What's The Ground Like?
Although the ground has not had the level of new investment some other clubs have recently received, it is still a beautiful ground oozing character. It has four large separate stands, all of which are all covered and are roughly the same height, giving a uniform feel to the stadium. On one side is the North Stand. This large single tiered stand was opened in 1961. It was hailed as an architectural marvel, as at the time it was the largest cantilever stand ever built in Britain and only the second such type of stand to have been constructed (the first was at the Old Showground in Scunthorpe). The two tiered South Stand on one side of the ground is the largest of the stands and is superb looking. Considering that it was opened in 1914 and was designed by the famous football ground architect Archibald Leitch, then it is a testimony after so much time that we still marvel at it. Plus it still outshines many new stands that have been built even in recent years. On its roof is the trademark of a Leitch Main Stand, the gable. This triangular structure on the roof, contains a clock and is adorned with a copper football. The stand has a large lower tier with a small upper tier above. At the back of the lower tier is a row of executive boxes. The team dugouts and Directors Box are located on this side.
At one end is the Spion Kop. This was previously a huge open bank of terrace, that was at one time the largest in Britain. It gained a roof in 1986 and was made all seated in 1993. Opposite is the West Stand or Leppings Lane End. This two tiered stand was opened in 1966, in time for the Club to host some World Cup games played that year. Like the Kop, it has a number of large supporting pillars. One corner of the ground is filled with seating between the North & West Stand, this area is uncovered. On the other side of the West Stand is an electric scoreboard, under which is tucked a Police Control Box. Unusually for such an old ground, it doesn't have a set of floodlight pylons. Instead the stadium is illuminated by lights running across the front of the stand roofs.
Outside the ground near the main entrance is a memorial to the 96 fans who died at Hillsborough in 1989, at the FA Cup Semi Final between Liverpool & Nottingham Forest. The memorial is normally covered in flowers left by those who wished to pay their respects.
What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?
Away fans are normally placed in the upper tier of the West Stand (the Leppings Lane) end of the ground, where up to 3,700 away supporters can be accommodated. If there is a particularly large following (or for an FA Cup Tie) then the corner described above may also be made available, plus the lower tier of the West Stand. This can take the allocation up to 8,000. There are a number of supporting pillars in the West Stand, which could impede your view. Inside there is a range of Shire Foods pies available including the Chicken Balti Pie (£2.40). The refreshments though are served from behind a metal mesh, which gives the area a prison like feel.
I had an enjoyable day out at Hillsborough, where I found the atmosphere around the ground to be relaxed. I thought the ground was certainly one of the best in the League, if not the country, in terms of setting and attractiveness. Lee Hicklin adds; 'About a hundred yards down Leppings Lane there is a programme and football memorabilia shop, which is worth a visit'.
Where To Drink?
Mark Doyle informs me; 'another pub that caters for away supporters is the New Bridge Inn on Penniston Road, which is the main A61 that runs by the stadium. Head up the A61 in the opposite direction to Sheffield City Centre (Meadowhall & M1) and you will reach the pub on your left just before Wadsley Bridge,' Terry Potts, recommends the 'Wadsley Jack' on Rural Lane. It's about a twenty minute walk (uphill though) from the visitors end, going away from Sheffield Centre. Dave Reid informs me 'if you continue up the road past the Wadsley Jack there is the Rose & Crown pub which also welcomes away supporters'.
Also I did pass a couple of pubs (the Norfolk Arms & The Red Lion) on the way into Sheffield on the A61 from the M1, where away fans were drinking. Bill Harris a visiting Millwall fan adds; 'I found an excellent Pub called The New Barrack Inn on the A61 just before McDonalds on the way to the ground, from the city centre. Forget the exterior, inside the pub has some excellent decor and no juke boxes or fruit machines. Although on my own I was made to feel very welcome and spent a good couple of hours talking football to the locals'. Please note that alcohol is not available to visiting supporters in the away section of the ground.
How To Get There And Where To Park
Leave the M1 at Junction 36 and follow the A61 into Sheffield. Continue along the A61 for approximately eight miles. You will see Hillsborough Stadium on your right. This is not the shortest route to the ground, but this is definitely the easiest and avoids Sheffield City Centre. There is some street parking to be had if you arrive early, otherwise there are some unofficial car parks along the A61 that charge in the region of £3. Gary Rickett-Ambrose adds; 'There is a car park directly behind the Kop and the Wednesday Club shop. It is called the wednesdayite car park and is open to fans of both teams. It costs £5 for visitors'.
Matthew Nicholls a visiting Gillingham supporter informs me; 'I find it easier to park at Meadowhall Shopping Centre (unless of course it is in the run up to Christmas or the January sales, when the centre is very busy), just by Junction 34, of the M1, where you can park for free. I then take a yellow tram to Leppings lane, which costs less than £2 return and takes about 35 minutes'.
By Train
Sheffield Railway Station is situated in the town centre, two miles from the ground. Either get a taxi up to the ground or the bus station is a one minute walk from the railway station. Cross over at the pedestrian crossing, and follow the signs. Head for the far side of the terminus. Bus no. 53 to Ecclesfield runs regularly to the ground (every ten minutes), the journey time is about 30 minutes. Jeremy Dawson informs me; 'if arriving by train, by far the easiest way to get to the ground is by tram, which run every ten minutes during the day. Leaving the station on a blue tram, you can either change to a yellow one in the city centre, which takes you to Leppings Lane (right by the ground), or stay on the blue one to Hillsborough, which is 10 minutes walk to the ground'. The journey time of the tram is around 20 minutes. Matt Wilcock adds; 'on matchdays regular shuttle buses run from the road at the far side of the bus station They are marked football'.