|
|
|
||
|
|
|||
|
|
West Bromwich Albion Ground Name: The
Hawthorns |
 |
|
| Contents | |
| What's The Ground
Like? Future Developments The Smethwick End (photo) What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? Birmingham Road End & East Stand (photo) Where To Eat & Drink? Halfords Lane Stand & Birmingham Road End (photo) How To Get There By Car & Where To Park By Train Ground Layout Programme & Fanzine Local Rivals Admission Prices Fixtures 2007-2008 Disabled Facilities Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Hotel Accommodation Feedback Return To The Main Menu |
|
| What's The Ground Like? | |
| With the completion of
the East Stand in 2001, the Club had achieved its
objective in completely re-building the Hawthorns and making it a modern
stadium. Not only has the ground received a much needed face lift,
but it is now totally
enclosed and all seated.
The East Stand is an impressive, large single tiered stand, which has been
well integrated with the rest of the ground. It has a row of executive boxes
running along the back, and to each side of the stand
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. This stand, which
is well setback from the pitch, has been
designated as a no smoking area. On the other side is the
relatively new but smaller, Halfords Lane Stand, stretching 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, which is also a
relatively new stand. Two new video screens have been installed in opposite
corners of the ground, one at the Smethwick End side of the East Stand and
the other in the opposite corner of the Halfords Lane 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. One strange fact about the Hawthorns is that it is the highest ground in England (in terms of feet above sea level). |
|
|
Jordan Muckley informs me; 'Following the purchase and demolition of the Woodman Pub, which sat outside one corner of the ground, between the Birmingham and East Stands, the Club have applied for planning permission to re-develop this part of the stadium, so that ground capacity can be raised to over 30,000. This will see the corner being 'filled' to the same height as the East Stand. The Club also have plans at some point to re-develop the Halfords Lane Stand'. |
|
| The Smethwick End | |
|
|
| What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? | |
| 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 fans,
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. 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 a visit in terms of a day out is a 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 has an
uncomfortable feel, especially when there is a large away support.
One tip on finding your seat in this stand, is to remember that although
your ticket is marked with the letter of the row, say Row B Or Row LL, the
plates indicating the row in the stand read B1 or LL1. As you would expect
a number of fans get confused by the addition of the number 1 and start to
wander around the stand looking for their seat. So you have been warned.
Also in first gaining entry to the stand, the Club
operate automatic turnstiles, where you have to put your ticket (which has a
bar code on it) into a slot reader, which then allows the turnstiles admit
you. There are stewards on hand if you get a problem and on my last visit
fans were also being searched before entering the ground. Strangely I
noticed that fans were not allowed to bring in take away food from the
nearby McDonalds. Look out for the West Brom Mascot called 'Baggie Bird', who does a good job of entertaining the away fans before the game. This even involves going in goal and challenging players to take a shot! |
|
|
|
| Where To Eat & Drink? | |
| Huw Morris, a West Brom fan, recommends
'The Vine' which is
about a 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
walk to the ground. If you continue towards West Bromwich going over a small
mini roundabout, then on the right just before the lights is the Desi
Junction pub. This Asian run pub does an excellent 'Balti Buffet'. For
£4.95 per adult, you can each as much as you like and I found the food to be
pretty good. The buffet is available all day on a Saturday and you can wash
it down with a pint of Cobra beer. Alcohol is also available within the
ground (on my last visit £2.30 for a can of Carling or Worthington), along
with the
delicious
'Football's Famous Chicken Balti Pie'
(£2.20). 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!). We found it to have a friendly atmosphere'. |
|
|
|
|
| How To Get There By Car & Where To Park | |
| The ground 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. Street parking or alternatively there are a
few private matchday car parks at some local industrial units near the ground, or at
Hawthorns station which costs £4. For a map showing the location of the ground click here (to take you to the Street Map website). To go to a simplified page, containing the directions and pub info, which you can print out click here. |
|
| By Train/Metro | |
| The closest railway stations are The Hawthorns which is about five minutes walk from the ground and Smethwick Rolfe Street, which is about a 15 minute walk from the ground. The Hawthorns is served by a Metro service from Birmingham Snow Hill station, whilst Smethwick Rolfe Street is served by local trains from Birmingham New Street. The Metro service takes eight minutes to the Hawthorns from Birmingham Snow Hill and trains run every 15 minutes. Please note though that train tickets are not valid on the Metro and that you have to buy a separate ticket for it (ask for a £1.50 matchday special adult return). C Price adds; 'On Halford Lane just below the train/metro stop is a chip shop called the Hawthrones (which yes is spelt incorrectly). Fish and chips cost under £2 and are of good quality and it also serves pies and kebabs'. | |
|
|
| Programme & Fanzine | |
| Official Programme £3 Baggies Newspaper Fanzine - £1.50 |
|
| Local Rivals | |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers, Birmingham City, Aston Villa. | |
| Admission Prices | |
| Home Fans: East Stand (Upper Tier) - Adults £28, Over 60's/Under 18's £17 Under 16's £14 East (Lower Tier) & Halfords Lane Stands - Adults £26, Over 60's/Under 18's £15 Under 16's £13 Birmingham Road & Smethwick Ends - Adults £23, Over 60's/Under 18's £14 Under 16's £11 Away Fans: Smethwick End - Adults £23, Over 60's/Under 18's £14 Under 16's £11 |
|
| Fixtures 2007-2008 | |
| For the West Brom fixture list click here (to take you to the BBC Sports Website). | |
| Disabled Facilities | |
| For details of disabled facilities at the ground please visit the relevant page on the National Association Of Disabled Supporters (NADS) website. You may also wish to check out the West Brom Disabled Supporters Club website. | |
| Record & Average Attendance | |
| 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: 2006-2007: 20,472 (Championship League) 2005-2006: 25,404 (Premier League) 2004-2005: 25,987 (Premier League) |
|
| Fans Reviews Of The Hawthorns | |
|
Alan
Hood (Hull City) 5/8/06 Simon Block (Tottenham Hotspur) 28/12/05 Stuart Watson (Arsenal) 26/12/02 |
|
| Hotel Accommodation | |
| If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Football Hotels who are powered by Activehotels, who specialise in locating accommodation near or within a short travelling distance of the football ground. They also have the added advantage over some other hotel booking services that you pay on departure. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will go to help with the running costs of keeping the Guide going. To access their West Bromwich page click here. | |
| Feedback | |
| If anything is incorrect or you have something to add,
please e-mail me and I'll
update
the guide. |
|
|
|
|
