Not instructions on how to enjoy a good book but all you need to know about Saturday's trip to the Madejski.
The Stadium
Situated on the outskirts of Reading next to the M4 the Madejski Stadium was built in 1998 and holds 24,200, Saints fans are situated in the Fosters Lager South Stand, an end of the ground which holds officially 4,300 and geographically is the part of the ground nearest to the M4.
The views from this stand are very good due to the steepness of the seating deck and there is also plenty of legroom, a note of caution when entering the ground, on our previous two visits the stewards outside have bee very strict on barring supporters entering who have appeared to have had a few drinks, their yardstick seems to be looking at those making a lot of noise outside the ground, so if you like to sing and shout, save it for inside the ground.
Getting There.
By Car
Its a pretty simple route by car, take the M3 to Basingstoke the follow signs to Reading via the A33, this road takes you straight to the Stadium, which you will find on your left shortly after you have crossed the M4.
Parking.
This is the difficult part, there is some parking at the ground if you get there early enough and some of the companies on the nearby Industrial estates offer parking, but you should be aware that in the vicinity of the ground, most roads be they on industrial estates or residential have matchday parking restrictions that are strictly enforced.
Alternatively there is a signposted Park & Ride from the M4 Junction, signposted "Football Car Park C", however this doesnt open till two hours before the match with the first bus departing approx 30 minutes later. The advice is that you should allow at least 40 minutes to get from the M4 to the park & ride due to heavy traffic.
By Train
There are plenty of trains to Reading, both direct and by changing at Basingstoke, Reading station is approximately 3 miles from the ground and if you want to walk its along a dual carriageway with little in the way of Pubs etc.
Special Buses run from Reading Station to the ground taking about 15 minutes, however the advice is to get into the queue at least 45 minutes before kick off, the buses are plenty and frequent but heavy traffic might extend the journey.
Also not that in the past when visiting supporters have been boisterous or misbehaved on the buses on the outward journey, then the bus company has been known to refuse to lay on buses for the return trip.
Eating and drinking.
Outside the Train Station there is a big pub and on our last visits the Police have kept the bulk of Saints fans in this pub where they can kep an eye on them, however with a big following it will get very crowded, if you go by train and dont want to be herded into this pub then the advice would be not to get off the train with a big mob of Saints fans singing your head off, but to quietly exit the station and head into the town centre, here there are a number of pubs both chain and also more traditional.
By the ground there is virtually nowhere to get a drink, if you go on the A33 after the M4 and turn right at the first roundabout into Imperial Way there is a Holiday Inn with a bar attached a little way along but the prices are slightly North of what you would want to pay, its about a ten minute walk to the ground.
If you continue past the Holiday Inn on the Basingstoke Road then about half a mile further just over the hill there is another large pub, this is the nearest to the stadium and is a 15 minute walk.
Otherwise its the usual fare inside the ground where they usually sell beer alongside pies burgers etc.
Madejski Stadium
Capacity: 24,200 (all seated)
Address: Bennett Road, Reading, RG2 0FL
Main Telephone No: 0118 968 1100
Fax No: 0118 968 1101
Ticket Office: 0844 249 1871
Ticket Office Fax: 0870 999 1001
Team Nickname: The Royals
Pitch Size: 102 x 70 metres
Year Ground Opened: 1998
Shirt Sponsors: Waitrose
Home Kit Colours: Royal Blue & White
Away Kit Colours: Black With Red Trim
3rd Kit Colours: Orange With Blue Trim
Kit Manufacturers: Puma
Official Web Sites: