HILLSBOROUGH - THE HOME OF FOOTBALL
HILLSBORORUGH, THE HOME OF FOOTBALL
Okay, so I exaggerated the title. But I bet I got a reaction from you straight away, eh? So now you’ve stopped scoffing, sit back, put your feet up, have a few beers (where have I heard that line before?) and enjoy this unique and invaluable insight to a visitor’s guide on a typical matchday at the Shrine of North Sheffield. Close your eyes, let the whiff of Bovril enter your lungs, swat away the cigar smoke…..okay, okay, I’ll begin!
TAKE ME THERE
Hillsborough Stadium is situated 2.5 miles North from the city centre. Visitors are advised to approach via the M1/A61 route, and to avoid the city centre.
BY CAR
From The South/East
Leave the M1 at junction 36 signed Sheffield City Centre and take the first exit along the Sheffield Parkway dual carriageway. Continue to the end of the Parkway to the roundabout and follow the signs for the A61 to Barnsley. Signs for Hillsborough are prominent. The stadium is situated 4 miles from the city centre and is on your left hand side after Hillsborough Park.
From The North
Exit the M1 at junction 36 and follow the A61 to Sheffield. Continue along the road for approximately 4 miles until the 2nd roundabout. Take the 3rd exit (Leppings Lane) and the ground is situated on the left hand side.
From The West
Take the A57 for Sheffield. As you approach the city the road splits in two - take the left fork onto the Rivelin Valley Road (A6101). Continue for approximately 3.75 miles, turn left (onto one way system) and follow the road round to the right onto Holme Lane. This road then becomes Bradfield Road. At the junction with the A61 Penistone Road, turn left towards Barnsley. Hillsborough Stadium is on the left hand side after Hillsborough Park.
BY TRAIN
Sheffield Railway Station (Tel: 01254 662537) is situated in the town centre, 2 miles from the ground.
BY SUPERTRAM
The new South Yorkshire Supertram Middlewood Road service runs from the city centre to within a short walk from the ground (stops at Leppings Lane).
THE VISITORS SECTION
You will be situated on the West Side of the ground, normally in the Upper West Stand, entrance via Leppings Lane. The view from this vantage point, believe it or not for the away fans, is one of the finest Hillsborough has to offer. You are close enough to savour the atmosphere whilst not too far to feel distanced from the action. Wednesday fans have long campaigned to allocate this section for our own supporters, thus offering the team heaving and vocal support from behind both goals, but this plea has fallen on deaf ears to the club and that ghost is well and truly given up. But that’s Wednesday for you – not only are our defence renowned for their continued benevolence to the opposition team, the club heirachy also extend the eternal hand of friendship! The only dodgy part of the stand is the two huge supporting pillars that can obscure the view at times, but this can be easily countered by reminiscing about the ‘oldy-worldy’ kind of stand before the purpose-built Meccano sets popped up around the country at a rate of knots. Those were the days! Expect to pay around £16 for this overall privilege, but be warned, if your team has an unusually large support and has also been allocated the West Stand Lower, get to the ground early doors, as Big Ron would say, and ensure you take a seat in the upper section. Failure to do so will result in a fantastic view from directly behind the goal of the, er, goal and…. not much else actually.
HOSPITALITY
No, no, wind your eyeballs in, I didn’t mean the hospitality as in freebies! I mean the many local drinking establishments of course. Most of which, fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your viewpoint and/or mentality, the visiting supporter will be refused admission to. But don’t despair. Because in much the same way that clubs categorise entrance fees these days, I will now offer an appraisal of a number of local pubs in similar fashion. As a rough guide, Category A will result in an extended stay in Sheffield….via casualty in the Northern General, etc, etc.
Category A – The Park Hotel
Unfortunately, because it’s so convenient for away fans situated just before you hit Leppings Lane, this pub is an absolute no-no for all visiting supporters. You need a ticket to get in and if you did manage to sneak your way in you would probably find The Park far more inhabited with home fans than the ground which is literally a stone’s throw away. Or a house brick, if you catch my gist. Put simply, do not approach this pub displaying your colours.
Category B – The Shakespeare
This can be found in the busy Hillsborough shopping centre about half a mile away from the stadium. It’s not a young ‘top-man’ boozer but not full of fossils either. You’ll be quite safe in here but be careful not to enter the other two pubs in this area, where your welcome may not be so, er, welcoming. Colours best kept under wraps in the vicinity.
Category C – The Horse & Jockey
You’ve cracked it! Drink to your heart’s content and wear your colours with pride in this modern and extremely away fan friendly ale establishment. It’s a little bit further away from the ground, about half a mile up Wadsley Lane near the Leppings Lane end of the stadium, but your safety here is guaranteed. Also be aware that although they’ll love your custom before the game, this does not extend to the time immediately after the match, for obvious reasons. Especially given Wednesday’s well-documented home form.
Any other pubs not mentioned – well, it’s your life, do with it as you may. Some will be more friendly than others but it’s certainly worth bearing in mind to refrain from broadcasting your colours and your accents!
PARKING
Not fantastic, I’m afraid. There’s a fair bit of street parking around most sides of the ground but you must arrive extremely early to take advantage. Do be careful regarding a hint of illegal parking, the police are keen and the local traffic wardens are their chosen profession’s equivalent of card-happy Sheffielder Uriah Rennie before his unfortunate demotion to Nationwide duties. Your best bet is the many secured car parks scattered all around Hillsborough on matchdays and you’ll have to stump up an average of around £3 for the privilege. Car theft and damage is very rare in surrounding areas to the stadium. Unless you beat us of course and you insist on hanging one of those daft miniature kits in the rear window…….
GRUB UP
Everything you could possibly wish for surrounds Hillsborough; you have seen Kevin Pressman haven’t you? From KFC to Pizza Hut, from a Chinese to a chippy or a curry to a kebab…..we have the lot, and all within walking distance. And if that lot ain’t enough, we have the usual fare of offal-laden burger/hot dog vans if you fancy waking up mooing about a year after your visit to Hillsborough.
USEFUL INFORMATION
TICKET OFFICE
0114 2212400
CLUBCALL
09068 121186
E-MAIL ENQUIRIES
enquiries@swfc.co.uk
PROGRAMME PRICE
£2
FANZINES
A few to choose from, the best of which is Out of The Blue, priced £1.50, which includes a humorous and normally offensive Q&A session with the visiting side's fanzine editor!
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10 May 08 
Liverpool Football Club