Internet Football Grounds Guide - St Andrews, Birmingham City FC

Contents
What's The Ground Like? Future Developments The Tilton Road End & Spion Kop (photo) What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? Where To Eat & Drink? The Railway End & Main Stand (photo) How To Get There By Car & Where To Park By Train Looking Towards The Tilton Road End (photo) Local Rivals Admission Prices Ground Layout Fixtures 2008-2009 Programme & Fanzines Disabled Facilities Ground Tours Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Old St Andrews Hotel Accommodation Own A Share In Birmingham City Feedback Return To The Main Menu	Lawro makes a disastrous move into management with the Mirror’s Fantasy Football.
What's The Ground Like?
Approximately three quarters of the ground have been rebuilt since the mid 90's. One large single tiered stand, incorporating the Tilton Road End & Spion Kop, completely surrounds half the pitch and has replaced a former huge terrace. At the back of the Spion Kop Stand, which runs along one side of the pitch, are a row of executive boxes, as well as a central seated executive area which also incorporates the Directors 'box'. The other new stand, the Railway End was opened in February 1999. It is a large two tiered stand, unusual in having quite a small top tier, called 'The Olympic Gallery', which overhangs the lower tier. Again there is a row of executive boxes in this stand, housed at the back of the lower tier. Only one 'old' stand (it was built in 1952), the Main Stand, now remains of the former St Andrews. This is a two tier stand running along one side of the pitch, with a row of executive boxes across its middle. Top Of Page
Future Developments
The Club are still weighing up the options as to the possibility of a moving to new stadium or whether to further re-develop St Andrews. If the latter option was chosen then this would involve the re-building of the Main Stand. This would increase the overall capacity of St Andrews to around 36,500 at a cost of around Ł12m. Top Of Page
The Tilton Road End & Spion Kop Stands
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What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?
Away supporters are housed on one side of the Railway Stand's lower tier where the normal allocation is 3,000 tickets, but this can be increased to around 4,500 for cup games. There are Birmingham fans housed above the away supporters, as well as to the other side of the stand (fans are separated by plastic netting). The facilities and the view from this stand are pretty good. There is an array of food on offer; burgers (Ł2.80) and rollover hot dogs (Ł2.70), plus a range of Shire Foods pasties, sausage rolls & pies including the Chicken Balti Pie (Ł2.30). The Club catering is supplemented by a burger van. It is worth bearing mind that a certain section of Birmingham fans are particularly passionate about their club and this can make for an intimidating atmosphere for away supporters. I would advise as a precaution to keep your club colours covered around the ground or in the city centre. John a visiting Burnley informs me; 'The beer inside the ground was drinkable and the Balti pies were delicious! On the downside, the seat I had been allocated was in Row 21 seat 002 which was right up against the wall. I've had more legroom on a package tour flight to the Canaries! What really annoyed me were a small section of the City fans who spent the entire game screaming abuse and gesturing to the away fans'. Alan Sexton a visiting West Ham supporter adds; 'The ground itself is three quarters of the way to being a top class stadium but desperately needs a new Main Stand. If this is built, joining with the Tilton Road and Railway Stands then St Andrews will be one of the best if not the best ground in the Midlands. Atmosphere wise it was the best ground I have visited all season for sheer volume before and during the game. As for the concourses they left little to be desired and were extremely crowded, the scrum to try and get a pie was not for the faint hearted'. Well, having watched the Blues since 1972, I can honestly say that I have almost seen it all. The good, the bad and the ugly. The atmosphere at some games can be electric, at others virtually non existent. The club itself has come on a great deal under the ownership of David Sullivan and the Gold brothers and the stadium has been transformed. The crowd when on form can still give a great rendition of the Blues anthem 'Keep Right On To The End Of The Road'. Top Of Page
Where To Eat & Drink?
Most of the pubs near to the ground can be quite intimidating for away supporters and are not recommended. However there is the Brighton pub on the Coventry Road which does tolerate away fans in small numbers. This pub is about a ten minute walk away, going past Woolworths & Morrisons on your left. Simon Lorch a visiting Chelsea fan adds; 'On our last visit to St Andrews, we managed to find a friendly pub within proximity of the ground. The Pub is called The Cricketers Arms and is about 10 minutes walk, maybe less. To find the Pub (with your back to the away section) walk along the road ahead of you, going away from the ground until you get to Morrisons. You can walk through Morrisons car park heading towards the store then join the road next to the store. The pub is 30 seconds from there on the left. The Pub itself is shared between home and away fans but all the Birmingham fans were very friendly. The Pub is small but you can drink outside where there are beer tables'. Otherwise it is best to drink in the city centre and get a taxi to the ground (about Ł6). If you are walking to the ground from the city centre, then you may care to stop at the Anchor Pub on Bradford Street, renowned for its range of real ales on offer, and named Birmingham 'CAMRA Pub Of The Year' on more than one occasion. Although there are a number of Blues fans that frequent the pub they tend to be of the CAMRA bearded variety and therefore as long as you don't turn up mobbed handed, you should be okay. The pub is situated just behind Digbeth coach station. Otherwise alcohol is served within the ground. Just across the road from the entrance to the away section is a Woolworths outlet which inside has a reasonably priced cafe. There is also a McDonalds a short walk away, going back towards the city centre. If you coming by train, or decide to drink in the city centre beforehand, then if you like your real ale, then you can't do much better than visit the Wellington Pub on Bennetts Hill. With 15 real ales on tap, including 12 guest ales, this is somewhat of a mecca for real ale drinkers. In 2005 alone, the pub served over 2,600 different beers! To find this pub, then assuming that you are coming into New Street Station by train, then as you come onto the passenger concourse at the station, so straight up the escalators in front of you. At the top of the escalators turn left and then proceed towards the 'Foot Locker' outlet. Turn left at this store and then right and proceed down the ramp past McDonalds. At the bottom of the ramp turn left into New Street and walk along the pedestrian area. Bennetts Hill is the fourth turning on the right (there is a Barclays Bank is on the corner). The Wellington pub is about two thirds of the way up Bennetts Hill on the right hand side. There is also a handy Wetherspoons outlet called the Briar Rose (which is no smoking) on Bennetts Hill as well. The Wellington does not provide food, but has no objections to you bringing in your own. There are a couple of taxi ranks nearby that you can use if you wish to get you to the ground. Top Of Page
The Railway End & Main Stand
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How To Get There By Car & Where To Park
Leave the M6 at Junction 6 and take the A38(M) (known locally as the Aston Expressway) for Birmingham City Centre. Continue past the first turn off (Aston, Waterlinks) and then take the next turn off, for the Inner Ring Road. Turn left at the island at the top of the slip road and take the Ring Road East, sign posted Coventry/Stratford. Continue along the ring road for two miles, crossing straight across three islands. At the fourth island (there is a large McDonalds on the far left hand corner) turn left towards Small Heath. Birmingham City's ground is about a 1/4 of a mile up this road on your left. The ground is well sign posted on the Inner Ring Road. There is a small car park directly outside the entrance to the away end, but availability of space for cars is determined by how many away coaches are expected as they park in the same car park, which may mean for certain games that there is no space available for cars at all. There is though plenty of street parking off the left hand side of the ring road. Either around the small park at the third island you cross or along the road next to and behind the BP garage before the fourth island. Bear in mind that if you arrive after 1.30pm these areas are likely to be already full. There are some local schools and businesses that offer parking facilities for around Ł4-Ł5. For a map showing the location of the ground, in relation to the ring road, click here (to take you to the Street Map website). To go to a simplified page, containing the directions and pub info, which you can print out click here. Top Of Page
By Train
The nearest station is Bordesley, which is about a ten minute walk away from the ground, but is only served by trains from Birmingham Snow Hill and the service is not very frequent on Saturdays. If you arrive at New Street Station in the city centre, either walk to Snow Hill (ten minutes) take a taxi (about Ł5) or embark on the 20 minute walk to the ground. As you come onto the concourse of New St station, bear to the left of the escalators and through the glass doors. Walk down towards to the end of the Station Service Road. Cross to the other side of the road at the bottom (where there is a new shopping centre) turn right and follow the purple pedestrian signs for Digbeth Coach Station. These will see you descending a flight of stairs at the side of the shopping centre on your left and then going down a road with the Markets on your right and a large church on your left. Follow this road around to the right and then take the next left to take you up to the main dual carriage way. Turn right along the dual carriageway, passing Digbeth Coach Station on your right and the impressive looking Crown Pub on your left. Cross over the dual carriageway to the Crown pub side of the road and continue walking away from the City Centre. You will come to a fork in the road where you want to bear left going underneath a railway bridge. Passing the Clements Arms on your left just continue straight down this road, crossing a large roundabout (with a McDonalds over on one corner). The entrance to the away section is further up the road on your left. Otherwise you can take the following buses from the city centre; 57A, 58 & 60. These can be caught near to Moor Street Railway Station on Queensway. Look for bus stop MF on this map on the Network West Midlands website. Top Of Page
Looking Towards The Tilton Road End
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Local Rivals
Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion & Wolverhampton Wanderers. Top Of Page
Admission Prices
Like a number of Clubs, Birmingham City operate a match category policy (A, B, C & DC) whereby the ticket prices cost more for the most popular games. Away Fans: Railway End Lower Tier: Adults Ł30 (B Ł27) (C Ł15) (D Ł15) Concessions Ł18 (B Ł15) (C Ł10) (D Ł7) Under 12's Ł10 (B Ł7.50) (C Ł5) (D Ł5) Top Of Page
Ground Layout
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Fixtures 2008-2009
For the Birmingham City fixture list click here (to take you to the BBC Sports Website) Top Of Page
Programme & Fanzines
Official Programme Ł3.50 The Zulu Fanzine - Ł1 Made In Brum Fanzine - Ł1 Top Of Page
Disabled Facilities
For details of disabled facilities at the ground please visit the relevant page on the National Association Of Disabled Supporters (NADS) website. Top Of Page
Ground Tours
The Club offer weekly tours on Wednesdays at 11am & 12.30pm. The cost of the tour is Ł6 per person and must be booked in advance by calling Louise Peers-Gee on 0121-202-5201. Top Of Page
Record & Average Attendance
Record Attendance: 66,844 v Everton FA Cup 5th Round, February 11th, 1939. Modern All Seated Attendance Record: 29,588 v Arsenal Premier League, November 22nd, 2003. Average Attendance: 2007-2008: 26,181 (Premier League) 2006-2007: 22,274 (Championship) 2005-2006: 27,392 (Premier League) Top Of Page
Fans Reviews Of St Andrews
Scott Bowman (West Ham United) 18/8/07 Tim Joyner (West Bromwich Albion) 11/11/06 Martin Hart (Visiting Scottish Fan) 02/04/05 Lee Roberts (Doing The 92) 17/2/01 Top Of Page
Old St Andrews
To see photos of St Andrews shortly prior to its redevelopment then click here to take you to the Old Grounds & Stands Section of the Guide. Top Of Page
Hotel Accommodation
If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Football Hotels who are powered by Activehotels, who specialise in locating accommodation near or within a short travelling distance of the football ground. They also have the added advantage over some other hotel booking services that you pay on departure. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will go to help with the running costs of keeping the Guide going. To access their Birmingham City page click here. Top Of Page
Own A Share In Birmingham City
Framed Share allow you to buy a genuine share for someone else, which you can then give to them unframed, or in a frame of your choice. The recipients name will be on the share certificate, which shows that the person is now a shareholder in Birmingham City plc. As a shareholder that person will receive the annual accounts of Birmingham City plc and allow them to attend the Annual General Meeting of shareholders of the Club, where the Clubs senior officials attend and take questions. To find out more on how to purchase a share in Birmingham City for yourself or someone else click here. Top Of Page
Feedback
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me and I'll update the guide.

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