Emirates FA Cup 1^st Round – Saturday 4th November 2017 – Kick Off: 3.00pm

Stadium: Ewood Park, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 4JF

Telephone: 01254 372 001

Club Colours: Blue and White

Nickname: Rovers

 

Key Personnel

Tony Mowbray is the current “gaffer” at Ewood Park. Mowbray had an 18 year playing career with Middlesbrough, Celtic and Ipswich Town. His first taste of coaching was at Portman Road as number two to George Burley. As a manager/first team coach he had spells at Hibernian, Celtic, Middlesbrough and Coventry City before joining Blackburn in February 2017.

 

The Bit That Everybody Knows

Blackburn were founder members of the Football League in 1875, as well as  the existing Premier League – only Aston Villa and Everton share that distinction. The club have won the Premier/First Division titles three times, the League Cup and of course the FA Cup six times, three consecutively between 1884-86. Does the Intertoto Cup count as an honour? Well they have won that as well.

The club are currently in 7th place in League 1, a point off the Play Off  places but with 2 games in hand. They have scored 19 goals from 14 League games.

 

Brief Directions by Road

Fairly straightforward although journey time is around 4.5 hours – M6 to its junction 29 and onto the M65 signposted Blackburn. Off at Junction 4  (A666 Bolton Road). Stay on this road (which is full of holes by the way possibly 4,000 or more) until you see the stadium on the right.

 

Car Parking

There are numerous Car Parks around Ewood Park, along Branch Road in particular which will set you back £5.00 per car. Street parking is very restricted in the surrounding area and also if you find any it is closed off for some 30 minutes until the crowd has cleared.

 

Directions by Train

A mid morning train from Euston to Blackburn will take around 3 hours with a change at Preston although the nearest station to the ground is Mill Hill on a local branch line. So……. it’s Beers in a carrier bag, a quiz and some home made Burnley Dummies (sausage rolls as they are known in Blackburn) for the journey for my little band of brothers.

Bus numbers  1, 3 or 225 from the station pass Ewood Park which is a goodly 30 minute walk away. A cab is always the best bet to share leaving time for a last pint!

 

Supporters Coach

The club are running a supporters coach to this game and by now one would assume space is limited if available at all but you can book online.

The coach will leave from the Everyman Cinema (formally the Barnet Odeon) at 8.30am and then the Hive London at 9.00am. Cost £30.00 per person return, with 53 seats and toilet facilities.

 

Eating and Drinking Locally 

First of all let me highly recommend the Drummers Arms off Blackburn High Street which is run by relations of life long Barnet fan Brian Mackie (who now lives in Toronto). Kate, who was born in Barnet and Hubby James will welcome any Bees fans making the trip. 65 King William Street, Blackburn, BB1 7DT . See you there from about 13.00!

Behind the away turnstiles the club have a Fanzone Area open before kick-off and away fans are admitted. Allegedly a pie and a pint for £5.00. The nearest pub to the ground is the Hungry Horse outlet The Fernhouse on the Bolton Road, ideal for a pre-match “comfort food” meal. Uncle Jacks can be found on Branch Road which I am told has a great range of beers and like most pubs in Blackburn specialise  in “pies”.

Finally, a  tip off from a top source at the club for somewhere a little special if you have the time, seek out the Black Bull, Brokenstone Rd, Darwen Lancashire BB3 OLL which is a fantastic place for a quiet one or two with views from the beer garden.

 

Ground Description

The first game on the ground was way in 1890 but now has a healthy capacity of just over 31,000 with both end stands (named after ex players Ronnie Clayton and Bryan Douglas)  and the main stand (named after past Chairman Jack Walker) built during the 1990’s. The Riverside Stand opposite was built in 1988. We will be allocated up to 1,500 seats in the Jack Warner Stand (Lower).

 

Rivals

Burnley, Bolton Wanderers and Preston North End

 

Admission Prices

Special prices for the afternoon of £10.00 Adults, £5.00 Concessions and £2.00 for Under 17’s.

 

Celebrity Watch and Interesting Info

Autograph books at the ready – actors Ian McShane and Anthony Valentine, TV personality Russell Harty and  World Superbike champ Carl Fogerty were all born here. The ground was the host for a Guinness Book of Records entry for the building of a 1 tonne Chicken Samosa Challenge. It succeeded even with the windy conditions.