Fulhamish’s Away Day Planner: August 2017

In the first instalment of a new Fulhamish addition for this season, our on-the-job away day specialist Dom Betts runs you through the best ways to follow the Whites away in August.

Wycombe Wanderers
8th August, 19:45

Travel

There’s no need to buy train tickets in advance for the trip to Buckinghamshire, as there are no advance tickets and open returns are the same price on the day than if you book it now, although you’re perfectly welcome to if you so desire. You’ll be wanting to be getting into Wycombe in good time as the ground isn’t very near the train station – in fact, it’s two and a half miles away; so you’re going to either have to take a taxi (on average about £8) or get the football special bus (Number 32) which leaves at 18:40 and leaves about 10 minutes after FT (£2.50 return).

If you’re driving, there is a car park located at the ground which costs £5 per car. As there is only one road that leads from the stadium, it can be a nightmare leaving the official car park at FT. We would recommend parking in one of the industrial units that line Hillbottom Road towards the ground for around £3.

Coach travel is as follows:

STH & Members – Adults £13 & Juniors £5
General Sale – Adults £18 & Juniors £10

London Marylebone (MYB) – High Wycombe (HWY)

Journey Time – 35 minutes (times can vary)

Adult – £19.80
Adult with Railcard – £13.05
Child – £9.90

Match Tickets

Adult – £15.00
Under 18 – £5.00
Over 60 – £12.00

Where to drink

There’s not many pubs near the ground (nearest being a 15 minute walk, The Hourglass). However, there is a bar attached to the ground which permitted away fans previously. You can also drink in the town centre then get a taxi to the ground which is where you’ll have a lot more options such as The Falcon Wetherspoons and an O’Neill’s, plus other various local pubs.

Reading
12th August 15:00

Travel

Like Wycombe, there’s no need to buy train tickets in advance for the trip to Berkshire, as there are no advance tickets and an open return is the same price on the day than if you book it now. Again, you’ll want to be getting into Reading with a decent amount of time as it’s a fair way to the ground (3 miles) and you’ll either have to take the shuttle bus from the station (£4 return) or a taxi (prices vary, but on average around £12).

There is some limited parking available at the stadium but it can be a bit of lengthy process to get out of the car park at the end of the game. You can also park on the site of the now demolished greyhound track, close to the stadium. It has 500 spaces and costs £8 to park there.  The car park is a 5-10 minute walk away from the ground.’

London Paddington (PAD) – Reading (RDG)

Journey Time – 25 minutes

Adult – £18.70
Adult with Railcard – £12.35
Child – £9.35

Match Tickets

Season Ticket Holders or Members:

Adult – £20.00
18-24 – £10.00
65+ – £13.00
U17 – £5.00

General Sale:

Adult – £25.00
18-24 – £13.00
65+ – £16.00
U17 – £8.00

Where to drink

From previous visits, there are two main pubs in which Fulham fans tend to drink in before the game.

The Three Guineas, Station Approach, RG1 1LY  – The pub which you will come across as soon as you come out of the station, you can stop here if you fancy watching whatever the early kick off is on the 12th as they show sport as well as doing food.

The Hope Tap, Friar Street, RG1 1EP – This is the Wetherspoons outlet which has let Fulham fans in on recent occasions. It’s only a 5 minute walk from the station. It’s your regular run of the mill Wetherspoons with a small beer garden outside.

Leeds United
15th August 19:45

Travel

There’s a direct Virgin East Coast service from Kings Cross. Most of the best advance fares are now sold out, but if you’re willing to leave earlier in the afternoon there are trains available from a reasonable £29. It’s a Tuesday night game, meaning that you won’t be able to get a train back the same night.

This means that you’re going to have to either sort out accommodation in Leeds for the Tuesday night or take the club coach back to Craven Cottage or Motspur Park, which is being subsidised for free by Fulham’s sponsor Grosvenor Casinos. In regard to getting to the ground from the city centre, it’s a 35 minute walk, so you may want to get the shuttle bus from Sovereign Street (£2.50 return) or a taxi (on average about £8).

If you’re driving – just as you go under a railway bridge by Elland Road there are entrances on either side to a couple of very large car parks (£6 each). There is also Car Park A which is where the away coaches are parked and you can usually get out of this car park relatively quickly.

London Kings Cross (KGX) – Leeds (LDS)

Journey Time – 2 hours 11 minutes

Adult – £29.00 – £63.00
Adult with Railcard – £19.35 – £42.00

Match Tickets

Advance Pricing:

Adult – £37.00
60+, 16-22 & Disabled + Carer – £25.00
U16 – £16.00
U11 – £8.00

Matchday Pricing:

Adult – £42.00
60+, 16-22 & Disabled + Carer – £30.00
U16 – £16.00
U11 – £8.00

Where to drink

Howards, Elland Road, LS11 0ES – This bar is attached to the ground itself and is specifically for away fans only and you’ll need to produce your ticket on entry into the bar.

The Drysalters, Elland Road, LS11 8AX – This “proper pub” is a 10 minute walk from the ground and usually has a good mix of home and away fans. It serves food, shows Sky Sports and is children friendly.

City Centre – From my experience, most pubs in the city centre have been welcoming to away supporters. So if you arrive early you could try several of the local pubs out.

Ipswich
26th August 15:00

Travel

There’s a direct train to Ipswich from Liverpool Street and advance tickets are now available to purchase. The ground is an easy 8 minute walk from the train station and the main away fans pub as all you need to do is walk over the bridge opposite the station and continue walking down Princes Street then veer left down Portman Road until you reach the away fans turnstiles.

There is a car park right next to the ground on Portman Road which is available to park in and costs £5 for the entire day.

London Liverpool Street (LST) – Ipswich (IPS)

Journey Time – 1 hour 7 minutes

Adult – £20.00
Adult with Railcard – £13.20
Child – £10.00

Where to drink

There’s only really one pub Fulham fans tend to drink in prior to the game and that’s The Station Hotel opposite the train station. It’s your regular run of the mill pub, serving food as well as showing live sport, so watching the early kick-off shouldn’t be an issue in here. They even have a jukebox, so expect plenty of Kungs – That Girl and Chaka Khan – Ain’t Nobody.