It's been a couple of years since we have been up to Selhurst Park, so time for a quick refresh on how to get there and what's around the ground etc, in fact all the info that you need for the trip.
Arguably one of the worst away section views in the Premier League, perhaps only Everton is worse, but the trip to Selhurst Park has always been popular with Saints supporters and this game is no different with all the tickets snapped up when they went on sale.
The Stadium
Selhurst Park is a mixture of the old and the new, the bad news is that Saints fans are in the old, apart from that its a decent enough ground and its usually had good memories for Saints including that great win against old tenants Wimbledon, when so many Saints supporters attended that it was dubbed Dellhurst Park.
Dont forget to get there early to watch their Eagle swoop across the pitch, a trick they borrowed from Benfica.
Getting There
By Train
The bad news is that there are replacement bus services on the line up to London, so check the times as this will add at least 30-45 minutes to the usual journey times.
Although it is in London, Selhurst Park does not have an underground station anywhere nearby, but if you go to either Clapham Junction or London Waterloo you can get to the ground via overground trains.
From Clapham Junction you can get a train to Selhurst which is a 10 minute walk to the stadium itself.
If you go to Waterloo, then take the short walk to Waterloo East station and there you can get an overground train to Norwood Junction, which is around a 10 minute walk.
Its best to note that Crystal Palace station is nowhere near Selhurst Park.
By Car
Its fairly easy by car, simplest way is to take the M25 east bound and then at Junction 7 and then head towards London on the A23, Palace play just north of Croydon and the ground is well signposted, alternatively you could leave at Junction 10 and then take the A3 north and cut across, although shorter as the crow (or the Eagle) flies it is a little bit harder to navigate.
Parking
Not a lot of parking around the ground with lots of regulations, as normal the further you are away the easier it will be to find somewhere, not being a town centre location there aren't a lot of car parks.
The Away Section
As has been the case for a number of years we are in the Arthur Waite stand, a big side stand with a roof that enables you to make a lot of noise, however the view isn't great and the leg room of the seats a little cramped, not that anybody sits.
There are the usual fare in there including beer, however the concourse is cramped and its not a pleasant place to eat and drink, also for high profile games beer can be suspended by the police.
Eating Drinking Etc
If you are coming from Clapham, you could get off at Thornton Heath, apparently the big Wetherspoons opposite is now shut although there is the Railway Telegraph nearby, although there are a few other pubs in the area some will be home fans only its about a 10-15 minute walk from there to the ground.
If you get off at Selhurst there is little to choose from, the one pub between the station and the ground is home fans only.
Norwood Junction has more choice on the main road just by it, but these pubs get busy quickly and it may be hard to get a drink.
If you choose to drink away from the ground, you may have a chance for a quickie before heading to the ground, Clapham Junction has a few pubs outside the station and plenty of trains to get you there on time.
If you have any tips for fellow Saints fans travelling on Saturday then feel free to add them in the comments section below.
Crystal Palace
Selhurst Park
Capacity: 26,309 (all seated)
Address: Selhurst Park, London, SE25 6PU
Telephone: 0208 768 6000
Fax: 0208 771 5311
Ticket Office: 0871 2000 071
Pitch Size: 110 x 74 yards
Club Nickname: The Eagles
Year Ground Opened: 1924
Undersoil Heating: Yes
Home Kit: Red and Blue
Official Web Site:
www.cpfc.co.uk