It will be raining when we go to Swansea, it is always raining.

It's never much of a surprise when we don't take as many as normal to the Liberty Stadium. It's a long journey and the place itself is not the most welcoming to visitors. Especially if your a visiting football fan.

The 'charming' behaviour of the Swansea fans always ensures a large police presence in and around the stadium. On one particular visit to the Liberty, the risk of trouble resulted in the Forest supporters being kept inside the ground for a period of time. Many grew restless and began to charge forward. A small gap in the door was seized upon with the steward pushed aside and a few of us breaking out into the coach park behind the stand. The door was soon closed meaning only a dozen or so managed to escape.

The area was surrounded by police but the look on their faces was a picture as we sidled up and tried to calmly walk through their lines. We didn't make it and they were bemused as to how we had managed to get out. Moments later the others who had gotten out were being chased by police from the other side while we were held in the escort until our fellow supporters were released.

The Ground

On previous visits, the Liberty Stadium has provided a welcome escape from the typical League One stadia we were forced to grow accustomed to. Now, it merely nestles in as one of many decent grounds that Forest supporters will be heading to as we begin a new life in the Championship.

Taking it's design from many of the new crop of dull 'bowl' grounds, the Liberty has stuck to the tried and tested method of an enclosed arena with identical stands that fails to differ from any of its pre-decessors in any major way. With a total capcity of 20,500, the stadium is also be one of the smallest in the Championship.

Away fans are housed in the North Stand which can hold over 3,000 spectators. Despite being classed as a two-tiered stand, a wide gangway and a few steps are all that separates the upper and lower sections.

Underneath the stand, the concourses are very spacious and alcohol is available. This is usually beneficial as the local police are always keen to get travelling fans through the turnstiles as soon as possible.

Incidentally, you can be sure that the locals either side will spend the vast amount of the game watching us as they always seem to do in Wales. The club have also engineered a method to stop many sets of opposing fans ridiculing their poor attendances by revealing the away following over the P.A system at the same time. Upon our last two visits, which have seen below average turnouts from Nottingham, the home supporters took great pleasure in mocking our numbers. Last season they scoffed at the 1,016 Reds and hollered in real delight at our 'shit support'. They then went missing a few months later back in Nottingham when just 875 turned up at the City Ground. How I chuckled as I took my seat in the Main Stand that day.

Surrounding Area

Following on from a previous point, the stadium is usually the best bet to get a drink for away supporters arriving directly at the Liberty for two main reasons. 1. There are a lack of pubs within close proximity of the stadium, those that are won't welcome away fans and 2. A large number of Swansea fans are usually on the look out for trouble.  

However, a few of us made the trip by train last time around and had no hassle getting a drink in town including the Walkabout. The town centre isn't too bad with a number of bars dotted about and beats the over-priced beer served in the ground. It is though a lengthy walk from the ground taking about twenty-five minutes with it being built on industrial land outside of the city.

Travel

Trains from Nottingham are simple enough with just one change required at Newport Gwent or Cardiff. Services depart from Nottingham station at 06.58, 08.00 and 09.00 and arrive at 11.42, 12.56 and 13.56. For the return leg, a train leaves Swansea at 17.37 with another at 18.55. Both require the same change before a direct connection back to Nottingham. Prices start at around £28 return.

Swansea station is around 1.5 miles to the ground but is easy to find as one road links the two. After the game a couple of seasons back, police gathered together all the Forest supporters who were travelling by train and had a minibus that was to take us back directly to the train station. Unfortunately, it wasn't big enough to fit everyone in and despite cramming several into the back of police vans we had to walk, nearly missing our train as a result of the unnecessary wait. They were fortunately more organised last season and had a coach waiting for us.

By car, leave the M4 at Junction 45 and take the A4067 towards the city centre. After a few miles the stadium will appear to the left. There is an abundance of club car parks that charge around £3/4 for the privelige. Alternatively, there is a park and ride facility available at Park Vale which is signposted after leaving the M4. There are separate buses for home and away fans and after the game will be parked outside the away end. The sevice costs £5 per car.

Official Skills coaches depart from the Brian Clough Stand car park at 9 am and costs £16.

Tickets

We have been allocated 1,171 tickets for this game priced as follows:

Adults £25

Students £15

Seniors (over 60) £13

Under 16's £10