Its been seven years since we have had to visit Teeside home of the aptly nicknamed Smoggies, all you need to know to come home in one piece.

The Ground

The stadium was first opened in August 1995 and was one of the first waves of larger new football stadia, it originally held 31,000 but they quickly filled in a couple of the corners to add 5,000 extra seats to bring it up to its current capacity of just over 35,000.

Three sides of the stadium are built in the "bowl" style similar to Pride Park and Soke's Brittania Stadium, with the main stand being of a different design with two tiers.

Visiting supporters are housed in the South Stand behind one of the goals and up to 4,500 can be accomodated here, the sight lines are very good with as you would imagine no stanchions etc obstructing the views.

Downside to the end though is that the concourses below are very narrow meaning that it can get very crowded if you have a big support as we hopefuily will on Saturday, like St Mary's it has the usual catering including alcohol, betting outlets and TV's showing Sky Sports etc.

In the past policing and stewarding has been quite vigarous with a sometimes draconian reaction to standing etc, although reports in recent years suggest that this has relaxed a little, we advise you to be careful as in the past both police and stewards have been known to eject first and ask questions later.

Middlesbrough is not a particularly hospitable place and given the game could effectively end oro's chances of a play off spot, indeed even before it kicks off if results go badly for them elsewhere, care should be excercised not just around the ground but in the pubs both before and afterwards.

Getting There

By Car

Take the usual routes up to the M1 and then head north on this motorway, in the area of Leeds follow directions to the A1M signposted Teeside Newcastle etc, stay on the A1M till its junction with the A168 signposted Teeside & Thirsk, head on this road till it joins with the A19 and follow this road right into Middlesbrough and then follow signs to the football stadium which is fairly near the centre on the main ring road.

Parking

Although there is no parking for cars at the Stadium itself unless you have a pass, there are plenty of private car parks offering facilities in the vicinity of the ground, although it should be noted that its notorious for the time it takes to get out of the area, sometimes up to 45 minutes after the final whistle.

The ground is about 1 mile of 15 minutes from the town centre and there are plenty of car parks there that do offer an easier escape after the game, possibly at a cheaper rate than near the ground.

By Train

The train station is in the Town Centre around 1 mile or 15 minutes walk from the ground, which is well singposted.

Drinking etc.

In the direct vicinity of the Riverside there is literally nowhere to have a drink apart from in the ground itself, Corporation Road a main road leading into the town centre has plenty of pubs most of which are away fan friendly, as long as you arent too loud or obnoxious and is about a ten minute walk from the Riverside, Doctor Browns a big pub that has Sky TV etc is a favourite amongst visiting supporters on this road.

There are a few pubs around the train station as well, but unless you have come by train its a bit of a walk and you would literally have to walk past the pubs of Corporation Road to get there.

Riverside Stadium

Capacity: 35,100 (all seated)

Address: Middlesbrough, Cleveland, TS3 6RS

Telephone No: 08 44 499 6789

Main Fax No: 01642 757 690

Ticket Office: 08 44 499 1234

Ticket Office Fax: 01642 757 693

Stadium Tours: 0844 499 6789

Club Nickname: Boro

Year Ground Opened: 1995

Pitch Size: 115 x 75 yards

Shirt Sponsors: Ramsdens

Home Kit Colours: All Red

Away Kit Colours: Black With Red Trim

Kit Manufacturers: Adidas

Official Web Site:

www.mfc.co.uk

Photo: Action Images

TimSaint added 11:53 - Apr 19 Looking forward to this one, but not been up to Boro for many a moon - not that we have played them much of late !! First visit was to Ayresome Park when we threw away a 3-1 lead to draw 3-3, but in fairness could have lost !! (think this may be where Ruddock penned his Schuster nickname, after his (deflected) free-kick !!) 5 of us drove up in a Talbot Horizon, found the floodlights and established it was not the ground but a railway sidings. We asked a guy where the ground was and before he answered, he opened the back door and crammed in the back and said I'll direct you if you give me a lift !!! Nice broken glass cemented into the top of the brick walls too !! It was an awful place then and the local hospitality didn't improve much when they moved to the Riverside. Still, having seen us lose there 2-1 in midweek fixture, I had the last laugh as we won there 1-0, courtesey of a Jim Magilton penalty at the death, after I think Clayton Blackmore had tipped a goal bound header over the bar !! This meant we swapped places with Boro and they were now bottom !! The funniest story from the Riverside involves an ex-colleague of mine. He was a Birmingham City fan and was at the ground and wanting to buy a programme. He thought it would be safest and best to ask an old boy in his 80's where the programme sellers were..... Olroight Mate, d'ya knaw where Oi can boy a programme........ Fook off back to Birmingham ya Coont !! Tremendous !! Will be different on Saturday though - a sea of Yellow cheering the boys on to the victory they need to seal promotion !! Anyone else got some stories from Middlesbrough ?

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SaintNick added 12:30 - Apr 19 I got offfered a corporate hospitality day at football by a newcastle based building society looking at the fixtures I noticed that Newcastle were at home to Barcelona in the champions league (i think it was 97) so readily accepted, sadly it wasnt for that game and i ended up at Middlesbrough watching them play Pompey, to make matters worse Pompey equalised in injury time with just about the only shot on goal. Pompey had about 150 fans there

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bstokesaint added 12:52 - Apr 19 I'm looking forward to it more than ever now.. I've bought a ticket for my mate who lives up in Newcastle for putting us up for the weekend. He's a Cambridge United fan with a big soft spot for Southampton, who we watched many times together at the Dell when he lived locally. If we win we'll be straight out of Middlesbrough and out celebrating on the Toon. COYR, let's get the job done this weekend.

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exfurtog added 17:23 - Apr 19 As Saints fans you should encounter very little animosity on Teesside. Most Boro fans have resigned themselves to missing out on the play offs this year. mainly down to their poor home form and lack of goals (20 in 22 home games this season). So long as the celebrations don't become too raucous and you start rubbing Boro fans' noses in what could be promotion celebrations then you'll have no problems. That said if either Cardiff or Blackpool lose before hand it should be a good atmosphere as a lot will ride on the result for both sides. Enjoy the game and good luck in the Prem next year.

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