Away Fans' Guide | West Bromwich Albion (A)

Supporters unable to attend Saturday’s Sky Bet Championship game at West Bromwich Albion can now purchase their audio match pass for the clash at The Hawthorns.

With video streaming for this fixture prohibited in domestic territories, Argyle TV subscriptions and audio match passes are the only way to follow every kick of the action live in the UK without being at the game – and the passes cost just £2.50.

However live video streaming is available for international subscribers to Argyle TV and can be purchased for £10, audio match passes can also be purchased for this fixture by overseas Pilgrims, enabling supporters to follow the action wherever you are in the world, and whatever you are doing.

Domestic subscribers to Argyle TV have audio match pass access included in their package, alongside numerous other benefits, including box sets from the Argyle archives, exclusive features, full match replays, and extended highlights, all for just £5.50 per month, or £55 for an annual pass.

The audio stream will become available to connect to from an hour before kick-off, and supporters can simply click the audio button under the media player to get started.

Argyle TV’s pre-match show will be available to watch on the club’s YouTube channel from 2pm. Charlie Price and Aaron Cusack will bring you all of the build-up ahead of kick-off.

Rob McNichol will be bringing you the live match commentary from The Hawthorns, where he will be joined by former Argyle forward Ryan Brunt on co-commentary.

You can purchase your Argyle TV match pass here.

Stadium address

West Bromwich Albion Football Club, The Hawthorns, Birmingham Road, West Bromwich, B71 4LF

By rail or metro

The Stadium is accessible from the Hawthorns train and Metro station only.

• Take the national train line into Birmingham New Street 
• Change for a local train or Metro to The Hawthorns from Snow Hill Station, which is a five-minute walk from Birmingham New Street.

For supporters who may be travelling by rail services to Birmingham New Street train station, please check for any industrial action on rail services.

Please be aware trains which operate from Birmingham Snow Hill rail station may not be stopping at the Hawthorns.

Trams stop outside New Street Station at the Metro Grand Central tram stop in Stephenson Street (B2-4PY) these trams stop at the Hawthorns. Trams operate every 10 minutes until 19:15, after which they run every 15 minutes until the end of service.

The journey time from Grand Central to the Hawthorns tram stop is 15 minutes.

The last tram from the Hawthorns to Grand Central is 00:31.

For supporters who may be travelling to Wolverhampton railway station from various destinations:

Trams stop outside Wolverhampton railway station (WV1-1LE)

Trams operate every 10 minutes until 19:15 and then every 15 minutes until the end of service.

The journey time from Wolverhampton railway station to the Hawthorns is 31 minutes. The last tram from the Hawthorns to Wolverhampton railway station is 00:26.

It is quicker for supporters to travel to Birmingham New Street train station.

By Bus

Buses from across the West Midlands stop on the doorstep of The Hawthorns.

Transport for West Midlands, the region's public transport provider, has timetables for all these services on its website. Just click here for the Transport for West Midlands website.

By Road

For an alternative route for those travelling northbound on the M5 avoiding Junction 1

(1) From M5 junction 1, and West Bromwich

• Take the A41 East, sign posted Birmingham City Centre.
• The stadium is visible immediately after the motorway island is cleared, and stands about 600 metres to the Birmingham side of junction 1 on the right hand side.

(2) From Birmingham

• Follow the A41 West towards the M5 junction 1 
• The stadium will be located on your left-hand side.

East Stand

(1) From M5,

• Leave at junction 1  and  on the roundabout take the exit signposted A41 Birmingham.
• Join the right hand lane on the A41
• For the West Stand / EPPP turn right onto Halfords Lane (next to Greggs)
• For the East Stand, after the first set of traffic lights there will be a McDonalds on your left and The Hawthorns on your right
• Turn right through the gates on to the East Stand Car Park

Fans travelling to The Hawthorns by car on matchdays can now pre-book car parking spaces directly with EST.

At least three car parks will be open within 1 mile of The Hawthorns offering 500 spaces available in total. Car Parking starts at £10 per vehicle and can be purchased online here or by calling 02476 997605.

Car parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis and will be available to purchase at least 4 weeks before the match.

Any supporters requiring Accessible parking are advised on book on the National Timber Site.

Please be aware of road closures around the Stadium on a matchday to further protect the safety of supporters, you can find more information here. All of EST’s car parks are located outside of the road closure zone so your access and departure will not be affected by these measures.

Car parks will be open from 3 hours before kick off and will close 2 hours after the final whistle.

To secure your space please book online here 

Sandwell Council have amended the event day traffic order which is used to control traffic flow around The Hawthorns on matchdays.

The following road closures are now in place to further ensure the safety of supporters visiting the stadium. 

Pre-match

From 95 minutes before kick off:

- Halfords Lane closed to vehicles from Hawthorns Railway Bridge to the Birmingham Road junction, with the exception of users of club operated car parks and residents of Halfords Lane

- Albion Estate residents can only access or leave the estate via Middlemore Road

- Inside lane of the Westbound carriage (towards M5 Junction 1) closed

Post-match

- Halfords Lane closed to vehicles from Hawthorns Railway Bridge to the Birmingham Road junction until up to 40 minutes after full time

- Albion Estate residents can only access or leave the estate via the gated entrance on Middlemore Road

- Birmingham Road Westbound carriage (towards M5 junction 1) will be fully closed between Park Lane and Screwfix from 10 minutes before full time for up to 40 minutes after the final whistle

- Users of club car parks will not be able to access or leave the facilities from 10 minutes before full time until all pedestrian traffic has left the area.

Tickets for our trip on Saturday to West Bromwich Albion are now sold out, save for a small number of tickets for wheelchair users. 

These are available to buy directly from the Home Park Ticket Office, either in person or over the phone on 01752 907700. PLEASE NOTE: These are only pairs of tickets, and we have no availability for adding family members to this area.

Miles Away Coach Travel
We still have a few spaces available for travel, departing from outside the Babcock Devonport End at 7.30am. 

Miles Away Adult - £43
Miles Away Junior - £41
Non-Member - £48

Ticket Collections – Any tickets not collected will be made available on the day at West Bromwich Albion from the Ticket Office on the East Stand side of the stadium from 1pm.

Posted Tickets – If you have paid for postage and your tickets have not arrived please either call us on 01752 907700 or email tickets@pafc.co.uk, by 4pm on Friday, 20 October for us to be able to arrange duplicates for collection. These can then be collected on match day from 1pm from the Ticket Office on the East Stand side at The Hawthorns.

The Hawthorns is a fully accessible stadium with designated entrances around the ground. The accessible entrance for away supporters is in the Smethwick End Stand.

The Club embrace all persons with any form of disability and employs designated Disability Liaison Stewards on a matchday to ensure that everyone has a positive experience.

If you have any questions regarding your visit to The Hawthorns please contact Disability Liaison Officer Liz Massey on: 0121 227 2227, or email: liz.massey@wbafc.co.uk

All stands offer a number of refreshment outlets serving a wide selection of food and drink.

Options range from the traditional Pasty and a Bovril, or Pie and a Pint, to Burgers, Pizza, Hot Dogs and Chips. The drinks selection includes soft drinks, hot drinks and a selection of alcoholic beverages.

Payments in the Away End are by credit or debit card only.

Gates will open at 1.30pm for entry into the stadium.

Programmes are available to buy from sellers located inside and outside the ground, as well as at the Stadium Megastore for just £3.50.

Located in the East Stand of the Stadium, the club store will be open from 9am on match day.

The safety and welfare of all supporters and guests is the main priority. All of West Brom's Security and Stewarding staff are NVQ trained and background checked.

Additionally all Stewards undertake a bespoke ‘Disability Awareness’ training module and key staff have received Dementia Awareness Training. Security on matchdays is a prime focus for the hosts and all supporters will undergo checks/searches before entry into the stadium in accordance with Ground Regulations.

Please arrive at the turnstiles early so that searching can be carried out and you can enter the stadium with the minimum delay. Small bags/handbags will be allowed after being searched.

All WBA staff are trained in customer relations and are only too happy to assist any supporter with any queries and or concerns that you may have. They are also trained to evacuate the stadium safely in an emergency should a situation arise and the hosts have extensive plans in place for emergencies and are in regular communications with the emergency services.

Supporters will be required to open their jackets and empty their pockets. Any bags brought in will need to be opened and there may be a need for a physical search if deemed necessary.

To ensure supporters can enter the ground quickly we would ask that they only bring a minimum amount of possessions with them, with the exception of required medical equipment.

Please note that there is no storage area for supporters with large bags so please do not bring any to the Stadium.

All concerns can be presented to Lisa Reynolds, directly and confidentially at lisa.reynolds@wbafc.co.uk or by calling 07976 660 953.

If you have an urgent matter that requires immediate attention then please contact your local police station or the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.

West Bromwich Albion do not allow travelling fans to bring instruments (drums etc) into the stadium.

Argyle fans wishing to bring flags must make prior contact with West Brom indicating the size of any flags and including a copy of the fire certificate. Any flags approved must not cover any advertising hoarding or banner.

Shopping

The Bullring shopping centre is just a short five mile journey with around 160 shops. Next to the Bullring is Grand Central, the shopping and dining facility above Birmingham New Street Station.

Within two miles of The Hawthorns in West Bromwich Town Centre there is a shopping complex called New Square which hosts a variety of shops, cafés, restaurants and a cinema.

Accommodation

If you require accommodation there is a Park Inn Hotel located near West Bromwich in close proximity to M5 Junction 1, which is around a 15 minute walk to The Hawthorns. The stadium is just a short train or tram ride away from Birmingham City Centre which has hundreds of hotels within walking distance of the city’s public transport.

Entertainment

West Bromwich Town Centre has a number of bars and restaurants a short walk away from the Stadium. There is also a cinema in New Square shopping complex.

If you’re staying in Birmingham City Centre there is plenty to do, with hundreds of bars and restaurants, nightclubs, cinemas, and casinos.

For further information or if you have any other questions, you can contact the host club’s Supporter Liaison Officer via SLO@wbafc.co.uk or by visiting @WBA_Support on Twitter.