Getting to Football

In this section, I give directions to each club down to Step 6 of the English pyramid, and to each club in the SPL and SFL and the Senior and Junior leagues in Scotland and in the top three levels in Wales, using public transport. Why? Because there are people who want to go to football matches that way, and I happen to be one of them – and that’s a good enough reason for me!

How to use this information

For each ground, I identify the railway station to which it is most convenient to travel – I assume that trains are in general preferred to buses. That isn’t necessarily the nearest station; if a ground is not within walking distance of a station then it’s the one which makes the entire journey easiest. Where a ground is within one mile of a station on foot, walking directions from the station only are given. Where that is not the case, then directions for bus travel between station and ground are given. If walking directions are given for journeys of more than one mile, that may be taken to imply either that no bus service exists or that it is too infrequent or too circuitous to be of use.

I fear I can’t accept responsibility for any errors in the information contained here, much as I’ve done my best to ensure that it is correct. If you discover any errors – I’ve mentioned a bus service that doesn’t exist, I’ve gone a longer way around than necessary, or – worst of all – the ground isn’t where I say it is, please let me known at rochestervaliant@yahoo.co.uk.

England

All directions are based on Saturday games kicking off at 3.00; they absolutely do not apply to evening games or games played on Sundays, although in nearly all cases they will work perfectly for the rare games played on weekday afternoons. I’ve ensured that a return journey is possible assuming the game finishes at 5.00; in the few instances where it is not this is made clear.

Scotland

All directions are based on Saturday games. The kick off time is assumed to be 3.00 in the Scottish Premier League, Scottish Football League, and Highland League, since all clubs in these divisions have floodlights. In the other Senior leagues and in the Junior leagues, kick off has been assumed to be any time between 1.45 and 3.00. In these leagues, I’ve ensured that a return journey is possible assuming both a 1.45 kick off and a 5.00 finish; in the few instances where it is not this is made clear.

Wales

All directions are based on Saturday games. Since kickoff times are rather variable in Wales, and few clubs outside the Welsh Premier League have floodlights, I’ve ensured that a return journey is possible assuming both a 2.00 kick off and a 5.00 finish; in the few instances where it is not this is made clear.

Thanks to the various posters on Tony’s Non-League Forum who have provided me with corrections and suggestions. Keep them coming!