Toon Face Moment Of Truth At The Bridge!
Last updated : 18 November 2008 By Footy Mad - Editor
Saturday 22nd November 2008 Aston Villa v Man Utd 17.30
Chelsea v Newcastle 15.00 Liverpool v Fulham 15.00
Man City v Arsenal 15.00
Middlesbrough v Bolton 15.00
Portsmouth v Hull City 15.00
Stoke City v West Brom 15.00
Sunday 23rd November 2008 Sunderland v West Ham 16.00
Tottenham v Blackburn 13.30
Monday 24th November 2008 Wigan Athletic v Everton 20.00
There are are no less than THREE six-pointers amongst the weekend fixtures with relegation problems - Stoke/West Brom, Mackems/West Ham, Spurs/Blackburn - which is good and bad for the Toon.
Good because half are going to lose points; bad because the other half will pick up points ... while we HOPE to get something from Stamford Bridge ... the toughest away venue on the fixture list.
But Ant & Dec gave advice to Joe Cole last night (his wife is on *"Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here") suggesting he "rest his injured ankle because you can never be too sure" and he could miss the fixture.
(* My money is on Martina Navratilova to win "Celebrity", because she's used to eating "bush tucker".)
STAMFORD BRIDGE - THE HOME OF CHELSEA FC
AWAY FANS:
Away fans are located in the South East corner of the Shed End, rather, where the normal allocation for league games is 3,000 tickets, with fans located in a portion of the upper tier of the Shed End Stand and the whole of the lower tier. If Clubs elect to take only 1,500 tickets then, fans will be located on the East side of the stand in both the upper and lower tiers. For cup games the whole of the Shed End can be allocated. The view from this area of the ground is pretty good and the refreshment areas and concourses were modern and new looking. There are televisions on the concourses, showing amongst other things at half time, highlights from the first half. A range of Shire Foods and pasties is on offer, including the Chicken Balti Pie (£2.50) and roll over hot dogs (£3). Alcohol is also available with bottles of Budweiser on offer at £3.
There is a Harry Ramsdens fish and chip shop located just outside the entrance to the away end, which was doing a brisk trade on my last visit. The pubs near the ground can be quite partisan, so I would recommend getting a drink somewhere on the journey there. Gordon a visiting Newcastle fan adds 'there are quite a few pubs on the Kings Road that are okay as long as you don't break into a chorus about your team!'. Ross Mooring adds; The best (well, least partisan) pub for away fans is the Slug and Lettuce outside Fulham Broadway train station situated a few minutes walk from the ground. It's an upmarket pub with a good security and police presence outside on matchdays. Very full but rarely any trouble. Away fans though should avoid the Sofa Bar. Alcohol (Budweiser) is available inside the ground but it is a bit pricey, even for Londoners!'.
WHERE TO DRINK:About a ten minute walk away from the ground near Parsons Green Tube Station is the White Horse. A large comfortable pub which sells good food and a range of real ales including Harveys Ales from Sussex. To find this pub with the new West Stand behind you turn right (up past where the away coaches are parked) up Fulham Road and into Fulham Broadway, passing the tube station on your right. Continue to follow Fulham Road around to the left and then take a left hand turn into Parsons Green Road. Go under the bridge passing Parsons Tube Station on your right and you will reach the White Horse pub on your left.
BY CAR:
Leave the M25 at Junction 15 and take the M4 towards London, which then becomes the A4 up to Hammersmith. Carry on over the Hammersmith flyover and after a further one and half miles, take the turning Earls Court. Continue past Earls Court station and down the one way system until you reach the junction with Fulham Road. At this junction, turn right at the traffic lights and after about half a mile, you will see the ground on your right.
A number of local resident schemes are in operation around the ground, so you may well end up having to park some way from the ground itself.
BY TRAIN AND TUBE:
The nearest tube station is Fulham Broadway which is on the District Line. Take a tube to Earls Court and if necessary, change for a Wimbledon bound tube. The nearest overground train station is West Brompton, which is served by trains from Clapham Junction (which is in turn served by trains from London Waterloo and Victoria stations). It is around a 15 minute walk to the ground from West Brompton station. Turn right outside the station past the Tournament Pub, then right again into Brompton Cemetery. Walk on through the Cemetery (just follow the crowd) and Stamford Bridge is soon visible to the right. If it is a night game then turn right after the cemetery into Finborough Road. After a half-mile, turn right onto the Fulham Rd.