Saturday, August 1

Burnley travel and pub guide


Burnley
Premier League
Wednesday August 19, kick off 19:45
Turf Moor, Burnley

Tickets

United have been given 2,400 in the David Fishwick Stand behind the goal.

Last season, the away end held 4,000 fans, but Burnley have slived 1,500 off that for their own fans this year.

Away end ticket prices have not been set. But Burnley have divided their fixtures into two categories and, unsurprisingly, United fall into the higher one.

Judging by the Burnley FC website, prices should be £35 for adults, £24 for seniors, 16 to 18 year olds and students, and £19 for under 16s.

All away end tickets are sold out. Those who applied could find out if they were successful as of Thursday July 30.

Burnley have introduced a £20 membership fee to stop away fans getting tickets in the home end. Membership costs £20 and adult tickets for the game cost £28.

You can buy both by calling 0871 221 1914 though it is strictly for home fans only.


TV


The match will not be shown live on Sky or ESPN. Sky is showing Champions League play off games the same night.

You will be able to watch it online by checking back here for links to live streams on the day of the game.


Weather

Light showers possible during the game. It will be about 18C - pleasant conditions to watch and play.

Travel
Recommendation: Take the National Express for £8.80 return. It's the cheapest and most convenient way to get there if you fancy more than the odd pint.
Car - £8

Sat navvies should use the postcode BB10 4BX for Burnley FC.

The journey takes 30 minutes and will cost about £4 each way in petrol.

It's a really simple route. Follow the M66 north (pictured here near Ramsbottom), turn right onto the M65, leave at junction 10 and follow signs for the stadium.

Parking - free

For £3, you can park at Burnley Cricket Club, which is adjacent to the ground off Belverdere Road, or you can park on the streets around the ground for free, but arrive early for the best spots around Helena Street, Brunshaw Road and Mitella Street.


Train - £10.90 one way, £13.70 return

Getting there is fine. In fact, you've got a choice of stations, as Burnley Central and Burnley Manchester Road are of equal distance to the stadium and there are pubs near both (see guide below).

Getting home, however, is a problem.

The match is due to finish at about 21:40 and the last train home leave Burnley Central at 21:57.

It's a 15-minute from the ground so it's a big gamble if you're banking on getting home by train.

Manchester Victoria to Burnley Manchester Road

All trains change at Preston

Trains leave Victoria from at 10:00 and 10:48 and then at 00 and 48 past the hour except for 16:00. It takes 75 minutes.

If you leave any later than 18:00, you won't make kick off.


Manchester Piccadilly to Burnley Central

All trains change at Preston

Trains leave Piccadilly at 10:16, 11:16, 12:16, 13:16 and 14:16 and take two hours.

There are frequent services in between these, but they require two or three changes and take the same amount of time.

If you leave any later than 17:54 (two changes, at Bolton and Blackburn), you won't make kick off.

Burnley to Manchester

The only way home is:
Leave Burnley Central: 21:57
Arrive Preston: 22:49
Leave: 23:10
Arrive Piccadilly: 23:55

A Northern Rail spokeswoman said: "Unfortunately, we do not have any additional resource to be able to run a special service for this match without seriously compromising our ability to run our normal timetabled services, which obviously have to be given priority.
"Therefore travelling fans will need to either catch the 21.57 and change at Blackburn or find alternative transport.

"British Transport Police are aware of the situation."

Taxis
Kings 01282 422 551
Town 01282 431 922
Home and Away 01282 832 100

Coach
The Betty Bus leaves Manchester Chorlton Street at 17:00 and cost £12 per person. To book, email your name, address and phone number to redsaway@hotmail.co.uk

Public bus - £4.75


Megabus does not serve Burnley, so that leaves you with two options

National Express runs coaches between Manchester Chorlton Street and Burnley. It costs £8.80 for an adult return ticket on the day or in advance here.

The outbound coach leaves Chorlton Street at 17:20 and arrives in Burnley at 19:20

The homeward coach leaves Burnley at 22:15 and arrives in Chorlton Street at 23:50.

Burnley Bus Station is on Croft Street – a five-minute walk from the ground.

Walk with your bank to the ground down Yorkshire Street and turn left onto Croft Street after going over the river.

The Witch Way bus service runs between Chorlton Street and Burnley. It runs three buses an hour in each direction throughout the day and the bus calls at Deansgate, Strangeways, Higher Broughton and Prestwich. Click here for a timetable.

On the way back, the last bus leaves Burnley Bus Station Gate 7 at 21:48. With the station being only a five-minute walk from the ground, you could make this bus if you got a move on!

I have asked The Witch Way services providers if they plan to delay the departure of the bus or lay on an extra/later service on the day of the match, but have not yet had a reply.

It costs £6.50 for a day ticket (called a gold ticket) or you can get two adult returns for £9.50.



Pubs

I recommend six boozers for this one.

Police are designating The Cattle Market at 51 Parker Lane, Burnley, as the away fans' pub for this match.

It's a decent little pub holding about 300 people and is a five-minute walk from Burnley Manchester Road train station, with reasonable prices at the bar and possibly, pre-match pie and peas on offer.

Similar to Middlesbrough, the reason why Lancashire Police are so keen to get reds in this pub is that it's right opposite Burnley Police Station. There could be an escourt from the pub to the ground before the game.

This seems to be the place to go if you want to wear colours and sing before the match.

However, the same can NOT be said about the following pubs. If you intend to go to them on matchday, don't wear colours, don't try to get in in big groups and definitely don't sing.

It's fair to desribe all these pubs – especially the second – as tolerant of away fans who know how to behave, but not of people acting the clown.

Quite near Burnley Manchester Road train station, is the Inn on the Wharf in Manchester Road, which is pretty big, has a large courtyard and is right by the canal

But if you're arriving via Burnley Central try the The Bridge Bier Huis (pictured right) at 2 Bank Parade is probably the best pub you will go to on a United away this season.

If you come out of Burnley Central train station, head straight down Curzon Street and turn left onto Bankfield. You'll see it ahead on your right past the mini roundabout.

It is the local of a friend of mine who says: “It serves Hydes Original at £2 a pint and up to four other guest real ales, a selection of foreign drafts and around 50 bottled beers from around the world (constantly changing).

“The pub is a multi-Campaign For Real Ale regional winner and has been in the Good Beer Guide every year since it opened.
“Pie and peas served on a match day, good football chat and banter guaranteed. Away fans made very welcome.” More details here.
Alternatively try Walkabout, at 10 Hammerton Street right in the town centre. It's a five-minute walk from both Burnley Central and Burnley Manchester Road train stations.


A couple of streets away, at 31 Manchester Road is a Wetherspoons pub called The Brun Lea, which looks ugly inside and out, so don't go there.

Instead, try the other Wetherspoons pub, The Boot Inn (pictured above), round the corner in St James' Street is much better. It only opened in June and is much more modern and scenic.

If you're driving or simply want somewhere to relax near the ground before kick off, then try Burnley Cricket Club which has its own bar. It's on Belvedere Road adjacent to the stadium.

Pubs to avoid
Basically, any pub on Yorkshire Street on the approach to the ground, but particular give a wide berth to The Princess Royal, The Turf Hotel and the Brickmakers Arms.