Bramall Lane – Sheffield United

SeasideEssexXile previews Bramall Lane – Sheffield United

What better way to celebrate Christmas then a trip to Bramhall Lane. On paper, at the start of the season at least, this was arguably going to be one of the toughest tests of the season. A club that has enjoyed a recent taste of the high life and all the trappings that comes with it. £6,000,000 for a striker shows what financial rewards await those that visit the promised land, no matter how briefly. Boxing Day this year provides us with an opportunity to show exactly how far we have come. Late September we were outplayed for 45 minutes before we arguably produced one of our best displays of the season in the second half. In a game that should have been won, 3 months later Pool now sit just 4 points behind The Blades, and a win on Wednesday would go a long way to showing everyone in this league that, although we sing it at most grounds, 2007 really is the year that “Blackpool are back”.

The Ground
Bramall Lane is a ground that has real character. 3 decent stands, the corners are filled in, and behind a goal there is still a kop. With a capacity of over 32,500 plans are afoot to replace the kop with a 2 tier stand, which will increase the capacity by a further 4000. We are allocated the Bramall Lane End (Haliwell Stand – behind a goal) which can hold approx 3000 fans. The view is good as the stand is quite steep. Pay on the gate should mean a decent Pool following.

How to get there
From the North: M55, M6, M61 then the M60. Leave the 60 at J24 and join the M67 (signposted A57, M67, M’cr city centre, Denton, Hyde, Sheffield. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A57 (signposted Barnsley, Sheffield, Glossop, A628, A616) At the traffic signals continue forward onto the A628 (signposted Sheffield, Barnsley) At roundabout take the 3rd exit onto the A616. Branch left, then turn right onto the A629 Turn right onto the A61 At the roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A61 (signposted City Centre) At the roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A6134. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit onto the A61 At the roundabout take the 3rd exit onto the A621, you can see the ground from here. Plenty of street parking available around the ground.
Alternatively if using the M1 exit at Junction 34, follow signs for Sheffield A6109 Meadow Hall Lane, at the roundabout take fourth exit into Sheaf Street, at the 2nd roundabout take the 5th exit into St. Mary’s Rd (for Bakewell), after 0.5 miles turn left into Bramall Lane.
From the South: Take the M1 and exit at Junction33. Take the A57 to the roundabout take the 3rd exit into Sheaf St, then as above.
For the Virgin lovers amongst us – The ground is walkable from Sheffield mainline train station, (10-15mins). As you come out of the station, walk left along the main road. Where the road splits take the right fork which is Shoreham Street and continue down this road to the ground.

Where to drink
The favoured pub for away fans is the ‘Royal Standard’ on St Mary`s Road (A61), near to McDonalds. About a ten minute walk away on Queens Road is ‘The ‘Earl’, further along the road from the away end (about 3/4’s of a mile past the B&Q on the left) is the Bridge pub, alternatively ale is on sale inside the ground.

Plod & Stewards -Should be a relatively low key affair.

Fear Factor Rating – 6

Our ‘other` visit to Sheffield earlier in the season ended in one of our most lacklustre displays of the season so far. In this time of Christmas tunes, one of most football fans` favourites is “Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way.” Here`s hoping that come 5pm we`re ending this carol with the words -“Oh what fun it is to see Blackpool win away.”

Onwards + Upwards