What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?
Away fans are housed on one side of the Smethwick End, where the normal allocation is 3,000 seats. This means that this stand is shared with home supporters. For cup games, the whole of this stand can be allocated to away fans, raising this figure to 5,200. The facilities and the view of the pitch in the Smethwick end are okay, although the leg room is a little cramped. I have been to the Hawthorns on a number of occasions and have always found it to be a fairly friendly place. The only thing against a visit in terms of a day out is a nearby pub for away fans, meaning that most elect to drink inside the ground instead.
Considering that the concourse at the back of the Smethwick End is pretty small in comparison to its overall capacity, then it has an uncomfortable feel, especially when there is a large away support.
One tip on finding your seat in this stand, is to remember that although your ticket is marked with the letter of the row, say Row B Or Row LL, the plates indicating the row in the stand read B1 or LL1. As you would expect a number of fans get confused by the addition of the number 1 and start to wander around the stand looking for their seat. So you have been warned. Also in first gaining entry to the stand, the Club operate automatic turnstiles, where you have to put your ticket (which has a bar code on it) into a slot reader, which then allows the turnstiles to admit you. There are stewards on hand if you get a problem and on my last visit fans were also being searched before entering the ground.
Strangely I noticed that fans were not allowed to bring in take away food from the nearby McDonalds. Food available on the concourse includes; Cheeseburgers (£3.70), Burgers (£3.50), Chicken Balti Pies (£2.90), Chicken & Mushroom Pies (£2.90), Cheese & Onion Pies (£2.90), Steak & Kidney Pies (£2.90), Sausage Rolls (£2.90) and Pasties (£2.90).
Look out for the West Brom Mascot called 'Baggie Bird', who does a good job of entertaining the away fans before the game. This even involves going in goal and challenging players to take a shot!
Greg Whitaker adds; 'I've been to the Hawthorns twice as an away fan and had a similar problem on both occasions. There is a huge metal gate, outside the stadium, next to the away fan section. On my first visit, this was closed before the game, meaning we had to walk in a big loop through a load of residential streets to get round to the other side of the gate. On my most recent visit, the gate was closed after the game. There are no signs to give you directions and, with it being an evening game, I ended up wandering deserted streets in the dark trying to find my way back to Rolfe Street station'.
Where To Eat And Drink?
There are no pubs for away fans that are particularly close to the ground. Huw Morris, a West Brom fan, recommends 'The Vine' which is about a 15-20 minute walk from the ground. From Junction 1 of the M5 turn left towards West Bromwich town centre (opposite direction to the ground). Take the first left into Roebuck Street. The Vine is down on the left. You can also street park in this area and walk to the ground. This pub also does Indian food and has an indoor tandoori barbeque (from 1pm on Saturdays), plus has a beer garden with children's play area. Barbara Osborne a visiting Newcastle United fan adds; 'The Vine from the outside looked like any small corner boozer, but inside it was quite large and it was fairly easy to get served. It had a good mix of home and away fans.'
Dave Wilson recommends; 'The Park Hotel which is just off junction one of the M5 and a 10 minute walk to the ground. You can park on their car park for £5 and away fans are always welcome. There are plenty of families who meet in here before games and it is a very safe environment. There is also plenty of street parking in and around the area of the hotel if you don't want to pay the £5.'
Sean Mowat a visiting Sheffield United supporter adds; 'As you pass the ground on the right on the main Birmingham Road. Carry on about another half a mile and there is a pub on the right set back off the road called the Royal Oak. We've been in the last two times we've visited WBA. The beer is okay and they also serve Asian food (try the chicken kebabs!). It had a friendly atmosphere'.
If travelling by Metro or train from Birmingham Snow Hill and you like your real ale, then it may be a good idea to stop off on the way to the Hawthorns at the Jewellery Quarter station. Within a 10 minute walk of the station are at least four pubs serving decent real ale. These are the Rose Villa Tavern, Brown Lion, Red Lion and Lord Clifden. The Red Lion and Lord Clifden are both listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, whilst the Brown Lion has recently opened and is effectively the brewery tap for the local Two Towers Brewery.
Alcohol is also available within the ground, albeit in plastic bottles/cans, in the form of Carlsberg (£3.70), Tetleys (£3.70) and Strongbow (£3.60), plus Red and White wine, Smirnoff Ice, and various Spirit Minatures (all at £3.80).
How To Get There By Car And Where To Park
The ground is located on the A41 (Birmingham-West Bromwich Road). If approaching from outside the area the ground is about half a mile from Junction 1 of the M5. On leaving the M5 take the A41 towards Birmingham, the ground is on your right. Beware though of speed cameras on this stretch of the A41. Street parking or alternatively there are a few private matchday car parks at some local industrial units near the ground, or at Hawthorns station which costs £4.
By Train/Metro
The closest railway stations are The Hawthorns which is about five minutes walk from the ground and Smethwick Rolfe Street, which is about a 15 minute walk from the ground. The Hawthorns is served by a Metro service from Birmingham Snow Hill station, whilst Smethwick Rolfe Street is served by local trains from Birmingham New Street. The Metro service takes eight minutes to the Hawthorns from Birmingham Snow Hill and trains run every 15 minutes. Please note though that train tickets are not valid on the Metro and that you have to buy a separate ticket for it (ask for a £2 matchday special adult return). Birmingham Snow Hill station is signposted from Birmingham New Street and is around a 10 minute walk away. C Price adds; 'On Halford Lane just below the train/metro stop is a chip shop called the Hawthrones (which yes is spelt incorrectly). Fish and chips cost under £2 and are of good quality and it also serves pies and kebabs'.
LAST VISIT TO THE HAWTHORNS ... 2010/11 WEST BROM 3 NEWCASTLE 1 WEST BROM: Carson, Jara, Scharner, Tamas, Cech, Tchoyi, Morrison (Reid 85), Dorrans, Thomas (Barnes 77), Brunt, Odemwingie.Subs Not Used: Myhill, Pablo, Shorey, Fortune, Cox. NEWCASTLE: Krul, Simpson, Steven Taylor, Campbell, Jose Enrique, Routledge (Ranger 74), Guthrie (Smith 73), Tiote, Gutierrez, Carroll, Ameobi (Lovenkrands 46).Subs Not Used: Soderberg, Perch, Best, Kadar. Att: 23,486West Brom climbed into the top half of the Barclays Premier League as two-goal Peter Odemwingie and Somen Tchoyi earned them a 3-1 victory over Newcastle.
Tchoyi's first goal at the Hawthorns gave the Baggies a deserved half-time lead after they dominated the opening 45 minutes.
Then Odemwingie wrapped up the points with his fifth goal of the campaign and another in the closing seconds to take his side past the 20-point mark before Peter Lovenkrands' last-gasp reply.
It sealed back to back league wins for Roberto Di Matteo's side after a slump in fortunes in November.
Newcastle could have no complaints about the outcome with Chris Brunt sparkling in a central midfield role and Odemwingie causing constant problems.
Andy Carroll hardly had a look-in and Newcastle's mini revival after the break was too little, too late.
The home side were the first to settle and the opening chance fell to Paul Scharner after a Chris Brunt corner was flicked onto the far post but he volleyed over from a narrow angle.
Newcastle were struggling to get out of their own half and Brunt drilled a 25 yard effort wide after being teed up by Tchoyi.
Magpies midfielder Jonas Gutierrez was the first player to be yellow carded after 20 minutes for holding back Jara.
A clearance from Sol Campbell bounced off Tchoyi into the path of Odemwingie who had a run at goal but his shot flew across the face of goal.
Newcastle started to come more of the game and Carroll failed to make contact with an overhead kick after Albion failed to clear a Danny Guthrie corner.
Striker Shola Ameobi got free of his marker at another Guthrie corner but directed his header over the bar when he should have at least hit the target.
After 32 minutes Tchoyi broke the deadlock with his first goal at the Hawthorns - and his fourth of the campaign.
Brunt found Tchoyi in space inside the box and he cut inside Jose Enrique before curling a left-footed drive past Tim Krul from 15 yards out.
Tchoyi visibly grew in confidence and forced Krul to turn a fierce shot from a narrow angle for a corner after good play by Odemwingie and Jara.
James Morrison flicked a header wide from a Marek Cech centre and the Scotland international then forced Krul into a low save to his left.
Newcastle boss Chris Hughton made a half-time change with Lovenkrands replacing Ameobi.
Krul was relieved when Steven Taylor's flick header flew just over his own bar from a Jerome Thomas cross.
But Scott Carson was forced to make a fine save after 50 minutes to keep his side in front.
Wayne Routledge delivered an inviting cross from the right and Taylor's powerful header was parried away by the England keeper.
Carroll had a first sniff of a goal but dragged his shot across the face of the six yard box under pressure from Gabriel Tamas.
Enrique was yellow carded after 57 minutes after holding back Tchoyi.
Newcastle were looking more dangerous and Gutierrez jinked his way into the box and saw his deflected cross-shot evade Carson but Cech was on hand to clear close to the goal-line.
The half clearance fell to Carroll but he lacked composure in firing high and wide.
Guthrie became the third Newcastle to be cautioned for a late tackle on Thomas.
The game was more open and Krul saved low to his left from Morrison after good play by Tchoyi.
Morrison was only inches wide with another good attempt but after 71 minutes Odemwingie doubled Albion's lead with his fifth goal of the campaign.
Guthrie slipped over on the halfway line and left Odemwingie with a clear run of goal and he kept his composure before slipping a left-footed shot wide of Krul.
The midfielder had injured himself and was stretchered off and replaced by Alan Smith who was immediately booked for a crude lunge at Thomas.
Albion finished the stronger of the two sides and Krul beat out a pile-driver from Brunt before Campbell was booked for a foul on substitute Steven Reid.
With a minute remaining, Cech had the vision to find Odemwingie and he calmly took the ball around Krul before firing home.
Lovenkrands scored a consolation goal from close range in injury-time.
TOON v WEST BROM - THE HISTORY 2011/2012 Wed 21 Dec Newcastle Utd. 2 - 3 West Brom. Premier League 2010/2011 Sun 22 May Newcastle Utd. 3 - 3 West Brom. Premier League Sun 05 Dec West Brom. 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Premier League 2009/2010 Sat 23 Jan West Brom. 4 - 2 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup Mon 18 Jan Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 West Brom. Championship Sat 08 Aug West Brom. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Championship 2008/2009 Sat 07 Feb West Brom. 2 - 3 Newcastle Utd. Premier League Tue 28 Oct Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 West Brom. Premier League 2005/2006 Sat 22 Apr Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 West Brom. Premiership Sun 30 Oct West Brom. 0 - 3 Newcastle Utd. Premiership 2004/2005 Mon 03 Jan West Brom. 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. Premiership Sat 25 Sep Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 West Brom. Premiership 2003/2004 Wed 29 Oct Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 West Brom. League Cup after extra time, 90 minutes 1-1 2002/2003 Sun 11 May West Brom. 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Premiership Sat 05 Oct Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 West Brom. Premiership 1990/1991 Sat 04 May West Brom. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division Sat 27 Oct Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 West Brom. Second Division 1989/1990 Wed 11 Apr Newcastle Utd. 2 - 1 West Brom. Second Division Wed 01 Nov West Brom. 1 - 5 Newcastle Utd. Second Division Wed 25 Oct Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 West Brom. League Cup 1985/1986 Sat 11 Jan West Brom. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 14 Sep Newcastle Utd. 4 - 1 West Brom. First Division 1984/1985 Sat 06 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 West Brom. First Division Wed 26 Dec West Brom. 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1977/1978 Wed 12 Apr West Brom. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 10 Sep Newcastle Utd. 0 - 3 West Brom. First Division 1976/1977 Sat 19 Mar West Brom. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division Wed 06 Oct Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 West Brom. First Division 1973/1974 Sat 16 Feb West Brom. 0 - 3 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup 1972/1973 Sat 04 Nov West Brom. 2 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division Wed 23 Aug Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 West Brom. First Division 1971/1972 Wed 03 May Newcastle Utd. 4 - 2 West Brom. First Division Sat 11 Dec West Brom. 0 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1970/1971 Wed 28 Apr Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 West Brom. First Division Wed 02 Sep West Brom. 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1969/1970 Sat 14 Mar West Brom. 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division Fri 06 Feb Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 West Brom. First Division 1968/1969 Sat 19 Apr West Brom. 5 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 14 Sep Newcastle Utd. 2 - 3 West Brom. First Division 1967/1968 Mon 15 Apr West Brom. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division Fri 12 Apr Newcastle Utd. 2 - 2 West Brom. First Division 1966/1967 Sat 13 May West Brom. 6 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division Wed 07 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 3 West Brom. First Division 1965/1966 Wed 01 Sep West Brom. 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division Wed 25 Aug Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 West Brom. First Division 1960/1961 Wed 14 Sep Newcastle Utd. 3 - 2 West Brom. First Division Mon 05 Sep West Brom. 6 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1959/1960 Wed 16 Sep Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 West Brom. First Division Wed 09 Sep West Brom. 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1958/1959 Sat 11 Apr West Brom. 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 22 Nov Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 West Brom. First Division 1957/1958 Sat 21 Dec Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 West Brom. First Division Sat 24 Aug West Brom. 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1956/1957 Wed 26 Dec Newcastle Utd. 5 - 2 West Brom. First Division Tue 25 Dec West Brom. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1955/1956 Mon 02 Jan Newcastle Utd. 0 - 3 West Brom. First Division Wed 07 Sep West Brom. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1954/1955 Wed 01 Sep West Brom. 4 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division Wed 25 Aug Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 West Brom. First Division 1953/1954 Sat 20 Feb West Brom. 3 - 2 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup Wed 16 Sep Newcastle Utd. 3 - 7 West Brom. First Division Wed 09 Sep West Brom. 2 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1952/1953 Thu 01 Jan Newcastle Utd. 3 - 5 West Brom. First Division Wed 27 Aug West Brom. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1951/1952 Wed 23 Apr Newcastle Utd. 1 - 4 West Brom. First Division Wed 05 Sep West Brom. 3 - 3 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1950/1951 Wed 30 Aug West Brom. 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division Wed 23 Aug Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 West Brom. First Division 1949/1950 Sat 18 Mar West Brom. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 26 Nov Newcastle Utd. 5 - 1 West Brom. First Division 1947/1948 Thu 01 Jan Newcastle Utd. 3 - 1 West Brom. Second Division Fri 26 Dec West Brom. 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. Second Division 1946/1947 Thu 26 Dec West Brom. 3 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Second Division Wed 25 Dec Newcastle Utd. 2 - 4 West Brom. Second Division 1938/1939 Wed 14 Sep Newcastle Utd. 5 - 1 West Brom. Second Division Wed 07 Sep West Brom. 5 - 2 Newcastle Utd. Second Division 1937/1938 Sat 08 Jan West Brom. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. F.A. Cup 1933/1934 Sat 27 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 West Brom. First Division Sat 16 Sep West Brom. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1932/1933 Sat 04 Mar West Brom. 3 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 22 Oct Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 West Brom. First Division 1931/1932 Sat 02 Apr West Brom. 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 21 Nov Newcastle Utd. 5 - 1 West Brom. First Division 1926/1927 Sat 26 Mar West Brom. 4 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 06 Nov Newcastle Utd. 5 - 2 West Brom. First Division 1925/1926 Sat 17 Apr Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 West Brom. First Division Sat 05 Dec West Brom. 4 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1924/1925 Sat 04 Apr Newcastle Utd. 0 - 1 West Brom. First Division Sat 29 Nov West Brom. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1923/1924 Sat 22 Mar West Brom. 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 15 Mar Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 West Brom. First Division 1922/1923 Wed 14 Mar West Brom. 2 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division Wed 14 Feb Newcastle Utd. 2 - 0 West Brom. First Division 1921/1922 Sat 22 Apr West Brom. 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 15 Apr Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 West Brom. First Division 1920/1921 Sat 04 Sep West Brom. 0 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 28 Aug Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 West Brom. First Division 1919/1920 Mon 08 Sep West Brom. 3 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division Wed 03 Sep Newcastle Utd. 0 - 2 West Brom. First Division 1914/1915 Mon 05 Apr West Brom. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division Wed 02 Sep Newcastle Utd. 1 - 2 West Brom. First Division 1913/1914 Sat 17 Jan Newcastle Utd. 3 - 3 West Brom. First Division Sat 20 Sep West Brom. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1912/1913 Wed 09 Apr West Brom. 1 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 19 Oct Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 West Brom. First Division 1911/1912 Sat 10 Feb West Brom. 3 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 07 Oct Newcastle Utd. 0 - 0 West Brom. First Division 1903/1904 Sat 02 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 West Brom. First Division Sat 05 Sep West Brom. 1 - 2 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1902/1903 Sat 24 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 0 West Brom. First Division Sat 27 Sep West Brom. 6 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1900/1901 Sat 19 Jan Newcastle Utd. 1 - 1 West Brom. First Division Sat 22 Sep West Brom. 0 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1899/1900 Fri 29 Dec Newcastle Utd. 4 - 2 West Brom. First Division Sat 02 Sep West Brom. 1 - 1 Newcastle Utd. First Division 1898/1899 Sat 01 Apr West Brom. 2 - 0 Newcastle Utd. First Division Sat 03 Dec Newcastle Utd. 3 - 0 West Brom. First Division
Source: FOOTYMAD
