Going on an away day is one of the best things about being a football fan in the United Kingdom. Most grounds are accessible on a day trip regardless of where you are in the country.
However, while away days are often a ‘no expense spared' event if you only do one or two a season, for those who go to most, if not all, away matches, there can be times when a cheap trip is a necessity.
If you're looking for information on how to save money on your away days, our top tips below should help you enjoy a budget-friendly trip.
How to save money on your away days – five top tips
Book your travel as soon as possible
This is easier said than done, given how late in the day broadcasters like to mess around with kick-off times and fixture dates, but booking your travel and accommodation as soon as possible is a good way to save a bit of money.
While hotel prices can fluctuate over time, purchasing train tickets as early as humanly possible is guaranteed to save you money. If you decide to leave this until the last minute,, you could end up paying more than double what you would have paid had you booked it when you first secured your match tickets.
Purchase a railcard
Following on from the previous point, a railcard should be considered an absolute necessity for anyone planning on going on multiple away days throughout a season. Even if you only plan on going on four or five away trips, the cost of a railcard will work out in your favour in the long run.
Railcards offer customers a discount on every train ticket they purchase. There are a variety of railcards available via the National Rail website.
Consider driving
A lot of the time, a train won't be the most cost-effective method of transport available for an away day. On top of that, there is always the obligation to buy some cans for the train journey, which also aren't cheap anymore.
While driving may remove an element of fun from your day, such as catching away day sleepers on the train or coach, it can sometimes be a cost-saving solution, particularly if there is a group of you going and you can split the fuel and parking costs between everyone.
Tough day for the Stoke boys @AwayDaySleepers pic.twitter.com/V1fxOUHV1N
— Sam (@Samthfc96) September 14, 2024
Don't stay over unless absolutely necessary
While Plymouth fans will look at this suggestion and sigh, there isn't always a need to stay over before and/or after an away day. While trains are unreliable, there is usually a way to get to and from an away match in a single day in this country, even if it means booking a coach or driving, as suggested earlier.
Staying over often adds an unnecessary amount of money onto an away day not only due to the cost of a hotel but also due to the fact you will then need to find a place to eat nearby and then again in the morning for breakfast.
Search for pubs with happy hour deals
A huge part of an away day for most football fans in the United Kingdom is the trip to the pub before the match. Visiting a new city or town is exciting in itself, but it can be easy just to follow the crowd and end up in a pub that has marked up its prices for the day in anticipation of your visit.
Instead, do some research beforehand and see if there are any pubs in the local area that have happy hour deals. These are typically rare to find on a weekend, but for midweek fixtures, this shouldn't be too difficult.