Cans & Megabus Away Guide: Everything that Sunderland fans need to know about Coventry

Who Are These Jobbers?

Coventry fans really want this to be a derby, don’t they? They really want to feel a sense of hatred towards rather than complete ambivolance. Now they don’t have a ground, they really need something to cling on to and, it seems, a hatred of our gorgeous boys in red and white is what really gets them hot under the collar.

Well, enjoy it Coventry fans. Enjoy your big day on the telly, enjoy your songs about Jimmy Hill, enjoy the sweet feeling of directing ire onto a set of supporters that simply couldn’t care less.

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What’s The Ground Like?

How very clever of Coventry to move from a city Sunderland never win in, to a stadium where Sunderland never win at. The Lads haven’t scored three points in the city of Coventry since 1985, while they haven’t emerged from St Andrews victorious in the league since 1997, when the flowing locks of Micky Gray bagged the only goal.

While a trip to St Andrews is wholly more appealing to the desolate wasteland of the Ricoh Arena, the notion of a noon kick-off on a Sunday really does that the air out of the banter balloon. Nevertheless, they’ll be a bumper support in attendance for the Lads, and you’ll all be crammed into the Gil Merrick Stand.

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How Do I Get There?

Everybody loves travelling half the length of the country for a noon kick-off for reasons unbeknownst to anyone. Anyway, take the A1(M), M1, M42 and M6 heading into Birmingham, and then follow the A38(M) and Waterway Lane Middleway before turning onto Coventry Road up to the ground.

Luckily, there’s no parking outside St Andrews but you can plonk your motor at the Church of God and Prophecy for a fiver... if it’s open. If you get lost plop B9 4RL into your sat nav.

Hey, did you know that if you caught the earliest train from the north east to Birmingham on Sunday morning, you’d miss the opening 20 minutes of the game? That’s good planning, isn’t it? Really good planning.

Where Can I Get The Sesh Started?

It’s really great that Sky feel the need to put a third tier association football game, so not only can you not get a train from the north east to Birmingham in time for kick-off, but also none of the pubs are open. Thanks Sky, way to ruin a potentially nice day out. Screw you, Murdoch!

Anyway, near to the ground you can swing by the oldest pub in Birmingham with a swift half at The Old Crown on High Street, or sample the welcoming ambiance of The Spotted Dog on Warwick Street. For real ale and pubs that don’t open before midday on a Sunday fans, the Anchor Inn on Bradford Street is right up your, well, street. And, of course, no visit to Digbeth is complete without swinging by The Irish Centre on High Street Deritend.

Photo credit: Birmingham Mail

What’s To Do Around Here?

Cadbury World, I guess?

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