Off to Hull? Read our Away Day Guide - beers, scran, aquariums & much more!

How Do I Get There?

When you look on a map, the route from Sunderland to Hull seems relatively straightforward but it still inexplicably takes almost two and a half hours to get there. Anyway, from the 2021 City of Culture hop on the A1 (M) out of the glorious north-east and follow it all the way to Leeds.

Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

As you pass the wonderful town of Wetherby follow the signs for Hull and merge onto the M62. Continue onto the A63 and follow the signs for the KCOM Stadium as you enter the city centre. Take the second exit at the roundabout just after the B&Q and then once over the flyover, turn right at the lights and the ground is on your right.

Parking at the KCOM is plentiful with a huge car park directly outside the away end costing just £5.

For you Massive Lads Fans travelling by train, you will arrive at the curiously named Hull Paragon Railway Station. By paragon of virtue it is slap bang in the city centre surrounded by a host of pubs, restaurants and everything in between. The stadium is around a 20-minute walk away with plenty of watering holes en route.

Where Can I Get The Sesh Started?

As you would expect from the UK’s most cultural city (for this year at least), there are plenty of establishments where you can get truly sloshed prior to our 2-0 defeat. At the stadium itself, the good people of Hull have put on a dedicated away fans boozer known as the Pitch Side Bar while The Boot Room on Anlaby Road also admits visiting supporters.

However, if you want to truly embrace the jewel of Humberside then your best bet is sampling a series of fine ales in the city centre. One of Hull’s most treasured alehouses is Ye Olde White Harte on Silver Street which has been serving the patrons of this fine city since 1550. It is also said to be the location where the English Civil War was triggered in 1642, all because big King Charles I was refused entry. We’ve all been there, I guess.

A little further along on Scale Lane you will find the delightful Lion and Key and Ye Olde Black Boy, both are cracking boozers for real ale and fancy European lagers. Treat yourself to a pint and a bit of scran at the Punch Hotel or get a swift Jagerbomb at the Wetherspoons outlet Admiral of The Humber near the station en route to the ground.

I’m Staying Owa, Is There Owt To Do?

You have to ask yourself, will I ever be in the glorious City of Culture (2017) again? We may never play Hull again, y’know, so find out what helped this glorious place edge out Dundee, Swansea Bay and Leicester to this prestigious title.

After our miserable defeat, swing by the Albemarle Music Centre for a BBC Music Introducing session featuring trendy local upstarts Fronteers supported by fellow Humbersiders Vulgarians for a night of loud indie rock. It all kicks off at 7.30pm and the tickets are free. If you’re looking for a little taste of home then how about a bit of Smoove & Turrell? The ‘Geordie Northern Soul’ duo are playing the unique venue of Fruit on Hull marina. Tickets are £10.

If you’re taking the bairns to the match then treat them to a trip to The Deep on Sunday. You can see absolutely loads of fish as well as sharks, penguins, stingrays, the lot. Honestly, it's absolutely mint and I’m tempted to sack the game off and go to this instead.

What Is The Stadium Like?

Fun fact: Hull City chose Sunderland to open the KCOM Stadium way back in 2002. Imagine that, choosing a struggling Premier League side’s reserve team taking a battering in your first ever game at your new stadium. Makes the mind boggle.

Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images

Anyway, for one of the new-ish stadiums in England, the KCOM is a pretty tidy affair housing just over 25,000 supporters. Away fans are plopped in the North East corner with allocations ranging between 2,500 and 3,000. The view is decent and you can make a decent atmosphere from this vantage point; that is if you can be bothered considering how bad we are.

Oh, if you are going, look out for the stadium announcer who's a dead ringer for Daffyd Thomas out of Little Britain booming out “WEST STAND, ARE YOU READY!!” to muted response. It’s pretty entertaining.