Hello and welcome to the second edition of The Northern Football Guide. After the drama of the F.A. Cup last weekend, it is the turn of the Women's F.A. Cup and the F.A. Trophy to provide the cup drama this weekend. Everton Ladies have a huge challenge in the shape of cup holders Chelsea, while little Ramsbottom United's tie with AFC Fylde oozes cup magic in the Trophy.
There are two rounds of Premier League fixtures to enjoy, my pick of these perhaps being the Everton v Wolves game. I have no idea what is going to happen there, but I am confident it will be a very entertaining spectacle!
In the Football League it is impossible to look past the massive clash of Leeds and Norwich. Not much good for ground-hopping neutrals, but probably one to book in to view on the television if you can get home from your chosen fixture in time! Finally, I would like to draw your attention to the £15 ticket deal at Bolton v Reading in midweek. Fantastic value in what is sure to be a scintillating game at the bottom of the Championship. I have also thrown in a few minor cup and youth cup fixtures for you.
As ever, this is only a guide and you should confirm all the information you find here before travelling. Always ensure you can get home on public transport, especially if you are travelling on strike-affected Northern Railway routes. All kick off times are 3pm unless stated. I hope you all have a splendid week.
There are two rounds of Premier League fixtures to enjoy, my pick of these perhaps being the Everton v Wolves game. I have no idea what is going to happen there, but I am confident it will be a very entertaining spectacle!
In the Football League it is impossible to look past the massive clash of Leeds and Norwich. Not much good for ground-hopping neutrals, but probably one to book in to view on the television if you can get home from your chosen fixture in time! Finally, I would like to draw your attention to the £15 ticket deal at Bolton v Reading in midweek. Fantastic value in what is sure to be a scintillating game at the bottom of the Championship. I have also thrown in a few minor cup and youth cup fixtures for you.
As ever, this is only a guide and you should confirm all the information you find here before travelling. Always ensure you can get home on public transport, especially if you are travelling on strike-affected Northern Railway routes. All kick off times are 3pm unless stated. I hope you all have a splendid week.
Tuesday 29th January 2019
Barclays Premier League
7.45pm Huddersfield
Town v Everton
Where: John Smith's Stadium, Stadium Way, Huddersfield HD1
6PG
Public Transport: On the TransPennine Express route between
Leeds (20 mins) and Manchester (30 mins). The ground it a half mile walk from
Huddersfield Station.
Tickets: Adults £30, Over-60s £20, Under-18s £15 (previous
purchase history required) https://www.htafc.com/tickets/
Preview: There has been an air of inevitability surrounding Huddersfield
Town’s relegation battle for a while now. Wagner leaving was a sad end to one
of the greatest fairy tales in football over the past few years and though not
openly admitted, the club are now gearing towards promotion in 2020 as much as
they are trying to avoid relegation. Everton arrive at the John Smith’s stadium with their Silva
in need of a good polish (sorry). Faith in Portuguese coach is rapidly fading, losing
this would be a significant nail in the coffin for many Toffees.
8pm Manchester United
v Burnley
Where: Old Trafford, Sir Matt Busby Way, Stretford,
Manchester M16 0RA
Pubic Transport: Old Trafford tram stop is next to the
cricket ground and a 5-minute walk from the football stadium. Special train
services run to Manchester United Football Ground station on matchdays only and
stop right outside the ground.
Tickets: You must have a membership to purchase match
tickets. Prices from £31 for adults, £24 for 18-20 years, £17 for 16-17 years
& 65 years or over, and £13 for Under 16s. https://www.manutd.com/en/tickets-and-hospitality
Preview: Solskjaer will feel as though he can do no wrong at
present. His unprecedented perfect start as United manager making a mockery of
his “interim” tag. Burnley come into this game on a run of 10 points from their
last four league games, although with no points yet against the top-6, a resurgent
Manchester United sounds like a major challenge.
8pm Newcastle
United v Manchester City
Public Transport:
Easy walking distance from anywhere in the city centre including Newcastle
Central Station.
Tickets: GENERAL
SALE Adults from £38, Juniors from £18, Seniors from £28, 18-21s from £21. https://www.nufc.co.uk/tickets
Preview: Manchester City have started 2019 in a determined
fashion. The Christmas time blip now seems to be a distant memory and with key players
returning from injury they seem prepared for a battle on all fronts. Newcastle
United perhaps seems more prepared for a battle internally as Benitez’s reign
meanders towards an inevitable conclusion. Anyone who knows will tell you
however that, under the lights at St James’, anything is still possible.
Sky Bet Championship
8pm Bolton
Wanderers v Reading
Where: University of Bolton Stadium, Burnden Way, Horwich,
Bolton BL6 6JW
Public Transport: Horwich Parkway Station is nearby and is
serviced by Manchester -Preston/Blackpool routes.
Tickets: Adults £15, Concessions £10 https://www.bwfc.co.uk/tickets/
Preview: A special deal accompanies this fixture with adult
admission only £15. Whether that will be enough to ease the frustrations of
fans after protests against the ownership overshadowed their last home game
against West Brom. With both teams languishing in the relegation zone, the
atmosphere is likely to be crackling, one way or another.
Sky Bet League One
7.45pm Blackpool v Wycombe
Wanderers
Where: Bloomfield Rd, Seasiders Way, Blackpool FY1 6JJ
Public Transport: Blackpool South Station is a 10-minute
walk from the ground and is served by trains from Preston. Blackpool North
links directly to Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds and is a half hour walk.
Tickets: Adult: £22-27, 60+ £18-23, U18s £10-15, (Under 11s
FREE when purchasing £15 membership)
Preview: Another club with unpopular owners, Blackpool find themselves
with the play-offs just outside of reach. A win for either them or their
opponents Wycombe, who themselves are just a point behind the Seasiders, would be
massive in keeping promotion dreams alive.
7.45pm Bradford City v Shrewsbury
Town
Where: Northern Commercials Stadium, Valley Parade, Bradford,
West Yorkshire BD8 7DY
Public Transport: Bradford Forster Square is a 10-minute
walk from the stadium. More regular services operate from Bradford Interchange
which is a 30-minute walk away, with buses usually available.
Tickets: Adults £25, Senior Citizens/Students £15, U16 £10,
U11 £5. (Adults £20 till 5pm the day before the match) https://www.bradfordcityfc.co.uk/tickets/
Preview: After a 4-0 humbling at the hands of mid-table
Southend last time out at Valley Parade, Bradford are in dire need of a much-improved
home performance against Shrewsbury. Sitting in the relegation zone, three
points behind their currently safe opponents, adds a greater urgency for the home
side.
National League North
7.45pm Spennymoor Town v
Boston United
Public Transport:
Catch a train to Durham on the East Coast Main Line and then catch the 6 or X21
bus to Spennymoor (Burn Terrace stop). The ground is a 3-minute walk away.
Tickets: Adults £12,
Concessions £9, Juniors £4, U10’s FREE (with adult)
Preview: Can Spennymoor make it four wins in a row? New loan
signing Agnew will be keen to make a good impression with the Spennymoor home
faithful but after a loan stint at Boston earlier this year, they’ll be ready
for him.
Integro League Cup Quarter Final
7.45pm Bamber Bridge v Belper
Town
Where: Sir Tom Finney Stadium, Irongate, Brownedge Road,
Bamber Bridge, Preston, PR5 6UU
Public Transport: From Preston, there are hourly trains to
Lostock Hall which is a 15-minute walk from the ground.
Tickets: Adults £9, 65+
& Students: £6, U11s
FREE when accompanied by a full-paying adult
Wednesday 30th January 2019
Barclays Premier League
8pm Liverpool v Leicester
City
Where: Anfield Stadium, Anfield Rd, Liverpool L4 0TH
Public Transport: Regular shuttle buses depart from Liverpool Lime Street
station on match days. There are usually club staff in Lime Street station to direct you towards them.
Tickets: Membership required, All matches for remainder of
season sold out. Check website for late availability (or local sale if you have
an “L” postcode). Limited seats also remain in the away end for Leicester
members only.
Preview: Leicester fans have had enough of their manager,
Liverpool fans can’t get enough of theirs. Despite the closeness of the reverse
fixture all signs point to a regulation home win.
FA Youth Cup fifth round
7pm Bolton
Wanderers U18s v Leicester City U18s
Where: University of Bolton Stadium, Burnden Way, Horwich,
Bolton BL6 6JW
Public Transport: Horwich Parkway Station is nearby and is
serviced by Manchester -Preston/Blackpool routes.
Tickets: Adults £3, Concessions £1
https://www.bwfc.co.uk/tickets/
Friday 1st February 2019
Sky Bet Championship
7.45pm Preston North
End v Derby County
Where: Deepdale Stadium, Sir Tom Finney Way, Preston, PR1
6RU
Public Transport: Preston Station, on the West Coast
Mainline and served directly from most major cities in the north, is a
30-minute walk from Deepdale. Alternatively the 19 Bus goes past the stadium
from Preston Bus Station.
Tickets: Adults £24-30, 65+ £16-23, FT Students &
Apprentices (22-24) & 19-21 £15-20, 11-18 £6-9, U11 £1-2 https://www.pnefc.net/tickets/
Preview: Preston will be hoping to turn their recent away
form into home success. However Derby, who are 10 points and 10 places higher
in the table, will not be an easy task.
Saturday 2nd February
Barclays Premier League
3pm Burnley v Southampton
Where: Turf Moor, Harry Potts Way, Burnley BB10 4BX
Public Transport: X43 Witch Way bus serves Burnley from
Manchester and Skipton (which has connecting rail services to Leeds)
Tickets: Adult £30-40, 65+ & U22 £20-25, U18 £15-20, U12
£10 (Family stand only)
Preview: After two tricky away fixtures, it is back to the
proper business of staying in the Premier League at home to a fellow bottom-half
side. The result against a resurgent Southampton, who are thriving under the
relatively unknown Hassenhüttl, could have a large bearing on how comfortable the
rest of the season is for them.
3pm Everton v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Where: Goodison Park, Goodison Rd, Liverpool L4 4EL
Public Transport: Regular 919 buses operate from Liverpool
Lime Street station on matchdays.
Tickets: SOLD OUT Resale tickets available officially through
Stubhub http://www.evertonfc.com/ticket-news
Preview: At the start of the season this would have been
chalked up as a sure 3-points for the Toffees. Now it is far from certain. Wolves
have proven themselves capable of turning over (or losing to) anyone this
season, this will likely be a hugely entertaining fixture.
Sky Bet Championship
3pm Hull City v Stoke
City
Where: KCOM Stadium, Walton St, Hull HU3 6HU
Public Transport: Hull (Paragon Interchange) Station is
served directly by TransPennine Express services from Manchester and Leeds
along with Northern services from Doncaster and York. The stadium is a 20-minute
walk or a short bus ride away.
Tickets: £18-30
Preview: On the subject of games that could go either way,
we come to Hull and Stoke. Both teams on the back of disappointing losses on
the weekend so will be hoping to bounce back quickly.
5.30pm Leeds United v Norwich
City
Where: Elland Rd, Leeds LS11 0ES
Public Transport: Leeds Station is a 2-mile walk from the
ground. A matchday shuttle bus service operated by First Leeds Buses, numbered R2,
departs from Sovereign Street, adjacent to Leeds station, to the stadium.
Tickets: SOLD OUT https://www.leedsunited.com/tickets/ticket-news
Preview: An absolute blockbuster as a packed out Elland Road
takes in this clash of the top two teams in the Championship. Good luck getting
tickets for this one, though anywhere within a mile of the ground should sound like
you are in the stadium anyway!
3pm Sheffield
United v Bolton Wanderers
Where: Bramall Lane, Sheffield, S2 4SW
Public Transport: Sheffield station is directly connected to
all major cities across the north by TransPennine Express, Cross Country and
East Midlands Trains. Bramall Lane is a 20-minute walk from the station.
Tickets: FROM £23
adults, £17 Seniors, £15 Young Adults/Students and £10 juniors (£2 increase on
match day) https://www.sufc.co.uk/tickets/home-tickets/
Preview: Hot on the heels of whoever slips up in the evening
fixture comes Sheffield United. Struggling Bolton at home should provide a more
regulation afternoon than the top-two enjoy.
3pm Wigan Athletic
v Queens Park Rangers
Where: DW Stadium, 15 Loire Dr, Wigan WN5 0UH
Public Transport: Wigan is served by two stations (Wigan
North Western & Wigan Wallgate) which are right next to each other. There
are direct trains every hour from Liverpool and every 30 minutes from
Manchester. There are regular buses to the stadium, or it is a 25-minute walk.
Tickets: Adults £20, 65+ £15, U18’s £10, U11’s £5, U5’s £2. https://www.wiganathletic.com/matches/tickets/
Preview: Wigan are in danger of being dragged into the
relegation scrap but QPR haven’t won a league game since Boxing Day. This would
be an ideal time to ease fears after two defeats on the bounce.
Sky Bet League One
3pm Accrington
Stanley v Blackpool
Where: Wham Stadium (Crown Ground), Livingstone Rd,
Accrington, BB5 5BX
Public Transport: (From Manchester) X41 Red Express http://www.lancashirebus.co.uk/RedEXPRESS.htm
Tickets: Adults £20, Concessions £15, 12-17s £10, Under 12
£5 https://accringtonstanley.co.uk/tickets/
Preview: Accrington returns to normal after a bout of cup fever
last weekend. Seven points behind their nearby opponents, they will be hoping
to defeat their visitors for the first time since they first faced each other
in the league in October 2016.
3pm Barnsley v Scunthorpe
United
Public Transport:
(From Leeds) X10 Bus (From Sheffield) Northern train service
Tickets: Adult:
£20-25, Over 65 & 19-21s: £15-18, U19s: £10, U12: £5. (+£2 on
matchday) https://www.barnsleyfc.co.uk/tickets/
Preview: Barnsley’s pursuit of the top-two continues at home
to the firmly mid-table Scunthorpe United. The hosts boast the best defensive
record in the league while the visitors are one of League One’s leakiest defences.
3pm Fleetwood Town
v Charlton Athletic
Where: Highbury Stadium, Park Ave, Fleetwood FY7 6SP
Public transport: 2 Hours of trains, replacement buses and
trams from Manchester.
Tickets: Adult £22-26, Senior £17-21, U16 £7-10, U25 £17-21,
U5 FREE (Prices vary slightly up or down for the premium and “value” fixtures.)
https://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/tickets/
Preview: Just a point behind Barnsley sit Charlton who
themselves will be hoping to stay in the hunt for an automatic promotion spot
with a win in Fleetwood. They might face sterner tests than the Cod Army, with
manager Joey Barton stating that the play-offs were beyond their reach this
season.
3pm Sunderland v AFC
Wimbledon
Where: Stadium of Light, Sunderland, SR5 1SU
Public Transport: The best route is generally to travel to
Newcastle Central Station and then catch the Metro to Stadium of Light or St
Peters stations. Sunderland train station is a 15-minute walk away and is
mostly served by local services apart from occasional Grand Central services
from London and York.
Ticket Prices: Adult £18-22.50, 65+ £15-22.50, U16
£7.50-22.50, U 22 £10-22.50
Preview: Wimbledon return to reality after their cup giant-killing
against West Ham with a visit to high-flying Sunderland. Only one win and
several draws since Christmas are in severe danger of stalling the host’s
promotion campaign. They will be hoping to return relegation-threatened
Wimbledon to earth with a serious bump.
Sky Bet League Two
3pm Bury v Crawley
Town
Where: Gigg Lane Stadium, Bury, BL9 9HU.
Public Transport: The 1 tram from Manchester City Centre
terminates at Bury. The ground is a 10-minute walk from the stop.
Tickets: Adult £20, Disabled
Supporters, 65+ & U23 £14, U18 £10, U16 £7, U12 £5, U5 FREE. https://www.buryfc.co.uk/tickets/
Preview: A hugely entertaining draw last weekend was not
much good for Bury’s promotion ambitions after Mansfield leapfrogged them into
second. If games in hand are won, Bury could soon find themselves sharing third
place with two other sides, so shoring up the promotion push with a win against
Crawley is vital.
3pm Oldham
Athletic v Morecambe
Public Transport:
The nearest tram stop is Westwood and is a 25-minute walk from the ground.
Alternatively, the area is well served by local buses.
Tickets: Adult
£16-18, Student, U21 & 65+ £8, U18 £5. (Matchday prices increase by £4 for
adults and £2 for concessions and juniors.)
Preview: Dreams of
a Paul Scholes-led Oldham may not have come to fruition in time for their
ultimately disappointing trip to Doncaster in the cup, but if reports are to be
believed, this game is to see his unveiling as their new manager. Expect a
bumper crowd if that news is confirmed.
Buildbase FA Trophy Third Round
3pm Harrogate Town
v Stockport County
Public Transport:
Trains every 30 minutes from Leeds and hourly from York to Harrogate station.
The 36 bus also links Leeds and Harrogate with a frequent service. The stadium
is a 25-minute walk from the stadium. Alternatively, the 7 bus stops right
outside the ground and is £2 for a return for those with a match ticket.
Tickets: Adult £14,
Concession & 17-21 £10, U16 £5 (+£1 for seating and +£2 if bought on
matchday) Seating usually sells out in advance.
https://www.harrogatetownafc.com/match/tickets/
Preview: With Chorley to chase down in the league, Stockport
County fans may feel they could do without the distraction of a cup tie at
Harrogate. This game against National League play-off contenders Harrogate will
offer a barometer of what is required to compete at the level above should they
get there. The hosts will be up for this one, with a first ever visit to
Wembley a realistic ambition for the North Yorkshire outfit.
3pm Ramsbottom
United v AFC Fylde
Where: The Harry Williams Stadium, Acrebottom, Ramsbottom,
BL0 0BS
Public Transport: X41 Red Express buses link Ramsbottom with
central Manchester and Accrington.
Tickets: Adults: £8, Concessions: £4 (over 65s, under 16
years, 17-18 Students), Children under 12 (when accompanied by an adult): £1.
Preview: A proper local cup-tie in the north west should
play out in front of a bumper crowd in Ramsbottom’s biggest game of the season
so far. Can they pull off a massive shock here?
3pm Salford City v
Maidstone United
Where: Peninsula Stadium, Moor Ln, Salford M7 3PZ.
Public Transport: 96, 97, X41 Red Express & X43 Witch
Way buses from central Manchester all stop at the bottom of Moor Lane. The ground
is a 5-minute walk from the bus stop.
Tickets: Adults: £10, 60+, Children 5-16, Students: £5,
Under-5s: Free
Preview: This fixture in the league provided a narrow 1-0
win for Salford back in September. Much has changed for Maidstone since then
and John Still now occupies the Stones’ dugout after Harry Wheeler’s
short-lived reign and they will be hoping to build some form in this game to
take into their faltering league campaign.
3pm Spennymoor
Town v AFC Telford United
Where: The Brewery Field, Wood Vue, Spennymoor DL16 6JN
Public Transport: Catch a train to Durham on the East Coast
Main Line and then catch the 6 or X21 bus to Spennymoor (Burn Terrace stop).
The ground is a 3-minute walk away.
Tickets: Adults £12, Concessions £9, Juniors £4, U10’s FREE
(with adult)
Preview: A third league home game in quick succession for
the Moors. They will be out for revenge here after being defeated in the West Midlands
at the start of January.
Vanarama National League North
3pm Ashton United v Kidderminster Harriers
Where: Hurst Cross Stadium, Surrey
Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 8DY.
Public Transport: Ashton-under-Lyne
is at the end of the Number 3 Tram line. The ground is a 30-minute walk from
there, alternatively 38, 39, 231, 331 & 333 go from Ashton to the ground.
Tickets: Adults £12, Concessions
(Available With ID - (e.g. Bus Pass or Student ID) £8, Accompanied U12’s £3.
Preview: Ashton may not be surprised to find themselves in the
relegation zone at this stage of the season. They may be surprised however to
find York occupying the place above them in the table that represents survival
in the division. Kidderminster lie just outside the playoffs and will be
viewing this game as a must-win. Ashton United meanwhile will be looking to earn
more points in their battle to extend their stay in the National North.
3pm Bradford (Park
Avenue) v Leamington
Where: Horsfall Stadium, Cemetery Road, Low Moor, Bradford,
BD6 2NG
Public Transport: 508 from Leeds & 613 from Bradford Interchange both stop at the bottom of Cemetery Road.
Tickets: Adult: £12, Concession: £9, Student: £7, U16’s: £2.
Preview: Following on from their spell at the top of the
table, the Park Avenue hierarchy made the decision the club was not ready for
promotion, and has therefore decided to make the entire squad available for
transfer. Hoping to take advantage of the ensuing chaos are Leamington, who will
not have given up dreams of the play-offs just yet.
3pm Chorley v Nuneaton
Borough
Where: Victory Park, Duke St, Chorley PR7 3DU
Tickets: Adults £12, 60+ NHS/first responders & armed
services £9, Students £7, 12-16’s £5, U11’s FREE.
Preview: Top faces bottom with a gargantuan 41-point gap between
them. Surely a question of how many for the home side rather than the actual result here.
SSE Women’s F.A. Cup
3pm Manchester
City Women FC v Watford Ladies FC (Some outlets are advertising this game as
taking place on Sunday)
Where: Manchester City Academy Stadium, M11 4TQ
Public transport: The stadium is right outside Velopark tram
stop on the 3 tram (just after Etihad Campus). A 40-minute walk from city
centre.
Tickets: Adult £4.50-8.50, Over 65’s & U16 £2.50-4.50,
18-21 FREE
Sunday 3rd February 2019
Barclays Premier League
4.30pm Manchester City v
Arsenal
Public Transport:
City Link footpath signposted from Manchester Piccadilly Station is a 25 minute
walk. Etihad Campus Tram Stop is a short walk from the ground.
Tickets: SOLD OUT
Limited hospitality or ticket exchanges may be available. https://tickets.mancity.com/
Preview: A huge game at the Etihad as City look to keep pace
with Liverpool at the top. The visitors’ defensive frailties have been exposed
readily by Liverpool and United in recent weeks. It is hard to imagine they
will be relishing facing Guardiola’s men.
SSE Women's FA Cup
Preview: Still the jewel in the crown of the women’s game, the
F.A. Cup final at a packed-out Wembley is a tantalising prize in itself for all
the teams still competing. Durham, Liverpool and Manchester City will be hoping
to make their higher rankings show against third-tier opposition while Everton
face the holders in an altogether more challenging tie. There is some variation
in the advertised kick-off times on different platforms so check before you
travel to these games.
2pm Durham Women
FC v Cardiff City LFC
Where: New Ferens Park, Belmont, Durham, DH1 1GG
Public Transport: Durham station is well served by the East
Coast Mainline with direct services from York, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool.
The bus station is a short, but steep, walk into town. From there Prince
Bishops 20, Prince Bishops 20A, indiGo 204 and 204a stop a 5-10 minute walk
from the stadium.
Tickets: Adults £5, u16/Student/OAP £2, Family of four £12
2pm Everton Ladies
FC v Chelsea FC Women
Where: Merseyrail Community Stadium, Haig Ave, Southport PR8
6JZ
Public Transport: (From Liverpool) Regular Merseyrail
services to Southport station, which is a 20-minute walk from the ground. From
Manchester Victoria, you can change at Wigan Wallgate to reach Southport, or
take the X2 bus between Preston and Liverpool.
Tickets: Adults £5, Senior £2.50, Junior FREE
2pm Liverpool FC
Women v MK Dons
Where: Prenton Park, Prenton Rd W, Birkenhead CH42 9PY
Public Transport: 423, 464, 471, 472, 487 & 2 Gold buses
all go close to the ground from Liverpool City Centre. Rock Ferry train station
is a 20-minute walk away.
Tickets: Adults £6, U16/65+/Students/Disabled £2.50, Family
(2+2) £12.
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