Sunderland

[ZLF]

My first visit to stadium of light.   Any tips of best place to park, eat and drink pre game.   Will be there around 11.  

Thanks in anticipation 

 

[morty]

This of any use?

http://www.footballgroundguide.com/leagues/england/premier-league/stadium-of-light-sunderland.html

Am going by cabbage myself, so will be getting dropped straight off at the ground. I believe its out of town, so will just drink / eat at the ground itself.

 

[It's Character Forming]

It's across the river from the centre of the City so if you get there early you can park not far from the Stadium on a side street but there's not much to do. 

Last time I went on a Saturday , I parked in a city centre car park and had lunch in a café then headed up for the game.  It was about 20-25 minute walk from the centre from memory.  There is no problem finding the way as there will be hordes in red and white going there.  They seem a pretty good natured bunch generally but as we heard with Boro fans after the playoff final there can always be the odd exception.  I tend to put on my shirt when I get to the ground because I don't need the hassle.  Not sure yet what time I'll be getting there.

I like the fact that the NE clubs have a really solid base of support despite a pretty patchy record in recent years.

I've had 3 trips to the SoL now - a lacklustre 3-0 loss under Lambert, and under Hughton a 1-1 draw when the ref shafted us by giving two really bad decisions - sending off Bunn when he controlled the ball outside his area with his chest, then giving a penalty against Basso for the ball making glancing contact with his upper arm which in no way controlled it.  Despite going down to 10 men in the first half, we still nearly came away with a win. The following year we had another lacklustre 0-0 draw under Hughton which typified Hughton's approach to away games.

So hoping we can do better this time out !

 

[Beauseant]

Free street parking near the University Halls of Residence just across the river from the ground ( I think the road is either Low Street or Panns Bank from memory) Sam Jermey could tell you as he was a student there and tipped me off last time I went up. Sunderland is pretty grotty and I wouldn't suggest drinking in the centre but there's sod all around the ground which backs on to an industrial estate.