How Do I Get There?
“It’s High Green, mate, via Hillsborough, please.” Alas, the words of Alex Turner will probably not come in useful for any of Massive Lads Fan visiting the fair city of Sheffield on a midweek evening. However, it is a relatively straightforward journey to warm the cockles of your heart in mid-August.
For those hardened souls driving down follow the A1 (M) to Wetherby where you join the M1 following the signs for Leeds. Continue on this heading towards Sheffield exiting at junction 36 onto the A61 and follow this until you see Hillsborough Stadium on the right-hand side.
There is limited street parking available otherwise there are a handful of car parks along the A61 charging around £4.
Since Hillsborough is nowhere near Sheffield, it is a bit of faff if arriving by train. From Sheffield Railway Station hop on the wonderfully named SUPERTRAM. Catch the yellow line heading towards Malin Bridge and get off at Hillsborough and walk up to the ground. A ‘Dayrider’ fare costs £3.90.
A Love Supreme coaches are available from the Stadium of Light, departing at 2pm with fares costing £26. Book a place here.
Where Can I Get The Sesh Started?
I’ll be honest, if you’re planning on drinking near Hillsborough you’re going to be struggling. In the direct vicinity of the Leppings Lane End is The Park which is a Sizzling Pubs chain and ideal if you’re travelling with your bairns. Although, whether it admits away supporters is yet to be seen.
If you’re taking the tram up to Hillsborough both The Hillsborough Tap and The Rawson Spring are both decent options (again, if they let away fans in). If you’re making a day of it then Sheffield is awash with excellent pubs with one being at the train station - The Sheffield Tap. Alternatively, venture into town and get properly lathered in The Great Gatsby and Bungalows & Bears directly opposite.
I’m Staying Owa Is There Owt To Do?
Now here I would go into great detail about the variety of activities you could be enjoying in the great city of Sheffield, but let’s be honest, a night match kind of knacks all of this. So let’s make a deal, you all get back to the north east safe and sound or have a good night’s kip in Sheffield and make sure you’re 100% for Leeds on Saturday.
Also, Barnsley is coming up at the end of the month and there’s some absolutely belting things to do there on a Bank Holiday weekend.
What’s The Ground Like?
Like Villa Park and Elland Road, Hillsborough falls into that category of stadiums that everyone kind of forgets how iconic they are. Sheffield Wednesday’s absence from the top flight for almost 20 years has taken the spotlight of this wonderful relic of a bygone footballing era.
This is the one yer da has been waiting for from the moment we got relegated, it simply oozes character. It has everything you’ve missed from modern day stadiums - obstructing pillars, narrow gangways, rusting sheet metal on the exterior, a git big clock on top of a stand - the whole gang is here.
Sunderland supporters are housed in the top tier of the Leppings Lane End, where around 3,000 Massive Lads Fans can be accommodated. Opposite is the huge Spion Kop which, when in full flow, can be canny loud - whether it will be on a Wednesday (oh yeh, Wednesday, get it?) night remains to be seen.