Tranmere Rovers v Hereford United
FA Cup Third Round
Saturday 5th January 2008 KO 3.00 pm.
Prenton Park
Prenton Road West
Birkenhead
CH42 9PY
Phone 0870 460 3333
Tranmere Rovers have a proud history dating from 1884 when they were known as Belmont FC and have been at Prenton Park since 1912. Three sides of the stadium were re-built during 1994/95 with only the Main Stand remaining from the earlier structures. As a whole, the stadium holds around 16,500 (all seated) and visiting fans are accommodated in the appropriately named Cowshed Stand providing seats for 2500.
Admission costs for this third round match have been fixed at Adults £15, Concessions £6 and Juniors £3.
HUISA - Departs ES at 09.30 am. Fare £10 Bookings through club office (01432 276666) FULL
HUMADS - Departs ES 10.15 am. Fare £12. Contact Reg on 01684 572945 FULL
FUNBUS - Departs ES at 10.00 am. Fare £12 Contact Ben on 07812 144831 FULL
LEDBURY FLYER - Departs Market House at 10.00 am Adults £12, OAP and U16's £8. All bookings and further information phone Jeremy Wolfe on 01531 634387. SOME SPACES MAY BE AVAILABLE.
RAIL – Depart Hereford at 08.28 (change at Chester) Arr Birkenhead Central at 11.19 or from Hereford at 08.56 (change at Shrewsbury and Chester) Arr Birkenhead Central at 12.19 or from Hereford at 10.24 (change at Chester) Arr Birkenhead Central at 13.19. The return train leaves B'head C at 17.37 (change at Chester) Arr Hereford at 20.08 or leave B'head C at 18.37 (change at Chester and Slop) Arr Hereford at 21.45. The standard adult fare is £50.80 but group savers may be available as well as child/student prices.
A Soccerbus service operates on most match-days. Just alight from your train and proceed to outside the station where a frequent bus service operates to the Stadium from two hours before kick-off until 15 minutes before kick-off. The return buses run for around 50 minutes after the final whistle.
Soccerbus is free to all holders of valid Trio, Saveaway or Solo tickets and also Merseytravel free travel passes. For fans not holding these tickets, 50p extra needs to be added to your journey cost when you buy a train ticket.
*Note - On certain match-days, Soccerbus may not run so for confirmation please contact Merseytravel direct on 0870 608 2608.
Update: A service runs from Hereford to Liverpool for £30, with a seperate service from Liverpool to Birkenhead for £1.80. The whole journey takes about 15 minutes longer. Alternatively, Hereford to Chester is £22.20 with Chester to Birkenhead £4 in a similar time. Thanks to Evesham Bull for the info.
CAR - This is the recommended route from the AA. From Hereford, travel north on the A49 to Slopland. At the "Garden Centre" roundabout, take the third exit and join the A5 (sign Telford). At the next roundabout, take the third exit (sign Telford) and then follow signs for A49 Whitchurch. At Prees Heath, join the A41 and follow this road clockwise around Whitchurch then continue on the A41 following signs for Chester. Stay on the A41 passing through Hampton Heath, Broxton and Milton Green before joining the A55 (sign Ellesmere Port) and then the M53. Some may prefer to take the Oswestry (A5), Wrecksum (A483), Chester route to this point. Exit the M53 at Junction 4 and take the fourth exit at the roundabout onto the B5151 Mount Road (this is signposted Tranmere Rovers F.C off the roundabout). Continue on this road for around two and a half miles, continuing straight ahead at the double roundabout and the first set of traffic lights. At the second set of traffic lights turn right onto Prenton Road West where the ground is on the right hand side after around 200 yards. Distance is between 110 and 120 miles depending on route, allow up to three hours. The postcode is CH42 9PY.
For the Car Park, turn right (by the Mersey Clipper Pub) and this takes you into the Club Car Park. (£4?)
For the Unofficial Car Park on the playing fields, continue straight ahead as you pass the Mersey Clipper Pub and when you reach the traffic lights behind the Stand (with the Prenton Park Pub on the left) turn right and after the Stadium and the car garage on the right, there is an entrance to the playing fields for Parking. (£3?)
Refreshments - There are the usual catering facilities inside the Stadium selling Burgers and Hot Dogs but in addition there are a number of take-aways and cafés on Borough Road in the direction of Birkenhead and on Woodchurch Road all of which are only a short walk from the Stadium.
Also, next to the main vehicle entrance to the Stadium is the Mersey Clipper Pub, which serves food on Matchdays and welcomes both home and visiting fans.
The Mersey Clipper and the Prenton Park Pubs are both directly opposite the Stadium, the latter being right outside the away end. Other Pubs such as The Sportsman and The Halfway House are within walking distance of the Stadium.
Much of the content of this guide is taken from the excellent Total Tranmere site.
Enjoy the day.