Travel Guide - Sheff Wed, Hillsborough
Monday, 3rd Mar 2008 21:01

Rangers travel to Sheffield for a second time this year on Saturday, to the scene of their 2004 promotion party.

Ground Name: Hillsborough
Capacity: 39 814 (all seated)
Address: Hillsborough, Sheffield, S6 1SW
Main Telephone No: 0870 999 1867
Fax No: 0114 221 2122

Ticket Office: 0870 999 1867 (option 2)
By Car:
There are two ways to do this. You can come off the M1 at Junction 33 and follow the A57 (known locally as the parkway) down into town. You'll go past a big ASDA on your left and then off at the third junction for the A6102 Prince of Wales Road. When the road meets the A6178 (about two and a half miles later) turn left and then right after 100 yards onto the continuation of the A6102 which is now called Jansen Street and later Upwell Street. Eventually this will bring you out right in front of the ground, and I do mean 4 or 5 miles eventually.

To be honest if you're looking for an easy ride continue up the M1 right up to Junction 36, leave there and join the A61 towards "Sheffield North." Stay on there being careful of the speed cameras for eight miles and the ground is on your right. This is quicker, easier and takes you past several very acceptable rural boozers on the way in. That's what I'd do. Actually that's not true I'd park at Meadowhall - see parking.

Map:

Click map to visit Multi Map site and zoom in/out or tour round.

Parking:
At the ground it's street parking only and it can be tricky. There's the usual array of schools and businesses offering spaces for £2 but there's no guarantee there'll be room when you get there, they may well box you in and the traffic after the match is carnage.

By far the best thing to do is to make use of the city's excellent tram network. Leave the M1 at Junction 34 and park your car for free at Meadowhall then catch a yellow line tram from Meadowhall bound for Middlewood all the way through town to Leppings Lane. Trams run every ten minutes, a return ticket costs £2.70 and the journey will take forty minutes or so. Unlike the Hammersmith and City Line they stack trams up so you'll have no problem getting away after the match. You should be back in your car and on the M1 for 6pm which is better than you'd manage if you park near the ground.

Do not get off at Hillsborough or Hillsborough Park expecting to see the ground, it's a bit of a hike from there. The nearest stop is Leppings Lane. The locals think it's absolutely hysterical to pick on people in away colours and tell them to get off in Hillsborough forcing them to walk for an extra twenty minutes. It passes for a sense of humour up here. Stick to your guns - Leppings Lane.

By Train
Rangers fans travelling by train will likely be using East Midlands Trains from St Pancras, although some may be travelling via National Express from Kings Cross and changing at Doncaster. The latter is more expensive for late bookers..

St Pancras - 0856
Sheffield - 1134.

Sheffield - 1825
St Pancras - 2048

The above journey is available now for £52 based on buying two single tickets, a saver return is £58 if bought on the day.

Do not be tempted to book yourself on the 1727 service back. Don't tell yourself you'll get a cab afterwards - you won't. Don't think leaving in the 75th minute will be enough, it won't be. Last season we sat in the buffet at the station watching QPR fan after QPR fan racing down the steps at 1735, 1740, 1745 praying the train was late and they'd be alright - they weren't. You cannot get from Hillsborough to the station in 27 minutes in anything other than a magic rocket.

The station to the ground is not walkable. There is a substantial taxi rank at the station which is fine but don't rely on flagging a cab down in Hillsborough for the way back. You'll get one, but this isn't Edgware Road, you'll be waiting a long time.

Again the best bet is the tram. The blue line runs from the station every ten minutes. Catch a blue line service heading for Malin Bridge and then change at any of the stations between Ponds Forge and Hillsborough for the yellow line to Leppings Lane. A £2.70 ticket gives you unlimited travel on all lines all day.

Pubs:
One thing you're not short of in Sheffield is pubs and thanks to the tram you can drink pretty much anywhere. The Howard opposite the station used to be a favourite haunt of away fans but it's a bit tasty on match days at the moment. Further up the hill is The Globe where a load of R's fans ended up last year. You can then catch a tram from the station to the ground with one change as detailed above.

Further up the hill, if you cross the road and go between the Novotel and the library there's The Graduate and The Old Monk right next to the Crucible theatre. Both do food (if you can call it that) and show Sky Sports, the latter on the biggest screen in the free world. You can then walk along the high street and catch a tram at the Cathedral to the ground. All pubs in the town centre are likely to refuse admission to under 18s except the Wetherspoons which is a further five minute walk uphill past The Graduate and The Monk, next to the giant John Lewis store. RSVP, Ask, The Sportsman, The Cutler, Lloyds Bar and Walkabout are all within about 45 seconds walk of each other here as well. Few admit kids, none admit football colours.

The Horse and Jockey is the away fans' pub near the ground and those taking my tip and driving in down the A61 from Junction 36 will find plenty of rural pubs by the road on the way in.

If it's good beer you're after get off at West Street, walk back past Nandos and turn right down a side street. The next road you meet is Division Street and if you turn left then on the next corner is a pub called the Frog and Parrot. Huge selection of ales there including Roger and Out which used to hold the world record for strongest lager or something like that. Best pub in the city for me. Trams run from City Hall and West Street to the ground every ten minutes and your £2.70 ticket will get you there and back. If you're on the tram stop by twenty five past two you'll make the kick off.

Tickets:
We have been allocated 2000 tickets initially but in an end that can hold 8000 if required it’s fair to say that availability will not be an issue here. These are priced £21 for adults (£22 on matchday) and £12 concessions. Disabled supporters should contact Pauline Bronks at Sheff Wed in the afternoon on weekdays, she’s on 0870 999 1867 option 0.

Links:

Official website.

Detailed fans' guide to Hillsborough