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Highfield Road - Mecca of Midlands Football
Highfield Road – Mecca of Midlands Football
Address - Highfield Road Stadium
King Richard Street
Coventry
CV2 4FW
Currently holds – 24500ish
Record attendance – 51455 vs Wolves, 29th April 1967
Poxiest attendance – Pre war – 2059 vs ?, 15th Feb 1928 (Div 3 South)
Post war – vs Millwall, 15 October 1985 (Full Members Cup,Quality competition that was!)
Highfield Road celebrated its centenary in 1999 but for some reason no one batted an eyelid. Its not the best ground in the world, but it’s not the worst either. There are few places inside with a naff view, it looks good but suffers from “Coventry Syndrome” – everyone just assumes its crap.
Brief History
It is the 3rd ground that City have had, taking over from the old Stoke Road ground. Jimmy Hill turned it in to the first all seater stadium in the country in the mid 80s. Millwall fans rapidly turned it into the country’s first ex-all seater stadium a few weeks later! Jimmy Hills decision was unpopular to say the least and the standing areas were soon re-introduced. Following the Taylor report, the whole Spion Kop was replaced by the new East Stand in 1994 and this remains the best part of the ground in terms of facilities. City hope to move to a state of the art ground with a sliding roof called Arena 2000 in the near future. However, with the rate of progress on the building site a more apt name may be Arena 2039 and I have a sneaking suspicion that Highfield Road may see another centenary!
Homing in
Depending on how City are doing determines ticket availability. If City are doing well, tickets can be hard to come by as the bandwagoners are out. Its also not the biggest ground, so when Manure turn out, the place is full of armchair Manure supporters from the midlands for their annual trip to a football game.
Where you sit really depends on what you want. The best views come from the Main Stand where there are no pillars to block your view and you are by the dugouts so you can watch Wee Gordon Strachan berating everything that moves, sometimes as enjoyable as the game. The drawback of the Main Stand is the lack of atmosphere, something akin to a Subbuteo stand without the plastic supporters. The facilities in this stand are also appalling for what are also the most expensive seats. For atmosphere the best place to go is the West Terrace where the hardcore have been for years and ‘gasp’ still don’t sit on their seats. For a happy medium go to the East Stand where the food is great, people sing and there are only 2 or 3 pillars in the way of a few seats. The West and East ends of the ground offer views from behind the goals.
Away we go
It’s normally easy for away fans to get tickets for a match. City give nearly 4000 seats to away fans, approximately 15% of the ground. This is mainly due to our inability to sell our own tickets so the board decided it was just as well to flog them to away fans than have them sitting empty. You’ll find yourselves side on to the pitch, anywhere between the goal line and the halfway line. Lower tier is better as you won’t have any posts in the way.
Directions
The ground is abysmally signposted so good luck!
From the North
M1 to Junction 21, join the M69 continuing at Junction 2 onto the A4600 and look out for City centre signs. This then becomes the Walsgrave Road, which turns right into Swan Lane.
From the South
M40 to Junction 15 then A46. This changes to the A4114 for about 10 miles. Then take the A423 signposted city centre. About 2 miles later take the A4600 signposted Leicester. Turn left into Swan Lane.
From the West/East
Approaching on the M6 in either direction, turn off onto the A4600 at Junction 2. Directions are then the same as for the North.
Car parking
Don’t park on the streets within 500 yards of the ground because you will undoubtedly get a ticket slapped on your windscreen. Street parking can be found 5 or 10 minutes walk away quite easily if you arrive an hour before kick off. Turn up 5 minutes before kick off and it’s a nightmare. There are a few places where you can pay a few quid to leave the car but they are few and far between, unlike many other grounds.
Coach
If you come via a club coach, you’ll get dropped in Swan Lane, right outside the ground, giving you a fair walk to food and drink. Therefore your best bets are as below.
Filling your face
There is naff all around the ground as far as quality cuisine is concerned, as it’s a fairly residential area. There are, naturally, a few burger vans around the ground and unless you fancy a 15 to 20 minute walk to the City then these are your best bet. Unless of course you fancy queuing for hours, missing half the game and eating naff food, providing they haven’t run out, then inside the ground is your best bet.
Drinkies
The best bet for away fans is the Sky Blue Tavern, which is literally 30 seconds from the turnstiles. There’s a section for away fans and whilst its never going to win Best Pub 2000/1, the beers wet and cold. If you come across any other pubs, they will be probably be ok as long as you’re not wearing a Villa shirt and chanting “Dion, Dion Dublin”.
Full time
The ground is fairly easy to get away from. As most of the parking is away from the ground and spread out its unlikely you will be stuck anywhere for more than 20 minutes. Coaches tend to line up in Swan Lane (the same place they drop off), 1 minute from the away turnstile and also get on their way quickly.
Bye Bye !
I hope some of this helps in your visit to the Mecca of Midlands football. Enjoy the game and I hope you get stuffed 4-0!
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12 May 08 
Hull City Football Club