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Newport County AFC v Hereford United
Blue Square Premier
Tuesday 28th August 2012 KO 7.45 pm
Rodney Parade
Newport
South Wales
NP19 0UU
Phone 01633 662262
Despite the issues surrounding ticketing, it's wonderful to, once again, have a derby match where the hosts actually have their stadium in their own town.
The "Exiles" moved to Rodney Parade at the beginning of this season. The Stadium is also the home of Newport and Newport Gwent Dragons rugby clubs and has a capacity of over 11,000 but Health and Safety issues currently restrict the football attendances to around half of that figure. The Bulls have been allocated fewer than 600 tickets with Hereford fans being accommodated in part of the Bisley Stand. Entrance is via Gate 6 at the far end of the ground as you approach from Rodney Road. The seats provided for Bulls' fans offer a good view of the pitch and a licensed bar is said to be available inside the ground.
HUISA – Departs Edgar Street at 5.30 pm with a fare of £9 (non-members £11), All coaches and minibuses are asked to rendezvous at the picnic area south of the Usk junction of the A449 from where they will be escorted to the ground. Passengers will be dropped outside the ground and vehicles will then be taken to a parking area some distance from the ground. Drivers are expected to have to stay with the vehicles and to return to the ground in time for the final whistle when vehicles will be, again, escorted away from the ground.
BY CAR – From Hereford, travel towards Ross-on-Wye and take the fork right to Symonds Yat then, at the junction with the A40, follow signs for Newport/South Wales. Join the M4 westbound at J24. Leave the M4 at J25A and at the roundabout take the first exit onto Heidenheim Way. Take the first exit off the flyover and the second exit off the roundabout. At the next roundabout, take the first exit across the Usk Bridge. At the traffic lights fork right onto Chepstow Road, first right onto Cedar Road and first right again onto Corporation Road. Take the first left onto Grafton Road and Rodney Parade is on your left.
PARKING - There is no parking available at the ground for supporters and there is a "residents only" parking scheme in operation in the streets around the stadium. So it is either a case of finding street parking further away or use one of the city centre car parks, such as Kingsway Shopping Centre, which costs £2 for five hours. There is also a small open pay and display car park on Chepstow Road which costs £1.85 for five hours. There is a footbridge close to the Kingsway parking that crosses the Usk to take you to the stadium.
TRAIN - Newport railway station is situated around a quarter of a mile away from the stadium and is a relatively short walk. As you come out of the main station entrance turn left along the main (Queensway) road. Follow this road until you reach a large roundabout. Take the pedestrian underpass down underneath the roundabout and at the centre turn left towards Clarence Place/River Usk. After you have come back up to street level you should see a bridge in front of you going across the river. Cross the bridge and then take the first right hand turn into Rodney Parade and the stadium is down this road on the left.
ALEHOUSES – I am really at a loss to know what to suggest given the expected attentions of Gwent's finest. There is a 'Spoons called The Tom Toya Lewis in Commercial Road (a couple of streets behind the Kingsway parking). The safest bet is probably to not bother or to try one in The Punch House (Brains SA on tap) in Monmouth on the way down.I plan to do a "recce" of Newport parking on Monday (Mrs Ex is threatening to "do" the shops!) and I'll post any updated information on Monday evening.
SYHOFTLads.
