As you probably know by now, kick-off on Saturday will be at 12.15.

Brunton Park is about a mile to the east of the town centre and is easy to find, however you’re travelling. By car you need to leave the M6 at junction 43 and take the A69 towards Carlisle, which will take you straight to the ground. It’s that large object on your right, a mile after you’ve left the motorway. The club car park (cost £1.50) can be found by taking the first right immediately after Brunton Park into Victoria Place and then turn first right onto St Aidans Road, and the only other option is street parking. 

It’s also about a mile from Carlisle railway station. From the main exit, walk the short distance around The Crescent until reaching Warwick Road, then just keep on down this main road and you can’t miss it. It’s a while since I’ve been to Carlisle, but I seem to remember an excellent chippie on the other side of the crescent from the station, should you be in need of some scoff as soon as you arrive. The first  direct train of the day from Leeds is the 08.49, which arrives at 11.35, so despite the early kick-off it should just about be possible to make it to Brunton Park in time.

It’s doubtful that any pubs will be open on Saturday, but just in case…There is one pub near the ground, 'The Beehive', which is on the main Warwick Road, which normally allows away supporters in. If you’re coming from the station, you’ll pass the ‘White House’, which is more spacious than the Beehive, but won't allow away fans in wearing colours. Other options are the Carlisle Rugby Club next to Brunton Park on the main road and the ‘Howard Arms’, just off Warwick Road near the ‘White House’. 

The usual away section is the Petterill End terrace, which is at the opposite end of the ground from the main road. This end is open to the elements, and there is nothing behind but open fields, so it can get pretty blustery to say the least. There used to be a wooden scoreboard at the back of the terrace, which would sway in the wind, but it was replaced by an electronic effort when the terrace was refurbished a few years ago. At least we have a clear view of the action from this end.

The terrace holds 1,700 fans, but bigger clubs also get a section of seating in the relatively modern Cumberland Building Society (East) Stand. Carlisle’s official site boasts of it’s concourse with a shop, bars, a betting shop and food outlets. Last season we had both sections, a total of 3,400 tickets, which completely sold out, but this time the police have insisted that our allocation should be reduced by 1,000.

OK, there was a bit of bother before the first game last year, but I’ve never understood how reducing the number of away fans is supposed to prevent trouble, especially as it will mean that some Leeds fans will now be forced to go in the home end to be able to get tickets. Anyway, Adult prices for away fans are £18 in the seats and £14 to stand.

Home end tickets are now on open sale, and the official Carlisle website doesn’t mention any restrictions on who can buy them. But none will be sold on the day, and the locals have snapped up over 11,000 tickets already, so don’t hang around if you haven’t got your hands on a ticket already.

Some of the info in this piece came from www.footballgroundguide.co.uk.

Photo: Action Images

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