Usual travel hints and tips for those heading to Birmingham with QPR on March 8.
Ground Name: St Andrews
Capacity: 30 016 (all seated)
Address: St Andrews Ground, Birmingham, B9 4NH
Main Telephone No: 0844 557 1875
Ticket Office: 0844 557 1875
Two or three ways to do this from West London actually. Up on the M40 and M42 to junction six and then into the ground on the A34 is one. M1, M6, M42, off at the airport exit and then down to the ground on the A45 is another. Or M1, M6 to junction six (same as for Aston Villa) onto the Aston Expressway and then second exit onto the inner ring road signposted for Coventry and Stratford from where the ground is well sign posted. Turn left towards Small Heath at the McDonalds heading towards Small Heath and the ground is there. I’d take the second option personally, just over 110 miles from Loftus Road.
As ever with Birmingham street parking is your best bet and be prepared for some local chav to demand five pounds from you for that privilege. There is an away fans car park next to the away end although whether or not it opens on matchdays seems to be determined on a whim and with no real logic to it at all — it was shut for our last visit. We parked round the corner in the retail park the last time we were here although admittedly that was Boxing Day and the barriers that seemed to be there to prevent people doing that were not in operation. Signs are up saying customers only so I wouldn’t chance that this time.
Now, ordinarily, you can save a pretty penny on this trip by catching the Chiltern Trains service from Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill, rather than the faster Virgin trains from Euston, with tickets available for as little as a fiver. However, sadly, for this trip engineering works have scuppered this plan leaving you only the high speed Virgin, or extra slow Midland, options from Euston.
You can get a £23 super off peak return on the Midland services which go through Northampton and take two hours and 12 minutes. Failing that, try the 11.23 Virgin train, arrives New Street at 12.45 and coming back on the 17.50 which arrives at 19.15 — buy two singles there for £30. The walk up fare on Virgin is £50.50.
Birmingham is normally a pretty difficult place o get a drink around the ground at as an away fan although The Cricketers and The Brighton are both named by the guide as possible destinations. Those walking up to the ground from the city centre direction may come across The Anchor which is the Birmingham CAMRA pub of the year. Those arriving by train are best advised to drink in town and head out to the ground by train, bus or taxi late on.
The official club coach leaves Loftus Road at 11.00 and the Target Roundabout at 11.30. It is priced £26 for adults, £16 for seniors and young adults, and £14 for under 16s. Usual £2 discount for season ticket holders.
The LSA leaves The Springbok at 08.30 with tickets at £25 and £20 concessions. Please call Gary on 07506 028 189 for details and booking for that one.
And LFW regular Mel Huckridge is also running his fun bus for this one — e-mail melh64@hotmail.co.uk if you can stand being blasted with The Carpenters all the way to the second city and back.
QPR have an initial allocation of 2,071 of which 1,437 remain. They are priced £30 for adults, £18 for seniors and students, £15 for 13 to 18 year olds and £10 for under 13s. There are nine wheelchair spaces and nine ambulant disabled seats priced as above. Disabled parking is available and can be booked in advance by calling John Starkey on 01902 337 955. Everything is now on general sale.
Links >>> Detailed fans' guide to St Andrews >>> Official website