QPR’s first midweek trip of the 2017/18 season takes them to Norwich City’s Carrow Road, where they were thrashed 4-0 just a couple of months ago. If you’re hungry for more, read on.
Ground Name: Carrow Road
Capacity: 27 033
Address: Carrow Road, Norwich, NR1 1JE
Main Telephone No: 01603 760 760
Ticket Office No: 0844 826 1902
Only 125 miles from Loftus Road, but a bit of a ballache up the M11 and A11 to Norwich with a journey time of almost three hours. The easiest thing to do is use the A11 right to the outskirts of Norwich and then join the A47 southern bypass signposted for Great Yarmouth, follow it two junctions and at the second turn off onto the A146 into town. There are options to park and ride as soon as you come off the roundabout but if you follow the A146 then at the traffic lights turn right and follow the outer ring road. Turn left at the roundabout and then right at the next set of lights before following the inner ring road round to the right, over the river and the ground is on your right. If in doubt follow signs for the railway station. The ground is well signposted from all directions.
There's space for 2000 cars at Norfolk County hall where it costs £3 to leave your vehicle. This is off the Southern bypass at the junction you come off at for the ground and is well signposted. Last season a few of our crew found spaces in amongst the retail park they've bunged up by the river although there are signs up forbidding this, particularly at Morrisons.
A direct train from Liverpool Street to Norwich for this one, with a journey time of about one hour and 50 minutes and unusually for a midweeker there is a train back afterwards.
If you can get off early on this working Wednesday (note, not Tuesday) there are tickets there for £18 standard and £21 first class up to the 1630 service, then they escalate from 1700 onwards. The 1730 is the last one you can catch and still make kick off. Coming back afterwards the last train is 2200 with standard class tickets at £10 and first class at £21 at the time of writing.
From the station come out, turn left, walk past Morrisons and the ground is there staring you in the face. You should be able to see it out of the left hand side of the train (facing front) as you pull into the station.
The official club coach leaves Loftus Road at 14.30 and there will be no pick up at the Target Roundabout for this one as Carrow Road is in the other direction. Prices are £29 adults, £19 over 60s and 18-21 and £17 for under 18s. The usual £2/1 discounts for season ticket holders apply.
QPR have 1,520 tickets in the side stand priced £25 for adults, £15 for over 65s, £10 for under 18s and £5 for under 12s. These are on general sale now with eight loyalty points awarded for advance purchase.
Norwich is always a great away day for the discerning drinker with plenty of options easily walkable from the station and ground. This of course a city once known for having a church for every week and a pub for every day of the year.
The Compleat Angler on the river bank directly opposite the station as you come out is the usual haunt for visiting supporters. We’ve had mixed experiences in here in the past. They insist on serving everything in the dreaded plastic glasses, alongside a dinner plate and metal cutlery would you believe.
From there Rangers fans used to enjoy a leisurely walk to the ground along the tow path but this area has since been developed into a complex of bars, fast food joints and flats. There's a Weatherspoons and a few other bars in and amongst this little lot if you're a fan of drinking in warehouse structures rather than a traditional pub. Some of these establishments don't like away fans wearing colours so watch out for that.
The Coach and Horses on Thorpe Road is ten minutes from the ground and does its own home brew which sounds dangerous to me. We went in there last season and it was an excellent pub, but not really suitable for big groups of fans wearing colours.
Links >>> Official website >>> Detailed fans guide to Carrow Road
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