Sky Blues On The Road - Southampton

Last updated : 09 August 2006 By Covsupport
SOUTHAMPTON V COVENTRY CITY
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 9TH AT 7.45PM
ST MARY'S STADIUM,BRITTANIA ROAD,SOUTHAMPTON, S014 5FP
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City travel down to Southampton for the second league game of the season

WHO ARE THEY?
Formed in 1885, Southampton are in their second season in the Champioship after 27 years in the top flight. They moved to their new home from The Dell, three seasons ago. They have were the old FL First Division runners up in 1983/1984 and have twice finished as runners-up in the old League Division One in 1965/1966, 1977/1978. They win the FA Cup in 1976 beating Manchester United 1-0.
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THEIR WEBSITE
http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/home/
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RECENT FORM
City beat Sunderland 2-1 on Sunday in a Championship game whilst Southampton drew 2-2 at Derby.
This will be the 109th meeting between the two sides. City have won 39 of the games with 34 draws. City's last visit to St Mary's produced a 1-1 draw.Grzegorz Rasiak put the Saints ahead with ten to go but with two minutes left, Don Hutchison scored from the penalty spot.
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TEAM NEWS
Stuart Giddings has a hamstring injury,Mikkel Bischoff an ankle injury and
Wayne Andrews has a severely sprained ankle. Stephen Hughes took a knock and should be ok for the trip, latest signing Adam Virgo could be included.
Southampton boss George Burley is definitely without Claus Lundekvam and Ricardo Fuller after the pair picked up injuries at Derby on Sunday.
Bradley Wright-Phillips may start with either Chris Baird or Martin Cranie slotting into defence.
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MATCH DETAILS
Kick off is at 7.45pm. Ticket prices for City supporters are Adults £26. Teenagers/Senior Citizens £19, U12's £13. Allocation 1,089 in Northam Stand.
The referee is Grant Hegley.
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WEATHER FORECAST
A sunny day is forecast with a maximum temperature of 23 degrees dropping to a low of 14.
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HOW TO GET THERE
Away Fans Directions to Southampton Football Club Park & Ride. Visiting supporters are advised not to travel by private car into Southampton City Centre on a match day and instead use the dedicated park and ride service specifically for away fans. The park and ride site will start operating 2 hours before any kick-off time at a charge of £3 per vehicle payable on entry. Please follow the directions below to find your way to the visiting supporters car park.Special buses will transport you to / from The Friends Provident St. Mary's Stadium.

From M27, exit at Junction 8 Follow signs for Southampton A3024 .Follow the A3024 for approximately 200 yards to the Tesco roundabout. Take 2nd exit following signs for Woolston A3025 into Hamble Lane. After approximately 100 yards, turn right at mini roundabout going back up Hamble Lane, turning left into the SFC car park entrance (about 15 yards).

From the M3, continue to the end of the motorway then follow signs for the M27 East and then as above. AA signposts will be in place after leaving the M27 at Junction 8, indicating the short distance to the park and ride site. Supporters are asked to observe the car parking terms and conditions which are displayed within the car park.

How to get there. Parking around the Friends Provident St Mary's Stadium is extremely limited so the club have set up numerous alternatives to enable you to get there comfortably, safely and efficiently.

By Bus
"St Mary's Stadium" Attached to all match tickets, are bus in bus out vouchers. These are redeemable on buses operating in Zone 6 of the city center. Theses areas are: Totton, Calmore Estate, Lordshill centre, Chilworth Roundabout, Southampton Airport, Hants CC Rose Bowl, Kanes Hill Roundabout, Bursledon Rd/ Botley Rd Junction, Portsmouth Rd/ Botley Rd Junction, Hamble, Netley. For any journeys outside this zone payment will be required. For Bus times contact: First Bus Company on 02380 224854, Solent Blue Line on 02380 618233 and Wilts & Dorset on 01202 673555. Vouchers are valid on both Solent Blue Line and First Bus services and are not transferable. they must be detached from the match ticket in the presence of the driver. All bus services from the outer zones to the City Centre are within 10 minutes walk of the Stadium. Extra buses will be laid on for matchday travel.

The following services pass by the Stadium on Northam Road:3/3A 5/5A 8A (First Southampton), 18/19 (Solent Blue Line). The following services operate via Itchen Bridge which is within sight of the stadium and only a short walk away:8, 10/10A, 11/11A, 16, 17/17A (First Southampton). In addition to the scheduled bus services, there are shuttle bus services in operation on match days from the Central Train Station and the Town Quay Ferry Terminal.
These services will commence two hours before the match kicks off and will continue to run until kick off. The service will also be in operation after the match to take passengers back to the railway station/ferry terminal. The service is not a numbered bus service and will simply say Stadium Shuttle on inbound journeys and Rail/Ferry Shuttle on outbound journeys.Passengers are to be advised that the railway shuttle service leaves from the Commercial Road side of the station outside Blechynden Terrace. The ferry shuttle will leave from the main bus stop at the terminal.Simply show your match ticket in order to use the shuttle bus service free of charge.
For further details contact First Bus Travel Line: 023 8022 4854 or Solent Blue Line: 023 8022 6235

By Foot The stadium is about 10 minutes walk from the City Centre and is a sign posted walk route.

By Car Please be aware that it is not advisable to head towards the ground on a match day unless you have a specific pass for one of the nearby car parks. Surrounding roads are subject to police road closures and heavy congestion. THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WILL GIVE DIRECTIONS TO THOSE DRIVING TO THE FRIENDS PROVIDENT ST MARYS STADIUM ON NON-MATCHDAYS. DUE TO THE FACT THAT BRITANNIA ROAD IS SUBJECT TO A POLICE ROAD CLOSURE DO NOT HEAD IN THE DIRECTION OF BRITANNIA ROAD ON A MATCH DAY.

From M27 Eastbound Leave M27 at junction 5 (Airport) and take 4th junction off the roundabout heading to Southampton along the A335 along Stoneham Way then merge left onto Thomas Lewis Way).Head straight along this road for roughly 3 miles until the road merges into Bevois Valley Road and then Onslow Road. At the end of this road go straight on at the traffic lights and then turn left onto the dual carriageway (Dorset Street). Continue along this road until you pass the Royal South Hants Hospital on your left and the British Gas offices on your right. At the roundabout take the second exit into Six Dials. Go into the right hand lane of the dual carriageway and continue along through the traffic lights continuing along into Kingsway (following A33 on road signs). Drive approximately for a quarter of a mile and take 4th left into St Mary Street. Follow bend to right into Chapel Road (St Mary Church will be on left hand side) and continue to the end of the road.Turn left into Marine Parade and Stadium is approximately 600 metres on the left.

From M27 Westbound. Exit the M27 at junction 8 and then turn left at the roundabout.Follow the dual carriageway on the left hand side and approach roundabout. Take 3rd junction off the roundabout (A3024) and follow this road into Southampton (this is quite a long road and will continue for approximately 4.5 miles).Cross the Northam Bridge and when you reach the set of traffic lights after the bridge (opposite Meridian Studios) turn left into Princes Street.Follow this road right to the end to get to the Stadium.

From M3 Drive to the end of the M3 southbound and get onto the M27 eastbound. Leave M27 at Junction 4 (first junction you approach) and follow the signs to get on the A33 into Southampton.Continue along this road (for approximately 3 miles) and continue to the end of this road (The Avenue). The road will merge into Dorset Street, continue along until you get to the roundabout. At the roundabout, take the 2nd junction (Six Dials) and on the dual carriageway stay in the right hand lane and continue along through the traffic lights continuing along into Kingsway (following A33 on road signs). Drive approximately a quarter of a mile and take 4th left into St Mary's Street. Follow bend to right into Chapel Road (St Mary's Church will be on left hand side) and continue to the end of the road.Turn left into Marine Parade and Stadium is approximately 600 metres on the left.

Coaches from the Arena will leave from Car Park C at 3pm. There is free parking for those using the coach in this car park.
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