AWAY DAYS: Birmingham City

28th July
Club

Swansea City face Championship side Birmingham City on Saturday in their first pre-season friendly since returning from the tour in America. Here are some key details for Swans fans who are travelling to the game.

Birmingham City v Swansea City

Saturday, July 29 (3pm)

Address: St Andrew’s, Birmingham B9 4RL

Telephone: 0121 772 0101

Website: www.bcfc.com

The stadium – Swans fans are in the Gil Merick Stand’s lower tier; facilities and the view from here are good. A variety of Peters Pies are on sale along with Cornish pasties, cheese and onion pasties, burgers and hot dogs. John Smith's, Fosters and cider are sold along with Smirnoff Ice and wine.

Pubs and grub - ‘The Cricketers Arms’ (B9 5AX) is a friendly, small pub and a ten-minute walk from the stadium. To find the pub (with your back to the away section) walk away from the ground until you get to Morrisons. Walk through Morrisons car park towards the store then join the road next to the store and the pub is just on the left. The pub is used by home and away fans. Otherwise it’s best to drink in the city centre and get a taxi to the ground (about £9). If you are walking to the ground from the city centre, there’s ‘The Anchor’ (B5 6ET) on Bradford Street, which is renowned for its range of real ales on offer. The pub is just behind Digbeth coach station.

If arriving by train, or visiting the city centre, and you like real ales ‘The Wellington’ (B2 5SN) is an over-18s pub serving 17 ales. It doesn’t serve food, but you can take your own. Exit New Street Station, at the top of the escalators turn left and go towards 'Foot Locker'. Turn left at this shop and then right and go down the ramp past McDonalds. At the bottom of the ramp turn left into New Street and walk along the pedestrian area. Bennetts Hill is the fourth turning on the right (Barclays on the corner). The pub is half way up Bennetts Hill on the right. There’s also a Wetherspoons ‘Briar Rose’ (B2 5RE) on Bennetts Hill. There’s a taxi rank nearby to get to the ground.

Parking - There’s a small car park outside the away end, but spaces depend on how many away coaches are expected. There’s plenty of street parking, if you arrive before 1.30pm to the left hand side of the ring road, behind the BP garage. There are some schools and businesses that offer parking for £4-£5.

By train - The nearest station is Bordesley, which is a ten-minute walk from the ground, but is only served by trains from Snow Hill with low service on Saturdays. If you arrive at New Street Station, walk to Snow Hill (ten minutes) or take a taxi (about £9) or it’s a 20-minute walk to the ground. Alternatively, buses numbered 58, 60, 97 & 97a go to the ground. These can be caught near to Moor Street Railway Station on Queensway. Look for bus stop MF. The three-hour train journey to New Street leaves Swansea at 8.29am, 9.29am and 10.29am. Trains back are at 5.42pm, 6.42pm, 7.42pm and 8.42pm.