in Group B. Their home matches:

29 September 2010: Schalke vs. Benfica (Portugal)
20 October 2010: Schalke vs. Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel)
24 November 2010: Schalke vs. Lyon (France)

Bremen

Bremen may be only the tenth-largest city in Germany, but its history and architecture make it a fantastic tourist destination. It is also the home of Werder Bremen, four time champions of German football. They will be looking to progress from Group A but face still opposition from defending European champions Inter Milan as well as a rising Tottenham side. Their fixtures in Bremen:

14 September 2010: Werder Bremen vs. Tottenham (England)
2 November 2010: Werder Bremen vs. Twente (Netherlands)
7 December 2010: Werder Bremen vs. Inter Milan (Italy)

Travel to France to Watch the Champions League

Bob Kellett — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 23:07:59 +0000

The Champions League group stage is ready to begin, and three French teams have made the cut, which means that if you are a football fan who has ever wanted to travel to France, this could be a great time to do it. There will be at least nine Champions League matches in three locations around France. After reading about each location, use the form below to get the best available price for your football trip to France:

Also, don’t forget to get your Champions League tickets early – they can sell out fast!

Lyon

France’s second largest city is also home to its most successful club in recent times, Olympique Lyonnais, or Lyon for short. Lyon won the French league for 7 seasons in a row between 2002 and 2008, and will play host to teams from Germany, Portugal and Israel in this year’s Champions League Group B. Their home fixtures are:

14 September 2010: Lyon vs. Schalke (Germany)
20 October 2010: Lyon vs. Benfica (Portugal)
7 December 2010: Lyon vs. Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel)

Marseille

Last year’s champion of France, Marseille won the Champions League in 1993, the only French club to do so. They’ll be trying to recapture past glories as they host sides from England, Russia and Slovakia in Group F. Their home fixtures are:

15 September 2010: Marseille vs. Spartak Moscow (Russia)
19 October 2010: Marseille vs. Zilina (Slovakia)
8 December 2010: Marseille vs. Chelsea (England)

Auxerre

Compared to Marseille or Lyon, Auxerre are minnows, and they find themselves in the Champions League Group of Death (Group G) along with European powerhouses from Spain, Italy and the Netherlands. But who doesn’t love to root for an underdog? Their fixtures are:

28 September 2010: Auxerre vs. Real Madrid (Spain)
3 November 2010: Auxerre vs. Ajax (Netherlands)
23 November 2010: Auxerre vs. AC Milan (Italy)

Travel to Rome to Watch the Champions League

Bob Kellett — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:27:11 +0000

The groups have been drawn for the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League, and the greatest tournament in club football is headed this year to one of the most beautiful and historic cities in Europe – Rome. AS Roma will take on opponents from throughout Europe in the quest for the ultimate club trophy. There will be at least three Champions League matches hosted in Rome, so it’s a great time to make your way to the Eternal City and combine a classic football match with everything else the city has to offer.

Matches being held in Rome:
28 September 2010: AS Roma vs. Cluj (Romania)
19 October 2010: AS Roma vs. Basel (Switzerland)
23 November 2010: Roma vs. Bayern Munich (Germany)

Use the form below to help plan your trip. After filling in your travel dates, it will show you prices from several different travel sites. Compare and find the best price possible:

Also, make sure to get your Roma match tickets early. They could easily sell out for a big European match.

Travel to London to Watch the Champions League

CJH — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 17:34:41 +0000

The 2010-11 UEFA Champions League group stages have been announced, and three London sides have made the tournament: Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs. That means nine chances to watch top-class international club football in London this fall and winter. Here are the fixtures:

Chelsea (Group F):
28 September 2010: Chelsea vs. Marseille
3 November 2010: Chelsea vs. Spartak Moscow
23 November 2010: Chelsea vs. Zilina
Find Chelsea Tickets

Arsenal (Group H):
15 September 2010: Arsenal vs. Braga
19 October 2010: Arsenal vs. Shakhtar
8 December 2010: Arsenal vs. Partizan
Find Arsenal Tickets

Spurs (Group A):
29 September 2010: Tottenham vs. Twente
2 November 2010: Tottenham vs. Inter
24 November 2010: Tottenham vs. Werder Bremen
Find Spurs Tickets

Use the form below to compare travel sites and get the best price for your football trip to London:

Travel to Watch Spurs in the Champions League

CJH — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:49:06 +0000

It’s a historic year for Tottenham Hotspur, as they have made it to the Champions League group stages for the first time. Spurs have been drawn into Group A, along with Inter Milan, Werder Bremen and FC Twente, which means that hardcore Spurs fans will be looking at trips to Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands this fall and winter.

The away fixtures for Spurs are:
14 September 2010: Werder Bremen vs. Spurs (Bremen, Germany)
20 October 2010: Inter vs. Spurs (Milan, Italy)
7 December 2010: Twente vs. Spurs (Enschede, Netherlands)

To find tickets to these matches, check out our Spurs tickets page.

To book your travel to one or more of these matches, use the form below to search for the destination and dates you’re looking for, and compare several travel providers to find the best price: