QPR's preparations for the 2009/10 season begin on Saturday with a trip to face Gary Waddock's Aldershot side in the summer's first pre-season friendly.
Ground Name: Recreation Ground
Capacity: 7,100 (2000 seats)
Address: High Street, Aldershot, Hampshire, GU11 1TW
Main Telephone No: 01252 320 211
By Car: Take the A316 and M3 out of town past Sunbury and use junction four for the A331 signposted Farnborough and Aldershot. Pass the North Camp turn off towards Aldershot and then at the Aldershot South roundabout turn right towards Aldershot Town Centre on the A323. Keep straight on this road and after going under a railway bridge, the ground is visible on your right.
Map:
Click on the map to visit the Multimap site where you can zoom in and out or tour around.
Parking: As you’d expect from an old style, town centre ground there is little designated parking space at the Recreation ground itself. It is only a five minute walk from the town centre and the associated pay and displays according to the guide. Just to prove how bored we all are in the off season there has actually been a ‘parking in Aldershot’ thread on the message board that may be of some use to you. Suggestions include Carry on past the ground towards the town centre. There's a multi-storey that's only a few minutes walk from the ground. That'll be your best bet and I think there is a pay and display on the same side of the road as the ground, opposite the pub so take your pick really.
By Train: South West trains from Waterloo for this one - two an hour leaving at 23 and 53 minutes past each hour with a journey time of just under an hour. Coming back trains leave Aldershot at four and 34 minutes past the hour back into the capital. An off peak day return for an adult is £13.20 and can be bought as a walk up fare at the station on the day. All trains call t Woking but only half stop at Clapham Junction so be aware if you are going from there, it’s the 53 minutes past departures that do. Trains are bound for Alton. The station in Aldershot is less than ten minutes walk away. Turn right off the end of the station approach onto Windsor Way, go past the Church on the left and follow the road round into Victoria Road. Turn right along there and the floodlights should be visable at the bottom of the road.
Pubs: Being in the town centre there should be plenty of choice here. The guide recommends The beehive and Crimea near the ground, or slightly further away the CAMRA Royal Staff on Mount Pleasant Road. This is a new ground for me so no personal recommendations as yet. Alcohol is served in the ground although whether the bar under the away end will be open for a pre-season game remains to be seen - check before paying to go in if that is your intention.
Tickets: Away fans are usually located around the south corner of the ground which is a mixture of covered terrace under the barrel roofed stand behind the goal, uncovered terrace down the side of the pitch, and a few seats slung in here and there. It’s a tenner for adults, £4 for concessions and it’s all pay on the day with no advanced sales.
Links:
Detailed fans' guide to The Recreation Ground