Reading on Tuesday 19th September 2017 at 20:00

Address: Madejski Stadium, Bennett Road, Reading, RG2 0FL
Telephone No: 0118 968 1100
Website: www.readingfc.co.uk

What’s it like
The ground is really easy to get to, no pubs near and a nightmare to get away from. Away fans are behind the goal with excellent facilities, plenty of leg room and the views of the pitch are superb.

Due to its designs, we should be able to make a lot of noise here.

Visiting Reading
It’s an industrial town, with commuters travelling to London so lots of leisure facilities, but not much scenery.

There are a couple of museums, including the Museum of English Rural Life, holding a huge collection of objects, books and archives relating to food, farming and the countryside.

Booking.com

From Wednesday to Saturday, The Hexagon Theatre (RG1 7UA) has ‘Singing in the Rain’; tickets are £18.

Pubs and Grub
There are a couple of mobile bar units outside the East Stand for home and away fans. Apart from a Harvester (RG30 2ND) on the road towards Reading, there are no pubs near the ground. There are bars at the back of the stands, where Courage, Fosters, Guinness and Strongbow are sold.

The town centre has 10-15 pubs on Friar Street. All are pretty friendly, but wearing club colours may mean entrance is denied. Next to the ground on the Retail Park are McDonalds, KFC & Pizza Hut.

There is a Holiday Inn (RG2 0SL) with street parking a 15 minute walk away. There’s a small bar inside it, but attached is a big Irish bar, called Callaghans. It has Sky TV but gets hugely crowded and drinks are mega prices. Across the road from the hotel is a fish & chip shop.

Maybe head down Basingstoke Road and walk up over a hill, there’s a pub called ‘The World Turned Upside Down’ (RG2 0JE). Away fans are welcome and it serves general pub food and pizzas. From here, it’s a 15 minute walk to the stadium. If you arrive early, try the village of Three Mile Cross it has a few good pubs including ‘The Swan’ (RG7 1AT).

Parking
The official car park is a nightmare to get out. Don’t park in the nearby Business Park, unless you’re in a unit charging for parking, as you could be clamped.

If you want street parking, don’t bear left onto the relief road as you leave J11 of the M4, continue straight on and you’ll pass a few roads on your right, park in one of these and walk to the ground (10-12 minutes) and you should get away easily after the game.

There is a Park and Ride facility at Mereoak (RG7 1PB) near J11, with buses going to the town centre via the Madejski Stadium. Parking is free but return bus tickets are £3.50, Under 19’s £1.70, or a group ticket at £7 (up to 4 people).

Train
The station is over 3 miles away, there’s an F1 ‘Football Special’, from the railway station on Station Hill (turn right out of the main entrance and down the steps). Return fare is £4 and £2.50 for children and takes 15 minutes to the ground; no change is given on the bus.

After the game you have to go down to the main road and follow it all the way back to the pick-up point (a 15 minute walk).

Trains leave Swansea at 14:28, 14:55, 15:29 and 15:55 for the 2.5 hour trip. The only train back is at 23:23 getting into Swansea at 02:23

For the Travelling Jacks making the trip – Be Loud, Be Proud and Be Positive!