Here is a guide for supporters making the trip to Deepdale to see the Iron this weekend.
BY CARFrom Glanford Park, take the first left at the roundabout by Tesco’s and the first exit at the next one onto the M181 to Humber Bridge/Doncaster/M180. Keep right upon reaching a fork before following signs for the M180 towards Doncaster. Take the exit onto the M18 towards M62/Goole/Hull/Leeds and after six-and-a-half miles keep left and merge onto the M62 towards Leeds. Stay on the M62 for 61 miles and continue onto the M60, exiting at junction 15, take the M61 exit to M6 N/Preston/Wigan/Bolton and go onto the M61. Keep left at the fork and continue on the M61 for another 20 or so miles, following signs to Preston, merging onto the M6. Exit the M6 at junction 31 and take the first exit at the roundabout onto the A59. At the mini-roundabout a mile later take the second exit onto the A5085. Carry straight on for 1.2 miles, then filter left into Sir Tom Finney Way and Deepdale will be on your left.
BY TRAIN
Arriving at Preston just before 1:00pm, catch the Cleethorpes to Manchester Airport train from Scunthorpe Station (platform two) and get off at Manchester Piccadilly nearly two hours later. Go to platform 14 here and catch the 12:16 service to Preston, around a 40-minute journey. The station is around a mile and a half away from the ground. Should you choose to walk, turn left out of the station passing The Railway pub and going right at the T-junction. Walk straight down Fishergate and the road soon becomes Church Street. Carry on until you reach the junction with the A6 and cross over the road and turn left - this is Deepdale Road. The Ground is on the right-hand-side after 0.75 miles.
PUBS AND GRUB
The Sumners (corner of Deepdale Road) is mostly for home fans but apparently very welcoming for away fans. A popular location for away fans is the Norman Jepson, near the M6 turnoff. On the way to the ground from the M6 (junction 31) there is also the Hesketh Arms, another welcoming pub. Alcohol is served in the ground on the concourses but supporters are advised not to consume drinks within sight of the pitch. The concourses offer a good variety of matchday grub, with the ‘Butter Pie’ highly recommended by other visiting fans, while there is plenty on offer around the ground at burger vans and much more.
WHAT TO EXPECT
A former farm, Deepdale hosted its first league match on September 8, 1888, but it is remarkably different from back then. The stadium is now rather modern, having been gradually redeveloped in recent years. All seated, it is a great looking stadium and up there with the best in Sky Bet League One, and the whole of the Football League. With a full capacity at 23,404, it can create quite an atmosphere, even half full as it has been this term. An image of club legend Bill Shankly adorns the Kop, while outside there is a statue of another club legend, Sir Tom Finney. The away fans are housed in the modern Bill Shankly Kop at one end of the pitch, which can hold up to 3,000 fans if need be. The view is generally good as the gradient of the stand is fairly steep so everyone is close to the action.