Ground Guide

Oakwell, Grove Street, Barnsley, S71 1ET
History
The club were formed in 1887 by Reverend Tiverton Preedy, curate of St. Peters Church on Doncaster Road. The club were named Barnsley St. Peters and with in a year were playing at Oakwell.

General Ground Information
West Stand

The West Stand is the only original part of Oakwell Stadium left standing. The stand is made up of two tiers, only the upper tier is covered but at the expense of several supporting columns for the roof structure which can restrict you view. The lower tier of the West Stand is uncovered and arguably gives a better view.

Capacity: 4,752.

East Stand

The East Stand has two tiers and was completed in 1993 with some financial help from The Football Trust. The East stand houses the executive boxes.

Capacity: 7,492

The Enterprise Stand/Ponefract Road End

The Enterprise Stand is a large covered single tier seating area behind the goal on the south side of the stadium. The players gym, box office, club shop and administration offices are incorporated in this stand.

Capacity: 4,508

The North Stand

The North Stand is the most recent addition to Oakwell Stadium and is a large covered singled tiered seating area with a capacity for 6,000 spectators. Away fans usually get 2,000 seats made available but on some occasions are allocated all 6,000.


Transport and Directions
Rail: The nearest train station to Oakwell is Barnsley which is about a 10 minute walk to the ground from. You will probably find your route in will involve you changing at Sheffield of Leeds.

Directions by Car: Exit the M1 on Junction 37 and head to the A628 which is signposted for Barnsley, you will see the ground on your right as you enter Barnsley.

Parking: There is a designated away supporters car park called Queens Ground which costs £3 for a car, £6 for a minibus and a tenner for coaches. You can also park in nearby streets or in the Metrodrome.

Pubs

There are many pubs to choose from, The outpost on Sheffield Road is one of the reccomended pubs which is safe for away fans. The Outpost is a 10 minute walk from Oakwell. If you are after something a bit quieter then you can look at the Metrodome which is the local leisure centre. It's a few minutes walk from the stadium and there is a bar available.

There are plenty of pubs in town, some of which are not too welcoming for away fans, most of these pubs are newar the bus and train stations.

Beer is available inside the ground unless you have Barnsley fans have half of your stand, in that case the bar sits on their side of the concourse!!!

A Guide For Away Fans Coming To Doncaster Rovers

Getting There

By Car:



From the M1 join the M18 at junction 32 and head for Doncaster or from the A1 join the M18 at junction 35. Leave the M18 at junction 3 and take the White Rose Way towards Doncaster. Carry on the White Rose Way and go straight on at the first roundabout . At the 2nd roundabout turn left staying on White Rose Way towards Doncaster. At the next roundabout turn right onto Middle bank where there is away fans parking at the end of the road.


By Train:



The best way to the stadium is by bus from the Interchange, which is next to the station. Busses 72 & 75 run every 15 minutes to the ground Monday to Saturday and every 30 minutes on a Sunday.
For those wanting to walk then go out of the station and go right and follow Trafford way. Go straight on at the first 3 roundabouts (the 2nd is a mini roundabout) and at the 4th turn left down Middle Bank to the stadium. The walk is 1.7 miles and takes around 30 minutes.


Parking There



The best place for away fans to park is at the end of middle bank which is marked with a green X. Parking is £5 but it is secure, 2 minutes walk from the visitors stand past the 5 a side pitches and best of all it is where the away coaches park so if you are ready to leave when they are then it’s a non-stop police escort all the way back to the motorway.

The yellow X is sometimes open and was free parking (I don’t know if this has changed) and is a 10 minute walk to the stadium. Cars are parked here at their own risk but you do miss lots of queuing to get back onto the motorway.

The 3 red O’s are other places to park, these being KMS Car park #3 which is secure and costs £5, The Yorkshire Outlet car park which is free but can be a nightmare to get out of and some private parking on middle bank which is £3-4 for secure parking.


Eating & Drinking There



All of the following are 5-15 minutes walk to the stadium:

1. Keepmoat Stadium Bar – The bar at the ground where all fans are welcome.
2. Premier Inn – By the entrance to the Yorkshire Outlet where you can get food & beer and welcomes all fans.
3. KFC & Pizza Hut – Inside the outlet on the left hand side (KFC has a drive through)
4. Cheswolds + Frankie & Benny’s – 2 places where you can get a good meal that also serve alcohol.
5. McDonalds – also has a drive through.
6. The Dome Bar – Inside the Dome leisure centre, which welcomes all fans.

There are also burger vans etc on Potteric Carr Road.

Alternatively you can visit many of the pubs in town and there are also too many places to list where you can eat. Away fans should be ok in most pubs in town.

Enjoy you visit to the ground.

Just a few places to use or avoid to help you when you come to Boro.

Pubs to use.Nearest ground first.
Doc Browns, away fan pub nowadays but good mix of both sets of
fans. Police normally have a van and horses outside just incase,
sometimes allow drinking on the pedestrianised street in front. 10 mins
to ground.
Food shops opposite, chips, pizza, hot beef buns etc and Mcdonalds,
Subway and Pizza Hut opposite over main road with a Nandos under the
cinema complex.
Ironopolis Workies
Typical workmens club, allows away fans in , normally families on match days. 10 mins to ground.
Square One
Small pub, allows drinking outside, kids welcome. 15 mins to ground.

Pacific, Central, Hairy Lemon. away fans welcome but do get packed, 15 mins to ground. (Pacific is shut at moment)

Baracuda,Walkabout allow away fans in.20 mins to ground.
Other pubs further into town as well but walk gets longer.

Station area
Bridge Hotel outside station does allow away fans but is only small and gets packed with the Boro fans of the harder persuasion.
Lord Byron new pub a bit further along from the Bridge. Brand new pub, only small but does food on matchdays.

Pubs outside the main station gates, Zetland, Last Orders and Gilzeans (or whatever they have renamed it are best avaoided. Old Frontine Pubs and general low life red light area.
Issac Wison, Wetherspoons pub and normally ok but 20 mins walk.

Navigation Pub next to ground by railway crossing is a home pub only
and doorstaff strict,big and hard(ask West Ham)typical old fashoned
pub, small and packed.


Parking
Big car park near to Doc Browns area, France Street camera patrolled and normally free on a saturday and night games.
Do not park in the cinema or Mcdonalds area car park as they clamp cars for staying over the 2 hours.
Off street parking available near doc browns as well with ticket machines all over the place.
Big car parks near the ground on industrial land, normally about £4 a go.

Train station ,there are 2 ways to the ground,looks closer than it is from Platform 2.
Down steps from platform 2 turn right, out of glas doors and turn right. Down to junction.
THEN
Straight to Ground cross over road and down pedestrianised pathways past Bridge and Lord Byron pubs, to junction and bear right ,takes you all way to ground,about 10 minute walk.

Via the pubs turn right at junction and under bridge,up road through lights and pubs on left and right. Upto next lights (pubs in front, left and right)At Town Hall lights turn left, pubs on left, down to Doc Browns and Traffic Light Controlled Crossing. Over crossing,take road between cinema and Mcdonalds to underpass on left, through underpass and follow road past food vans to next underpass on left, through and turn right and ground is in front of you.

Getting there:

Piece of piss. If you're getting the train into Sheffield, once you've alighted follow the signs to the tram link, where you're getting on a tram bound for Middlewood. Get off at Leppings Lane, and the stadium is just a few minutes walk away. The tram can still be useful if you're driving in, but don't want the hassle of parking near the ground. I know many people who like to come off the M1 at Junction 34, park at Meadowhall (free parking) and get the tram from there to Hillsborough. If you are driving straight to the ground, I think it's Junction 36 to avoid Sheffield City Centre, then staying on the A61 which will take you straight to the stadium. Regarding parking around the ground, I'm no expert, but last time I checked the Wednesdayite Car Park behind the Kop on Penistone Road was still open to visiting fans, and is a few quid.

Pubs:

I'm reliably informed that the New Bridge Inn on Penistone Road (past the stadium near Wadsley Bridge) is open to travelling supporters. From personal experience, my unshakeable pre-match routine consists of pints at the New Barrack Tavern (Penistone Road again, near the greyhound track and casino, 10 minute walk from the ground). It's an excellent real ale pub, great little beer garden, and I've frequently enjoyed the company of away fans in there with no hassle whatsover.

Pubs to avoid, again from personal experience, would be anything in or around Hillsborough Corner. So that includes Players, The Shakey, Rawson Spring etc. Wouldn't recommend the Travellers in Wadsley Bridge either, don't let the name fool you.