West Bromwich Albion
The Hawthorns
Capacity:
26,850 (all seated)
Address:
Halfords Lane, West Bromwich, West Midlands, B71 4LF
Telephone:
0871 271 1100
Fax:
0871 271 9861
Ticket Office:
0121 227 2227
Pitch Size:
115 x 74 yards
Pitch Type:
Grass
Club Nickname:
The Baggies
Year Ground Opened:
1900
Undersoil Heating:
Yes
Shirt Sponsors:
Ideal Boliers
Kit
Manufacturer:Puma
Home Kit:
White and Navy
Away Kit:
Yellow and Green Stripes
The Hawthorns is a compact ground, that is totally enclosed, with the corners filled and is all seated. However, unlike most modern ‘bowl’ stadiums, the Hawthorns has 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 half time scoreboard) and maintains the links with tradition. Outside the ground on the same corner are 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 Club are believed to be drawing up plans to expand the capacity of the Hawthorns to over 30,000 by either redeveloping or adding an additional tier to the Halfords Lane Stand.
The expansion plans were benchmarked at a cost of £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.
Away fans are housed on one side of the Smethwick End, where the normal allocation is 3,000 seats. This means that this stand is shared with home supporters. For cup games, the whole of this stand can be allocated to away supporters, raising this figure to 5,200. The facilities and the view of the pitch in the Smethwick End are okay, although the leg room is a little cramped. The turnstiles open 90 minutes before kick off on Saturday afternoons. I have been to the Hawthorns on a number of occasions and have always found it to be a fairly friendly place. The only thing against it, in terms of a day out, is the lack of nearby pub for away fans, meaning that most elect to drink inside the ground instead. Considering that the concourse at the back of the Smethwick End is pretty small in comparison to its overall capacity, then it can have an uncomfortable feel, especially when there is a capacity away support. The Club allows those away fans who need a smoke to stand outside the ground at half time. Food available on the concourse includes; a range of Pies; Chicken Balti, Chicken & Mushroom, Cheese & Onion, Steak & Kidney (All £3.60), Pasties (£3.60) and Hot Dogs (£3.60).
There is a Club ‘Fan Zone’ located just across the road from the Stadium on the corner of Halfords Lane and Birmingham Road. This area has live music entertainment, a large screen showing the early kick off, plus food and alcoholic drinks are available. There is also a Greggs outlet nearby which is very handy. Currently 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!).
One annoying thing is that located by the away turnstiles is a huge metal gate. This is usually open before the match meaning that you can easily access the visitors turnstiles from Halfords Lane. However after the game has ended, it is normally closed, meaning that you can’t access Halfords Lane, Instead, you have to go in the opposite direction, walking along paths ways and streets taking you right around the other side of the ground. You can easily get back to the Hawthorns Station this way, but if you are parked on the other side towards the M5, it can be a pain.
Apart from the West Brom Mascot called ‘Baggie Bird’, the Club also have another ‘mascot’ this season in the form of the fan christened ‘Boiler Man’. This is from the Clubs Sponsors Ideal Boilers and due to its appearance, it has shall we say caught the attention of the away support!.
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 kick off, plus food (including a Greggs 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 into 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 1pm on Saturdays), plus has a beer garden with 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 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 on their car park for £5 and away fans are always welcome. There are plenty of families who meet in 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 the 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).
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 £23, Over 65’s £17, Under 23’s/Students £15, Under 18’s £10, Under 11’s £5
East Stand (Upper Tier):
Adults £23, Over 65’s £17, Under 23’s/Students £15, Under 18’s £10, Under 11’s £5
East Stand (Lower Tier):
Adults £20, Over 65’s/Students £15, Under 18’s £10, Under 11’s £5
Birmingham Road End:
Adults £20, Over 65’s/Students £15, Under 18’s £10, Under 11’s £5
Smethwick End:
Adults £20, Over 65’s/Students £15, Under 18’s £10, Under 11’s £5
Away Fans
Smethwick End: Adults £20, Over 65’s/Students £15, Under 18’s £10, Under 11’s £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.
West Bromwich Albion FC fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website).
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
2019-2020: 24,053 (Championship League)
2018-2019: 24,148 (Championship League)
2017-2018: 24,520 (Premier League)
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: contact@footballgroundguide.com and I’ll update the guide.
Special thanks to:
Owen Pavey for providing the ground layout diagram
Haydn Gleed for providing the YouTube video of the Hawthorns. The Hawthorns West Bromwich Albion Tour video was produced by IT10 Soccer and made publicly available via YouTube.
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.
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 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 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 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 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
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 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 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 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 AFC Bournemouth
Premier League
Saturday 12th August 2017, 3pm
Paul Sheppard (AFC Bournemouth fan)
West Bromwich Albion v Watford
Premier League
Saturday 30th September 2017, 3pm
Dave (Watford fan)
West Bromwich Albion v Huddersfield Town
Premier League
Saturday 24th February 2018, 3pm
Rachel Ryen (Huddersfield Town fan)
West Bromwich Albion v Swansea City
Championship
Wednesday 13th March 2019, 8pm
Gareth Taylor (Swansea City)
West Bromwich Albion v Swansea City
Premier League
Saturday 7th April 2018, 3pm
Ryan Law (Swansea City fan)
West Bromwich Albion v Tottenham Hotspur
Premier League
Saturday 5th May 2018, 3pm
Richard (Tottenham Hotspur fan)
West Bromwich Albion v Tottenham Hotspur
Premier League
Saturday 5th May 2018, 3pm
Paul Elphin (Tottenham Hotspur fan)
West Bromwich Albion v Bolton Wanderers
Championship League
Saturday 4th August 2018, 3pm
Mark Cartwright (Doing the 92)
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
David Smith (Bolton Wanderers)
West Bromwich Albion vs Mansfield Town
League Cup 2nd Round
Tuesday 28th August 2018, 8pm
Jack Richardson (Mansfield Town)
West Bromwich Albion v Bristol City
Championship League
Tuesday 18th September 2018, 8pm
Zafir Razavi (Bristol City)
West Bromwich Albion v Blackburn Rovers
Championship League
Saturday 27th October 2018, 3pm
Graham Brynes (Blackburn Rovers)
West Bromwich Albion v Leeds United
Championship League
Saturday 10th November 2018, 5.30pm
Shaun (Leeds United)
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 Brom Albion v Sheffield Wednesday
Championship League
Saturday 29th December 2018, 3pm
Luke Smith (Neutral)
West Bromwich Albion v Norwich City
Championship League
Saturday 12th January 2019, 3pm
John Holland (Norwich City)
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 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 Huddersfield Town
EFL Championship
Saturday 22nd September 2019, 12 noon
Paul Evans (Huddersfield Town)
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 Bolton Wanderers
Championship League
Saturday 4th August 2018, 3pm
Tom Harding (Bolton Wanderers)
Game Attended
West Bromwich Albion vs Luton TownCompetition
Sky Bet ChampionshipDate
14/08/2021Kick Off Time
3pmTeam Supported
LutonWhy were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
First away match with fans in for 18 months!! + also my first away in two and a half years (with being exiled away from beautiful Luton and all that), the two and a half year delay meant that my son was also old enough to come with meHow easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We were coming from Monmouth so a case of A40, M50 and then the M5. Found a tip on here from three years back to use a park and ride on one of the West Midlands Metro stops, we went on Wednesbury Parkway station as after researching it had around 200 spaces. We got at Wednesbury Parkway for 12:45pm and it took around 15 minutes to get to the ground, mine and my son's tram tickets costing under £10 (£10 approx parking anyway)What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Pre match McDonalds, there is one outside the ground and then headed for the ground as it was hammering it down (became sunny later), little bit early so weren't any many home fans at that pointWhat you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Outstanding view of the pitch, we was about half way up the away end and you could see the entire pitch unrestricted. Seeing the ground looked nice as well from the outside but I am a sucker for grounds in urban/residential/industrial areas as opposed to grounds in the middle of nowhere. Inside the grounds the stands are all 4 different heights and compliments each other really wellComment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Atmosphere was good from the Luton fans, went a bit subdued with the West Brom fans as the game went on. Didn't have any pies or anything, stewards ok The game itself started as a shambles, going 1-0 down in under 5 minutes and then going 3-0 down further on. Also big old Clicker (Jordan Clark) suffered a horrific injury, also my young son's favourite player so it was extra hard. After that, the game shaped up, we pulled it back to 3-2 and could have made it 3-3 in the 16 (sixteen) minutes added on at the end, alas West Brom held on for an exciting injury time to say the leastComment on getting away from the ground after the game
Tram back to Wednesbury Parkway and then skidaddled on our way back to Monmouth, back on the M5 in less than one hourSummary of overall thoughts of the day out
Decent day out, nice away end, easy travel, weird game, atmosphere could've been better, 6.5 out of 10Images
Game Attended
WBA v Derby CountyCompetition
ChampionshipDate
14/09/2021Kick Off Time
8.00pmTeam Supported
Doing the 92Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
I took a couple of days off work as The Hawthorns was a ground I had always wanted to visit but had never actually actually been to.How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
We got a train from Euston to Birmingham New Street at about noon, arriving just before two. After spending a couple of hours at the hotel, we made our way to the stadium via the excellent West Midlands metro. From the Hawthorns stop it’s only a few minutes walk.What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Before the game we walked round the ground and visited the WBA store. The home fans seemed friendly.What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
I thought The Hawthorns was a ground with excellent views and leg room. I was also impressed with how close I was to the action.Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was pretty poor, with WBA failing to break down Derby’s defence in a scoreless match. The away fans were very loud and I bought chips and a couple of Pepsi drinks.Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
We traveled back to Birmingham via the metro and walked back to the hotel.Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
The Hawthorns is a great venue for football and superb value at £23 a ticket. The game was poor, but they can’t all be thrillers!Images
Game Attended
West Brom v Cardiff CityCompetition
ChampionshipDate
02/01/2022Kick Off Time
2.00pmTeam Supported
CardiffWhy were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
Missed several opportunities over the years to visit and for Cardiff a relatively near away game.How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
No problems up the M5. Lots of paid parking available but we went down into an industrial estate before the bp garage parked up there , seemed to be plenty of room. If coming from the M5 turn right at the side of the plumbers merchants. Other option for paying the BP garage was a fiver and very easy access. The others were a tenner and after the game took ages to empty.What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Greggs is right next to the ground. Also a starbucks, a McDonald's , subway located in quite a large new looking spar.What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Thought the ground would be bigger to be honest. Good view from the away endComment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Stewards outside hopeless, letting large queues build up. Instead of taking people aside to deal with the usual pointless bureaucracy, the whole queue had to wait. Inside was absolutely packed in a concourse not fit for purpose. Cardiff took 1800 . This was 45 minutes before kick off. Tip turnstiles on the left were much quicker than the ones on the right and both lead to the same area. Albion fans were up to silly nonsense giving the big one and we'll see you outside and I'll take you all on, that rubbish. As per usual nobody did we emerged. Big metal gate was shut so as reported elsewhere walked all the way around which took about 10 minutes.Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
By the time we got back to the car about 20 minutes after full time our car was the only one left on the industrial estate road. Short queue on to the M5 , cars still emerging from the paid car parks at this time. Probably the best located ground in the country for driving to. 500 yards from a motorway junction and free parking.Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
A 1 all draw , three sendings off and end to end for the last 15 minutes. Not located in salubrious area, I would go again, but I think it's one you just go to the game and come home.Images
Game Attended
WBA vs BrightonCompetition
FA CupDate
08/01/2022Kick Off Time
3:00 PMTeam Supported
Brighton & Hove AlbionWhy were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
I was looking forward to attending a game at a ground I haven't been to, I've heard good things about the Hawthorns and with WBA's recent stint in the Premier League taking place behind closed doors I wasn't able to attend last season. The ticket was also an unexpected Christmas gift, which was also a positive - a free day out at a game I didn't expect to go to.How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I used the Seagull Travel feature Brighton and Hove Albion offered, for the first time ever, and it made the journey far easier and less stressful than previous away matches against teams north of London. Parked at the AMEX, hopped into a coach (after a brief roll call), a short break at a roadside service station and then arrived at West Bromwich just outside the stadium. The whole journey took about 3 hours altogether and we arrived about 2 hours early. We were dropped around the corner from the ground, which was easy to find with the help of Google Maps and some vague directions from the coach driver.What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
The ground was still closed so we headed to a pub - we asked a couple of West Brom fans for directions. They were friendly during our short chat and suggested we followed them to the nearest pub, but weren't particularly talkative. Inside the pub I spent much of it interacting with fellow Brighton supporters and generally left the West Brom fans to it. The pub was quite nice and spacious and the drinks were good, though due to the limited attendance it wasn't a matchday atmosphere!What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
The Hawthorns was quite an impressive ground with some nice statues and looked well taken care of (as opposed to some other grounds I've been to in the Premier League). I didn't get much of an opportunity to circle the ground as I'd left it a bit late, though I was impressed by the archetecture and it looked much bigger than it was. We'd walk through the front gates and around the ground, which initially seemed a bit strange given the lack of immediate staff, barbed wire fences and BT Sport vehicles/vans (it felt like we weren't supposed to be in that area of the concourse!) though we got to the away end fine. They had a dedicated food stall outside the away fans queue. I was very impressed by the spacious inside concourse, with there being more than enough room for all supporters in a fairly packed away end. A generic 'Hope You Enjoy the Hawthorns!' message was propped up outside and inside the ground. At the seats, given they were plastic they were good, clean, and the view of the ground was very nice.Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was decently competitive, the first half lacking goals and a very typical Brighton performance (dominant in possession, lack of penetration against the opponents defence and giving away opportunities on the break). Our fans were the only ones heard during the first half, and West Brom's limited attendance left the experience a little hollow, lacking the "banter" with home side fans which makes games fun as an away supporter. In the second half, West Brom scored early though I missed this (having gone to the concourse to get a drink and a programme) and their more hardcore fans near the away end perked up a bit. After a red card shortly after, Brighton continued pressing until eventually scoring with some impact subs making a positive impression, and we won after extra time. I enjoyed the matchday experience quite a lot, there were a lot of positives and some youth players impressed which is always what you want to see in a cup game! I make an effort to grab a meal at every ground I go to and I thought the food that West Brom offered was very nice, grilled properly and was not a "template" meal warmed in a cabinet like other grounds. It didn't feel like a rock in the stomach and filled me for the rest of the day. I felt that the food was fairly priced. Stewards were good and helpful, and answered any questions I had (directions, where to buy a programme, does it matter which turnstile I use, etc). I had a nice chat with a West Brom supporting cop before queuing into the ground. It was friendly, though they took their job seriously, especially with respect to pat-downs and COVID passes which I appreciated. Toilets were spacious and the indoor concourse had a lot of room as mentioned earlier. There were no queues in the men's loos. Hand driers were strong and efficient, it wasn't an old outdated model that didn't make much use. Hand sanitisers were also placed in and around the stadium which was, again, appreciated given the pandemic we were in. Graffiti looked scrubbed off, I could see patches where stickers were peeled off, but not completely. Some cheeky Cardiff fan placed stickers all around the urinals, entrance ways and on the menu above the food stall, though that game was a week ago so I'd let it slide. Hawthorns was in a good condition, and was sterile. I was impressed by the quality of the stadium loudspeakers, and I could hear the announcer perfectly clearly. I was dissapointed they didn't have a Brummie accent though. The tracklist was good, and the person I was with enjoyed the music. I feel like the stadium could deal with a sign for away supporters not familiar with the ground directing them to the away end (even if its easy to ask a steward, they might be busier on a "proper" league match day). Also, I couldn't find the programme stall, so I've settled with getting a copy via the club website/ebay. I think West Brom could consider having programmes being sold at the stall inside the ground, akin to the AMEX, Manchester City or Crawley Town.Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
This was made very simple, with away supporters being funneled out to the road we were dropped off in. A previously locked pathway from stadium to the surrounding area now opened up for supporters to traverse through. This led to where we arrived, and our coach was right outside. Easy. A waist-high gate near the end was only partially unlocked, leading to a "bottleneck" effect of the supporters exiting the ground being crowded out a bit less efficiently than it could. People tried to vault the gate/fence, a couple drunker fans struggled which, whilst amusing, could've led to an accident. I'm not sure why it couldn't have been fully opened, to be honest. The route back was like the first - quiet, relaxed 3-hour journey back to Brighton with an intermission at a service station. Overall, I enjoyed the route back.Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
I had really enjoyed the day, and I think irrespective to Brighton's victory (after extra time) I would've been satisfied with the day out to the Hawthorns, one of the better away grounds I've been to. I would like to go again at some point, to see how the experience might differ with a more crowded stadium and a better home atmosphere. Maybe in a league tie, though both us and West Brom would hope that'll be in the Prem, not the Championship :)Images
Game Attended
West Brom v Cardiff CityCompetition
ChampionshipDate
17/08/2022Kick Off Time
20:00Team Supported
Cardiff CityWhy were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
First away day of the new season- had some entertaining games at the Hawthorns previously- and it’s only 2 hours away!How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
The ground is a stone’s throw from J1 M5, making it a piece of cake to find- I used an app to park on someone’s drive around 10 mins walk away, which made the journey up easier.What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
The Mecca of the Hawthorns is the massive Greggs outside- so I treated myself! No issues with home fans, but I got in the ground nice and early (a good 1 hour and 15 minutes before kick off).What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Been here numerous times before, though the away concourse has had a recent refurb- it is bright and spacious, though could probably do with another kiosk when sold out. Only away end I’ve seen with wooden flooring to date! Rest of the ground is one of my favourite in the division- modern but retains character and charm.Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
The game was as drab as we could’ve hoped for- 99.9% of City fans would’ve taken a 0-0 before a ball was kicked! Stewards, it could be argued, were a bit overzealous, however our fans aren’t the brightest either…Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Gridlock on Halfords Lane (the road the stadium is on) for a good half hour after the game, which wasn’t ideal as I had work the following morning, however I’ve been stuck in worse.Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
No doubt a ground I’ll frequent in future as I have done over the years- as long as WBA keep giving us points on the road!Images
Game Attended
WBA V Swansea CityCompetition
ChampionshipDate
01/10/2022Kick Off Time
3pmTeam Supported
Swansea CityWhy were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
Never been to The Hawthorns before, looked forward to visiting an old school ground.How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
Simple journey up the M5 to junction one. Turned first left off the motorway exit roundabout, then 1st right and right again into the Mercure hotel car park £10, paid in cash at entrance.What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Went into the hotel bar and had a nice pint of Stella. (£5) Walked the 0.7 miles to the ground. Didn't really interact with home fans, so can't comment there. Am a 53 yr old bloke traveling alone, so had no hassle.What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Impressive looking ground from the outside, great big wooden floor concourse. Plenty of leg room, we took 1850 fans but still found a seat no problem. Nice classic four stands made to look like one.Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Brilliant game. We started well and went in at half time 1-0 up but in the second half WBA came back into it and scored two avoidable goals to take the lead. We equalised not long after their second then they had a penalty which our keeper saved! We then scored an 87 minute winner. Great singing from our fans, very little from West Brom fans. I had a coffee, card only no cash, it was ok.Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Walked back to the Mercure hotel. Big queue trying to have the hotel. Decided to have a pint and let the queue die down. 30 minutes later, there was STILL a queue!! Sat in the car and had a couple of cheese rolls, then the queue miraculously cleared! Straight into the M5 and a straightforward to back to SwanseaSummary of overall thoughts of the day out
Would come back. Great ground, easy to get to. Always a better day out when you win away!Images