Last Update:
December 30, 2024
The Hawthorns is a compact ground, that is enclosed, with the corners filled and is all seated. However, unlike most modern ‘bowl’ stadiums, the Hawthorns have a bit more character with a mixture of different-looking stands. On one side is the impressive-looking East Stand. Opened in 2001 it is an impressive, large single-tiered stand, with a row of executive boxes running along the back. The lower part of the seating area extends around the corners and above the previous open corners have been filled with corrugated sheeting. There is a thin supporting pillar on each side of the stand to support the corner structures. On the other side is the smaller Halfords Lane Stand. This stand which was opened in 1982 stretches around two corners of the ground. The home end, the Birmingham Road Stand is large, covered, and quite steep. At the other end away fans are housed in the Smethwick End. Both these ends were built in 1994/95. There are two huge ‘widescreen’ video screens installed at the ground, one on either side of the East Stand.
An interesting feature of the ground is that in one corner of the ground (between the East Stand & Birmingham Road End) you will notice perched up on a wall, a large Throstle standing on a football. This has been kept over from the previous stand (it used to sit above the clock on the halftime scoreboard) and maintains the links with tradition. Outside the ground on the same corner is the ‘Jeff Astle Memorial Gates’ erected in tribute to the legendary striker. Whilst just beyond the East Stand Car Park is a Memorial Garden.
One strange fact about the Hawthorns is that it is the highest ground in England (in terms of feet above sea level).
The Hawthorns is an exceptional stadium and a must-visit for any football fan who gets the chance to do so.
Boasting a capacity of approximately 26,000, the venue is of good size, yet small enough to allow both sets of supporters in the ground to create a boisterous atmosphere on matchday.
Where is the away section at The Hawthorns?
In the vast majority of cases, travelling away supporters will be housed in the Eastern end of the Smethwick Stand – a section of the ground shared with home fans.
What is the away allocation at West Bromwich Albion?
More often than now, the away allocation at West Brom is approximately 3,000.
However, in extreme scenarios, usually in big cup games when demand is high, the entire Smethwick Stand can be allocated to the away fans, which increases this figure to over 5,000.
What is the away fan experience at The Hawthorns?
Derby games against the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers aside, The Hawthorns is usually a pleasant and welcoming venue that provides an excellent matchday experience for away fans.
In addition to the stadium itself, the local area features a fantastic selection of establishments that will cater to your pre-match food and drink needs – particularly if you will be in Birmingham City Centre in the hours prior to kick-off.
Being located so close to Birmingham also has another advantage – transport links. Whether you will be driving or travelling by train, The Hawthorns is an incredibly easy stadium to get to.
Away entrance
Perhaps unsurprisingly, away fans are usually instructed to enter through the turnstiles situated at the Eastern nnd of the Smethwick Stand.
These open 90 minutes before kick-off.
Away fans best view
Unfortunately, as is the case at most stadiums, travelling supporters have very little choice when it comes to which seat they are given at The Hawthorns.
Thankfully, the Smethwick Stand offers good views throughout, although the leg room does leave a little to be desired.
Home fans at the Hawthorns can enter the stadium via all four stands with the exception of the side of the Smethwick End that is allocated to away supporters. These turnstiles are the only part of the ground that visiting fans can use to enter the stadium.
West Brom fans singing “The Lord’s my Shepherd” ?
What a sight! pic.twitter.com/kW0gaU5gTm
— SAMUEL (@SamOgun_) September 26, 2020
There is a Club ‘Fan Zone’ located just across the road from the Stadium on Halfords Lane. This area has live music, a large screen showing the early kickoff, plus food (including a Gregg outlet) and alcoholic drinks are available. This is free to enter and away fans are welcome (although there may be an exception to this when it comes to Wolves and Villa fans!). You need to show your match ticket to enter. The bar inside the Fan Zone closes 30 minutes before kick-off.
The main pub for away fans is ‘The Vine’ (pictured right) which is about a 15-20 minute walk from the ground. From Junction 1 of the M5 turn left towards West Bromwich town centre (opposite direction to the ground). Take the first left onto Roebuck Street. The Vine is down on the left. You can also street park in this area and then walk to the ground. This pub also offers Indian food and has an indoor tandoori barbeque (from 1 pm on Saturdays), plus has a beer garden with a children’s play area. Barbara Osborne a visiting Newcastle United fan adds; ‘The Vine from the outside looked like any small corner boozer, but inside it was quite large and it was fairly easy to get served. It had a good mix of home and away fans.’ Matt Wharton informs me; ‘The Vine is only a few minutes walk away from Kenrick Park Metro station which can be accessed from Birmingham Snow Hill railway/metro station. Turn right out of the station and walk along Devereux Road passing through a residential area. At the end of Devereux Road turn left and The Vine is just over the other side of the road on the right.
Dave Wilson recommends; ‘The Park Hotel which is just off junction one of the M5 and a 10-minute walk to the ground. You can park in their car park for £5 and away fans are always welcome. There are plenty of families who meet here before games and it is a very safe environment. There is also plenty of street parking in and around the area of the hotel if you don’t want to pay the £5.’
Sean Mowat a visiting Sheffield United supporter adds; ‘As you pass the ground on the right on the main Birmingham Road. Carry on about another half a mile and there is a pub on the right set back off the road called the Royal Oak. We’ve been in the last two times we’ve visited WBA. The beer is okay and they also serve Asian food (try the chicken kebabs!). It had a friendly atmosphere. It also has the added benefit of showing televised football.
If travelling by Metro or train from Birmingham Snow Hill and you like your real ale, then it may be a good idea to stop off on the way to the Hawthorns at the Jewellery Quarter station. Within a 10-minute walk of the station are at least three pubs serving decent real ale. These are the Rose Villa Tavern, Red Lion and Lord Clifden. The Red Lion and Lord Clifden are both listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, whilst the Brown Lion has recently opened and is effectively the brewery tap for the local Two Towers Brewery. See the Google map below for their locations (this will require you to use the arrows to move the map down and then to show the Jewellery Quarter and pubs).
Alcohol is also available within the ground, albeit in plastic bottles/cans, in the form of Heineken (£4.50), John Smith’s (£4.50), and Bulmers Cider (£4.50), plus Red and White wine (£4.20).
Boneless chicken bites and bbq bacon loaded fries at West Brom (@WBA)
? £8.95 all in pic.twitter.com/MGig7Q7dtg
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) October 29, 2022
BBQ bacon loaded fries at West Brom (@WBA)
? £4.95 pic.twitter.com/CLnYN5fCqN
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) October 9, 2022
Bacon cheeseburger at West Brom (@WBA)
? £6 pic.twitter.com/TRZXnqWZbk
— Footy Scran (@FootyScran) May 13, 2022
The Club are believed to be drawing up plans to expand the capacity of the Hawthorns to over 40,000 by either redeveloping or adding a tier to the Halfords Lane Stand.
The expansion plans were benchmarked for £20m; the latest word from the club, however, is that any work is firmly on hold at present with the demand for extra capacity simply not there right now.
Before settling in at the Hawthorns, West Brom had called many places home with none ever really being home. They played at Cooper’s Hill for a year, spent two years at Dartmouth Park whilst Bunn’s Field also hosted home games for a solitary season. Next up was a three year stay at Four Acres, a ground owned by the local Cricket Club before a 15 year spell at Stoney Lane. When the tenancy agreement on Stoney Lane expired, the Baggies move to the Hawthorns. The capacity during the early days stood at an impressive 35,000 and the club opted to buy the stadium 13 years after moving in; that was 1913. Within a decade of purchasing the ground, West Brom broke the 50k mark for attendance figures; it was largely underpinned by large terraces being built after World War One.
The next noteworthy changes to the stadium – apart form gradual increases in capacity – came in the late forties as the club became the first to install turnstiles that could automatically tot up the attendance figures. From there on out, changes to West Brom’s stadium were to reduce capacity. These alterations ticked two boxes; they saw additional seating, which was a growing trend and, more importantly, helped to control spiralling hooliganism. By the 1990s the Hawthorns was fully seated whilst the 2000s saw stand redevelopment to bring a more modern feel to the place.
The Hawthorns is located on the A41 (Birmingham-West Bromwich Road). If approaching from outside the area the ground is about half a mile from Junction 1 of the M5. On leaving the M5 take the A41 towards Birmingham, the ground is on your right. Beware though of speed cameras on this stretch of the A41.
Car Parking
Across the road from the entrance to the away end on Halfords Lane, is Sandwell Academy School, which offers secure matchday parking at £5 per car. However spaces must be pre-booked and paid online via the YourParkingSpace website. Alternatively, there are a few private matchday car parks at some local industrial units nearby, or at Hawthorns station which costs £4. David Dougal a visiting Sunderland fan informs me; ‘I parked at the Beeches Road Methodist Church (B70 6QE) at a cost of £5. It is covered by CCTV and is about a ten minute walk away from the Hawthorns. It was easy to get back on the M5 from the car park once the match is over.’ Just around the corner from the Vine pub on Roebuck Lane is a St John’s Ambulance Depot that offers matchday parking for £3. Otherwise street parking. There is also the option of renting a private driveway near the Hawthorns Stadium via YourParkingSpace.co.uk.
Post Code for SAT NAV: B71 4LF
The Hawthorns has its own Railway and Metro Station which are about a five minute walk from the Hawthorns ground. They can be reached from Birmingham New Street, either by first taking a train to Smethwick Galton Bridge and changing there for the Hawthorns, or by taking a Metro Tram (which run every eight minutes on Saturday afternoons) from directly outside New Street Station. Total journey time by train is around 20-25 minutes, whilst the Metro is around 13 minutes.
Alternatively the Hawthorns Station is also served by direct trains from Birmingham Moor Street and Birmingham Snow Hill. The Metro Line also runs via Birmingham Snow Hill.
Please note though that rail tickets to the Hawthorns are not valid on the Metro line. A separate Metro journey ticket will need to be purchased..A one day saver ticket can be purchased for £5 (per Adult ticket), which covers the journey to the Hawthorns and back from either New Street or Snow Hill.
Travelling Down From The North West?
Matt Wharton informs me; ‘If you are travelling down from the North West and your train calls at Wolverhampton, Then it is a lot easier to get to Hawthorns using the Midland Metro from Wolverhampton. The tram leaves from Bilston Street. You can either off at the Kenrick Park stop for the Vine pub or the Hawthorns for stadium. Continuing by train from Wolverhampton into Birmingham New Street and then taking wither a train or Metro back out to the Hawthorns will add 45 minutes to one hour to your journey time.’
Booking train tickets in advance will normally save you money! Find train times, prices and book tickets with Trainline. Visit the website below to see how much you can save on the price of your tickets:
Home Fans
West Stand:
Adults £28, Over 65’s £23, 20-25 £17, 17-19 £12, U17 £5
East Stand (Upper Tier):
Adults £28, Over 65’s £23, 20-25 £17, 17-19 £12, U17 £5
East Stand (Lower Tier):
Adults £28, Over 65’s £23, 20-25 £17, 17-19 £12, U17 £5
Birmingham Road End:
Adults £28, Over 65’s £23, 20-25 £17, 17-19 £12, U17 £5
Smethwick End:
Adults £28, Over 65’s £23, 20-25 £17, 17-19 £12, U17 £5
Official Programme £3.50
West Brom vs Wolves rivalry
West Brom vs Wolves is dubbed the Black Country derby and, somewhat surprisingly to most, it’s one of the fiercest rivalries England has. There are just 11 miles between the two clubs with clashes dating back some 140 years. The only reason it is not a better known clash is because the vast majority of the time the game has not graced the top flight; even so, head down to the West Brom ground on the day of a Black Country derby and sparks will fly.
West Brom vs Birmingham rivalry
This derby is another based on location, location, location. These two are more tightly located than many other more recognised derbies at just 15 miles but because both have bigger rivals to worry about, it doesn’t get the attention it deserves. Animosity does exist though.
West Brom vs Aston Villa rivalry
You can rinse and repeat the above here. West Brom and Aston Villa aren’t the best of friends; that’s clear on match days but because Villa have Birmingham and the Baggies have Wolves to hate, this fixture doesn’t get much focus until it lands on the calendar; that doesn’t make it friendly though.
For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website. You may also wish to check out the West Brom Disabled Supporters Club website.
Record Attendance
64,815 v Arsenal
FA Cup 6th Round, March 6th, 1937.
Modern All Seated Attendance Record
27,751 v Portsmouth
Premier League, May 15th, 2005.
Average Attendance
2023-2024: 18,603 (Championship)
2022-2023: 23,038 (Championship)
2021-2022: 21,875 (Championship)
2020-2021: 283 (Covid) (Championship)
2019-2020: 24,053 (Championship)
Official Web Site:
Unofficial Web Sites:
www.baggies.com
www.westbrom.com
Disabled Supporters Club
Albion Till We Die
Jon Want Fans Site
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me at: [email protected] and I’ll update the guide.
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 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
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
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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
Images
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
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
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
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
West Bromwich Albion v Bolton Wanderers
Championship League
Saturday 4th August 2018, 3pm
Tom Harding (Bolton Wanderers)
West Bromwich Albion v Charlton Athletic
Championship
Saturday 26th October 2019, 3pm
Matt (Charlton Athletic)
Having taken the train up from London to Birmingham in the morning, we took the short train ride from Birmingham Snow Hill to The Hawthorns. When we came out of the station there were plenty of staff on hand to direct home and away fans in the right direction.
West Bromwich Albion v Huddersfield Town
EFL Championship
Saturday 22nd September 2019, 12 noon
Paul Evans (Huddersfield Town)
West Bromwich Albion v Nottingham Forest
Championship League
Tuesday 12th February 2019, 8pm
Liam Smith (Neutral)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Hawthorns Ground?
Two of the people that I live with at my university accommodation are West Brom and Forest fans respectively so this fixture would be heavily debated. Quite a few of us planned on going since we finish at 11:45 on Tuesdays and no lectures on Wednesdays. I was excited to see The Hawthorns as it would probably be a long while before I see my Stevenage team play there.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The journey from Bristol to The Hawthorns was pretty straightforward, probably not enjoyable for the driver being the only person with a car with the West Brom and Forest fans bickering in the back. The journey took just over two hours and we parked at the WBA fans parents house just by Smethwick Galton Bridge Station.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We made a sort of a day out of it, arriving at the house at around 3pm. We then headed off into Birmingham at around 5ish and ate and drank at The Dragon Wetherspoons, not far from New Street Station. We then took the train from Moor Street to the Hawthorns which took no time at all.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Hawthorns Stadium?
From the outside the ground was unspectacular however from the inside the view was very good. We were sat in the Millennium Corner which was right by the away fans and although the ground is modernised, it still has something about it and not like the new soulless bowl builds you see appearing in the Premier and Championship Leagues.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The atmosphere was shocking, the attendance was low and it was on a Tuesday night. It was also being shown live on Sky Sports so that probably made all the difference. The Forest fans were loud and took a full following. I would like to hear The Hawthorns when it's full and rocking like I've saw it on the TV with my WBA fan flatmate. The game wasn't the best despite it being a 2-2 draw, Forest's first goal was shocking defending and West Brom's late equalising penalty was controversial.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We walked back from The Hawthorns into Smethwick which took around half an hour and then drove away easily, the car ride on the way back home was too fun, not. Our West Brom and Forest friends can't stand each other now!
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It was quite eventful. I would like to see the Hawthorns it full one day and would definitely come back. Let us hope Stevenage get a cup draw there next season!
West Bromwich Albion v Middlesbrough
Championship League
Saturday 2nd February 2019, 3pm
Con (Middlesbrough)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Hawthorns?
We thought would be a good test for Boro – a mark whether we have genuine promotion credentials. Also, I have never been before and was looking forward to see where the great Cyril Regis did his stuff.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Good. We drove up from London and parked off Beeches Road for a fiver.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Went to the Vine pub as mentioned on this website and it is terrific. The facade doesn't do it justice. There is loads of room, grilled chicken cooked in front of you and a good selection of beers. The home fans were great. We had my young nephew and his friend with us. No problems.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Hawthorns?
We thought the Hawthorns was a terrific ground. All enclosed and reasonably close to the pitch so made for a good atmosphere.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
I would have taken a point so to get all three was a bonus – not sure we deserved it. The home fans created a good atmosphere – all sides seemed to be singing. The queue for refreshments was long and slow. And then to be charged £4.50 for what was effectively a can of John Smiths was naughty.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
The only way out is down a fenced off path heading south east – presumably to avoid trouble. So you end up on the Middlemore Road. No big deal but if you park on the West side of the M5 it just adds to the walk back. You need to be careful crossing above Junction 1 of the M5 on foot!
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A very good day out.
West Bromwich Albion v Norwich City
Championship League
Saturday 12th January 2019, 3pm
John Holland (Norwich City)
West Brom Albion v Sheffield Wednesday
Championship League
Saturday 29th December 2018, 3pm
Luke Smith (Neutral)
West Bromwich Albion vs Wigan Athletic
Championship League
Wednesday 26th December 2018, 3pm
John and Jason Southgate-Riley (Neutrals)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Hawthorns Ground?
Driving back home from visiting my parents for the Christmas period, me and my son wanted to find a stadium that I have not attended yet. The perfect chance arose after finding out that there were going to be more seating being sold for this fixture as a result of the Wigan Atheltic supporters not filling their section, this also meant that my wife and three girls could do some boxing day shopping in Birmingham too.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
No trains on Boxing Day is always difficult so it was going on the bus from Birmingham to West Bromwich which took just over an hour. We found out that a Metro Light Rail system is by the stadium as well in which we got back on, which was easier.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We arrived late so that meant that we could not get any refreshments before the kick off.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Hawthorns Stadium?
The view of the pitch was very good, directly behind the goal which would have been for away followers if was sold. The other sides of the ground were quite good as well, a modernised ground but still with character, in comparison to other stadiums.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
We just sat down as West Brom scored the first goal of a 2-0 win. A scrappy affair, with tackles flying in left right and centre. The atmosphere wasn't the best but it can never be with Boxing Day football.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting away on the Metro was a breeze in comparison to the bus.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It was an okay day. Boxing Day football is never the best but it's another stadium ticked off of my list.
West Bromwich Albion v Leeds United
Championship League
Saturday 10th November 2018, 5.30pm
Shaun (Leeds United)
West Bromwich Albion v Blackburn Rovers
Championship League
Saturday 27th October 2018, 3pm
Graham Brynes (Blackburn Rovers)
West Bromwich Albion v Bristol City
Championship League
Tuesday 18th September 2018, 8pm
Zafir Razavi (Bristol City)
West Bromwich Albion vs Mansfield Town
League Cup 2nd Round
Tuesday 28th August 2018, 8pm
Jack Richardson (Mansfield Town)
West Bromwich Albion v Bolton Wanderers
Championship League
Saturday 4th August 2018, 3pm
David Smith (Bolton Wanderers)
West Bromwich Albion v Bolton Wanderers
Championship League
Saturday 4th August 2018, 3pm
Jack Tyldsley (Bolton Wanderers)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Hawthorns?
It was the first game of the season, and with West Brom being relegated last year, the Hawthorns was a new ground for myself. We were also looking to build on our last day survival last year, but our expectations were low going into this match.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We had arrived home from holiday that morning and travelled from Manchester Airport to the Hawthorns. The journey was easy, as was parking in a match day car park around a ten minute walk from the ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We walked to the ground, passing a small park area where there was a big screen with the lunchtime game on and an inflatable bar at the back. That, in itself, was the first sign of this ground being a ground of a big club who ’s place clearly lies in the Premier League.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Hawthorns?
As we entered the ground, we found the size of the concourse very small, and the queues for pies were very long. The away end itself was impressive, with a great view for all supporters.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was one of a kind. To our shock, we went one nil up in the first half before they equalised on half time. They pushed on in the second half but failed to capitalise, leaving our new signing Wildschut to score an 89th minute winner, sending 2,200 away fans into delirium. There was a sense of arrogance from the home fans throughout so it was good to give them some back at the end. The atmosphere was brilliant, made even better by the fact that we had won only our second away game in the Championship in three years.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Very easy, back home to Bolton by 7:30pm
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
A brilliant day. The Hawthorns is a very good ground and a brilliant Bolton win to cap it off.
West Bromwich Albion v Bolton Wanderers
Championship League
Saturday 4th August 2018, 3pm
Mark Cartwright (Doing the 92)
West Bromwich Albion v Tottenham Hotspur
Premier League
Saturday 5th May 2018, 3pm
Paul Elphin (Tottenham Hotspur fan)
West Bromwich Albion v Tottenham Hotspur
Premier League
Saturday 5th May 2018, 3pm
Richard (Tottenham Hotspur fan)
West Bromwich Albion v Swansea City
Premier League
Saturday 7th April 2018, 3pm
Ryan Law (Swansea City fan)
West Bromwich Albion v Swansea City
Championship
Wednesday 13th March 2019, 8pm
Gareth Taylor (Swansea City)
West Bromwich Albion v Huddersfield Town
Premier League
Saturday 24th February 2018, 3pm
Rachel Ryen (Huddersfield Town fan)
West Bromwich Albion v Watford
Premier League
Saturday 30th September 2017, 3pm
Dave (Watford fan)
West Bromwich Albion v AFC Bournemouth
Premier League
Saturday 12th August 2017, 3pm
Paul Sheppard (AFC Bournemouth fan)
West Bromwich Albion v Peterborough United
FA Cup 4th Round
Saturday 30th January 2016, 3pm
Darren Gilbert (Peterborough United fan)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the Hawthorns Football Ground?
As a Posh fan i was looking forward to this game as we don't go to many Premier League grounds or get to the FA fourth round too often!
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Our journey was very easy. The Hawthorns is located just off Junction 1 on the M5. We found a St Johns ambulance depot that was offering car parking, which was about a ten minute walk away from the ground. It was just around the corner from the Vine pub and cost £3.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We popped into the Vine pub which welcomed away fans. Inside both home and visiting supporters mixed freely. The home fans who all seemed friendly. The pub was excellent and even offered an indoor BBQ and selection of curries!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Hawthorns?
The Hawthorns ground and surrounding training academy is excellent. Inside the away end there were plenty of food and drink outlets. The only grumble was the leg room when seated. I am 6'4" so it was cramped!
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself was a belter and ended with the Posh getting a 2 2 draw the atmosphere was fantastic.Stewarding and policing seemed fine on the whole.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Getting out was easy a ten minute walk to the car and home by 6 30pm.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Overall I would describe my day as a 'proper' away day; great pub, great ground and a good result for the posh in a superb atmosphere!
West Bromwich Albion v Bristol City
FA Cup 3rd Round
Saturday 9th January 2016, 3pm
Steve (Bristol City fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Hawthorns Football Ground?
The Hawthorns was a ground that I had not been to before. Plus it is great in the FA Cup to watch your team pit their wits against those from higher or lower leagues, depending on the draw. In our case we were up against a Premiership side.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The Hawthorns is very easy to find as it is literally just off Junction 1 of the M5. We parked at Beeches Road Methodist church (B70 6QE) as recommended by another contributor to this website. It is easy to locate, off the main roundabout at Junction 1 and then right onto Beeches Road. The staff there are very friendly and the parking is secure with cctv. It cost £5 to park there. The ground was then about a 15 minute walk away.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
We went to The Vine Pub for drinks before the game. I'ts about a 10 minute walk to the ground from there. There is a good mix of home and away fans, a good selection of lagers but minimal cider. The West Brom fans were very friendly here, we had a good chat with a couple of fans next to us. The pub looks very small from outside but is surprisingly big inside. There is even a BBQ / Kebab room!
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Hawthorns?
The ground was smaller than I expected. But it was well maintained and alsthough compact it was enclosed.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
I would recommend (if a large away following) to eat and drink before entering the stadium as there are only a couple of food and drink servers either side of the gangway. The queue for this was horrendous. I spent the best part of 45 minutes waiting (it didn't help that a number of people pushed in) and then when eventually I got to the front I found that they'd sold out of what I wanted!
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
The methodist church is in a great location for leaving the game. Once you've walked back (10 to 15 mins) it's 100 yards and 1 roundabout away from the motorway. Very easy access.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It's a nice ground, easy to get to and easy to get away from. The fans are friendly the staff are friendly and the prices are very reasonable, especially the ticket price, only £10 per ticket (for FA cup) which I'm sure was a major contribution to a 5500 away following. Other clubs should take note.
West Bromwich Albion v Sunderland
Premier League
Saturday 17th October 2015, 3pm
David Dougal (Sunderland fan)
Why were you looking forward to visiting the Hawthorns Football Ground?
I go to all away games but as this was "Big Sams" first game in charge of Sunderland, it was one that I was very much looking forward to.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Easy. I have been many a time before. I parked in the Beeches Road Methodist Church Car Park, which is just off Junction 1 of the M5. It cost £5 and all the money goes to the church. The two car park attendants were a a laugh and your car is safe there, as they have CCTV cameras in operation 24/7. It's then about a ten minute walk to the Hawthorns ground.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
I went on my own and visited the new fans zone located next to the Hawthorns. The West Brom fans I met and talked to were friendly, I watched the Spurs v Liverpool match on the big screen there. Then I made my way into the ground.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Hawthorns?
As I said I have been here a few times before. It's a nice enclosed ground, a lot smaller than the Stadium of Light but nice all the same.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
I was disappointed with the result as West Brom won 1-0, but there were some positives for Sunderland from the game. I bought a cheese burger and a bovril for about £6. Stewards were a canny bunch.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
As always after the game, the Police seal off the exit onto Halford Lane, meaning that in my case having parked by the M5, that I had to walk around the entire outside of the ground to get back towards where I was parked which took about 25 minutes. It took me five minutes to get back on the M5.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Good day out apart from the result. West Bromwich Albion is one of the better grounds to visit and no bother for single travelers or families.
West Bromwich Albion v Chelsea
Premier League
Monday 18th May 2015, 8pm
Kevin Gallagher (Neutral fan)
Why you were looking forward to going to the Hawthorns ground?
It was a visit to a new ground – Father and son on an overnight trip from Scotland.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Very easy to locate ground by train. We took a London Midland train from Birmingham Moor Street to The Hawthorns. The ground is in full view when you reach station and is only a five minute walk away.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
There is a McDonalds on Birmingham Road End straight across from the ground which is ideal for families visiting The Hawthorns. Very busy as you can imagine but service is swift. The away team bus arrives at Halfords Lane and offers a decent view of arriving players for young fans.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
The Hawthorns is an impressive ground with three imposing stands towering above the smaller West Stand. We were in the East Stand near the away section. It was ideal for watching the game and taking in the atmosphere. The ground is fully enclosed which is another positive feature.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Chelsea arrived as Premier League Champions and West Brom's Premier League status had already been secured, so there wasn't much for either side to play for. However, as end of season encounters go this was a very entertaining game. Both sets of fans were in good spirits which made for a lively atmosphere especially the Chelsea fans who sang and chanted throughout. Toilet facilities were good and keeping in line with other Premiership grounds the water is warm for washing your hands.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We were in the East Stand which meant after the game we had to walk all the way round the ground into to get back to train/metro station so if you are looking for a quick get away towards the station then the West Stand or the Smethwick End Stand would be advisable.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Very enjoyable match day experience. Hassle free by train. If the chance arose I would certainly make another visit to The Hawthorns.
West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa
Premier League
Monday November 25th 2013, 8pm
John Rogers (Neutral fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
Changes to the areas in which I work are providing opportunities to tick off a few grounds around the country whilst away on business. Completing the 92 is a secret ambition but I suspect I'm more likely to be aged 92 before I join that exclusive club.
The Hawthorns was a ground I last visited in 1979, so I was interested to see whether there was anything to remind me of my last visit. A free ticket came courtesy of a work colleague, who was supporting Albion.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
As a passenger in a car driven by a 'native' of West Bromwich, finding the ground was straight forward. The Hawthorns is situated right next to the M5. The big draw back to the motorway proximity is the awful congestion around the Birmingham area and the ubiquitous road works. The recommendation would be to allow plenty of time for the journey if travelling by road.
The Park Inn, a hotel just off the A41, is a ten minute walk from the ground and is a safe place to park the car. It cost £5 and registration numbers are recorded at reception.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
The Park Inn – welcoming; extensive bar area and no trouble.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The Hawthorns is quite small but has a modern appearance. Unfortunately there was insufficient time to wander round the ground before kick-off. We were seated in the Halfords Lane stand, opposite the big Rainbow East stand seen on tv. Away fans shared the segregated Smethwick End.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
As a Leeds supporter I am generally disappointed by the atmosphere generated by the home support at other grounds, which is often drowned out by Leeds fans' efforts. This occasion was very much an exception, no doubt partly because it was a west Midlands derby – the West Brom and Villa fans were at it from the first minute to the last, with an inventive and vociferous repartee.
Albion got off to a great start, with two quality Shane Long goals, but Villa were allowed back into the game and equalised with a screamer from Ashley Westwood. Cue mass hysteria among the claret and blue army.
The stewards had little to do in the stand I was in, where I think it was fair to say most of the supporters were of a more mature profile.
Refreshments were not sampled, but the big minus for the Halfords Lane Stand was the woefully inadequate leg room – not a problem if under 5' 6" or a contortionist; otherwise very uncomfortable.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
Exiting the ground was easy, but knowing that the traffic would be horrendous we returned to the bar at the Park Inn for a couple of drinks.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
It's never the same going to a game that doesn't involve your own team, but this was a good way to spend an evening away from home. The main memories of the evening will be the fantastic atmosphere and the home fans' rendition of 'Popov the Albion Man', to the tune of 'Popeye the Sailor Man'.
West Bromwich Albion v Chelsea
Premier League
Saturday November 17th 2012, 3pm
Joe Fowler (Chelsea fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
I always enjoy a trip to West Brom. Nice stadium, good team, and friendly supporters. Plus, relatively cheap tickets.
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Me and my mate got a train into Birmingham, then walked through the city (stopping for food at McDonalds) before getting on the metro to The Hawthorns. The walk took about 10 minutes, but it would have been longer if a fellow blue hadn’t of pointed us in the right direction!
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
We asked a couple of home fans where a good pub was with a T.V (so we could watch Arsenal destroy Spurs). We were told of an away friendly pub, so we followed them there. We got there to find that half of the furniture was broken/damaged, and that there was one tiny T.V. We left straight away. We then found a pub called the Royal Oak, which was on the main road. We managed to get a couple of seats, and sat down with some drinks and watched the match. There was a good mix if home and away supporters, and plenty of chanting. The bloke next to us had a lovely mixed grill, which smelled heavenly! We then headed to the ground, placing a cheeky bet en route.
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
We got to our seats just before kick off. Very good seats too. The away end is good, with a large concourse, and good views of the pitch. The rest of the ground is really tidy. There is a giant stand to your right, and a really small stand to your left. This gives the stadium a uniqueness that you don’t get at a lot of modern day stadia (City, Arsenal etc..).
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game itself wasn’t a classic. They took an early lead through Shane Long, but we equalised just before half time through Hazard. Spent the entire half time break queuing up for a beer. They were serving all sorts, but I stuck to Carlsberg (£3.20). Just as we were exiting the concourse, we heard a giant cheer. We polished off our drinks, and ran up the stairs to see the West Brom fans celebrating. Odemwingie had just put them 2-1 up. For the rest of the game, we dominated, with Sturridge missing chance after chance. Stewards were laid back, and I saw no trouble. We were stood for the full match, and received no hassle for it. West Brom fans were okay. Loud after their goals, but silent throughout the rest of the match.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
We left the stadium, and took one of the most long winded detours of my life. We had to walk around the entire stadium, to avoid clashing with home fans. This took at least 10 minutes. Got to the station, and jumped aboard an over-crowded metro train back to Birmingham station. Had a quick drink, then got on the train home.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
I found it to be a great day out, definitely one of the best this season. All pubs are away friendly, and not overly pricey! West Brom are a really good team and I wish them the best for the rest of the season. Would love to get them in the cup (away), but if not, I will just have to wait until next season to come back!
West Bromwich Albion v Blackburn Rovers
Premier League
Saturday April 7th 2012, 3pm
Robert Bury (Blackburn Rovers fan)
Being the second trip I had ever made to The Hawthorns and previously enjoying the first trip a few years back I was looking forward to a tightly contested match and maybe.. just maybe 3 points to help in Rovers relegation battle. Instead of going with my mates though as done previously this trip would be with my two brothers.
The journey for me and my brothers was made by car straight down the M6, jumping on to the M5 for a short stint to Junction 1 where on exiting the motorway the ground becomes clearly signposted and then becomes visible within minutes of leaving the motorway. All in all a very easy trip from Lancashire, the only bit then was a bit of tactical parking trying to find a spot we could quickly escape from after the game. We decided to drive just past the stadium and park down a side street but there are many car parks directly around the stadium charging the usual fees of £5 etc.
Before the game we needed to firstly purchase our tickets from the away end ticket office which is just beside the away turnstiles as we had only decided to come down to the game the night before! Once we had done this we saw no point in trying to find a pub so entered the stadium for a pie and beer… or two.
The stadium itself is a mismatch of different shaped stands but which try to retain the same style and doesn’t look too shabby considering. Inside it is completely enclosed in all corners even if these corners are not filled with seating. The away end has ample room even though we stood for most of the game. An interesting look about the away end is that it seems to curve upwards rather than go straight up like most stands, this leads to a good feeling when you are stood at the back as you can better see and feel the entire atmosphere in front of you.
The beers were what you would expect at most grounds serving plastic bottles of beer and cider and the pies although tasted good but fell apart very easily, I even remember one of my brothers dropping most of his on the floor. The toilets are quite small but for our following that day were not a problem, although I could see a bit of queuing with some pushing and shoving should a bigger team with more of a following visit. The stewards are one part of the day on both occasions that has let The Hawthorns down, this may be because the Blackburn fans can sometimes get rowdy but mainly a bit of over the top stewarding. This is seen on my first visit were the stewards closed in on the Rovers supporters and (in some cases) actually pushed them out the door. I do think this kind of strict stewarding creates more problems than it solves, usually resulting in the away supporters becoming restless.
The game itself started and West Brom quickly took charge dictating the tempo of the game, we knew we would be in for a long game and this was confirmed as West Brom took the lead to go 1-0 up. This was the case for most of the first half and Rovers didn’t seem to be able to get a foothold in the game going in still 1-0 down at half time. After the break we started very brightly and things were looking up with us testing the West Brom keeper on several occasions before disaster struck and West Brom pounced on the break to nick a second. This was later followed by a third and a Rovers sending off to compact a miserable display from Rovers, all in all not the best of games and a big nail in our Premier League coffin.
We left 5 minutes early due to a pathetic Rovers display and thinking it would be best to get away before the heavy traffic hit. Even though we did this the traffic outside the stadium was still fairly busy and I know from my previous experience that it can be very slow getting back to the motorway. Once we got there though it was plain sailing all the way back home thankfully with no motorway hold ups.
Overall not the best day out due to the result but I would definitely go again should the opportunity arise. There is something more appealing to me about older mis-matched stadiums that have a real feeling of history about them rather than many of the soulless new concrete bowls being built these days.
West Bromwich Albion v Norwich City
Premier League & FA Cup 4th Round Saturday 14th & Saturday 28th January 2012, 3pm
Mark Knowles (Norwich City fan)
Due to the luck of the FA Cup draw, Norwich had ended up with two trips to the Hawthorns in the space of a fortnight – in both cases we made the trip feeling pretty positive about our prospects of a win. The fact that West Brom is one of the easier away journeys from Norwich (though still a 300 mile round trip!) also meant that there was a big away following.
In terms of navigation, if you can fall off a log, you can probably manage to find your way to the Hawthorns. Once we came off the M5 there were plenty of options for parking – on our first visit for the league game we paid £4 to park in one of the industrial estate car parks; when we returned two weeks later in the FA cup we had more time so street parked for free a little further away from the ground.
As recommended in the guide, we headed to the Vine on Roebuck Lane for lunch and a pre-match drink. The place is a real Tardis – poky boozer front room, then an atrium bit, then a formica-tabled back room with barbecue and finally a large covered patio out the back. It was absolutely packed with a good friendly mix of home and away fans and several TVs to watch the early kick-off. They had a couple of quaffable local ales too, if fizzy lager isn’t your thing. The choice of food was particularly massive and deserves a mention– a normal pub menu and a blackboard full of curry specialities from the main kitchen, plus a kiosk in the back room doing pies, burgers and chips, then a separate barbecue kitchen with reasonably priced chicken tikka, naans and so on.
The ground itself is smart and modern, and the Astle gates add a touch of class for anyone who appreciates football from before the Premier League era. Entering the ground was quick and easy, with the barcode scanning turnstiles working well, although searches of away fans seemed to be routine. Once inside, the concourse is clean but a little small for the size of the stand.There were lots of TV screens scattered about inside. Our seats had decent leg room and a good view of the pitch, although on our second visit the jumbo screen to our right was partially obscured by a girder.
Football-wise, the league and the cup game followed a similar pattern, with Norwich scoring late to run out 2-1 winners on both occasions. It must have been a bit of a Groundhog Day feeling for the Baggies fans! During the league game, the noisiest section of home fans seemed to be in the same stand as us (to the left of the away fans), and managed to engage in a bit of banter. However, as the entire stand was given over to away fans for the cup game, this unfortunately meant these fans were displaced. As a result the atmosphere suffered, with no “core” to the home support – with 3000 loud away fans, it actually felt more like a home game in terms of atmosphere. Stewards were very hands-off and didn’t seem worried about standing.
At half time the queues for refreshments were pretty long, with only four kiosks serving the whole stand as far as I could see. For some reason they had post-office style security screens, which seemed unnecessary, and just meant you had to shout to get your order heard. The toilets were clean and spacious though, very good indeed for a football ground.
After the league game, the large gate separating home and away sides at the rear of the stand was closed, so away fans had to make a long trek down a path to the south-east of the stadium and onto Middlemore Road. This is fine if you’re travelling on the away coaches or returning to the station, but as we were heading back to our car near the M5 it added half a mile or more to our walk. Thankfully for the cup game we had the whole stand so were able to exit straight onto Halfords Lane. Once back at the car the queuing was not too bad and we were on the M5 quickly.
Obviously the fact we won both games helped, but overall we very much enjoyed our visits to the Hawthorns. The fact the ground is so easy to get to (and from) makes a real difference, so this is definitely a trip we’d be happy to make again.
West Bromwich Albion v Blackpool
Premier League
Saturday 15th January 2011, 3pm
Sean O'Neil (Blackpool fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
This was a game that the fans were waiting for. Having already beaten West Brom earlier in the season this was a chance for our second premiership double in a week. Also, proper fans!
2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Easy to get to and we parked in the 1st car park on the left as you leave the motorway.
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
First stop, pub! We walked past the ground and whilst the kids got a McDonalds we found a pub just up past Morrisons about a five minute walk past the stadium. It was a bit of a dump, but it was friendly with mainly tangerines inside…the Guinness was good!
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The ground looks really good, a traditional looking ground. I hate the soul less bowls we sometimes have to endure.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
Now.. the game was a gem! We lost 3-2 in a game that could have been 9-9. Both sides went for it big time and entertained a near as dam it full house. The atmosphere was fantastic, both sets of fans creating plenty of noise that the game deserved.
One gripe though…the stewards! The worst I have encountered in the Premier League so far and seemed to take great delight in removing people for standing! I have no problems with sitting down but please set the same rules for fans 15 feet away! A shame really because everything else was just about perfect. So a word of caution….stay sat down even if you are only 13 years of age.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
No probs…straight out and home in 2 hours
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Top day out, its rather good be a travelling tangerine at the moment!
West Bromwich Albion v Newcastle United
Premier League
Sunday 5th December 2010, 1.30pm
John Price (Newcastle United fan)
1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):
This was another new ground for me. Eventhough I had yet to see Newcastle win away so far this season (all the other away games that I had so far travelled to, we had lost), I was still hoping that we would pick up a valuable win at WBA, and considering our fantastic record away to WBA (unbeaten in 16 league matches) and with our form at the time, I was confident we had the beating of them.
2. How easy was journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I decided to go by train, eventhough the country was in the grip of the 'Big Freeze'. I was worried that the journey might become a bit of a nightmare (considering that in the prior week only 9.3% of trains across the whole of Britain actually ran to timetable), bit it turned out to be great. No problems at all. Well apart from just outside Birmingham they finally ran out of beer! Once we got to New Street, it was a short walk (all signposted) to Moor Street station, then on the train to The Hawthorns. The home fans on the train were find and I'm sure a raven idiot could find their way to the stadium from the station!
3. What you did before the game pub/chippy…. home fans friendly?
We didn't have much time before the game, so it was a case of a pint and a pie in the ground. Again, around the ground no problems with home fans despite the huge police presence!
4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?
The ground is fairly traditional although on the small side. The away fans were mostly searched before squeezing through the narrow turnstiles. The concourse is okay, just a little on the small side. On the subject of leg room I can't really comment as along with the other Newcastle fans, we stood for the whole of the game.
5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, toilets etc..
It was a fairly terrible performance by the magpies, with the home side scoring just before half time, who went on to take control in the second half, running out winners with an embarrassing score line to us of 3-1. I found the home fans to be fairly average, never really getting going despite their crushing 3-0 lead. There were a number of empty seats in the home sections so cue the empty seats songs from the usual large and vocal support of the Geordies. The stewards seemed fairly lenient and were friendly. Pies were good and hot. And as for the toilets, well I didn't use them but I never heard any bad complaints.
6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
The journey back to the station was to say the least interesting. As the Station was congested we needed to wait for a short while until the WBA fans had left.
7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
Well the game was awful, however I always enjoy away trips despite the score and this one was no different: plenty of beer, laughs and singing.