Away fans guide to st andrews

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By Todd Grainger
December 21 2005

planning on coming to st andrews?? well then read this! This is a the description of things to do etc, when you visit st andrews.

Ground Name: St Andrews
Capacity: 30,016 (all seated)
Address: St Andrews Ground, Birmingham B9 4NH
Main Telephone No: 0121-772-0101
Fax No: 0121-766-7866
Ticket Office No: 0121-202-5333
Pitch Size: 115 x 75 yards
Club Nickname: The Blues
Year Ground Opened: 1906

Whats the ground like?
Approximately three quarters of the ground have been rebuilt since the mid 90's. One large single tiered stand, incorporating the Tilton Road End & Spion Kop, completely surrounds half the pitch and has replaced a former huge terrace. At the back of the Spion Kop Stand, which runs along one side of the pitch, are a row of executive boxes, as well as a central seated executive area which also incorporates the Directors 'box'. The other new stand, the Railway End was opened in February 1999. It is a large two tiered stand, unusual in having quite a small top tier, called 'The Olympic Gallery', which overhangs the lower tier. Again there is a row of executive boxes in this stand, housed at the back of the lower tier. Only one 'old' stand (it was built in the early 1960's), the Main Stand, now remains of the former St Andrews. This is a two tier stand running along one side of the pitch, with a row of executive boxes across its middle.

Future Developments:
The Club are in talks with Birmingham City Council about the feasibility of building a new 60,000 capacity stadium on the East side of the city. It is believed that if the scheme were to proceed, the design would be based on the Melbourne Dome in Australia and will feature a retractable roof. The stadium would be used for a number of other sporting events such as athletics as well as football. In view of this the club have shelved for the time being the proposed £12m re-development of the present Main Stand, which would have increased the overall capacity of St Andrews to around 36,500.

What's it like for visiting fans?
Away supporters are housed on one side of the Railway Stand's lower tier where the normal allocation is 3,000 tickets, but this can be increased to around 4,500 for cup games. There are Birmingham fans housed above the away supporters, as well as to the other side of the stand (fans are separated by plastic netting). The facilities and the view from this stand are pretty good. There is the normal array of food on offer, such as pies, burgers and rollover hot dogs, plus a deeper version of the 'Chicken Balti Pie' (£2) by Wrights pies. It is worth bearing mind that a certain section of Birmingham fans are particularly passionate about their club and this can make for an intimidating atmosphere for away supporters. I would advise as a precaution to keep your club colours covered around the ground or in the city centre.

John a visiting Burnley informs me; 'The beer inside the ground was drinkable and the Balti pies were delicious! On the downside, the seat I had been allocated was in Row 21 seat 002 which was right up against the wall. I've had more legroom on a package tour flight to the Canaries! What really annoyed me were a small section of the City fans who spent the entire game screaming abuse and gesturing to the away fans'.

Alan Sexton a visiting West Ham supporter adds; 'The ground itself is three quarters of the way to being a top class stadium but desperately needs a new Main Stand. If this is built, joining with the Tilton Road and Railway Stands then St Andrews will be one of the best if not the best ground in the Midlands. Atmosphere wise it was the best ground I have visited all season for sheer volume before and during the game. As for the concourses they left little to be desired and were extremely crowded, the scrum to try and get a pie was not for the faint hearted'.

Well, having watched the Blues since 1972, I can honestly say that I have almost seen it all. The good, the bad and the ugly. The atmosphere at some games can be electric, at others virtually non existent. The club itself has come on a great deal under the ownership of David Sullivan and the Gold brothers and the stadium has been transformed. The crowd when on form can still give a great rendition of the Blues anthem 'Keep Right On To The End Of The Road'.

Where to eat and drink!
The pubs near to the ground can be quite intimidating for away supporters and are not recommended. Best to drink in the city centre and get a taxi to the ground (about £4). Or if you are coming by car you can stop on the way at the Gosta Green or The Sacks Of Potatoes at Aston University. These pubs are about a ten minute drive from the ground on matchdays. (see directions below). If coming by train then either drink in the city centre or if walking up to the ground, you may care to stop at the Anchor Pub on Bradford Street, renowned for its range of real ales on offer, and named Birmingham 'CAMRA Pub Of The Year' on more than one occassion. Although there are a number of Blues fans that frequent the pub they tend to be of the CAMRA bearded variety and therefore as long as you don't turn up mobbed handed, you should be okay. The pub is situated just behind Digbeth coach station. Otherwise alcohol is served within the ground.

Just across the road from the entrance to the away section is a 'Big W' outlet which inside has a reasonably priced cafe. There is also a McDonalds a short walk away, going back towards the city centre.

How To Get There By Car & Where To Park:


Leave the M6 at Junction 6 and take the A38(M) (known locally as the Aston Expressway) for Birmingham City Centre. Continue past the first turn off (Aston, Waterlinks) and then take the next turn off, for the Inner Ring Road.
Turn left at the island at the top of the slip road and take the Ring Road East, sign posted Coventry/Stratford. (For the Gosta Green Pub turn right at the first traffic lights and the pub is over the bridge on your left and The Sacks Of Potatoes further up on the right). Continue along the ring road for two miles, crossing straight across three islands. At the fourth island (there is a large McDonalds on the far left hand corner) turn left towards Small Heath. Birmingham City's ground is about a 1/4 of a mile up this road on your left. The ground is well sign posted on the Inner Ring Road.

Important Notice - M6 Junction 6 Closed Until November 04.
Alternative directions from the South:
Leave the M6 at Junction 5 and turn right at the island onto the A452 towards Sutton Coldfield. Go over a hill and keep to the left hand land, turning left at Spitfire island onto the A47, towards Birmingham City Centre/Fort Shopping Park. Proceed along the A47 for about five miles going 'straight across' the next six roundabouts. When you reach the 7th roundabout turn left onto the A4540 inner ring road towards Stratford/Birmingham Airport. Go across two more islands and at the third turn left (there is a large McDonalds on the far left hand corner) turn left towards Small Heath. Birmingham City's ground is about a 1/4 of a mile up this road on your left.

There is a car park at the ground but this is for pass holders only. There is though plenty of street parking off the left hand side of the ring road. Either around the small park at the third island you cross or along the road next to and behind the BP garage before the fourth island. Bear in mind that if you arrive after 1.30pm these areas are likely to be already full. There are some local schools and businesses that offer parking facilities for around £3-£4.

Coming by train??
The nearest station is Bordesley, which is about a ten minute walk away from the ground, but is only served by trains from Birmingham Snow Hill. If you arrive at New Street Station in the city centre, either walk to Snow Hill (ten minutes) take a taxi (about £4) or embark on the 20 minute walk to the ground.

As you come onto the concourse of New St station, bear to the left of the escalators and through the glass doors. Walk down towards to the end of the Station Service Road. Cross to the other side of the road at the bottom (where there is a new shopping centre) turn right and follow the purple pedestrian signs for Digbeth Coach Station. These will see you descending a flight of stairs at the side of the shopping centre on your left and then going down a road with the Markets on your right and a large church on your left. Follow this road around to the right and then take the next left to take you up to the main dual carriage way. Turn right along the dual carriageway, passing Digbeth Coach Station on your right and the impressive looking Crown Pub on your left. Cross over the dual carriageway to the Crown pub side of the road and continue walking away from the City Centre. You will come to a fork in the road where you want to bear left going underneath a railway bridge. Passing the Clements Arms on your left just continue straight down this road, crossing a large roundabout (with a McDonalds over on one corner). The entrance to the away section is further up the road on your left.

Otherwise you can take the following buses from the city centre. No's 96, 97, 58 & 60. The 97 & 98 can be found in Carrs Lane in the city centre. As you come off the platform and onto the station concourse, go straight up the escalators in front of you. At the top the escalators turn left and keep in that direction so that you leave the shopping centre by going down a long ramp. Turn right at the bottom the ramp into New Street and continue to the bottom. Then turn left into the High St and just past Marks & Spencers on the right is Carrs Lane. Turn into Carrs Lane and the bus stops are down on the left by the church.

What do the Blues fans sing?
The 'End Of The Road' has been sung at St Andrews since the mid 1950's and is still popular today:

As you go through life,
Its a long long road, there'll be joy's and sorrows to,
As we jour-ney on, we will sing this song,
For the boys in royal blue,
We're often partisan, la, la, la,
We will jour-ney on, la, la, la,
Keep right on to the end of the road, keep right on to the end,
Though the road be long, let your hearts be strong,
Keep right on to the end,
Though you're tired and weary, still journey on,
Till you come to your happy abode,
Where all the love, you've been dreaming of,
Will be there (where!), at the e-nd of the road,
Birmingham! Birmingham!

Were On Our Way, Were On Our Way,
Were On Our Way, Were On Our Way, On Our Way, On Our Way,
How we get there I don't know, how we do there I don't care,
All I know that Blues are on their way!

Never felt more like singing the Blues
I never thought that I'd ever lose,
without you, you got me singing the Blues

S**t On The V**a (sung to the tune Roll Out The Barrel).

Other important details:
Prices;
Adults £32-£40.
Concessions £16-£20.
Matchday Magazines;
Official Programme £3.
Zulu Fanzine - £1.
Made In Brum Fanzine - £1.
Hotels;
If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Superbreak in conjunction with the Travel Factory. 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 the service click here.
Record Attendance;
66,844 v Everton
FA Cup 5th Round, February 11th, 1939.