Rangers travel to giant killers Barnsley next Tuesday, a game rearranged because of the Tykes cup exploits
Ground Name: Oakwell
Capacity: 23 009 (all seated)
Address: Grove Street, Barnsley, S71 1ET
Main Telephone No: 01226 211 211
Fax No: 01226 211 444
By Car: Very easy on paper - leave the M1 at junction 37 and take the A628 towards Barnsley and eventually the ground appears on the right (it's well signposted as well). However the M1 is a horrendous road at all times of the day and night and junction's 28 (Alfreton) to 32 (Madowhall) will be stop start all the way from half past four onwards. Take it from someone that has to use that stretch of road every day to get to work! Bring a good book.
Map:
Parking: There's more than enough parking at the Metrodome Leisure Centre and in the adjacent field (although that can be quite tricky in wet weather) - these are both within spitting distance of the away end turnstiles.
By Train: Sadly there are no trains back to the capital late enough to get you back from this match so it's road transport only I'm afraid. There's a train back to Sheffield from Barnsley at 2206 or 2236 and you can get as far as Derby from there but you've got a five hour wait there for the train back to London which arrives at 7am. Only for the terminally insane.
Pubs: Barnsley can be quite tasty when it wants to be although there's unlikely to be enough fans there on Tuesday to cause a high profile problem. Still it's advisable to avoid the pubs in the town centre around the bus station and train station if you're an away fan. Everybody I know has used the bar in the Metrodome leisure centre which is a minutes walk from the ground and offers crap food and parking. It's not going to win any pub of the year awards - it overlooks a swimming pool for heaven's sake - but it's safe and normally there's a good load of Rangers in there. Expect plastic glasses and even worse burgers. Chips to be avoided.
Tickets: Rangers have 1000 unreserved seats available for sale in advance but are likely to have three or four times that available on the night in the giant Barnsley away end. Adult tickets are a reasonable £20 each, under 18s and over 60s are £12, under 11s are £6 if bought in advance.
Links:
Detailed fans' guide to Oakwell