It will be my tenth visit to Brammall Lane, eleventh if you include a friendly fixture a couple of years back. It currently sits joint top of my ground list with Gillingham of all places on nine. Quite how i've managed to go there nine times I'll never be able to explain.

Since the 2002/2003 play-off season, this fixture has become something of a heated contest. A decent following can always be guaranteed from Nottingham and it's one of the games in the Championship that is maybe a little bit more important than others in the eyes of the supporters. Both sides have their primary rivals but this encounter is very much in the secondary bracket for now at least.

This fixture is looking a lot different from last seasons corresponding fixture when they were flying high and we went back into the bottom three, despite a fantastic pointy gained with ten men. We are, of course, still unbeaten away too.

The Ground

The re-developed Brammall Lane wouldn't look out of place at all in the Premier League. Extensive work has taken place from the beginning of the century to turn the stadium into a top-class venue at this level. Recent development has included the 'filling in' of the corners between the Visit Malta Stand and the Kop end as well as the section between the Halliwells End and the Valad Main Stand. The latter project boosting the Lane's capacity to just under 33,000.

The Halliwells Stand is the only two-tiered area with the remainder of the stadium consisiting of large single stands. The Visit Malta Stand, which was renamed as part of the clubs shirt deal with Air Malta, includes numerous executive boxes which sit on top of the seating section.

Away supporters are housed in the lower tier of the Halliwells Stand behind the goal. The entire end was previously handed over to visiting teams but this has changed since our promotion back into the league. Home supporters now use the upper tier with a large green net protecting fans in the lower section from objects being thrown from above. A maximum of 3,000 tickets are available in this stand for away fans.

Surrounding Area

With its close proximity to the city centre, there is a host of drinking options on offer to visiting supporters. The Howard is usually a first stop for Forest fans piling off the train across the road. A few steps up the street on the right is the Globe, a member of the Yellow bars which includes the Horn in Hand in Nottingham. This is also usually busy with students with Sheffield Hallam University just around the corner.

Further up the hill into town, head across the main road and up the steps which is another area of bars. First, is The Graduate on the left which is followed by a usual favourite of ours, The Old Monk a little further up on the right. Next door to the Old Monk's back door around the corner is the Blue Bear.

Alternatively, bearing left over the main road after the Globe eventually brings you out to a small road which includes The Cutler and, a little further down, a Wetherspoons. Just round the corner from here to the left is a Lloyds No1 bar. The Yates's across from there has apparently closed.

During this seasons trip to Hillsborough, we also discovered the Fountain, situated between the Old Monk and Lloyds No1 nearby to the City Hall tram stop.

Dotted around the city are many, many more all within a short walk from the station. There are a few pubs towards the ground too, namely the Red Lion and the Roebuck. These are found by heading left out of the train station and making the second right. By sticking on the road away from the station, Brammall Lane is approximately a fifteen minute walk. There a few pubs around the ground but often restrict away fans entrance. Staying around town is a better option.

Travel

By train the journey is usually a simple one with regular and direct trains heading back and forth all day. However, services back to Nottingham are limited after the game. The 22.00 service which includes a change in Derby is the first option although it doesn't leave much time to make it. That said, the train may be held until all fans can make it with the South Yorkshire police usually keen to get us all away as soon as possible. After that, the only train leaves Sheffield at 23.45 arriving back at 00.41.

By car: Leave the M1 at Jct 29 using the A617 into Sheffield. From there take the A61 which heads towards Brammall Lane and then Asline Road onto Brammall Lane (A621).

Rather than search for parking on the streets round the ground, using the car parks in town is often easier. There is a multi-storey by the train station a short walk from the ground.

Official Skills coached depart from the Brian Clough Stand car park at 5pm and cost £10.

Tickets

We have been allocated 2,936 tickets in the lower tier of the Halliwell's Stand behind the goal. There will be no further tickets available.

£26 adults

£16 seniors (60 and above); students; young adults (16-17 years)

£8 juniors