All the usual hints and tips for the QPR fans travelling away to support the team at Reading on Friday night.

Ground Name: Madejski Stadum

Capacity: 24,200 (all seated)

Address: Bennett Road, Reading, RG2 0FL

Main Telephone No: 0118 968 1100

Ticket Office: 0870 999 1871

By Car:

A very simple 40 mile drive out of West London on the M4 – the ground is right next to junction 11 – leave there and follow the A33 straight to the ground. Our message board regular Ted who works in the area says major roadworks at junction 11 will cause problems and add to the already long traffic jam that stretches down the westbound carriageway on matchdays – leave 45 minutes to negotiate it all and get parked.

Map:

Click map to visit Multi Map site and zoom in/out or tour round.

Parking:

Without wishing to state the bleedin obvious the earlier you get there the more choice you will have. Early street parking is available on Imperial Way between the motorway and the ground, and a number of businesses, factories and warehouses offer their car parks up – although the guide says some charge as much as £7 per car which is extortionate and far in excess of what we are charged at other grounds. Street parking in the adjacent business park can result in clamping. There is parking at the motorway junction with a bus up to the ground. 

By Train

Trains run from Waterloo and Paddington through Ealing, Richmond, Twickenham, Slough and elsewhere. Catch the 1706 from Paddington out there to qualify for the £16 off peak day return, journey time is just under half an hour. Trains run right through to 0112 so there are plenty of options back into town afterwards, although some of the journey times are extended up to an hour as the trains stop at more places.

The ground is three miles away, so not walkable really. The football special 79 bus runs from the station – again leave yourself plenty of time on this service as it sits in the match traffic out to the ground with everybody else. Also, if there is any trouble on the bus there, don’t expect them to run them again afterwards.

By Coach: No sign of an LSA coach for this one, the official coach leaves Loftus Road at 5pm with a pick up at the Target Roundabout at 5.30pm. This is priced £24 for adults, £21 for seniors and young adults, £12 for under 16s with the usual discounts for season ticket holders.

Pubs:

Beer in the ground or at the nearby Holiday Inn, but otherwise drinking is best done in London before travelling or in the middle of Reading after arriving by train. The Three Guineas near the railway station is traditionally the away fans pub – although that may change on a week night.

Tickets

Rangers received an initial allocation of 2,000 which they sold, they have since received a further 500 with more available on the night if necessary. Tickets are now only available on the night from the stadium priced £27 adults, £21 seniors and young adults, £12 for juniors under 16. The club is advising that Reading do not operate cash turnstiles and there are always lengthy queues at the box office so get there in good time.

Links >>> Detailed fans' guide to the Madejski Stadium >>> Official website >>> LFW Awaydays – Madejski Stadium

Photo: Action Images

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