A Visiting Supporters Guide to Headingley

Starting with the ground itself...

rlPlan of the stadiumrl

rlRoadmap of the arearl

The generally accepted area of the ground for pay-on-the-gate, standing, away supporters is marked as the Western Terrace on the stadium plan, access to this area is gained from the Kirkstall Lane (see streetmap) where both ticket and cash turnstiles (at most games) are located, access to the Western Terrace can also be gained from the St Michaels Lane turnstiles outside of the ticket office but definitely not from the Southstand turnstiles.

Food outlets and bars are available within the ground at the corner where the Western Terrace joins the North Stand, opinions as to quality and price will no doubt follow.

Parking at the ground

Official car parking spaces at the stadium are as rare as rocking horse and it is highly unlikely that you will be able to just turn up and find one, if you have one as part of your corporate entertainment package then you will find the official car parks on St Michaels Lane (see streetmap above)

The streets around the stadium are residential but are mostly unrestricted for on street parking other than the few streets off St Michaels Lane behind the southstand (The Newports and Broomfields) and the street off Kirkstall Lane marked "the Tur" on Streetmap (actually called The Turnways), if you want to upset lots of local people who can't understand why you'd want to park outside their house or what on earth goes on every second Friday behind that wall at the back of their garden then by all means use their street, otherwise don't.

The good news is that the rest of the streets off Kirkstall Lane are all unrestricted for parking - you are in deep studentsville here and so are unlikely to find any resident who gives a flying one about you parking in front of their dosshole, parking around the Beechwoods and St Annes are also unrestricted but Police are always warning about theft from and of cars in these streets, this is also where your visiting coaches park (tee-hee).

Bars and Food Outlets in Headingley

(refer to Streetmap link above)

For pre and post match food and beverage outlets you are spoiled for choice in Headingley as unlike many other SL grounds the area around Headingley Stadium is student-central and rammed full of the sort of entertainment spots that the unwashed, unwaged enjoy, some targeted at the likes of Tarquin and Yolanda from Chelsea living on Mummy's generous allowance, others at those who only just managed to bag the minimum student loan by means of not truthfully answering all the questions on the application form - whatever your taste in pub, bar, restaurant, take-away or public library for a spot of pre-match light reading, then you will find it in abundance in Headingley.

The two main streets to head for (see streetmap above) are North Lane and Otley Road/Headingley Lane, no doubt there will be suggestions to follow as to which venue to offer your custom to but the two that spring immediately to mind are the traditional pre-match pubs at the junction of St Michaels Rd and Headingley Lane, The Skyrack and the Original Oak.

Most of the bars in Headingley use doorstaff and are tolerant of away supporters in team shirts on a match night (please note below if any are not, lets name and shame), if you are of an excitable nature and/or prefer to finish off your evening with about of fisticuffs then please note the mention of doorstaff and the fact that Headingley entertains a huge student population every night of the week and the Police are always on hand to help you into the back of one of their vans where you may or may not be educated in how to behave yourself while on the way to the nick - on the other hand this also means that Headingley is generally a very safe place for a post match night out.

Other reviews will no doubt follow...