ThreeMatchBan
An away day is only partly about the football. The other half is finding a pub that will serve a visiting supporter without fuss, close enough to the ground to make kick-off and far enough from the home end to keep things friendly. These guides cover exactly that, ground by ground.
Each guide lists the pubs that currently welcome away fans, the ones that are home-only, the nearest stations and any matchday closures, and where the away section is inside the stadium. Pubs change hands and policies change too, so every guide has been checked again for the current season and closed pubs are marked as closed.
Grounds covered so far
The London guides start with Fulham and Craven Cottage, then Arsenal and the Emirates and Tottenham Hotspur. There is also a look at the cost of following your team, from train fares to the price of a pie.
Planning an away day
A good away day starts well before the train leaves. Check the ticket arrangements first: many clubs sell away tickets only to members or season-ticket holders with enough loyalty points, and some grounds put the away allocation on sale weeks in advance. Once the ticket is sorted, book travel early. Advance rail fares are far cheaper than buying on the day, and supporters' coaches run from most clubs for longer trips.
Kick-off times move for television, sometimes at short notice, so keep an eye on the fixture list until the week of the match. A late change can turn a simple day out into an overnight stay, especially for evening games when the last train home leaves early.
Pub etiquette for visiting supporters
Away-friendly pubs are usually busy and often ask for colours to be covered. Some operate a door policy on matchdays and may only let in a set number of visiting fans, so arriving early helps. Police and stewards sometimes close pubs near the ground for high-profile fixtures, which is why each guide lists a few alternatives near the main stations as well as the pubs closest to the stadium.
Most of all, the guides assume a friendly day out. Pubs that welcome away supporters do so because the visitors spend money and cause no trouble. Keep it that way and the welcome will be there next season too.
Food, prices and getting home
Matchday prices near the big London grounds are higher than in an ordinary local, and food stops early at many pubs once the crowds arrive. Eating near the station before heading to the ground is often the easier option. Most stadiums do not allow alcohol to be taken into the seats, and drinking in sight of the pitch is not permitted at English league grounds, so the pub is where the pre-match pint belongs.
After the final whistle, the stations nearest the ground can be closed for a short time or run on queues. The guides suggest a second station a little further away when one is available, which is often quicker than waiting with the crowd. Check the last trains before you set off, particularly for midweek fixtures and anything that could go to extra time.
New guides are added one ground at a time, after the pubs have been checked against current club and supporter information. Opening hours, door policies and matchday closures still change during a season, so it is always worth a quick call ahead before a big fixture.
The guides are written for visiting supporters of every club, so they stay neutral about the home side and focus on the practical details that make a long day away from home run smoothly.