Bradford v Portsmouth: away-day guide

The Bantams ground '“ now known as the Northern Commercials Stadium, if the sponsors are to get their way (Bradford, West, Yorkshire, BD8 7DY) has a capacity of 25,136.

Blues fans will be in the covered, two tiered, TL Dallas Stand at one end of the ground.

There is a cash point at Tesco Express in Manningham Lane, near the ground.

Getting there - by road

Leave the M1 at Junction 42 and take the M62 West towards Halifax and Bradford.

Leave the M62 at Junction 26 and take the M606 for Bradford.

At the end of the motorway, keep to the right-hand lane and take the Ring Road East (signposted A6177 City Centre).

From this point the stadium is well signposted by the brown football signs.

At the next roundabout turn left, continuing along the Ring Road East, passing a McDonalds on your left and then an Asda superstore.

At the next roundabout turn left onto the A650 (signposted City Centre/Keighley).

After crossing a further two roundabouts the road becomes three lanes.

Keep in one of the two right-hand lanes (signposted Keighley/Skipton).

Continue straight along this road towards Skipton and eventually you will be able to see the stadium in front of you, over on the left.

At the Kia car dealership on your left, turn immediately left into Station Road.

At the top of Station Road turn left along Queens Road, then the second left into Midland Road for the away entrance.

Allow plenty of time for your journey as Bradford can get very congested on match days.

Parking

On-street parking is available around the ground.

There is usually a large stretch of parking available on Midland Road to one side of the ground.

The club advise that you lock all valuables away as there have been incidents of theft in the past.

Please note that the Forster Square car park has a time limit of only one-and-a-half hours.

There are no Blue Badge spaces at the ground, but on Midland Road there are around 10 Blue Badge bays owned by the council.

These are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

By train

The nearest station to the ground is Bradford Forster Square.

The journey from Portsmouth will take about five-and-a-half hours via London Kings Cross, Leeds and Shipley.

It is also possible to travel to Bradford Interchange Station via London Kings Cross and Leeds.

Please note that both South Western Railway trains from Portsmouth to London Waterloo and Northern Line trains from Leeds to Bradford have scheduled industrial action on November 3.

Details can be checked at nationalrail.co.uk

From Bradford Forster Square, it takes about 10 minutes to walk to the ground.

Leave the station to the right of the ticket office, either up the six or so flights of stairs or up the

long ramp further on.

This brings you out on Manor Row, where you should turn right.

Keep on this road, passing the City Gent pub, to a massive crossroads.

Here, you can either go straight over and walk all the way down Manningham Lane, past The Bradford Arms pub to Valley Parade, just before the Petrol Station.

Blues fans sitting in the away end will find it easier to turn right at the main cross roads, then turn left on to Midland Road after 100 yards and follow the road all the way to the turnstiles.

From Bradford Interchange Station it is about a 20-minute walk to the ground.

Leave the station walking towards the city centre, with the Queens pub on your left and St

George's Hall on the right.

Walk down the hill and take a right just after the Ginger Goose pub, on to Market Street.

Follow this road round to the mini roundabout and go up the hill.

You will come on to Manor Row, where Bradford Forster Square station is.

Alternatively, the bus station is located next to Bradford Interchange and bus numbers 622, 623, 626 or 662 will take you to Manningham Lane, from where you will be able to see the ground.

Eat and drink

The Bradford Arms pub (77 Manningham Lane, Bradford, BD1 3BA), a few minutes from

the ground, serves food, has Sky Sports and will welcome Pompey fans'“  as will The Queen

pub (36 Bridge Street, Bradford, BD1 1JU).

The Queen is a traditional pub serving a selection of beers, wines and food.

In the retail park near Bradford Forster Square Station there is a McDonalds, Greggs and Subway.

About 10 minutes walk from the ground, the Cartwright Hotel (308 Manningham Lane, BD8 7AX) offers accommodation and has a bar.

For real ale lovers, try The Sparrow (32 North Parade, Bradford BD1 3HZ) '“ a small, café

style pub, now owned by Kirkstall Brewery, with a selection of cask, keg and bottled beers.