AWAY FANS' GUIDE | Rochdale

Tickets

They are selling on the day with cash turnstiles, priced at £22 adults, £16 over 65s and under 22s, with under 17s paying a fiver. There is no price increase.

Turnstiles

For me, The Willbutts Lane Stand that houses visiting fans is probably, pound for pound, the best facility of its kind in League One and puts quite a few in the Championship and indeed the Premier League in the shade. Situated along the side of the pitch, you are able to sit relatively centrally, have a brilliant, unimpeded view, plenty of leg room and there is not too much climbing to do either. Entrance is at ground level on Willbutts Lane onto a roomy concourse and a warm welcome is normally on offer.

Food

The chippie over the road from the away entrance. Enough said!

Refreshments

At the ground itself, Studds Bar is below the Pearl Street Stand next to our accommodation and normally allows in away fans providing they are not too rowdy. There is also the more pub-like Ratcliffe Arms on the other side of the ground by the main car park entrance, again this is fine and having visited it a few times may be a good bet. The town centre is a fair old distance but has quite a few places, including The Regal Moon. En route, there is The Cemetery which is pretty good for the ale type. As for inside the ground, the last time we were there alcohol was available but this may no longer be the case.

Travel

Not quite deja vu from Oldham, but pretty close. The Post Code is OL11 5DR. Again, leave the M62 at Junction 20 and join the A627(M), this time towards Rochdale. Keep left at the end of the motorway and then turn left at the lights. After another set of lights, you will get to a crossroads by which you will see The Cemetery, keep going again and Sandy Lane takes you to the ground. It is pretty much street parking only. Watch out for the obligatory residents schemes.

Rochdale is the nearest railway station but it is a good couple of miles away. Trains from both Manchester Victoria and Leeds are pretty frequent. It is, in all honesty, probably best to take a taxi and book a return to boot. The Metrolink also runs from Manchester to the town centre which is a bit closer but still a trundle.