I might be going to Leeds for business in late January. I would have a meeting on January 25.
I hope (if I go) to get to some Premier League games. I’m thinking of going to the Manchester United v. Aston Villa game on Saturday Jan. 22. Unfortunately, the Sunday Arsenal v. Newcastle match is sold out. But I’d also like to go to the Blackburn v. Bolton game on Monday.
Is this a huge headache or is there a fairly reliable way of getting to these places from Leeds? Also, if the Man Utd game doesn’t work out I will try to get to some other game. Here’s a list of the rest of the matches:
Southampton v Liverpool
Birmingham City v Fulham
Chelsea v Portsmouth
Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur
Everton v Charlton Athletic
Norwich City v Middlesbrough
West Bromwich Albion v Manchester City
Are there any games that will be too much of a pain for me to get to?
I appreciate any help. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I get to take this trip.
I have no idea (although nothing in England is far from anything else in England by American standards ) but I can ask my SO tommorrow. He grew up there. I can also tell you where to get the best fish and chips in England (which happens to be in Leeds :))
You should get in touch with the respective clubs’ ticket offices first and find out if tickets are available. It isn’t always possible for non-season ticket holders to attend games.
Damn right. I’m from Leeds as well. You’d be best off hitting the respective club websites for ticket info there Zoff. Whereabouts are you staying? In the city centre?
And what the hells wrong with going to see Leeds play at Elland Road? Its about a 10 minute bus ride out of the city centre. My boys need all the support they can get at this point in time.
Leeds has a major intersection railway station (probably the easiest way to get to most of the matches he mentions) and a major bus / coach station.
Biggest thing is to watch the return part of the journey - some like the Southampton game could be a challenge to get back from. Oh yes, the other one just in case he’s not worked it out is that when we set out matches the home team is named first not second as with you guys!
Hope it helps"
Although he neglected to give me the name of the chippie. Paul?
I’m sure your husband has a favourite, i’m just talking about nigh on all of them being good. Northern fish & chips kick the souths arse anyday. Leeds - Southampton will probably take about 9 hours on a coach and 5 on a train at the very least. And thats one way. Bit of a trek for a football match.
What the others said - the Everton, Birmingham and West Brom matches are the best options, all two-ish hours by train. Although tickets for Everton are probably hard to get hold of at present.
…plus, don’t overlook the other nearby Championship teams (bleaugh, I still hate that name - what was wrong with Division One?). Both Sheffield teams plus Burnley are all easier to get to, and all have great crowds.
Thanks. I checked a couple of websites and they seem to sell to non-season ticket holders. I don’t know if that’s true for all clubs, though, so that’s something I’ll have to check. That could very well eliminate some options.
I don’t know where I’m staying yet. I have a meeting at the University of Leeds so that will likely influence my decision.
I’m a fan of Leeds as a matter of fact, but they’re away at Stoke the weekend I’m in Leeds.
I’m keeping that in mind. I couldn’t live with myself if I went to England and didn’t see at least one Premier League game, but the atmosphere at the lower division games seems great from my limited exposure (mostly FA Cup game broadcasts).
betenoir tell your SO thanks for the information. Any recommendations on the best fish & chips are always welcome!
I think I’ll try to avoid 5 hour train rides. But it looks like I have a lot of options.
Man knows his chips. I’ve eaten from Brians a few times whilst in the midst of the Otley run. You should get your husband to take you on that run should you ever find yourselves back in that neck of the woods. Not far away from where Zoff will be either, bottom end of Woodhouse Lane where the Uni is leads you straight up there.
I would have said the Red Lamp on Wide Lane, Morley as the best chips I ever did eat, but my Dad tells me it shut down when the Proprietor (also called Brian) retired last year. Boooo!
Dr Paul, for the fight against fish & chip ignorance in Leeds.
Since I’m imposing on some of you already I might as well take full advantage.
I will be staying at 42 The Calls which, from what I gather, is near the city center. Any information on good stuff in the area would be appreciated.
I’m flying in Saturday at around 10:00 am. Am I cutting it too close or do you think I can make a match in a fairly close city (maybe Everton)? Obviously I’m in trouble if I run into flight delays, but assuming I’m on time I hope to make a dash for the train and get to a game.
Well, if you coming out of Leeds/Bradford to the Calls, allow an hour or so for grabbing your bag and getting a taxi into town. The Calls is about 5-10 minutes walk from the train station - a train to Liverpool for the Everton match will probably take about an hour or so - the fast train takes 2h25 to London, so i’m guessing there, it might be less than that.
So i’d say you got a pretty good chance of making somewhere with a 3pm kick off.
Another good thing about Leeds is you can walk right across the town centre from top to bottom in about 15-20 minutes. The Calls is at the bottom, but ou’re just off the main drag of the place, Briggate. Pubs you should check out:
The Palace, by the Parish church, literally at the end of the road from the Calls
Whitelocks on Briggate
You’re quite right. You’ll get a far better athmosphere in many lower division grounds than at Old Trafford.
You might be pushing it to get to Everton for 3pm - the fastest trains are nearly two hours (1hr 47m, to be precise, which they never are ). Burnley and Sheffield United are playing away, and Wednesday play on Friday night. Oldham are away, too…things aren’t looking too helpful…
Far better, if you’re free on the evening of Monday 24th, Blackburn are playing Bolton.
It seems all of the Midlands teams are fleeing town for my arrival, unfortunately. I was thinking of trying the West Brom v. Man City game but you can only buy tickets online if you’re a member or season ticket holder. It’s a later game so maybe my hotel can help me get tickets.
I plan on going to the Blackburn game but my concern is getting back to Leeds because it looks like the trains don’t run very late.
The pub recommendations are very much appreciated paulberserker. I will walk to one as a warm dork ruadh! They’ll know I’m American from my ten gallon hat and six-shooter, anyway.
I’m looking at the club honours for some of the teams at premierleague.com. I know what League Champion means, but what does F.A. Cup Winners and League Cup Winners mean?
Also, when did the Premiership start tracking assists? I always thought they didn’t, which I found very odd.
The FA Cup is a straight knowck-out competition. It’s not just for the professional teams - this year’s had 661 entries . The top two divisions join the competition in the third round proper, and the two lower divisions in the first round proper. But in theory, any of those 661 teams could win the competition.
The League Cup is another knockout tournament, for the teams of the four main divisions, and is far less prestigious than either the league proper, or than the FA Cup.
) but I can ask my SO tommorrow. He grew up there. I can also tell you where to get the best fish and chips in England (which happens to be in Leeds :))