Last Update:
August 19, 2024
The Club moved to the Riverside Stadium in 1995 after leaving its former home of Ayresome Park where it had played since 1903. The stadium is enclosed after the previous open corners to either side of the West Stand were ‘filled in’ with seating in 1998.
All the stands are two-tiered, although the West Stand is slightly larger than the other three sides, which makes the overall appearance of the stadium look somewhat imbalanced. This stand also has a row of executive boxes running across its middle and has the player’s tunnel and team dugouts in front. The roof around the stadium is raised above the seating areas to allow more light to get to the pitch, through perspex panels located between the roof and the back of the seating areas. There is also a large video screen situated in the southeast corner.
Although the stadium looks a little bland on the inside, externally it looks great. This is especially so at night when the stadium is illuminated and is visible from some miles away.
Away supporters are housed on one side of the East Stand (towards the South East corner) at one side of the stadium Just under 3,000 fans can be accommodated in this area. The turnstiles are electronic which means that you have to insert your ticket in a reader, to gain entry.
The away turnstiles are numbered 53-61 and normally open 90 minutes before kick-off. Once inside then the legroom is okay and the view from the away section is excellent. There are several flat-screen televisions, showing Sky Sports (and the match itself once it has kicked off).
- Six Medals – Heath Rd, Middlesbrough TS3 6AT
- The Isaac Wilson – 61 Wilson St, Middlesbrough TS1 1SF
- The Pig Iron – 37 Corporation Rd, Middlesbrough TS1 1LT
Parmo in a bun at Middlesbrough (@Boro)
💷 £5 pic.twitter.com/WkF8ZvitBC
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) November 13, 2023
The main entrance to the Riverside Stadium is outside the West Stand. Outside the main entrance, you will find a pair of statues dedicated to two former Boro greats; George Hardwick & Wilf Mannion. In between the statues are the old entrance gates to Ayresome Park, which is a nice link with the Club’s history.
To enter the stadium, home fans can use all turnstiles with the exception of 53-61 as these are reserved for away fans only. Fans are advised to use the turnstile closest to their seat – this will be outlined on all match tickets.
It is quite easy to find. Just follow the A66 (signposted Teesside from the A1), passing Darlington FC’s former ground and on into Middlesbrough. Carry on up the A66, through the centre of Middlesbrough and you will pick up signs for the Riverside Stadium.
There is a small amount of parking available at the stadium itself (in Car Park E). Otherwise, there are several private parks located (mostly on wasteland) nearby. Also when you reach the turn off the A66 (as signposted) for the stadium, rather than at the top of the slip road turning left towards the stadium, if you turn right to go back across the A66, then there is plenty of street parking available in this area. It is then about a 15-20 minute walk to the away turnstiles.
Post Code for SAT NAV: TS3 6RS
The Riverside Stadium is around a 15-20 minute walk from Middlesbrough Railway Station which is located on Albert Road. Although there is a direct train service from the North West, fans travelling from other parts of the country, will most likely find themselves changing at Darlington, for Middlesbrough.
Like several Clubs, Middlesbrough operates a category system (A&B) for the pricing of tickets, whereby the most popular games cost more to watch. Category A prices are shown below:
Adult: £26-£37
Over 65: £17-£29
U18: £12-£22
Boro has been around the football world since way back in 1876 but whilst many see Middlesbrough and the Riverside go hand in hand it hasn’t always been that way.
The Riverside Stadium has only been home to the club since 1995 with the Taylor Report, which came about off the back of the Hillsborough disaster, forcing the club to move. Before that Boro had spent 102 years calling Ayresome Park home; that stadium was developed by Archibald Leitch with the ground forming part of the 1966 World Cup.
Even with over a century at Ayresome Park though there is many a year not yet accounted for. The early years of Boro’s existence were spent at Linthorpe Road West cricket ground.
For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.
A memory from 4 years ago popped up on my phone this morning. Love this video; 40k boro fans, and my then 5 year old Theo singing with pride.
It says everything it needs to. #utb #boro @boro #passion pic.twitter.com/6ez8gsyZKQ— Russ (@iRussJ) May 25, 2019
Record Attendance
At The Riverside:
35,000 England v Slovakia
Euro 2004 Qualifier, 11th June 2003.
At the Riverside (For A Middlesbrough Game):
34,836 v Norwich City
Premier League, 28th December 2004.
At Ayresome Park:
53,536 v Newcastle United
Division One, 27th December 1949.
Average Attendance
2023-2024: 26,877 (Championship)
2022-2023: 25,693 (Championship)
2021-2022: 21,699 (Championship)
2020-2021: 43 (Covid) (Championship)
2019-2020: 19,933 (Championship)
Ground Layout
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Middlesbrough v Sheffield Wednesday
Championship
Saturday 28th September 2019, 3pm
Adrian Hurst (Sheffield Wednesday)
Middlesbrough v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Championship League
Friday 30th March 2018, 5:30pm
Aimee Henry (Wolverhampton Wanderers fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Riverside Stadium?
As we approached the Easter weekend, fate was still very much in Wolves’ hands. With a six point lead over 2nd placed Cardiff, and a 13-point gap to third placed Fulham, a win at in-form Middlesbrough could see us take another huge step towards the promised land of the Premier League. Mathematically, four wins from the final eight games would be enough. Which is just as well, because our record away at Middlesbrough is, in a word, woeful. 1951 was the last time a Wolves side tasted success on Teesside, the great Roy Swinbourne on the scoresheet that day. Could the current crop of Old Gold heroes end the hoodoo?
Middlesbrough themselves had aspirations of finishing in the top 6, and although they hadn’t lived up to their pre-season billing at title favourites thus far, it still promised to be a test for us. It would be my first visit to the Riverside, our visits in recent years having all come at awkward times for me. With it being Good Friday though, there was no way I was missing this, even with Sky Sports deciding to adjust the kick-off time to 5:30. I had a bit of trouble finding some travel buddies, but eventually there were three of us heading to the game, including a friend on his first ever away day.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Having weighed up the options, we eventually decided on using the club’s official travel, and to make the journey to Middlesbrough by coach. A price of £28 there and back worked out very well compared to petrol if I were to drive, and with it being a bank holiday, we didn’t even consider the trains! We left Molineux at 11:30am and arrived at the Riverside at 4pm. It would have been even sooner but for a 45-minute delay on the M1 just outside Sheffield. As frustrating as that is, my thoughts were with the people involved in the crash, and I hope they’re all okay and unscathed.
Although the journey is a long one, in terms of roads it was straightforward, using the A38, A1, M1 and then the A19 to get into Middlesbrough. The coaches parked straight outside the away end, although I noticed plenty of parking space around the ground on the way in.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
With it being just over an hour before kick-off, we decided to head into the ground straight away, rather than wander around looking for a pub to, ahem, refresh! There didn’t appear to be any pubs around the stadium itself, and the surroundings weren’t exactly welcoming. Didn’t see too many home fans. I bought a programme, priced as always at £3, and headed inside. To my surprise (and delight), I found that they were serving Strongbow Dark Fruits on the concourse, the first time I have seen this, certainly that I remember anyway! They also had a huge selection of food on offer, much more than was advertised above the kiosks. Adopting the old adage of “when in Rome,”I opted to have a ‘Parmo’, which I found out was basically a chicken breast in breadcrumbs, topped with cheese and sauce. I have to say, it was beautiful! Recommend it if you happen to find yourself in Middlesbrough.The alcohol inside the ground was well priced, and they had a nice range on offer, certainly one of the better grounds this season in terms of choice.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Riverside Stadium?
Like many towns and cities in the Midlands, my home, Middlesbrough has seen better days. As you approach the ground, the empty, unused industrial areas are a sad reminder of better times. That said, the Riverside Stadium stands out amongst the grey, grim skyline. Although not a new ground, it looks impressive and imposing, without having the blandness of a newly built monochrome stadium.
Away fans are housed along the side of the stadium, in the East Stand. As well as a spacious concourse, you get excellent views from your seat, although do be aware that you will be looking into the sun for most of the first half of a 5:30 kick-off. To be honest, after the winter we’ve had, it was nice just to see the sun, I was beginning to think it didn’t actually exist anymore…
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc…
Wow, where do you even begin to sum up an evening like the one we had!? We started brightly, and by half time were 2-0 up, thanks to goals from the Portuguese wing wizards Helder Costa and Ivan Cavaleiro. Costa’s goal was a brilliant team move, with Costa finally slamming home Barry Douglas’ cross, after neat build up involving Matt Doherty, Costa and Cavaleiro. The second goal, Cavaleiro’s 9th of the season, was simpler, with Douglas’ corner being met by Big Willy Boly. Randolph in the Middlesbrough goal superbly saved his header, but Cavaleiro reacted first to nod home the loose ball.
At half time, we were all suggesting that ‘more of the same’ would do very nicely. What we got was something else entirely. Enter referee Stuart Attwell. Ruben Neves sliced the Middlesbrough defence open with a sensational through ball, and Costa latched onto it. Just before he could get into the box, he was clipped from behind by George Friend. The referee…waved it away. A couple of minutes later, Neves was sent off for a second booking after a poor tackle. 10 minutes later, we were down to 9 as Doherty also saw red for a second yellow. Now down to 9 men, it was a case of being organised, disciplined, and hanging on. And my word, we did it. Even though Patrick Bamford scored a late goal to give Middlesbrough a glimmer, we clung on to the priceless three points. There were fantastic scenes at full time, as Wolves manager Nuno, captain Conor Coady, and the entire playing squad celebrated in front of the away end. I think they realised the significance of it.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game.
Fairly easy, as the coaches were parked outside the away end. We left the Riverside at 8pm, and were back at Molineux by 11:30pm. A long day, but worth it.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out.
The kind of game which puts you completely through the ringer as a supporter. I think I must have experienced every emotion during the game, elation, anger, frustration, joy, pride, and everything in between! As we all surmised on the way home, it will be one of the games we remember at the end of the season, and for a long time to come. I enjoyed my first trip to Teesside. Whilst the Riverside is not the best ground in the division, in terms of matchday experience, it offers a nice concourse, fantastic range of food and drink, nice facilities and a really good view from your seat. And when your team wins, what more could you ask for!
Middlesbrough v Derby County
Championship
Saturday 11th January 2020, 3pm
Neil Dykes (Doing the 92)
Middlesbrough v Reading
Championship
Saturday 14th September 2019, 3pm
Phil (Reading)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Riverside Stadium?
A couple of decent away wins already this season meant I thought I did give the trip to the Riverside a go. This was the only northeast ground I had yet to do.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Very easy. Thankfully I had based myself at a mates house in Warwick the evening before so a 4.5 hour journey was now just the 3 hours! Really pleasant, easy drive, no congestion in the town. Decided to park in the Captain Cook Car Park in town so as to get away quicker afterward. This cost £4.30 for about 5 hours, as I had arrived at about 12.30.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
From the car park wandered through town and headed to the Corporation Toad, to the Doctor Browns pub. There was a handful of both home and away fans getting on well. Had a chat with a couple of really friendly Boro fans. The beer was certainly cheaper than down south. I was disappointed that the pub was not showing either of the early kick offs, but rather had a DJ blaring out pop music whilst we struggled to converse!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Riverside Stadium?
The ground looked good from the outside, I liked the setting right by the river. There is a fan bar area outside where they had a guy up on a stage singing. The away end was on the side rather than behind the goal which is always better.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
I enjoyed the game even though we lost 1-0. We definitely did not deserve to lose though. Didn’t really have any dealings with the stewards. £2 a programme is a bargain though. Boro sang a song to the tune of “The Entertainer“ a couple of times but other than that the home crowd were very quiet. One thing you HAVE to try is a Parmo. Possibly the best thing I have ever tasted at a football ground.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
A brisk 20 minutes walk back to my car in the car park but got away really quickly and started heading south. Easily the quickest I’ve ever got away from an away game in a car.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Other than the result it was a great day. Pleasant fans, great food and cheap beer. Good views and the sun was out which helped. Glad I finally got to visit the riverside. I have done 65/92 with Reading now.
Middlesbrough v Millwall
Championship
Saturday 24th August 2019, 3pm
Brian Moore (Millwall)
Middlesbrough v Millwall
Championship
Saturday 24th August 2019, 3pm
Norman Wilson (Millwall)
Middlesbrough v Leeds United
Championship League
Friday 2nd March 2018, 7.45pm
Shaun (Leeds United fan)
Middlesbrough v Queens Park Rangers
Football Championship League
Saturday 16th September 2017, 3pm
Joe Hylton (Queens Park Rangers fan)
Middlesbrough v Manchester City
Premier League
Sunday 30th April 2017, 2.10pm
​Stephen Welch (Manchester City fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Riverside Stadium?
A win would keep us ahead of our Old Trafford rivals. I had been to the Riverside Stadium this season for the FA Cup Quarter Final game against us and I was hoping for another win.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The Riverside Stadium is very easy to find and is well signposted. We went by minibus and so could have parked with the away coaches/minibuses in the official car park at the stadium which cost £10. But instead, we opted for some free parking opposite KFC.We also thought that by doing this we could get away quicker after the game, rather than being with the Police escort. However, by the time everyone got back to the bus when the match had ended, the escort had started so we had to wait in the long queue. Note to self, park with the coaches and pay the £10!
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
The home fans were friendly before and after. We listened to the first half on the radio of the 'Trafford' v Swansea game and watched the second half inside the stadium on the away concourse. There was great joy when Swansea scored with beer being thrown!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Riverside Stadium?
The Riverside Stadium is similar to a lot of new grounds, Sunderland, Southampton etc..
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
It was a game to forget, and City were lucky to get a point, with a dubious penalty allowing the visitors to get back into the game.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
As I said, it took a while so will park at the away end next time to get away quicker. Cars not allowed in away end parking, so they would have to park elsewhere.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Could have been worse if we had lost, so have to be happy with the draw especially with Pep playing a 3-5-2 formation.
Middlesbrough v Sunderland
Premier League
Wednesday 26th April 2017, 7.45pm
Jack Talbot (Sunderland fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Riverside Stadium?
I was looking forward to visiting the Riverside Stadium as I love following Sunderland away and this was a ground that I had not yet ticked off with Sunderland yet.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Car parking was fairly easy and we managed to get to the away end a lot easier than we had expected.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We had no interaction with the Boro fans because of the rivalry between the two clubs, plus we were separated from the home supporters pretty much as soon as we arrived. Many away fans were given police escorts to the game.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Riverside Stadium?
The ground from the outside is okay. Internally the Riverside Stadium is average size, with the away section accommodating around 3,000.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was shocking, two terrible sides; neither of which deserve to be playing Premier League football this season. The home fans were okay in all honesty, but they never really got going until after their goal and resorted to a drum to make that noise. The atmosphere from the Sunderland fans was terrific from the first minute to the last, 2989 of us were housed in the north-east corner of the ground and we made ourselves heard throughout the game even in the second half at 1-0 down.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away was no bother, I managed to get pictures with three of our players and getting out was absolutely no trouble at all.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A poor game but a cracking night. Great support from the red and white army as always and my first away visit to the Riverside Stadium, the first of a few hopefully as it's a day out I really enjoyed. I would definitely recommend going there.
Middlesbrough v Oxford United
FA Cup 5th Round
Saturday 18th February 2017, 3pm
Rob Pickett (Oxford United fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Riverside Stadium?
First visit to the new(-ish) Riverside Stadium and a big tie for League One Oxford United.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The Riverside Stadium is easy to find, parking less so with many 2-hour restrictions in place. Parked in an unofficial car park space near-ish the ground for £3.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Went to Dr Browns pub but that was overwhelmed by Oxford fans (3,800 attended the game). Went to Jurys Inn Hotel Bar in the end. Overall a sad lack of real ale in Middlesbrough.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Riverside Stadium?
I like the Riverside as a stadium. Great views and a full house generates a great atmosphere.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The first half was was all Middlesbrough scoring two goals to take a 2-0 half time lead. Oxford staged a superb fightback in the second half to bring the game back level at 2-2, but Boro nicked it just before the end to go through 3-2. Police were very chatty and stewards anonymous.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Bit of a nightmare. It took 40 minutes before we got going back on the roads.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A great day of football – a real cup tie. The Riverside Stadium is well worth visiting. If you like keg or lager then loads of options before the game, for real ale – forget it. Do not plan on a quick getaway after the game has ended.
Middlesbrough v Liverpool
Premier League
Wednesday 14th December 2016, 7.45pm
Phil Bowmen (Liverpool fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Riverside Stadium?
I hadn't yet visited the Riverside Stadium due to Middlesbrough being in the lower leagues for so long. So when they came up I thought I'd give it a go.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Simple enough driving ourselves. Parked at our hotel for the night in the town centre.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We had a couple of pints in the Yates pub then made the walk over to the Riverside Stadium. The home and away fans mixed well and we seen no trouble at all. One thing that annoyed me though was on the way to and from the ground I was approached twice by shifty looking people. One asking for 70p for his bus home the other was just your usual bagger asking for spare change. Not something I've ever experienced anywhere else in the country on an away day.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Riverside Stadium?
Nothing special to be honest. The Riverside it's just a basic modern looking ground. The facilities are okay, but I have experienced better elsewhere.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Piece of cake. Really enjoyed the game, with Liverpool comfortably winning 3-0. The atmosphere was okay but home fans were very quiet most of the game. We should have won by more to be honest and I expect Middlesbrough will really struggle to stay in the Premiership this season.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Leaving the ground was simple enough. Took about 20 minutes to walk back into the town centre.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
An okay with a great result.
Middlesbrough vs Chelsea
Premier League
Sunday 20th November 2016, 4pm
Will Donaghue (Chelsea fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Riverside Stadium?
I had always wanted to visit the Riverside Stadium but had never got the chance to as Middlesbrough were playing in the Championship League. But with Middlesbrough back in the Premier League it was a great opportunity to finally go! Also with Chelsea on a five game winning streak, I was confident we would get a positive result.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We drove up on the Saturday and stayed in a Premier Inn hotel in Hartlepool which is close to Middlesbrough. The next day it was easy to find a car park near the stadium which was about a 20 minute walk away from the Riverside.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Before the game we stopped off at a nearby KFC to get some food and then drove to Middlesbrough, got parked up, picked up a programme and walked straight into the stadium. The Middlesbrough fans seemed friendly.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Riverside Stadium?
Seeing the Riverside Stadium from a distance was quite good! I was really impressed seeing how close we were to the pitch in the away end.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Chelsea won the game 1-0 thanks to a goal from Diego Costa to extend our winning streak to 6 games! This result also meant we climbed to the top of the league! We had a few chances to make it 2 or 3-0. Middlesbrough only had 1 good chance but they were great defensively. The atmosphere from the Middlesbrough fans was pretty decent but our away support never disappoints! The toilets were alright. And the stewards had no problems with us standing up through the whole game. It was great to be singing 'We're top of the league' at the end of the match!'
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away after the game was quite easy. 20 Minute walk back to the car park and back on to the motorway in about 15 minutes or so.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
The Riverside was a great stadium to visit! And to see Chelsea extend the winning streak was fantastic! Would love to go back to the Riverside next season should Middlesbrough stay up! Off to the Etihad Stadium next! Come on Chelsea!
Middlesbrough v AFC Bournemouth
Premier League
Saturday 29th October 2016, 3pm
Paul Sheppard (AFC Bournemouth fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Riverside Stadium?
Always a good atmosphere at the Riverside Stadium. Plus I thought that Bournemouth had a reasonable chance of a point or three!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Drove into the town centre and parked in a car park for £2.50 for 3 hours near the pub we were meeting friends in. Like last season we got a little lost in the town centre and ended up driving in circles a bit, despite using the Sat Nav.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Had a drink in Doc Browns where home and away fans mixed without any bother. Just had a sandwich I had bought at the services as very few people eating in the pub and my friends who had eaten said the food was nothing special. Then made the 20 minute walk to the Riverside.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Riverside Stadium?
I had been to the Riverside for the same fixture last season, so I knew what to expect. It is a standard modern ground, but not in the nicest part of Middlesbrough! This was one of the few away games I had been to in the Premier League where we had not sold out our allocation, so I enjoyed the space and the chance to sit down and still see the game when I felt the need or desire.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Bournemouth weren't great and neither were Boro. But we were undone by an excellent individual goal by Raston Gamirez on the counter from our corner, before Downing sealed our fate in the second half. Stas showed we had more of the possession and really pushed on in the last 20 minutes but when we lost Surman and went down to ten men with about 10 minutes to go we knew the game was up.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
A fairly slow walk back to the town centre as many fans were heading in that direction. Not too bad heading away from the town centre towards Darlington (where we were staying).
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Apart from the result we had a good day out (especially my mate, who's a Boro fan). As usual the Boro fans created an excellent atmosphere for what was an average game with only the occasional exciting interlude.
Middlesbrough v Tottenham Hotspur
Premier League
Saturday 24th September 2016, 3pm
Peter Bassett (Tottenham Hotspur fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Riverside Stadium?
Although I had seen us play a few times at the old Ayresome Park in the past, this was going to be my visit to the Riverside Stadium. Down the years we haven't done too well generally, at Boro – but I hadn't seen us lose at Ayresome Park in my three visits. So I was hoping that I could carry this over to the Riverside.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
My daughter and I caught the 7am train up from London Kings Cross. It then a quick change at Darlington onto a local train – and we then arrived at Middlesbrough at 10am.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We visited the Transporter Bridge, which is only a short walk from the railway station. I would thoroughly recommend this. We found it hugely interesting. We even saw a seal in the River Tees! You also get a fantastic view of the area, including the Riverside Stadium. This took us to 11-30am – after which we walked back past the station and into the local shopping centre. There wasn't a great deal to choose from, eating-wise. So we settled down in a Burger King. Home fans were fine – no problems whatsoever.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Riverside Stadium?
The Riverside Stadium looked excellent from the outside. A very impressive Main Stand – and a nice touch to keep the old gates from Ayersome Park. The away end is very similar to most other modern day stadiums (Leicester, Swansea, Southampton etc..)
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc.
We were 2-0 up at half time – and it really should have been four or five. Boro weren't even in it. In the second half, we took our foot off the gas and played too much tippy tappy football. They got a goal back – but other than one half chance, saw the game out. Didn't eat inside – so can't comment on the food. Stewards were excellent. Let you bring bottles inside to drink – with the lid on! Which in this day and age, is something novel. The facilities were very good and all the toilets had an ample amount of loo roll! The home fans started off loudly – especially the drummer! But at 2-0 down, it understandably tailed off. Once they scored, it did get quite loud, although only the fans to the left of us sung.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Pretty straight forward to get away from the ground. We walked past the dry dock and then it's virtually a straight line to the station. There's a nice kebab house just past the shopping centre – very close to the Eight Bells monument. Our train left at 7.30pm with a change at York. Got back to North London just before midnight.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Although a long day – very rewarding! Got the three points, a decent stadium, no trouble. Visit the Transporter Bridge – well worth it!
Middlesbrough v Tottenham Hotspur
Premier League
Saturday 24th September 2016, 3pm
Tony Newman (Tottenham Hotspur fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Riverside Stadium?
Never been to Middlesbrough, but had heard good things about the Riverside Stadium. Also I live relatively local, being near Edinburgh.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The rail journey took longer than expected due to rail engineering works. Took a taxi from town centre to the ground – cheap and easy.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
A few beers in Yates in Town centre and then had a look at the famous Transporter Bridge…..
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Riverside Stadium?
Impressive Architecture – took a wander around to appreciate it. The away end has an excellent view.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Great home support – plenty of singing and folk banging drums. Stewards friendly and professional. Arrived a bit late so missed out on food and drink. That said it looked good and reasonably priced. Our fans looked like they were enjoying it!
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
A gentle steady walk back to Middlesbrough Railway Station – followed the herd…. Well organised stewarding and appropriate Police presence (viable but not over the top).
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Excellent, I would recommend a visit to the Riverside Stadium to all away fans. Locals are friendly and welcoming (that said there were a few idiots on train home – but there always is!). Got chatting to a few Middlesbrough fans on the train and found common ground straight away.
Middlesborough v Stoke City
Premier League
Saturday 13th August 2016, 3pm
Lee Sockett (Stoke City fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Riverside Stadium?
I was looking forward to my visit to the Riverside and was expecting a hard game with it being Middlesborough's first home game back in the Premier League. Not the game I would of picked for our first away fixture but you get what your given and I was looking forward to seeing a good competitive match.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Traveling up to Middlesborough on the official transport offered by Stoke caused no problems apart from the stop at a service station to meet up with a Police escort. With 28 coaches or 1500 fans all landing at a Shell Petrol Station wasn't the brightest idea and the Police soon came to the same conclusion and quickly got us back on the coaches and back on our way to the ground, where we arrived at 12:30pm.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
After arriving so early myself and my two boys had a walk around the impressive looking Riverside Stadium. As we were early we were able to see both teams official coaches arrive. Home fans very welcoming and we're looking forward to the game and in a confident mood.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Riverside Stadium?
Having last visited the Riverside Stadium in 1998 I wasn't expecting a huge change but was impressed with how clean the ground was and it had good facilities for fans.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game it self was a let down for the first 45 minutes for Stoke. Think we were still in pre-season mood, the home fans were really up for it and the early goal give them a lift they didn't really need. The Steve Gibson they sung was really good. After going in only a goal down at half time, we regrouped and got a equaliser from a Shaqiri set piece. Maybe we could have nicked it late on but overall a draw seemed a fair result. Good selection of food and drinks on offer even if they were a little pricey. Stewards were fine and didn't really get involved with fans despite us standing for the 90 minutes. There was some good banter between home and away supporters but both sets of fans would of left happy.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Really quick getaway by the official coaches within 20 minutes of the final whistle, with another Police escort back out of town. Wouldn't like to be on the car park next to the official coaches as it looked like it was going to take a while to getaway from there.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Middlesbrough was a good away day for the first game of the season, would recommend vesting the Riverside Stadium for a good sing song and banter with home fans.
Middlesbrough v Blackburn Rovers
Football Championship League
Saturday 6th February 2016, 3pm
Daniel Ainsworth (Blackburn Rovers fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Riverside Stadium?
I am aiming to go to many grounds this year with my team Blackburn. With Middlesbrough doing well in the League and with Rovers not doing so well, I was hoping for an upset!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The trip there was easy, as we had travelled by official supporters coach. However when parking the coach was sent the wrong way so we lost time but still got there 40 minutes before the game kicked off.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
As we didn't have much time, we went straight to the ground, which we entered with no fuss. Our best striker Jordan Rhodes had left Rovers for Teesside on January transfer deadline day. So we wasn't impressed to see his photo on the front cover of the matchday programme.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Riverside Stadium?
I can have no complaints! It was an excellent view of the playing action from the away section and the home fans were amazing in generating some noise.The ground was modern and had an atmosphere unlike many of the other current bowl shaped grounds in my opinion.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was dominated by Rovers surprisingly and deservedly took the lead after 72 minutes only to be clawed back for a 1-1 draw six minutes later – ending the game at 1-1. The atmosphere was the best of the 10 away grounds I've been this year and the singing section next to us was amazing! We had continuous chants going competing with them but it was all in good spirit. The food was overpriced – especially the Parmo in a bun (chicken in breadcrumbs with cheese) at £4.20. Chips were served in small portions at a pricey £2.20 as well as Burgers nearing the £4 mark.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We only brought 500/600 so getting out the ground wasn't difficult. Due to the 26,000 attendance the coaches had to wait for around 20 minutes to allow the crowd to disperse before we could set off.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Great day with a great result and I would certainly return!
Middlesbrough v Sheffield Wednesday
Football Championship League
Monday 28th December 2015, 5.15pm
Martin E (Sheffield Wednesday fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Riverside Stadium?
I hadn't been to an away game for a while and I was meeting up with friends, old and new.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Despite the worry of the recent flooding around Yorkshire, the drive up was fairly straight forward, with no problems. We arrived in Middlesbrough fairly early, so managed to get parked up fairly easily.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went into the Dr.Browns pub in the centre, which had a good mix of home and away and mostly friendly natured (apart from a couple of idiots from both sides). The Police presence was pleasantly minimal too!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Riverside Stadium?
have been before and it is certainly an impressive sight,especially at night, all lit up for miles around, although the area around the ground is still pretty post-apocalypse-esque.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Despite it being a bank holiday tea-time, live on SKY television, costing £32 a ticket and just three days after Christmas, there were 28,000 in attendance, with just short of 2,000 away fans, which was very impressive. The atmosphere was also very good. Despite going 1-0 down after 42 seconds the visiting supporters were good vocally and for a pleasant change the home fans were pretty vocal too! Even though they did sing a lot of the cringey generic stuff.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
A bit hairy going through the underpasses but with 28,000 people all leaving and most heading back the same way, to be expected really. we were back at the car and on our way within 20 minutes.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Apart from the result, it was a good day out with friends and a decent game and atmosphere.
Middlesbrough v MK Dons
Championship League
Saturday 12th September 2015, 3pm
Michael Pala (Doing the 92)
Why were you looking forward to going to the Riverside Stadium?
Having been to Derby County FC many times, I've been intrigued by the Riverside as they are almost identical stadiums. Also being the furthest Championship ground from where I live, it had an aura of mystery.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
It was a 220 mile journey to the Riverside from my home. I parked in the Captain Cook Square multi storey car park in the town centre and walked to the ground, which took about 15 minutes.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I had stayed in Hartlepool the night before. I then drove to Middlesbrough via the Transporter Bridge (a must see) and also went up to the top of the Transporter Bridge by lift as they had a heritage open day. Drove around Middlesbrough visiting the Brian Clough statue, his childhood street and also went to the location of Ayresome Park; Middlesbrough's old ground. I then went into the town centre for lunch and had a quick look round the shops before walking to the Riverside. The people of Middlesbrough were very chatty, welcoming and helpful.
What you thought on seeing the Riverside, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Being used to Pride Park, the first glimpse of the Riverside is a shock and especially when there's a large ship parked next to it!! Inside the stadium it was very similar to Pride Park except for the colour and the roof (slopes down at Pride Park but drops suddenly at the Riverside).
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The stewards at the Riverside were very helpful and friendly. Atmosphere from the home fans was great considering being just under two thirds full. Facilities in stadium were great and toilets were clean. The game saw eventually saw the home side score two goals in the last 20 minutes, to take all three points.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
I went into the club shop before walking back to the town centre to collect my car. The traffic would have died down and getting away from the town centre was easy and I was back in Bedfordshire in just over 3.5 hours.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A trip to Middlesbrough is definitely worth it! To make the most of it, its best to go up the day before so you can have a look around the area in the morning. The Transporter Bridge is definitely worth a visit. Whilst the town centre is the same as most town centres, there's definitely enough shops to keep someone busy if you're taking someone who isn't going to the match. People in Middlesbrough and the surrounding area were very friendly and helpful.
Middlesbrough v Bristol City
Championship League
Saturday 22nd August 2015, 3pm
Adam Chard (Bristol City fan)
With Sheffield Wednesday charging a ludicrous £39 per ticket for our first match of the season, I was happy to find Middlesbrough were charging marginally less at £32 just two weeks later. As Teesside is only 2 hours from my home in East Yorkshire and a very pleasant drive up the coast, I decided to tick off ground No 45.
With just 4 matches gone, and despite walking League One the previous season, Bristol City had already shipped 11 goals and constant speculation about big money signings didn’t seem to be helping matters. However, a last gasp draw with Leeds Utd the previous Tuesday had given us hope. Middlesbrough, on the other hand, had started the season brightly. They had lost out in the play-off final the previous season and had some decent players in their squad, including newly-signed David Nugent. So I really wasn’t hopeful for any kind of result.
As I had arrived around 1:15pm for a 3:30pm kick off I was able to park on Dockside Road, which leads right up to the Riverside Stadium. As you come off the Cargo Fleet Lane roundabout on the main A66 you turn left at the next roundabout – there are no parking restrictions. I had ample time to wander up towards the stadium on what was turning out to be a nice warm day.
One thing I had heard of, and wanted to try, was the famous Chicken Parmo in a Bun – a true Middlesbrough speciality – a breaded chicken cutlet (a bit like a schnitzel) smothered in white sauce and melted cheese. Well worth the £3 I spent on it from one of the numerous vans outside the ground.
The Famous Chicken Parmo
I had a wander around the outside of the stadium, which was very impressive, but all the while had a desolate feeling to it, tucked away amongst waste ground and salvage yards. Obviously, as the name suggests, it is right next to the River Tees and there was the impressive site of a massive ship docked behind one of the ends – not something you see at most grounds. I did a full circumnavigation of the ground, as there was plenty to see: The old Ayresome Park gates flanked by the statues of Wilf Mannion and George Hardwick, a mural charting the history of Ayresome Park, along with old seats from the ground, and a great view of the Transporter Bridge.
The turnstiles are all equipped with bar code scanners, so my ticket had to be purchased from an office before entering. The facilities inside were as I would expect from such a modern ground. A good concourse area, with Sky TV showing the noon match and large food and drink outlets – got a pint of Strongbow (no decent cider for us discerning Bristolians of course!) for £3.70.
The Ship Got A Good Parking Spot!
The stadium from the inside was also very impressive. With the seating forming a near continuous bowl the effect. which was tremendous. The main Grandstand opposite looked huge and there was a big screen to our left. We were situated in the South East corner, so the home side effectively had two home ends. There were a lot of banners hung around the stadium by various fan groups – although some had seen better days. Leg room wasn’t bad and the view was excellent.
As the stadium filled up a good atmosphere started building, with the City fans who had made the 530 mile round trip in good voice. City got off to an incredible start – better than I could have hoped for – with a fantastic goal curled into the top right corner from our wing back, Bristol-born Joe Bryan, on 10 minutes. Cue wild celebrations in our little corner and stunned silence from Boro. Middlesbrough still looked menacing and their left winger Wildschut was causing all sorts of issues. However, it really should have been 2-0 midway through the first half as Bobby Reid blazed over from close range and it could have been even better for City had Konstantopoulos not managed to pull off a fantastic save when Kodjia’s shot looked like it was goalbound.
Boro did have the ball in the back of the net at one point, but the referee had already blown for a quite blatant foul. The second half came and went and with City looking more and more defensive many of us wondered when the inevitable equaliser would come. However, City stood firm. When the likes of Flint and Ayling weren’t clearing anything slung into the box, Ben Hamer in goal was coming up with some incredible saves.
View From The Away Section
Boro threw on ex City favourite Albert Adomah, who received a standing ovation and had his name chanted by the travelling City fans – despite the fact he was attacking our goal! However, it was to be our day as the clock ticked to full time, sparking some jubilant celebrations in the away section. Our first win back in the Championship.
It was an easy ten minute walk back to car, although I found that many more people had parked in Dockside Road, so the road was pretty jam packed with cars left in all manner of awkward places, making it difficult to get out. I queued to get onto the main road for a while and it took me around 15 minutes to get out of Middlesbrough.
So overall, a fantastic away trip: nice food, good stadium, great result!
Middlesbrough v Brighton and Hove Albion
Championship League
Saturday 2nd May 2015, 12.15pm
Michael Stoner (Brighton and Hove Albion fan)
Why you were looking forward to going to the Riverside Stadium?
I first was intrigued of this away game since about the new year. First of all, it was the last game of the season. The last game of the season historically been highly intense, especially if the club you're supporting is fighting for their place in something. Another thing that i was looking forward to was travelling the distance between Teeside and Sussex. I never really experienced travelling this distance and looked on this fixture and actually doing it. And lastly, when I actually booked my tickets in March, the promotion and title race was anyone guess and it'll be a good day out if I saw a side potentially 'Go Up' or if not, win the league. Unfortunately, I was wrong. Middlesbrough slipped up against Fulham last week which meant Watford gained promotion to the Premier League at Brighton and Bournemouth practically sealed their promotion as well (providing they don't lose to Charlton and Middlesbrough beat us with a swing a 19 goal victory)
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I decided to coach this game as i usually do when i travel along to away games. I went with a independent 'Run by Fans, for Fans' coach, called Blues away, and left Eastbourne at 2:30am in the morning. Finally reached and left the Amex by 4. The Journey itself was relativity stress free as we didn't get stuck in traffic. We did stop at a service station about 6.45ish in the morning and stopped for 45 minutes. Besides that, the journey was spent on the motorway
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
The coach arrived at the Riverside at 10:10am and conveniently parked directly outside the away turnstiles. There was several Burger vans dotted around the stadium however I didn't treat myself. I did enter into the shop and purchase a scarf, as you do. I felt the home fans was extremely friendly, nearly every 'Boro fan i spoke to ask the same question "… So what time did you leave this morning"
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Riverside stadium?
My first impression of the stadium, from the motorway, was a good one. Inside, the stadium looked tidy as we were located in the East Stand towards the South Stand. The leg room was adequate enough, and the concourse was big enough for the travelling fans (by the looks of it, we must of taken about 400-500 fans). The stadium is certainly of Premier League Standard.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The Brighton fans were 'lucky' enough to been given a free £6 voucher to spend on the refreshment bar, courtesy of our club. Personally, I had a Chicken Balti Pie and a coke. I personally didn't rate the pie I had. The facilities is what I expected from a team who spent many years in the top flight of English football. The toilets seemed clean and the concourse was adequate too. The stewards seems friendly enough. They didn't have much about presences about them. Brighton fans aren't renowned for trouble so the stewards have practically nothing to do except to guide fans to their seats, The home fans did put up a display before the game with their banners, flares and confetti. The 'Singing Section' was located in the South Stand and they did sing the whole of the first half which was led by a drummer. However they didn't make much noise in the second half as the drum failed to make an appearance.
The game itself was end to end. Each team had chances in both half's but struggled to put them away. Middlesbrough only threaten once Brighton slipped up or misplaced a pass …. which happened lot in the first half. I felt Brighton dominated in the last 20 minutes or so but failed to score. Substitution Craig Mackail-Smith came on and replaced Chris O'Grady in the second half for his last appearance with the Seagulls. Substitution and Brighton's player of the year Inigo Calderon came on and have a chance in the dying moments but it was saved. The game ended a 0-0 draw.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
As I said earlier on, my coach was parked outside the away turnstiles, so it was easy to get to. Once everyone got onto the coach, we went back home. Besides a 5 minute wait just outside the stadium due to traffic, the traffic was stress free. We did stop off at the Watford Gap for 45 minutes or so, except for that, we were mostly on the motorway. Got back home in Eastbourne about 9:45pm in the evening.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
The day itself was decent enough but was it really worth spending 19 hours or so for a 0-0 result? Well, at least the Riverside can be ticked off of the list of stadiums I've been too. Thankfully this dreadful season is over for Brighton – the sooner we forget about it, the better.
Middlesbrough v Preston North End
Capital League Cup 2nd Round
Tuesday 26th August 2014, 7.45pm
Paul Willott (Preston North End fan)
I couldn't honestly say that I was brimming with excitement before I embarked upon this trip; the League Cup engenders a mixture of responses depending on a clubs aspirations and I for one fervently hope that this season is one that Preston North End will remember for a successful promotion campaign from the third tier of English league football, and therefore cup runs are much more of a "nice-to-have". However, it was to be my first "fix" of football for the new season, and as much as it might "only" have been the League Cup, I was intrigued to see how the squad that has started the season quite well would fare against a team from the Championship.
Hence I departed from Kent, and running via Croydon to collect my travelling companion, commenced the drive North which once we'd escaped the stop-start clutches of the bedeviled M25 went fairly smoothly.
Upon arrival on Teeside, we swung onto the A66 from the A19 and soon spotted the quite imposing Riverside stadium to our left. First impressions certainly count, we certainly agreed that it looked quite striking from the outside, and that pictures on the internet don't really do the place justice.
As per the guide, I was planning on turning to the right once trundling up the ramp upon leaving the main A66 to try to find some on-street parking in the residential areas, but noticed that there was seemingly some spaces for parking on grass verges closer to the stadium, so chanced our luck and found a spot so got parked quite close to the ground and saved ourselves a few bob!
The Riverside continues to impress as you approach on foot; first there is the impressive statues of former 'Boro greats such as Wilf Mannion, then there is also the former main gates of Ayresome Park sited in front of the stadium which is a nice touch, and a link to the clubs former home. Furthermore, one thing that certainly struck me was that the ground, despite being some 20 years old, is in very good condition. Many a newer ground is already weather-stained, streaks of rust spoiling the paintwork, but no so the Riverside. Not only has it clearly been solidly built, but it is well maintained, and that struck a chord with me. A club that takes a pride in its stadium and home is doing something right.
Ayresome Park Gates
Despite the lack of established eating facilities as listed in the guide, for match-day countless burger vans had appeared, and the one we chose to sample was serving up the most gorgeous grub. I opted for the more traditional 1/4lb cheeseburger whereas my buddy opted for the variant with mushrooms. I noticed amongst the many other options was a Hawaiian burger, which we discussed and assumed would be served with pineapple? With hindsight, we should have gone back for more…
And so attention turned to the game in prospect. I knew there would be nowhere near a full house but my concern was that if hardly any turned up at all, the prospect of just a few thousand in such a handsome stadium would make for an empty atmosphere. However, although the approximately 11,000 fans that appeared, was a little lower than the league crowds experienced currently at the Riverside, it was still more than I'd feared, but crucially enough to generate a much better atmosphere than I'd dared to hope for too. Perhaps the strategy of reducing ticket prices does encourage fans to turn up on nights like these. Some matches with a derby element seem to be recapturing a degree of attraction to supporters; there was a full house at Deepdale last season for our first round clash with Blackpool, and the Leeds-Bradford match I noticed had a large attendance this week too
In fact, the few thousand in the "singing section" in the South Stand never let up all night, and with the drums and the flags waving certainly again left a positive impression that sufficient 'Boro fans were up for a cup clash even if it was against lower league opposition.
As the build-up to the match continued I perused the matchday programme which would have been ok if it didn't touch a raw nerve of mine by making a feature of this infernal ice-bucket challenge; worse was to follow on the big-screen as they showed footage of the manager followed by player after player taking part in this childish, gimmicky, and wasteful charity stunt. Fortunately, there were other things in the programme to read whilst that farce was displayed…
Once the match got underway, it soon developed into an intriguing contest. Both sides took the chance to rest a few senior players and blood some youngsters and the first 20 minutes was played in an almost continental defensive keep-ball style with very little typical English action. Unusual perhaps, but it was interesting to see and also good to see that concentrated effort on passing football. Gradually both sides started to probe a little more, with arguably the best chance of the first half falling to one of the Preston youngsters only for him to slip at the crucial moment and miss a one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Riverside Stadium
In fact, it would be the second half before the game really erupted into life, with first 'Boro taking the lead with a well worked free-kick, then Preston equalising with an equally great set-piece move, only for 'Boro to take the lead again 3 minutes later. Subsequently the home side cemented their lead with a third goal, but great credit to the Preston players who were striving with intensity throughout the second half, it was only when we crept towards injury time that I sensed it was all over.
Once the final whistle blew, we trooped out and we jumped in the car and within 3 minutes we were motoring freely along the A66. I sense the night was more remarkable for the fact that 28,000 had graced the stadium MK to witness an unbelievable 4-0 spanking of a certain club formerly known as Newton Heath; but from our little perspective we'd thoroughly enjoyed the trip and the match experience exceeded expectations too.
All clubs take note; look after your ground the way 'Boro look after theirs, and you'll be okay!
Middlesbrough v Sheffield United
Championship League
Sunday 22nd August 2010, 1.15pm
Steve Hartley (Doing the 92)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
This is a ground I have been wanting to go for around two years, but never made it, so at least I got there this time. I once went to the old Ayresome Park as an away fan with some Oldham mates and found it very intimidating in the open corner area so I was interested to see how things have changed in 20 years.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I left Rochdale at 9.30 for a Sunday 1.15 kick off and found the journey very easy apart from the roadworks on the A1, the A19 is by far an easier way to go and that is what I did on my return home.116 miles going and 2 hours , coming back 107 miles and 1 hour and 30 mins.
Car parking was very easy due to this website, come off at the roundabout as stated and turn right, then turn first left after going over the A66 .You can then turn right onto at least 5/6 streets with loads of free parking and its about 15 mins walk and so easy to get back on the A66 to go home. Good for that!
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
With being 90 mins early I do what I usually do and walk around the ground just to have a nosey and see whats going on. I got a ticket for the home end North West upper (note in this section rows 20 to 27 are padded seats why i dont know but are comfy and the cheapest in the house �23 ). Then it was for refreshment time, I had a burger then a sausage sarnie (I had missed breakfast) from a stall outside the ground. Surprisingly both were cheap and very good.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The ground to me is nothing special , it reminded me of Derby county but thats the way never grounds are going (give me Hillsborough anyday). Not really much to say about these newer grounds apart from they do their job , seat you in safety and try to get as much cash out of you as they can.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
The game itself was probably the worst game i have seen as a neutral and the atmosphere was pretty poor from both sets of fans, felt like a pre season game and was a big let down.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
With there being such a poor crowd and the good parking area I was on my way in minutes after walking to my car, this is a real plus and I advise people to look at this when travelling to the riverside.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A good day out spoiled by the fayre on show, the football was shocking but the travelling , eating and parking made it an easy day out.