It was my first visit to Deepdale that stood out the most. Standing on the now non-existant terrace in the pouring rain as Forest looked set to go down to defeat to the solitary goal. That was until big Jon Olav Hjelde plundered a header in from close range sending the away contingent wild.

Later games have never been quite as memorable. We visited on the last day of the season the year after, finding ourselves in the seats behind the goal when the old terrace had been condemned. I think we've lost every game since after battling for a draw that day.

It's always a trip I look forward to though, perhaps one of the best outside of the obvious trips.

We can't go another away game without scoring, surely...

The Ground

Preston have spent heavily on re-developing all sides of the stadium and now possess one of the smartest grounds in the Championship. With the completion of the Invincibles Stand in 2008, Deepdale is finally completed and with a new increased capacity of over 24,000. Opposite to the newest construction is the Tom Finney Stand whilst behind each goal are the Bill Shankly and Alan Kelly stands. All four sides are single tiered with three of them having the unique aspect of the faces of the Preston heroes depicted in the seats. The Invincibles Stand does stand at a similar height as the other three but this is due to a large number of hospitality boxes that have been incorporated into it.

Away fans are housed in one half of the Bill Shankly end with a typical allocation of 3,000 tickets. However, should the visiting club require it then occasionally the entire end can be made available which doubles the amount.

The Football Museum

A must see for any football fans...

The museum is joined on to the stadium and as is now free to enter. Every period of football, including domestic and international sides, is covered with hundreds of priceless pieces of memerobilia such as the ball used in the 1966 World Cup final and Maradona's actual shirt from the 1986 quarter final against England. There is also a small wall dedicated to the Forest European Cup winning team and several other mentions along the way round.

Upstairs, there is a highly enjoyable interactive area which allows people to commentate on Match of the Day and then watch the episode as well as a free table football which includes action replays on a screen next to it. In this section is also a feature on Preston North End and a viewing platform that offers views of the ground.

The entire walk round will take a while if you want to see everything but is definitely worth it. Incidentally, this may be the last chance it will be open when Forest visit Preston. It is apparently moving to Manchester in the not too distant future.

Surrounding Area

If you decide against the football museum or have time for both then there a a couple of good pubs within walking distance of Deepdale. The Sumners is more traditionally popular with Forest supporters and has the added benefit of a large beer garden should the weather be up to it. Directly across the road is The Garrison which seemed predominantly home fans last time but there were red shirts mingling freely all the same. To reach these pubs head away from the ground down Tom Finney Way for around five minutes. Sumners is on the right and The Garrison is across the road.There are actually several pubs all within close proximity of Deepdale in all directions so it is not difficult to come across one. Never done the town centre but I believe it is around a ten to fifteen minute walk.

Travel

Trains are relatively simple. Head up to Manchester on trains that leave at fourty-five minutes past the hour or via Derby/Crewe on services that depart at eight minutes past every hour. From Manchester, connections to Preston can be found from Oxford Road station. For the return journey, trains leave Preston station at 17.47 and 18.47. The station is in the town centre about a twenty minute walk from Deepdale.

In car, leave the M6 at Jct 31 and onto the A59 (Preston Road). After a mile take the second left at the roundabout onto Blackpool Road (A5085). After 0.7 miles bear left onto Park Side and then left into Deepdale Road. There are a few car parks near the ground and street parking is easy enough to find.

Official Skills coaches depart from the Brian Clough Stand car park at 10.30am and costs £14.50.

Tickets

We have been given an initial allocation allocation of 1,476 unreserved tickets priced at £20 adults, £12 senior citizens/young adults (16-20), £5 juniors and under 7's are admitted free of charge.

Tickets are on general sale from Saturday 6th March with around 400 remaining.

Its been a while since ourselves and Doncaster have been this far apart in a league table. After becoming something of a bogey team for us the tables seem to have turned in our favour; especially when considering their demolition in Nottingham a couple of months ago.

The primary objective will be to engineer our first ever victory at the Keepmoat although recent events have taught us that it wont be easy.

The Ground

The Keepmoat is basically a smaller version of Leicester's Walkers Stadium. We will be able to judge for ourselves at the game. The capacity is a modest 15,200.

The North Stand end is home to away supporters and can hold up to 3,344 which includes 2,500 being directly behind the goal with the remainder being in the corners at either side.

Surrounding Area

The Keepmoat is relatively close to the town centre. New grounds tend to be built on land out of town which brings obvious problems in terms of pubs and travel but the Keepmoat is walkable (20-25 min walk) from the town centre and is served by local buses that run regularly from town.

Doncaster town centre has a Walkabout, Wetherpoons and a Yates' within close proximity to each other in the centre of town. There is also a Hogs Head amongst other various pubs on the high street. You cannot go wrong for a drink in Doncaster town centre. There is a cracking little cob shop across from Walkabout too.

Slightly away from town on the road to the stadium (near the old ground) are a few pubs that allow away fans in. The first is the Park Hotel whereas further down the road is another pub which I unfortunately can't recall the name of. Anyone in this bar the year we played the last game at Belle Vue will recall the rather over zealous bar maids who refused point blank to serve anyone until the singing had stopped. On our arrival it seemed to be mainly Doncaster fans inside although as time progressed Forest gradually took over. The large Santa that was on a shelf in the pub was soon being tossed around the bar and a couple of older Reds treated the rest to a version of some old terrace favourite that I had never heard before. Funnily enough, we would come across Santa a short while later... in the arms of a policeman at the turnstiles to the away end!

Travel

Trains are regular with fans able to pick between a change in Sheffield or Grantham. Sheffield is a touch longer but will work out cheaper if the group saver option is used.

A standard price from Nottingham to Doncaster return is £19.30 (£12.75 with railcard) although this can be reduced by purchasing tickets to Nottingham-Sheffield and Sheffield-Doncaster separately bringing the cost down to £14.80 (£9.80 RC). This also works for any of the routes taken (ie Chesterfield or Grantham)

By car, leave M1 at Junction 32 and follow M18 into Doncaster. Follow signs for Doncaster racecourse. There is parking at the ground in the form of club car park or street parking.

Official Skills coaches depart from the Brian Clough stand car park at noon and costs £10.

Tickets

As of Friday afternoon there were less than 500 tickets remaining from an allocation of 3,200.

They are priced at £23 for adults and everyone else is £17.

If football was straightforward then we'd go there and rip them apart and probably run up a cricket score. Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that and it could well be a tough game in store as Forest attempt to record their first ever victory at Pride Park.

The Flag Day back in August will undoubtedly add an added layer of tension to this encounter and both sets of fans would love nothing more than a victory on the 30th January. I'm sure Derby have all kinds of surprises in store for us again that we can laugh at...

The Ground

Pride Park was one of the pioneers of the dull 'bowl' stadiums that have sprung up in the last decade. While it is more impressive than similarly designed grounds such at Leicester's Walkers Stadium, it still is a lifeless venue not helped by the Derby supporters who, along with Norwich, must be the most ridiculous set of fans in the country. Don't get me started on the bunch of kids to the right who nick everyone else's songs including the old Sheffield Wednesday chant which they have adapted to 'Forest ran away'. The only set of fans running last year were those unfortunate enough to be in the pub where a severed sheep's head came crashing through the window. Not to mention the bunch that got chased around Frankie & Bennie's near the ground!

The only section that differs from the rest of the ground is the Toyota West Stand which is two tiered and has a large block of corporate boxes at its left end. As the stand rises above the rest of the ground, the roof dips back down again to join up with the Derbyshire Building Society Stand and the Cawarden Stand behind each goal. Down the other by-line is the UK Diggers Stand. The overall capacity of the stadium is around 33,000.

Away fans are housed in the Cawarden End with the entire stand usually being made available giving around 4,500 tickets although Forest were allocated just 2,700 in total this time around. This despite us giving them 4,500 at the City Ground earlier in the season.

Surrounding Area

Set in the middle of Pride Park industrial area, there is a lack of anything around the ground. The Harvester pub a few minutes from the ground is only pub that springs to mind with most pubs back in the city centre which is around a fifteen minute walk.

Across from the station is the Merry Widows and The Flowerpot which, has developed into a potential flash point of late ever since the invasion by a group of Forest on the way to Port Vale a couple of seasons ago. The police will ensure Forest fans are escorted to the ground once off their trains. Gaining entry to any pubs in town may prove difficult but there are quite a few places to drink should the police be avoided.

Travel

Services depart Nottingham at a frequent rate and take around half an hour. After the game, Derbyshire Constabulary will be out in force to sheperd Forest supporters out of town as soon as possible and cram us into the carriages again so the return timetable will probably not be adhered to. A return costs just £4.60 but not worth buying one as they won't get checked.

By car, follow the Brian Clough Way (A52) to Eastgate before bearing left onto the A601 St Alkmund's Way. At the next roundabout, take the first exit onto Station Approach (B6000) which leads down to the stadium. Parking is available around the industrial estate or leaving the car in the town centre and walking is another option.

There are a few public transport buses that run from Nottingham to Derby including the Rainbow 4 from Wheeler Gate and the Red Arrow from Victoria Bus Station.

Official Skills coaches depart from the Brian Clough Stand car park at 10.45 and costs £8.

Tickets

Tickets are £30 adults, £18 for senior citizens and £13 for under 16's.

The process of getting hold of tickets involves a postal application and there is apparently little chance of being successful unless you have been to five-six away games..

It's a shame that we've been denied another Saturday visit to Watford which prevents a trawl round the decent bars the town has to offer. Oh well, maybe next year...

The Ground

Two identical bank of seats sit at either end of Vicarage Road with a two tiered structure, the Rous Stand down one side. The ground has an official capacity of 19,900 but this is not currently all available due to the antique East Stand being closed down to supporters due to safety concerns. The stand is a mish-mash of four sections which include a small area of terracing and an old two-tiered barn-like stand. Only the more modern seating area to it's right still admits supporters in.

The Vicarage Road Stand at one end accomodates travelling fans. In years gone by, the entire stand was opened up to away supporters although the black strip of material down the middle is a permanent fixture regardless of the size of the following. This was used to divide those with tickets and those that had paid on the gate, presumably to allow an unreserved seating policy to be used for the latter group. 

Last season, we were allocated just the left half of the end with Watford fans using the other section. It appears as though the same will apply this time around especially with the timing of the game likely to deter a huge support from Nottingham. Half of the stand still gives an allocation of approximately 2,000 tickets.

Surrounding Area

As mentioned at the beginning of this preview, Watford isn't half bad for a few beers before the game. The town centre is only a short walk away which includes pubs and bars in all directions. The Moon Under The Water Wetherspoons establishment is typically the prime choice when Forest are in town but better pubs can be found nearby. Of course, it will be hard pressed on Boxing Day to find any other pubs open before kick off so this could well be the only choice for those after a beer.

The Chicago Rock Cafe can be found by doing a left out of 'Spoons and offers a beer for less than £2 although it does feel like being on the set of Grease. Elsewhere, although I can't quite remember where, is a Walkabout.

Towards the ground, there are two bars that stand out. Oddfellows (formerly Mac's Bar) is just around the corner from the away turnstiles. Simply take the first left when walking past the away end and it can be spotted almost immediately. Even closer than that is the Red Lion which is on Vicarage Road itself although it is best avoided according apparently.

Travel

There are no trains running on Boxing Day I dont believe so that is immediately a non-starter.

By car, leave the M1 at Junction 5 taking the A4008 (Stephenson Way) for a couple of miles until the A411 which leads to Vicarage Road after a mile. On the approach, follow signs to the hospital which is literally next door to the ground. This is also an ideal parking spot in the hospital car park at the rear.

Official Skills coaches depart from the Brian Clough Stand car park at 8.30am and cost £13.

Tickets

We have been allocated 2,250 tickets in the Vicarage Road Stand behind the goal.

SOLD OUT

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

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

Seconds later, Beasant was sent off and on came the lumbering figure of 18 year old Barry Roche making his first ever senior appearance. His first task was to maintain Forest's lead by saving Jason Gray's penalty. This was a nervous moments for me and Mitchell too. Sat right by their fans we had spent most of the game until this point winding up the angry Cockney's who now smelt revenge. Gray stepped up and slammed it home much to our dismay but the referee ordered a re-take after encroachment. Up stepped Gray for a second time but his effort was this time saved by Roche much to our delight and making himself an instant hero in the eyes of the couple of thousand Reds away to his right. 

The Ground

Selhust Park has always struck me as odd due to the way it sits. The stadium appears to be lodged into the ground down one side meaning that street on that particular side is almost level with the stands roof.

Inside, it consists of four individual structures all varying in age and design. The most recent is the Holmesdale Road Stand bult in 1994 which is two-tiered and has an interesting roof that rises up above the back row of seats and then curves back down over the smaller upper tier. The home supporters in this stand, on my first couple of visits, were probably the loudest bunch i'd come across although this has much to do with the short distance from the away section. However, such volume hasn't been forthcoming in my latter visits.

Opposite is the relatively new Whitehorse Lane Stand which is a single tier but doubles its size with the rows of executive boxes perched above it. To its right down the side of the pitch is the Main Stand that looks the most tired section of the ground with its rusted pillars and faded seats that could do with a clean. Across the other side is the Arthur Wait Stand which houses away supporters in one section of it named after the Palace chairman of the 1960's who guided the club up through all four divisions during his tenure. The stand is single tiered but the supporting pillars do obscure the views of those sat behind them.

Away fans are given the left end which can hold up to 2,000. Speaking from experience, trying to find a seat towards the front of the stand is a better option because of the pillars that block the view.

Surrounding Area

There are several pubs to choose from around Selhurst Park with many situated nearby to the various tube stops that serve the area. The Ship near Norwood Junction station is usually popular as is the Wetherspoons. Pubs surround the ground so there will be one use regardless of the direction you approach from.

Definitely worth a try is the chip shop on the corner of the away stand and the Whitehorse Lane end. There are plenty of food outlets scattered down the high street towards Thornton Heath station but this is the best, even getting a mention during the Radio Nottingham during one visit.

Travel

Trains run all day at half hour intervals from Nottingham taking the usual couple of hours to arrive at St Pancras. Selhurst Park is a fair distance from Central London and is not part of the underground network. From St Pancras, the simplest route is to get to London Bridge and get an overground train to Selhurst, Thornthon Heath or Norwood Junction. An all day Travelcard is valid on all routes within London including trains to Selhurst Park.

By car: There isn't many more difficult grounds to reach by road in the entire country. The directions are long and tedious and a sat nav is the best option. An even better choice would be to park in North London and use the tube/train to reach the game.

Official Skills coaches depart from the Brian Clough Stand car park at 9.30am and costs £14.50.

Tickets

We have been allocated an initial 1,000 tickets for this fixture with adults costing £24.50 and £14.50 for senior citizens, students and under 16's. Tickets go on general sale from Saturday 17th October.

With us once more being drawn against them in September, no doubt many Forest fans will be making a weekend of it.

The Ground

Before attending a game a Home Park, I was impressed with the few clips i'd seen of it on TV. It's fair to say that I was slightly disappointed with it in reality. Three of the stands join together but are much smaller than I had expected whilst the remaining Grandstand is a reminder of Plymouth's remarkable rise from non-league football. A vast paddock of terracing covers the lower tier whilst the upper section is all seated. Despite it's age and outlook, it still rises above its more modern neighbours and helps give the stadium a decent capacity of 19,500.

Away fans are situated to the left of the Grandstand in the Barn Park End where usually half the end is made available. Depending on the size of the travelling support, up to 2,000 tickets can be made available. On our only visit previously, the 'rowdy' element congregated in the bottom corner of the Grandstand terrace and as usual spent most of their time watching us then their team. The two stands are very close and subsequently both sets of supporters are only a few yards apart.

Surrounding Area

As with most football grounds who are near the coast, there are endless places to try out. Pubs are a plenty with the Barbican next to Plymouth harbour being one of the main places which is Plymouth's answer to Nottingham's Waterfront with rows of bars stretched out. Rather than a canal and a magistrates court as the scenery though, the harbour and the deep blue sea offer much better views.

From the Barbican, you can head down towards the Hoe (calm down ) which is the focal point of the sea front and where we stayed previously at the Holiday In which sits on top of the hill. Alternatively, the town centre is only a short walk away and offers all the usual favourites. Closer to the ground which again, is walkable from town there a few places. The Britannia, about a five minute walk from Home Park, was a nice little boozer that was popular with Forest fans but it will get stupidly busy. If you get time though, take the chance to sample the sea front and especially the Barbican.

Travel

Train travel is nigh on impossible with 2pm kick off on a Sunday.

By car, take the M42 onto the M5 before turning onto the A38 which will take you to Plymouth. At Plymouth, exit onto the Parkway (A386) and at the roundabout take the exit onto Outland Road. Home Park is at the end of this road. There is a lrge car park by the stadium which is free but does fill up very fast. Failing that, there is street parking available in the vacinity.

Official Skills coaches depart from the Brian Clough Stand car park at 07.00 and cost £18.

Tickets

We have received an initial allocation of 1,056 seats in the Barn Park End. Prices are £24 for adults, £16 senior citizens/under 23's and £7 juniors (under 18's). Tickets are available on the day but at an increased cost. They are on general sale from Saturday 20th September.

We were 1-0 down early on and then conceded a dubious penalty. It was saved but a retake was ordered and it was successfully dispatched to make it two. The introduction of John Thompson soon after due to an injury turned the game on its head with Thompson getting one back within minutes after coming on. It began a crazy few minutes which ended with us 3-2 in front. I will never forget the scenes in the away section. People were sprawling down the aisles and gasping for breath. The drama continued into the second half when Ipswich grabbed an equaliser only for us to retake the lead a short while later. Cue more bedlam from the visiting supporters.

With Ipswich breathing down our necks in seventh, the victory gave us that much needed space which would see us enter the play-offs come the season finale.

A few visits on and our results in Ipswich have been mixed. Johnno grabbed a brace the following year to give us a successive victory but the following season was a nightmare visit with us going down 6-0 on our way to League One. Last season's trip wasn't as bad but, despite a late fightback, we lost 2-1.

The Ground

Portman Road stands out as one of my favourites in the league. It could be compared to the City Ground in some respects with four individual stands that sit impressively but do show their age in parts. There's nothing quite as antique as the Main Stand though. 

The ground was improved during Town's period in the Premier League where an initial heady finish was not built upon and relegation soon followed. Sounds rather familiar. Portman Roads boasts a capacity currently of over 30,000.

The Cobbold Stand is the oldest of the stands and is incidentally the home of the travelling supporters who are allocated half the stand with tickets available in both tiers. Usually, the upper section is filled first with around 2,500 being accomodated in total. Seats towards the middle of the stand, in the upper section particularly, offer impressive views.

Surrounding Area

One of the enjoyable features when visiting Portman Road is the close proximity of the town centre. It can be reached within a couple of minutes and is littered with decent pubs.

Last season we did a circuit of the town heading anti-clockwise and ending back up at the stadium a couple of hours later visiting four or five pubs on the way. There is a compact square which contains a Wetherspoons in addition to a couple of other bars which is worth a try which leads you back round to the end of the trail at the Black Swan. This is a home fans pub but we had no real problems inside with the exception of one local who kicked up a bit of fuss to the barman about serving away fans.

The nearby Drum & Monkey was previously a designated away pub which we had frequented before but is now home supporters only. To my knowledge, only the Station pub on the other side of the ground officially welcomes travelling fans although it is one i've never tried. Venturing into town is probably the best bet though.

Travel

As with many midweek trips, train travel is rather complicated. There is an option of heading back via London but that service will only get as far as Leicester at around 2am. Really not worth the hassle.

The ground isn't too bad to reach by road. Follow the A14 and take the A137 signposted Ipswich. The ground will appear on this road eventually. Parking is another matter although we got lucky last time around due to our early arrival at the car park next to the away end. We bagged a spot on the edge and we're back on the road as many were still filtering out the stands.

Official Skills coaches depart from the Brian Clough Stand car park at 2.30pm and is priced at £14.50.

Tickets

We have been allocated 572 tickets in the Cobbold Road Upper Tier. An additional allocation is available if required.

Adults: £31

Students/Seniors/Young Adults (u'19): £22

Under 16's: £11

The couple of thousand fellow Reds began shortly before the teams came out with an opening rendition of 'Nottingham' that echoed around the old Leppings Lane upper tier. These days it all part of the usual matchday experience of course but that night it well and truly blew my mind.

The Ground

Hillsborough will certainly be one of the largest ground we will be visiting in the Championship this season with a capacity just short of 40,000. The large Kop Stand sits behind one goal and is flanked by the North and South Stands down either side of the pitch. The South Stand to its left is another single bank of seating whilst the North Stand is a two tiered structure. Three of the four corners of the stadium have banks of seating which have a temporary look but have been there for some years now.

Opposite to the Kop is the two tiered Lepping's Lane End which is now known officially as the West Stand. This may have something to do with the disaster in 1989 at the same end but either way it seems an odd move.The West Stand houses away fans and can hold up to 8,000 who would be accomodated in both tiers and the large corner section that joins onto the North Stand. In the other corner is a large electronic scoreboard.

Unfortunately, views from the away and often poor for most with two large circular pillars obstructing the line of vision to the pitch from almost every seat. In fact, a few seats in the lower tier are placed directly behind these poles which would result in a horrendous viewing experience!

Within the last few weeks, Wednesday have unveiled ambitious plans to expand Hillborough in order to meet criteria for England's 2018 World Cup bid.

Surrounding Area

Unlike neighbours United, Wednesday are found well outside the town centre but it is still a much better choice for travelling fans with its vast array of pubs. No doubt the Howard across from the station will be welcoming hordes of Forest fans fresh off the train come Saturday lunchtime. Further up the hill are several others worth a try including the Globe, the Cutler and, at the top, Lloyds and RSVP.

Around the ground, there are a few places that do apparently allow away supporters inside. The only one I have tried is the Red Lion which had one hell of a queue at the bar. It can be found up the main road back towards town about five minutes from the away end. It is rather bleak inside but is seemingly the best chance of a beer close to the ground.

 The away end does not serve alcohol.

Travel

Trains to Sheffield from Nottingham run on a very frequent basis with services departing at quarter past and quarter to very hour. A cheap day return costs £10.60. Sheffield Station is around two miles from Hillsborough but can be reached by the no.53 bus that leaves from the bus station across the road from the train station. Alternatively, football shuttle buses run from the same station before and after the game. From the train station, you can catch the blue trams which run relatively close to the ground but the yellow ones, which can be found in the city centre, will drop off very close by.

If travelling up in the car then simply leave the M1 at Jct 36 and follow the A61 into Sheffield for several miles before Hillsborough comes into view. There are two main car parks around the ground around the far side from the away end.

Official Skills coaches depart from the Brian Clough Stand car park at 4.30pm and costs £10.

A new bus service from the Test Match pub on Central Avenue will also launch for this game. The coach will operate for every away fixture and will involve a pub stop on the way to the ground. For more details call 0115 9811481.

Tickets

We have been allocated 3,679 tickets in the West Stand (Lepping's Lane End) upper tier. Prices are £21 adults, £12 senior citizens and £12 under 18's. Tickets go on general sale from Saturday 5th September.

It was Derby who first drew widespread attention to the extortionate pricing structure with their fans being charged £40 + to watch a second division game. To their credit, they refused these prices and were successful in agreeing a lower price. It was interesting that Forest visited Loftus Road only a few weeks later with the new ticket prices in place. It begged the question would our own club have been quite as willing to step in as their Derby counterparts to help their fans?

Incidentally, upon our visit, the directors box to our left was almost completely empty. A Formula One grand prix taking place that weekend was undoubtedly the reason.

The Ground

One of the more peculiar stadia in the football league with an extremely compact and claustrophobic feel. The immediate reaction to it is that it appears to have been made from lego. The stands all sit almost on the pitch and the ground is all enclosed with the corners in between each stand filled in with extra seats giving Loftus Road a capacity of 19,000. The only single tiered stand is the Ellerslie Road Stand which runs down one side of the pitch. Opposite is the South Africa Road Stand which is a two-tiered structure. At either end of the pitch are identical two tiered stands, the Loftus Road Stand and the School End.

Away fans are housed in the School End with both tiers being made available if required giving an overall capacity of 2,500. In the lower tier there is no back to the stand meaning that the game can be viewed from the concourse but this is often clamped down on by the hefty stewards who all humorously look like descendants of Bob Marley.

 Surrounding Area

As with many football stadiums situated within London suburbs, a large and ethnic community surrounds Loftus Road which includes numerous various food outlets and newsagents. The chip shop by the side of the South Africa Road Stand is a decent shout but queues are often out the door an hour before kick off.

Next to the chip shop is the Springbok pub which looks remarkably similar to the Nag's Head from Only Fools & Horses. It's a rather tatty place with worn out carpets and chipboard ceiling but does offer a half decent pint and is in an ideal location with the away turnstiles being just a few steps from the door. It's worth mentioning that this was a good few years ago and it apparently has been sold on to new owners who may have re-developed it since.

With central London being only a short tube ride away and Shepherd's Bush being only the next stop down the line then it may be worth trying further afield to get a drink.

Travel

Trains direct to the capital leave Nottingham roughly every half an hour usually just after the hour and half hour. Loftus Road is on the Central Line of the London Underground nework with two stops both being used to reached the stadium. The closest of these is White City, a short walk away whilst Shepherd's Bush is a bit further away but is easier to use after the game due to the congestion of fans at White City.

A return ticket on the train to London varies from as little as £18 if travelling on certain trains whilst prices do rise to as much as £40. On top of that is the price of a tube ticket which will cost around £4.60 for a zone 1-2 pass.

Official Skills coaches depart from the Brian Clough Stand car park at 10am and cost £14.50. This season a new pick up place operates from the top of St James' Street on Maid Marion Way. A first pick up will take place at 9.15 am.

Tickets

We have received 1,000 tickets in the School End Upper Tier a further 1,000 in the lower tier. Prices are as follows:

Upper tier: Adults £30, Senior Citizens £20 and under 21's £20.

Lower Tier: Adults £25, Senior Citizens £15 and under 21's £15.

With that in mind I was hardly esctatic to discover we had been drawn away to play them on the opening day of the season. Still, it'll be good to be back...

The Ground

The Madjeski, unfortunately, looks rather similar to Pride Park. Never a plus point but it is ultimately a tidy arena and it does have the honour of being named after our new Polish midfielder.

 The two tiered West Stand to the side rises above the other single tier stands which are all replicas of each other. The total capacity is 25,000

Away supporters are housed in the South Stand at one end. My first visit back in 2003, during our charge to the play-offs, was as part of 4,300 Reds who filled the entire stand although this level has not been repeated in subsequent games. Half of the stand had been provided on these two occasions with us moving into the section to the right of the goal for our victory last February. The entire stand will usually be allocated if required but a typical allocation is half of that around 2,200.

The home fans to our right were intent on creating a fair amount of noise until the game began to run away from them, quitening them down no end.  

Surrounding Area

Getting a drink around the stadium can be somewhat problematic, especially to those who have not been to the Madjeski before. Opposite the ground (behind the East Stand) is a road full of industrial and commercial properties. At the bottom of this road, take a right and after a short walk a hotel will be visible on the right. Joined on to it is a bar named Callaghan's which welcomes away fans. It has a big screen ahowing the football but is rather cramped and the prices are a touch expensive. It also tends to get rather busy after midday.

Another option is a pub we visited on another game which I believe was called the Engineer's Arms. I am uncertain as to its exact location but it is possibly found by taking a left at the top of the industrial road. This pub, if you can find it, also welcomes away fans and is a more traditional football bar.

Behind the other side of the stadium is a small retail park including a Mcdonalds but we have never found any pubs in the vicinity.

I have never ventured into town with it being quite a distance but with us travelling by train for this seasons game, we'll be sure to give it a go this time around. There is apparently a pub next to the train station, called The Station which could be worth a try.

Alcohol is, at least, available in the ground.

Travel

The most common route to reach Reading is via London. The other route suggested is to travel via Birmingham which is perhaps slightly easier although both ways take over three hours. The station is three miles from the ground but special buses run from outside the station. A return ticket costs around £4.

By car, leave the M4 at Junction 11. Follow signs to 'Reading A33' onto the 'A33 Basingstoke Road'. Take the first turning on the left and follow signs to the ground. Parking can be an issue with nearby car parks charging silly money. The one at the ground wanted £8 last season. The industrial area previously mentioned is slightly more reasonable at £5 although some of the buildings have open car parks which are available free of charge which we discovered thanks to a kind home fan.

Official Skills coaches (Silverdale have been sacked) depart from the Brian Clough Stand at 09.45 and cost £14.50. The coaches park directly behind the away end at The Madjeski Stadium.

Tickets

The traditional turnstile operator is no more with the increasingly common swipe system in place on all the entrances, including the away section. The tickets, therefore, feature a barcode. This seasons tickets are much larger than the credit card sized ones we were used last time.

We have been allocated 2,500 tickets in the South Stand with an extra allocation due from Reading.

Due to N.F.F.C's new membership scheme, ticket prices vary.

Away members, season ticket holders and NFFC members

£22.50 (adults)

£16.50 (over 65's and 17-21 years)

£5.75 (16 and under)

General tickets are £2 more in all categories

Since that game, a fresh dislike has developed and this season will presumably follow on from past encounters that have seen widespread trouble around the ground and town centre. Intimidating it may be but this trip is what promotion was all about.

The Ground

Molineux is certainly high on the list of the better stadiums outside the Premiership. Four large and symmetrical detatched stands, three of which were re-developed at the beginning of the last decade, give an overall capacity of 28,500. Two large Kop stands, the Stan Cullis and Jack Harris stands are located behind either goal while the Billy Wright and Steve Bull stands line each side. Both are two tiered stands that are rather similar in appearance to the Brian Clough Stand at the City Ground with the one major difference being the stands inward curve which means the centre of both of the stands is slightly further away from the pitch then the flanks.

Away fans are sat in the Steve Bull Stand lower tier where just over 3,000 supporters can be housed. Alternatively, if a travelling contingent is less than 1,500, they are often put in half of the Jack Harris Stand with home supporters occupying the other half of the end.

One of the enjoyable pre-match events is the selection of songs that are piped in over the loud speakers immediately before the teams come onto the pitch. Rather than sticking to the family friendly pop theme that most clubs seems to adhere to now, the songs at Molineux really add to the occasion which builds up before peaking with 'Hi Ho Silver Lining' as the players come out. At the chorus, the home fans take over with what was previously 'Hi Hi We Hate Albion' but has now been changed to the less offensive 'Wolverhampton'.

Beer is available in the ground.

Surrounding Area

Although the area around the ground including the town centre does offer a good number of pubs, most are unwilling to admit away fans. On our last visit, we were advised beforehand to try the Great Western situated somewhere near the train station but upon finding it were carried on walking straight past due to the large number of Wolves stood outside. The only pub I have been in at Wolves is the Royal London on the edge of town but this was en route to Walsall away last season so entrance could prove more difficult this time around.

If travelling by train, a better idea is to use the change at Birmingham to do a few pubs before catching a later service to Wolverhampton which is only twenty minutes down the line.

Travel

Wolverhampton train station is around 3/4 mile from Molineux but the town centre is in between should you wish to break up the short journey.

Trains leave Nottingham approximately every half an hour and all change at Birmingham New Street. Journey time is around two hours.

Depart Nottingham	Arrive BNS	Depart BNS	Arrive Wolverhampton
9.00	10.27	10.48	11.05
9.34	10.55	11.07	11.30
10.02	11.27	11.48	12.08
10.34	11.55	12.07	12.30
11.00	12.27	12.48	13.08
11.34	12.55	13.07	13.30

Depart Wolverhampton	Arrive BNS	Depart BNS	Arrive Nottingham
17.13	17.30	17.49	19.05
17.41	17.58	18.13	19.40
18.13	18.30	18.49	20.10
19.13	19.36	19.49	21.11
20.07	20.31	20.44	22.04
21.13	21.35	21.54	23.04

The cost of a return to Wolverhampton is £19.70 and £13 with a railcard.

If travelling by car, use the following directions from the City Ground: link:http://routeplanner.rac.co.uk//showrouting.php?map24_sid=w15MC7MUV7r8Z2AZvcufy58AwSHc1ABm.kEXL4cqfQNQLtkaTsqehMI5CXUWWb6NZCY7hSMu2xzdEctMhCR7ew&t=c1500ac2f68fd4f1366ad5011525e1f3

For parking, there are several pay & display multi-story car parks in the centre of town which are all within walking distance of Molineux.

Official Silverdale coaches depart from the Brian Clough Stand car park at 11.30am and cost £10.50.

Tickets

Forest have been given an initial allocation of 1,291 tickets in the Steve Bull lower which can be increased to a maximum of 2,500 with the end blocks at either end usually unavailable for segregation reasons.

Prices are as follows:

Adults: £28

Students/Senior Citizens £15

Under 17's: £12

Under 12's: £10

Obviously none of us have been to this ground before but I'm delighted to say that four of the lads will be making the trip along with many other Reds fans hopefully on a trip to Germany for this pre-season match on Friday 18 July 2008.

The Bieberer Berg Stadion was built in 1921 and is said to hold 31,500 (8200 seats) fans. It is home to Offenbacher Fußball-Club Kickers 1901 e.v. who currently ply their trade in 3rd Liga of German football having been relegated from the 2nd Bundesliga last season.

The Surrounding Area

The ground is surrounded by lots of greenery and it lies inbetween the town of Offenbach and the village of Bieber.

Travel

We shall be getting a train from Nottingham and changing in London in order to take us directly to Stansted Airport, Luton. We then fly to Frankfurt Hahn where a coach will take us the rest of the way to the city of Frankfurt. The coach journey takes an hour and 45 minutes but is your only real available  option unless you hire a car or pay a fortune for a taxi.

Tickets

Tickets for the Away 'Guest' Section were priced at 10 EUROS for Adults although many others gained entry for 8 EUROS.

The Ground

It is easy to see Victoria Park has a total capacity of just 7,600 when inside the ground. Three shallow single tiered stands are joined by the old-fashioned two tiered Camerons Brewery Stand which fails to stretch the length of the touchline. The lower section is terracing whilst the upper part holds a small number of multicoloured seats. To its right is the Town End which has recently been rebranded with the name Expamet in front as part of a sponsorship deal. The end is a single bank of terracing which, unlike so many standing only stands, does have a roof overhead.

Down the other touchline is the Cyril Knowles Stand named in memory of the former Hartlepool manger who guided the club to promotion in his eighteen months in charge. He unfortunately was then forced to resign due to ill health soon after. Within two month he had died of brain cancer aged just 47.

Away fans are housed in the Rink End which is similar in size to the Cyril Knowles Stand and holds just 960 and joins it being a more modern construction compared two the other two stands. Despite its smart appearance, it is does hinder spectators with several pillars the support the roof. These ensure that virtually everyone in the stand has a restricted view. The best option is to try and secure a front row seat.

The Surrounding Area

One of the most enjoyable aspects is the nearby Jackson's Wharf pub which offers a large beer garden overlooking the docks. On a nice day, this is extremely popular usually with Forest fans. It is easy to find as it is located just past Asda next to the large ship which has been transformed into a kids adventure playground.

By the away end are two bars. One, the Victoria Suite admits members only but the other, the Corner falf allows away fans in for a small entry fee. Another possibilty it to make the short walk into Hartlepool town centre.

Travel

Train travel to Hartlepool is possible but both the outward and return journeys include a number of required stops.

Outward

NOTTINGHAM		07:00	Train	EAST MIDLANDS TRAINS
NEWARK CASTLE	07:30	07:30	Foot
NEWARK NORTHGATE	08:17	08:17	Train	NATIONAL EXPRESS EAST COAST
YORK	09:04	09:26	Train	TRANSPENNINE EXPRESS
THORNABY	10:20	10:37	Train	NORTHERN RAIL
HARTLEPOOL	11:01

NOTTINGHAM		07:42	Train	EAST MIDLANDS TRAINS
CHESTERFIELD	08:18	08:33	Train	CROSSCOUNTRY
YORK	09:48	10:00	Train	GRAND CENTRAL TRAINS
HARTLEPOOL	11:20

NOTTINGHAM		08:00	Train	CROSSCOUNTRY
LONG EATON	08:16	08:22	Train	EAST MIDLANDS TRAINS
YORK	10:16	10:26	Train	TRANSPENNINE EXPRESS
THORNABY	11:20	11:37	Train	NORTHERN RAIL
HARTLEPOOL	12:02

NOTTINGHAM		08:42	Train	EAST MIDLANDS TRAINS
CHESTERFIELD	09:18	09:33	Train	CROSSCOUNTRY
YORK	10:44	11:26	Train	TRANSPENNINE EXPRESS
THORNABY	12:18	12:37	Train	NORTHERN RAIL
HARTLEPOOL	13:01

NOTTINGHAM		09:47	Bus	EAST MIDLANDS TRAINS
GRANTHAM	10:37	10:44	Train	HULL TRAINS
DONCASTER	11:24	11:32	Train	NATIONAL EXPRESS EAST COAST
YORK	11:56	12:26	Train	TRANSPENNINE EXPRESS
THORNABY	13:20	13:37	Train	NORTHERN RAIL
HARTLEPOOL	14:01

Return

HARTLEPOOL		17:56	Train	GRAND CENTRAL TRAINS
YORK	19:13	19:44	Train	CROSSCOUNTRY
DERBY	21:27	21:41	Train	CROSSCOUNTRY
NOTTINGHAM	22:04

HARTLEPOOL		18:15	Train	NORTHERN RAIL
THORNABY	18:39	18:58	Train	NORTHERN RAIL
DARLINGTON	19:23	19:34	Train	NATIONAL EXPRESS EAST COAST
DONCASTER	20:29	20:42	Train	TRANSPENNINE EXPRESS
SHEFFIELD	21:18	21:37	Train	EAST MIDLANDS TRAINS
NOTTINGHAM	22:38

A return will now cost £58.40 (£38.55 with railcard) with all of the discount tickets sold out.

Hartlepool station is only a short walk from Victoria Park.

By car, take the A689 off the A19 and follow signs for town centre. The ground will appear on the left. There is a large supporters car park nearby or street parking is available.

Official Silverdale coaches leave the City Ground at 9.30am and costs £13.50.

Tranmere, those that aren't even good enough to make it in Liverpool. And yes, if you talk like that you are Scouse. Wirral my arse.

The Ground

As League One grounds go, Prenton Park isn't too bad. A makeover in the mid-nineties improved the standards dramatically with only the old Main Stand remaining. The Kop end stands out from the rest and includes the main hub of home supporters which isn't that much these days while the Main Stand to its left isn't much smaller but has begun to show its age. Opposite is the John King Stand which is much smaller.

After previously being allocated half of the Kop, away fans for the last few years have switched ends to the Cowshed Stand which is most notable for its peculiar back row that rises so that the left side back row is much lower than the right side. It is similar to one that I recall being at Southampton's old Dell. 2,500 supporters can be housed in here.

Surrounding Area

The Prenton Park Hotel is usualy the choice of most Forest fans due mainly to its close proximity to the away turnstiles. Elsewhere, the Mersey Clipper backs onto the Main Stand and welcomes away fans.The main street leading to the ground is also filled with shops and takeaways.

It is a better option to visit Liverpool city centre for extra choice and better pubs. It is around a 20-25 minute bus ride away.

Travel

An hourly service leaves Nottingham train station direct to Liverpool at 42 past the hour. The journey takes 2 hours 45 minutes. From there a service runs to Birkenhead Central that takes just seven minutes with trains leaving every fifteen minutes. Another option is to go from Liverpool to Rock Ferry. Both Birkenhead Central and Rock Ferry are a twenty minute walk to the ground. An easier method is to catch a local bus from Liverpool which drops off right by Prenton Park.

After the game the first train leaves Liverpool at 17.52 followed by trains at the same time every hour.

Official Silverdale coaches leave the City Ground from the Brian Clough Stand car park at 9.45am and costs £12.50.

Another Tuesday night up in Carlisle is hardly a mouthwatering prospect for Forest fans although hopefully the game will finally get the go-ahead after two postponements, the second being on the day of the game due to a frozen pitch.

After the victory at Northampton, this was sizing up to be a big game but it now seems that we won't be catching the Cumbrians. Several hundred Reds will still no doubt make the long journey north though. Where there is a small chance, there is maybe a way. Most will cling to that as they venture up to the game.

The Ground

Three sides of the stadium suffer in the shadow of the modern Cumberland Building Society Stand that runs down one side of the pitch. The Main Stand opposite is a two tiered old fashioned structure with the lower half a long bank of terracing whilst the upper section has seats. The remainder of the ground is all standing room only. The Warwick Road End to its right behind one goal is a covered terrace with an odd looking roof that peaks at three separate points. Behind the other goal, the Peterill End is a small open terraced section that would look more at home in the lower reaches of non-league football. It is seldom occupied and now holds the new scoreboard. Despite it's shortcomings the ground still holds a respectable 16,900 capacity.

Fortunately for away supporters, they are generously situated in the Cumberland Stand where usually 1,500 tickets are available. Should the away team require it, a further 1,700 can be made available in the Peterill End.

 View from the away end

Surrounding Area

We visited the Beehive last year a short walk away from the away stand. Despite signs stating away fans were not welcome we had no problems gaining entry although another group of Forest fans did later on. Being so close to the ground, the pub does become extremely full and it takes time to reach the bar. There is also an outdoor covered area but it was far too busy on our visit to get in.

Carlisle town centre is approximately one mile from Brunton Park. It is well worth a visit and features the usual Wetherspoons, Walkabout and Yates'  combination all in close range of each other. The White House at the top of town is also worth a try although as with the Beehive, away supporters are prohibited. To reach town, turn right out the ground and follow the road all the way.

Travel

Train travel is impossible on a Tuesday night. The last train leaves Carlisle Citadel Station, which is one mile from Brunton Park, at 21.47 and reaches Manchester Picadilly at 00.16. A connection to Nottingham isn't available until the next morning at around 7am.

By car, head up the M6 past Manchester and turn of into Carlisle at Junction 43 before taking the A69. The ground will appear on the right.

Official Silverdale coaches depart the City Ground from The Brian Clough Stand at 1pm and cost £15.

Last season's visit culminated in our third successive win and clean sheet after as many games on a hot August day. The day is mainly remembered for Jeff running to the pub after the game for no other reason than his desparation for a drink.

The Ground

Another neat and tidy stadium but one of the smallest in League One, after Cheltenham and Hartlepool, accomodating 7,500. The stadium was opened in 1994 and you get the impression it was plonked on a field with little other planning. The ground is surrounded by grass making it difficult to access especially in wet conditions. Behind one end is a very steep bank that is higher than the stand itself and allows non-paying guests a a partial view of the game.

Sixfields is dominated by the large West Stand that runs down one side. The other three, the Alwyn Hargrave stand opposite and the Dave Bowen and South Stands at each end are all similarly sized all of which are seated and have roofs.

Away fans are housed in the South Stand where 700 supporters can be accomodated. A further 300-400 seats can be made available in the Alwyn Hargrave Stand giving a total allocation in excess of 1,000.

Surrounding Area

There is little by the ground in terms of pubs for away fans. The two pubs nearby are non-away pubs. Although the Sixfields Tavern does occasionally allow entry, I would imagine that a strict 'no away fans' policy is in force for Forest. Around the stadium, there is a McDonalds and a cinema which also includes a bowling alley.

The town centre features several pubs which is around a twenty minute walk away, the walk to Sixfields is also lined with a few pubs that will admit away supporters with no colours.

Travel

There are no trains to Nottingham after the game on Friday so this option is probably a no-go. There are trains to Northampton although even they are awkward and require a change at Birmingham or Luton. From Birmingham a rail replacement bus takes passengers whilst a bus is also in operation from Luton to Milton Keynes where a train connects with Luton.

By car, it could not be much easier. Take the M1 southbound to Junction 16. From there, take the A43 which leads to the ground. There are two large car parks by the ground. There are two large car parks by the stadium although it is recommended not to use the nearby cinema for parking. We parked at McDonalds last season and had no problems though.

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

THIS GAME IS NOW SOLD OUT FOR AWAY SUPPORTERS.

The club had hoped to move to a new 22,000 ground at nearby Fossets Farm for the start of next season but have suffered delays. Firstly the proposed new stadium has been subject to a public enquiry and secondly the club have yet to receive planning permission for the redevelopment of the current ground, a move that is required for obtaining the finance for the new home.

The Ground

The ground has the traditional feel of a lower league club and the stands are tidy and compact. The move to make the stadium all seater has seen a change of ends for away fans. Visiting fans now sit in the North Stand whilst home fans have now got usage of the more newer South Stand which is a small double tiered stand.

The away end accommodates up to 2,000 fans but with this being a converted terrace the stand is made up of seats bolted on to the former terrace which can mean leg room could be at a premium and also there are a number of pillars that could hinder your view if your ticket allocation has been unkind. On the plus side the compact nature of the stand can create good acoustics.

A modern feature of Roots Hall is that the entrance is operated using electronic turnstiles as fans enter the ground by inserting their ticket into the bar code reader.

Surrounding Area

The normal away fans pub is the “Golden Lion” which in situated on the A127 by the car park entrance to the main stand. Another possibility is the “Blue Boar” which is on the crossroads of the A127 and West Street. “Blue Boar” is an important pub in Southend’s history as it was inside where the club was formed in 1906 and there is a blue plague on the wall outside to celebrate this fact. Other possible venues nearby are “The Nelson” on North Road and “The Railway Tavern” on East Street though I haven’t been able to find out whether there are any restrictions on away fans.

Also near to the ground are the “Spread Eagle” and “Shrimpers Bar” but these are home fans only pubs and the “Shrimpers” is also a members only.

It should be noted that no alcohol is served to away fans inside the ground.

For food there are the traditional kiosks near the away end as well as a popular fish and chip shop located near to the ground.

Travel

by Train

The nearest station to the ground is Prittlewell which is only about a five minute walk away. It is served by trains from London Liverpool Street to Southend Victoria. The Service is operated by National Express East Anglia and the journey takes around 55 minutes.

Outward

LIVERPOOL STREET         1734    1745    1756     1804     1815     1825     1835     1845

PRITTLEWELL              1829    1840    1851     1859     1910     1920     1930     1940

Return

PRITTLEWELL              2138       2208       2238       2308

LONDON LIVERPOOL STREET  2231       2301       2331       0003

The last direct train from London to Nottingham leaves St.Pancras at 23:15 arriving at Nottingham station at 02:12. The estimated underground transfer takes around 41 minutes.

Southend Central is another option located about 25 minutes walk away and is served by trains from London Fenchurch Street.

by Coach

Coaches leave Brian Clough Stand Car Park at 2pm costing £ 14.50

by Car

Leave the M25 at junction 29 and follow the A127 to Southend. There is plenty of street parking or a car park at the ground or at nearby Southend High School for Boys both costing £ 5.

Maps

Southend Locality

Pubs Location

Last season's visit at the beginning of December was arguably Forest's most complete performance under Calderwood and probably since the Paul Hart reign. A Tyson hat-trick and a sublime Grant Holt effort helped record a 4-1 victory.

The day is also fondly remembered for two other incidents off the pitch... Shortly before the train arrived, Coy decided to treat himself to a coffee in the platform cafe not noticing incoming train that departed without him. He spent the next few hours playing catch up to us although he was handicapped by me having his train tickets. I left them with a steward at Tutbury & Hatton station who was able to pass them onto the belated Coy. He was eventually reunited with us to a hero's welcome in the pub.

The other moment was after we had been forced on a bus to Nottingham at Tutbury & Hatton by the o.b. We celebrated our win on the top deck with a few other Reds. One of them, Barry, was only too keen to join in and led the rest of us in a spontaneous and incredible version of Tom Jones' Delilah with the mob joining in with the chorus.

Hopefully, Crewe will be just as enjoyable this year.

The Ground

As a result of Crewe's moderate success in the nineties, that saw them rise from the old third division into what is now the Championship, they were able to invest in improvements at their Gresty Road ground. Namely an impressive new Main Stand that was opened in 1999. Now re-branded as the Air Products Stand, it has a total capacity of almost 7,000.

With the capacity of the Alexandra being 10,000, it highlights how small the rest of the stands are compared to their illustrious counterpart. Two tiny stands occupy each end. The Advance Personnel Stand and the Charles Audi Stand are each only a handful of rows deep and hold less than 2,000 fans between them.

Opposite the Air Products Stand down one side of the pitch is the Blue Bell BMW Stand that houses away supporters and also continues the theme of the club chasing sponsorship and selling the names to stands to the highest bidder. It holds 1,500 and offers a reasonable view of the pitch although the odd pillar can cause a restriction as can the advertisement boards attatched to the underside of the roof which can block sight if sat towards the back of the stand. Should demand require it then away fans are usually given the the Charles Audi Stand behind the goal giving a total allocation of around 2,200.

Surrounding Area

It's impossible to walk down Nantwich Road near the ground and fail to spot a pub. Within a quarter of a mile stretch there must be six or seven pubs. The Royal Hotel and The Bank are always popular with Forest fans. Just down the road is The Barrel and across the road is another pub whose name escapes me but was our choice of pre-match last season.

Nantwich Road also offers a couple of decent chip shop, especially the one across from the Royal Hotel and also has a Subway. Most of the pubs do serve food of some sort too.

Travel

Gone are the days when Crewe was reachable by a single train from Nottingham unfortuantely. Trains leave Nottingham at 8.32, 9.34, 10.34, 11.34 and 12.34 and take just under two hours fifteen minutes which includes a change in Derby. Return trains leave at seven minutes past the hour every hour and whilst still changing at Derby take a little less time. A Cheap Day Return costs £14.10.

Official Silverdale Coaches depart from the Brian Clough Stand car park at 11am and is priced at £9.50.