Tranmere Rovers 21.04.12

HOW TO GET THERE

CAR
From M6/M56 join the M53 and exit at Junction 4 and take the B5151 Mount Road from the fourth exit of the roundabout (the ground is signposted from here). After two and a half miles when Mount Road becomes Storeton Road, turn right into Prenton Road West and the ground will be visible on the right hand side.

PARKING
There is a car-park at the ground (£4) but spaces are limited so you may have to use street parking or local car-parks that open on a match-day. Beware of local resident parking schemes that are in operation in the area around the ground. Oh and the obvious risks of parking your car in Merseyside.

TRAIN
There are 2 stations that are around 15-20 minute’s walk from the ground. These are Birkenhead Central and Rock Ferry. Both are served by trains from Liverpool Lime Street Station, but you will need to check the national rail website for details of connecting trains. You can also change at Chester for either of these stations.

PUBS/FOOD
Birkenhead is a suburb of Liverpool, with good links for fans who want to sample the big-city hostelries before the game. There are many bars/pubs near to Lime Street Station that should be safe enough for Pools fans.

The following pubs are in the area near to the ground;

Mersey Clipper- Located right next to the main stand, this pub is naturally popular with home fans and can get very busy. Although away fans are admitted, you will find that it is predominantly locals drinking in here. Despite this you should have no problems, although I have been warned that for ‘bigger’ games the pub can become quite ‘lively’.

Prenton Park Hotel- This is another busy match-day pub, but the one most used by away supporters, probably due to its location right near to the away end. They have Sky Sports in case you chose to sit and watch the scores with 'Our Jeff' rather than the game itself.

Sportsmans Arms- A short stroll from the ground, this pub does exactly what it says on the tin. They offer a pool table, extra-cold lagers, Sky Sports and cheap & cheerful food. Sounds great, shame I can’t make it!!! This pub may not be popular with real-ale fans or traditionalists, but its lively atmosphere means it’s popular amongst home supporters and travelling fans alike.

Halfway House- This pub is a 10 minute walk from the ground and similar in style to the Sportsmans Arms, but not quite as busy.
 

PRENTON PARK- Capacity 16,567 (all seated)
Tranmere Rovers play at Prenton Park, a ground rich in character despite a total revamp in the mid-nineties. It is all-seated and offers stands of differing qualities and styles, from the impressive to the unusual, fans of new stadiums will hate the place.

Away fans are housed in the Cowshed Stand behind the goal. The name of this stand is deeply worrying and gives the impression that they don’t really want you to enjoy the game in comfort whilst visiting Birkenhead. Despite this the stand is not that bad and offers a good view and facilities that include a bar. The stand is unusual in that in order to fit between the pitch and the road it is shaped like a wedge, with one side having a lot less seats than the other. There are around 2,500 seats in this stand, with the centre section being used for smaller followings.

To the right is the large Main stand that has a formidable reputation as the quietist stand in football. I have read reports of fans being asked to keep the noise down in this part of the ground so please respect the wishes of the locals and talk quietly. This stand can accommodate around 6,000 noise-sensitive supporters as well as the usual boxes, restaurants and posh people.

To the left of the Cowshed is the Johnny King Stand that is a rather plain, simple all-seated stand that houses 2,414 home fans. The facilities on offer are far more basic than the main stand but you may actually be allowed to talk in here.

Behind the goal opposite the away fans is Kop Stand, which the club are rightfully extremely proud of. This is a huge and dominating structure that towers over the rest of the ground. It’s very similar to the Kop at Notts County and can house up to 5,696 home fans. This was the away stand at one time, but really is wasted on the crowds that Rovers get and its design deserves to be packed out and beaming with atmosphere on a regular basis.

SAFETY
Tranmere fans are a decent bunch and I have never known for us to have trouble at Prenton Park. Although the pubs near to the ground can get very busy, there are none that should be avoided and the game will be very low-risk.

PRICE