Has anyone heard anything regarding the entrance/exit route from North Stand. I assume the path by the cricket field will be allocated to away fans if they are repositioned on that side.
It's a significant factor for me if that is the case as I have stage 4 osteoarthritis which is bone in bone in my knee.
The walk around the ground would be a serious hurdle for me so I would appreciate any info on this.

lovebeingaclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 3:41 pm

Has anyone heard anything regarding the entrance/exit route from North Stand. I assume the path by the cricket field will be allocated to away fans if they are repositioned on that side.
It's a significant factor for me if that is the case as I have stage 4 osteoarthritis which is bone in bone in my knee.
The walk around the ground would be a serious hurdle for me so I would appreciate any info on this.

Will be open tomorrow but not for Sunderland and probably not for most, if not all games this season. Although nothing has been formally announced by the Club yet.

Considering the volume of people that use this access the club appear to be saying little about it.

I believe it’s just the Cat A games where it will only be for the away fans, could be mistaken though

This will impact me severely.

I park in the car park beyond the Queen Vic pub and I’ve always just come out of the Longside upper, walked past the cricket ground onto Belvedere Road, and up to my car.

Now, presumably, I’ll have to turn right on leaving the stand, and walk round three sides of the ground to get back to my car.

Did the Club consult the fans about this?

I guess this sort of thing will be one of the advantages of the new BFC ISA, who will be able to have an input, although I can’t help thinking that the powers that be at the Club will continue to do what they want.

lakedistrictclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 3:58 pm

This will impact me severely.

I park in the car park beyond the Queen Vic pub and I’ve always just come out of the Longside upper, walked past the cricket ground onto Belvedere Road, and up to my car.

Now, presumably, I’ll have to turn right on leaving the stand, and walk round three sides of the ground to get back to my car.

Did the Club consult the fans about this?

I guess this sort of thing will be one of the advantages of the new BFC ISA, who will be able to have an input, although I can’t help thinking that the powers that be at the Club will continue to do what they want.

It's not ideal, but you could walk to the end of the Bee Hole End, then cut back on yourself past the memorial dugout and through the Holcombe Drive estate onto Belvedere Road. Ideally the club would open the wall up onto this path to cut the route down

lakedistrictclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 3:58 pm

This will impact me severely.

I park in the car park beyond the Queen Vic pub and I’ve always just come out of the Longside upper, walked past the cricket ground onto Belvedere Road, and up to my car.

Now, presumably, I’ll have to turn right on leaving the stand, and walk round three sides of the ground to get back to my car.

Did the Club consult the fans about this?

I guess this sort of thing will be one of the advantages of the new BFC ISA, who will be able to have an input, although I can’t help thinking that the powers that be at the Club will continue to do what they want.

Will impact us as well. We park on the Cricket club and walk down to the JMc. If we’re still able to park there we’d have to go up to Belvedere and around down HPW which my dad will struggle with


FYI you could walk down Holcombe Drive and through the estate coming out at the memorial garden behind JMc

Thanks, ChrisG and Wilks_bfc. I hadn’t thought of that. I’ll have a look at it.

I suggested a new exit point through the brick boundary wall at the last Clarets Trust AGM. There was some suggestion it might be among the things fed back to the club, but i'd be surprised if it was done in time for the start of the season, if at all....

It's what happens when things change.

For those in the cricket field stand who walk from town, it will be a lot easier not having to walk round the ground.

For others who walk down the lane by the cricket ground, for those games where it's closed for home fans it will make life difficult, some win, some lose unfortunately

Row x wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 4:18 pm

It's what happens when things change.

For those in the cricket field stand who walk from town, it will be a lot easier not having to walk round the ground.

For others who walk down the lane by the cricket ground, for those games where it's closed for home fans it will make life difficult, some win, some lose unfortunately

Sure, but it's a little quirk that those most able to walk, being the CFS stand occupants and their tendency to stand all game, will be the ones with a newly shorted walk to the centre.

Row x wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 4:18 pm

It's what happens when things change.

I think it's a little mischievious to suggest that people are simply against change. Most folk are rightly highlighting the lack of consultation, even basic communication, which prevents them from making adjustments or anticipating the change in the best way possible given their unique set of circumstances.

Duffer_ wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 4:39 pm

I think it's a little mischievious to suggest that people are simply against change. Most folk are rightly highlighting the lack of consultation, even basic communication, which prevents them from making adjustments or anticipating the change in the best way possible given their unique set of circumstances.

It would have been fairer had you quoted all my quote, which gave a more balanced view than just that one sentence and you call me mischievous

Row x wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 4:18 pm

It's what happens when things change.

For those in the cricket field stand who walk from town, it will be a lot easier not having to walk round the ground.

For others who walk down the lane by the cricket ground, for those games where it's closed for home fans it will make life difficult, some win, some lose unfortunately

You must be being purposely obtuse
You know it’s partly about the lack of consultation, but most are aware that the club aren’t interested in genuine interaction so it’s more about the lack of communication or basic respect for their customers
But you knew that

Row x wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 4:18 pm

It's what happens when things change.

For those in the cricket field stand who walk from town, it will be a lot easier not having to walk round the ground.

For others who walk down the lane by the cricket ground, for those games where it's closed for home fans it will make life difficult, some win, some lose unfortunately

However it might be a good idea for the owners to have some consideration for the fan's that pay good money to come through the turnstile's, listen to their input and actually take some notice.

If it’s not too much of an inconvenience could the home fans not stay in their seats until away fans have dispersed and then leave by their normal route?

Tricky Trevor wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 4:53 pm

If it’s not too much of an inconvenience could the home fans not stay in their seats until away fans have dispersed and then leave by their normal route?

Think that would be difficult. If away coaches are there, they would need the home fans to disperse to allow them to leave

clarets1978 wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 4:55 pm

Think that would be difficult. If away coaches are there, they would need the home fans to disperse to allow them to leave

I’m hoping he’s joking!

Ah'm against change....don't like it whatever it is..damn meddlers....nowt wrong with the old longside wi' folk p1ssin down't back of yer raincoat and gangs of the local neds booting the crap out of the away fans.

Row x wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 4:18 pm

It's what happens when things change.

For those in the cricket field stand who walk from town, it will be a lot easier not having to walk round the ground.

For others who walk down the lane by the cricket ground, for those games where it's closed for home fans it will make life difficult, some win, some lose unfortunately

I think it's a little mischievious to suggest that people are simply against change. Most folk are rightly highlighting the lack of consultation, even basic communication, which prevents them from making adjustments or anticipating the change in the best way possible given their unique set of circumstances.

alwaysaclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 4:51 pm

However it might be a good idea for the owners to have some consideration for the fan's that pay good money to come through the turnstile's, listen to their input and actually take some notice.

Quite right, and i dare say it shouldn't really take fan intervention, of whatever acronym, to make this the case.

Tricky Trevor wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 4:53 pm

If it’s not too much of an inconvenience could the home fans not stay in their seats until away fans have dispersed and then leave by their normal route?

Terrible cast

BleedingClaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 4:51 pm

You must be being purposely obtuse
You know it’s partly about the lack of consultation, but most are aware that the club aren’t interested in genuine interaction so it’s more about the lack of communication or basic respect for their customers
But you knew that

I never said it was right...but you knew that

It was in reply to those discussing their routes to the ground, nothing about the non communication, which I've previously said was wrong...but then you knew that

If I said today was Friday you'd argue against it....have I run over your cat at some stage?

These type of things demonstrate the challenge that BFCISA and perhaps the FAB has. Appreciating that these decisions were pre BFCISA, why not consult with the fans groups available to them.

OK so they may be doing it anyway, but I don’t see what benefit it serves (other than perhaps from a time perspective) to cause unres, amongst your own supporters, when some communication and consultation might have alleviated some of the issues, resulting in far less bad feeling.

They just don’t help themselves at times. They’re obviously intelligent people and will have known full well most, if not all of the complaints that were going to be raised. That in itself can really only lead to the conclusion; that they don’t really give a ****.

I really cannot get my head around what the club (board) are thinking. Thousands of home fans currently use Ormerod yard to enter and leave the ground, most then walking up Eastern avenue or in to town. Are all those people now expected to walk round all sides of the ground, increasing the crowds/crush in those areas? It is utterly mad.
The away fans arrive by coach at the ground, get dropped off and then picked up. They won’t notice anything different, but for us making the walk round the ground (and those in the CFS having their seats moved) it’s massive; is it really worth it?
And as for the lack of communication

My friend who is in his eighties might have stop coming to the games if that pathway is closed to home fans. He's been attending for over 70 years, but it would likely be just too far for him to walk three times the distance all the way around.

Incom wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 7:20 pm

My friend who is in his eighties might have stop coming to the games if that pathway is closed to home fans. He's been attending for over 70 years, but it would likely be just too far for him to walk three times the distance all the way around.

Compare and contrast that with Sunderland’s free tickets for anyone 85 and above.

ŽižkovClaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 5:04 pm

Terrible cast

Not a cast at all. The people writing above were concerned by their mobility problems. It seemed easier to me to sit until the lane is open to all than to hobble around.

Row x wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 5:16 pm

I never said it was right...but you knew that

It was in reply to those discussing their routes to the ground, nothing about the non communication, which I've previously said was wrong...but then you knew that

If I said today was Friday you'd argue against it....have I run over your cat at some stage?

I knew, that was you….

DCWat wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 7:22 pm

Compare and contrast that with Sunderland’s free tickets for anyone 85 and above.

Great point.

Perhaps someone going to the game tomorrow will report back with some photos.

Don’t think there are any changes tomorrow

Would not surprise me if the idea is more foot traffic around the ground past the club store, more profit.

lakedistrictclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 3:58 pm

This will impact me severely.

I park in the car park beyond the Queen Vic pub and I’ve always just come out of the Longside upper, walked past the cricket ground onto Belvedere Road, and up to my car.

Now, presumably, I’ll have to turn right on leaving the stand, and walk round three sides of the ground to get back to my car.

Did the Club consult the fans about this?

I guess this sort of thing will be one of the advantages of the new BFC ISA, who will be able to have an input, although I can’t help thinking that the powers that be at the Club will continue to do what they want.

Appreciate this might not work for your journey home to the lakedistrict (assuming that’s where you live), but might a simple solution be to change where you park?

There’s lots of parking options that side of the ground.

I’d imagine a lot of folk in the Longside, who for years/decades have parked on that side, will now have to leave the game early / not clap the team off, as they’ll be at the back of a very busy queue getting to their cars. Bit of a joke, particularly when you read about some of the elderly who will struggle to even walk that distance.

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 10:23 pm

I’d imagine a lot of folk in the Longside, who for years/decades have parked on that side, will now have to leave the game early / not clap the team off, as they’ll be at the back of a very busy queue getting to their cars. Bit of a joke, particularly when you read about some of the elderly who will struggle to even walk that distance.

I don’t really understand why people can’t just change where they park though, RV?

Don’t get me wrong, I think the club have handled this poorly, but if I were frustrated about a longer walk back to my car, I’d just change where I park?

4 hour drive home. Sit in Longside block 1 to facilitate prompt getaway. Fabulous.

Could they not just put turnstiles and a gate on the wall between the CFS and the Cricket Club? Then they could leave the coaches parked on Belvedere Rd and the path down to the Longside open.

Awful if the route out to Belvedere Road is closed to home fans. Rubbish by the club.

lakedistrictclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 3:58 pm

This will impact me severely.

I park in the car park beyond the Queen Vic pub and I’ve always just come out of the Longside upper, walked past the cricket ground onto Belvedere Road, and up to my car.

Now, presumably, I’ll have to turn right on leaving the stand, and walk round three sides of the ground to get back to my car.

Did the Club consult the fans about this?

I guess this sort of thing will be one of the advantages of the new BFC ISA, who will be able to have an input, although I can’t help thinking that the powers that be at the Club will continue to do what they want.

Considering the complete lack of sway the FAB has with the club, I’m not sure why you think this will be an advantage of an organisation that the club have next to no obligation to even interact with.

NewClaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 11:26 pm

I don’t really understand why people can’t just change where they park though, RV?

Don’t get me wrong, I think the club have handled this poorly, but if I were frustrated about a longer walk back to my car, I’d just change where I park?

It’s not as easy as that though is it

Lots of people park on Queen Victoria Road, around Queens Park, the tennis club, the cricket club, the land of Albert Street and surrounding streets.

The parking to the east of the ground is a lot more restricted with no large parking spaces

Do we know whether home fans are going to be able to go to the cricket club after games now? Or only if it's a cat A game?

wilks_bfc wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 09, 2025 7:24 am

It’s not as easy as that though is it

Lots of people park on Queen Victoria Road, around Queens Park, the tennis club, the cricket club, the land of Albert Street and surrounding streets.

The parking to the east of the ground is a lot more restricted with no large parking spaces

And a lot of people just live in that direction.

dougcollins wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 09, 2025 8:42 am

And a lot of people just live in that direction.

The whole town is in that direction!


All this is being done without planning permission!

Send in the Enforcement team!

Ill considered, from a fan perspective. Extremely poor by decision makers.

RVclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 10:23 pm

I’d imagine a lot of folk in the Longside, who for years/decades have parked on that side, will now have to leave the game early / not clap the team off, as they’ll be at the back of a very busy queue getting to their cars. Bit of a joke, particularly when you read about some of the elderly who will struggle to even walk that distance.

This is my situation, 2 hour drive home every game and have a route that avoids the craziest traffic build up. If I delay 10 minutes it becomes gridlock and a 2:30 hour drive home. So I won’t be able to let the family clap the team off (not helped by the team messing about in the centre for 5 mins before clapping the stands). That logjam at Higgin Street will now be twice as bad - 12,000 people all feeding down a tight funnel about 10 yards wide at the same time, every game. It will take forever.

A pain in the butt. The real problems though are those who use the cricket club, watch cricket in May/Aug, or have limited mobility where they can only walk a few hundred yards at a time or can’t be bustled safely by thousands of people. There will be 1,000+ fans in those categories.

It just makes the lack of consultation mind boggling.

As a matter of interest .... why are they doing/considering this in the first place?

.

Poulton-le-Claret wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 09, 2025 1:55 pm

.

Haven’t managed to get on the Turf in years now. Are the Claret areas safe-standing and the blue seats? Cheers.

Procrastinate B wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 09, 2025 2:01 pm

Haven’t managed to get on the Turf in years now. Are the Claret areas safe-standing and the blue seats? Cheers.

Yes, it looks like claret areas are safe standing and blue is regular seats.

lovebeingaclaret wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 3:41 pm

Has anyone heard anything regarding the entrance/exit route from North Stand. I assume the path by the cricket field will be allocated to away fans if they are repositioned on that side.
It's a significant factor for me if that is the case as I have stage 4 osteoarthritis which is bone in bone in my knee.
The walk around the ground would be a serious hurdle for me so I would appreciate any info on this.

Was just told by the steward at the Belvedere rd entrance to Ormerod Yard by Cricket Club, that both home and away fans will be accessing via Ormerod Yard (at your own discretion(Peril) as a home fan)

Bloody madness