Southend v Pompey: Away-Day Guide

• Ground: Roots Hall. Opened: 1955. Capacity: 12,392. Record attendance: 31,033

Pompey fans have another away trip on Saturday, February 17 (3pm).

This time they travel to Southend United’s Roots Hall on Victoria Avenue, Southend, SS2 6NQ.

The Shrimpers’ ground holds 12,392 all-seated.

Blues fans will be in one side of the North Stand.

The stand is a former terrace that has had seats bolted on to it, so there is not much leg room.

The stand is covered but there are a number of pillars at the front that could impede your view.

Pompey’s last visit to Roots Hall – back in September 2014 – ended in a 2-0 defeat.

• Getting there: From the M25 take junction 29 and follow the A127 to Southend.

Continue towards the town centre, through the lights near the Bell pub.

At the next roundabout turn right to continue on the A127.

The ground is on the right, just past the next lights.

If you use the Dartford Crossing, you must pay in advance or by midnight the day after to avoid a fine.

Visit gov.uk/pay-dartford-crossing-charge or ring 0300 300 0120.

• Parking: Parking at the ground is reserved for season-ticket holders only.

If you turn right as you arrive at Roots Hall, you will head behind the away end where there is plenty of on-street parking.

The nearby Southend High School for Boys offers parking at a small charge.

• By train: The station closest to the ground is Prittlewell.

However, this station is on the line from London Liverpool Street and is affected by engineering works on February 17, so there will be no trains running to Prittlewell.

The alternatives are either to go to London Waterloo and catch a Jubilee Line tube train eastbound to West Ham, where you can catch a train to Southend Central.

Or go to London Fenchurch Street and get a Southend Central train.

The journey from Fenchurch Street to Southend will take about an hour.

From Southend Central, the ground is about a mile north and the walk will take about 20 minutes.

You could get a taxi or there is a bus station nearby in Chichester Road.

• Eating and drinking: If you are driving in along the A127 you will pass the Bell pub, SS2 6RL – a Toby Carvery that also has accommodation.

Not far from the ground, near Prittlewell Station, is the The Fish House fish-and-chip shop, East Street, SS2 6LQ, which comes highly recommended.

In the town centre there are plenty of pubs and places to eat, especially down near the sea front.

Near Southend Central station there is a Wetherspoons pub, The Last Post, Weston Road, SS1 1AS – which is a former Edwardian Post Office.