Mercifully it is a much shorter journey for most QPR fans this Christmas after the horrors of Plymouth last year - here are the usual tips for those planning on travelling to Charlton on Boxing Day.
Ground Name:The Valley
Capacity: 27 111 (all seated)
Address: Floyd Road, Charlton, SE7 8BL
Main Telephone No: 020 8333 4000
Ticket Office: 0871 226 1905
By Car:
Difficult to say really because it is a London game so QPR fans will be coming from all over the place. It is about 15 miles from Loftus Road to The Valley and those coming from north and west London are probably best advised to just head for the Blackwall Tunnell, those coming from out of town should exit the M25 at junction two and follow the A2 towards London. When that becomes the A102(M) follow the A206 towards Woolwich and the ground should appear on the right before you reach the river.
Map:
Click on the map to visit the MultiMap site and tour around.
Parking:
Arrive early and cross your fingers. Most of the streets around the ground have a residents only scheme in operation so either try a little further afield, perhaps around the Rose of Denmark pub, or head for the industrial estates off the Woolwich Road.
By Train
The Valley is usually served by over ground trains to Charlton from London Bridge and the Jubilee Line however with this game taking place on Boxing Day the service is virtually non-existant. The Jubilee line is closed altogether and the whole over ground network across the country is basically the same. However by some stroke of good fortune or forward planning an hourly service from London Bridge is running to Charlton, departing at 22 minutes past every hour.
Pubs
There are two main pubs for away fans although as this is a Boxing Day games I have no idea of opening times. We have been in The Antigallican before because it is near to the train station – a very large and pretty cold pub that usually attracts plenty of away fans and gets very full and busy on a match day. The Rose of Denmark bizarrely welcomes away fans before the game, and even puts pictures of them on the wall, only to become a home fans only pub afterwards. No idea of the reasons for that and haven’t been myself so I am relying on the guide for this recommendation. Other tips are the Charlton Liberal Club which charges a quid to get in or the Pickwick about ten minutes away from the away end – might be a good bet for families that one by all accounts.
Tickets
QPR have sold about 1500 tickets for this one but the size of the away end at the Valley means there will be at least that many again on sale on the day. These will be priced at £30 for adults, £10 more than in the home end, £20 for seniors and under 21s and £10 for under 18s.
Links:
Detailed fans' guide to The Valley