Football teams travelling by train

[deltic]

Swansea City were passing through Paddington station this afternoon - playing Arsenal this weekend. I know Man Utd regularly travel by train for London matches and Man City have started doing the same.

Do other top flight teams travel by train and do any do so for non-London matches?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I have seen PNE getting on a 390 to London about three years ago on a Friday (I think).

I have also been on the same 390 as Blackburn Rovers travelling back one Saturday evening, 1830 (I think again!).

Liverpool travelled to a tie in Marsaille during the ash cloud crisis via 390 from Runcorn, and E* from St Pancras.

MUFC travelled back on a private train from their League Cup win against Aston Villa (?) at the end of the season before last.

 

[Darandio]

Liverpool travelled to a tie in Marsaille during the ash cloud crisis via 390 from Runcorn, and E* from St Pancras.

Can I please correct you? We were travelling to Madrid.

 

[glenbogle]

Swansea City were passing through Paddington station this afternoon - playing Arsenal this weekend. I know Man Utd regularly travel by train for London matches and Man City have started doing the same.

Do other top flight teams travel by train and do any do so for non-London matches?

first class i hope

 

[ainsworth74]

Saw Middlesbrough at Darlington heading to a fixture against Millwall (I think) last year travelling first class (or at least they were waiting in the first class boarding area). Needless to say they lost.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

As has been stated, Manchester United often travel to London by train. They always stay in the Landmark Hotel, former HQ of British Rail which is directly opposite (and even shares an awning with) Marylebone station.

 

[T163R]

I suppose it's like Boris Johnson travelink by bike or tube. Just sometimes, and a matter of communication, no ?

 

[Cherry_Picker]

I'd imagine most of the time teams go by rail because they feel it is the best method of getting their players to the ground in the most relaxing way possible. Most (if not all?) Premier League clubs will have all of their players stay in a hotel the night before a home game because it means they dont have to sweat on anybody running late, they can talk about the game and create a relaxed atmosphere before it is time to head to the stadium. Travelling by train is just an extension of that. Door to door journey times are often faster than flying, especially if the team are going straight into a swanky city centre hotel overnight before the game, and it is a damn sight more comfortable than being stuck on a coach for hours on end. It probably seem expensive to the likes of you and me, but when clubs have wage bills in excess of £100m a year then paying for 20 or 30 first class train tickets a few times a season is just a drop in the ocean.

 

[313103]

Arsenal would often travel by train especially if playing at any teams location was on the WCML. Arsenals training ground at London Colney is not that far from Watford. Now they fly to games like Sunderland & Newcastle but i have been on a train with the team on going to these grounds.

 

[tbtc]

Sheffield Wednesday got the train to Crystal Palace a year or two ago (but then they flew to Bournemouth this season, so not exactly great for the "green" credential)...

 

[gnolife]

I've gone from Rhyl to Nantwich with Altrincham before (It was last season, before the league [non-league?] began. They had played a friendly on the Friday night, were travelling into Nantwich on the Last train to Crewe of the day, then taking the first train out of Crewe on the Saturday (having a kip in Crewe station). Not exactly the same standard as Man Utd or someone like, but whatdya expect? they were a BSP team last season - and scarcely managed to cover the wages (the highest wage was 300/week at this point). Some of them seemed very surprised to see a fan doing the same trip as them (purely coincidental)
*NOTE* Sleeping bags in Crewe station isnt exactly the way to a good match the following day, it was a 2-2 draw, and Nantwich were 3 divisions below Alty at this point (IIRC)

 

[chefchenko]

I'd imagine most of the time teams go by rail because they feel it is the best method of getting their players to the ground in the most relaxing way possible. Most (if not all?) Premier League clubs will have all of their players stay in a hotel the night before a home game because it means they dont have to sweat on anybody running late, they can talk about the game and create a relaxed atmosphere before it is time to head to the stadium. Travelling by train is just an extension of that. Door to door journey times are often faster than flying, especially if the team are going straight into a swanky city centre hotel overnight before the game, and it is a damn sight more comfortable than being stuck on a coach for hours on end. It probably seem expensive to the likes of you and me, but when clubs have wage bills in excess of £100m a year then paying for 20 or 30 first class train tickets a few times a season is just a drop in the ocean.

hahaha well macclesfield never go by train !!! coach only and if over 3 hours or so stay overnight !!! is a diffrent world in the lower leagues , leaving at 8.30 for cheltenham tomorrow morning

 

[pmgarvey]

I've gone from Rhyl to Nantwich with Altrincham before (It was last season, before the league [non-league?] began. They had played a friendly on the Friday night, were travelling into Nantwich on the Last train to Crewe of the day, then taking the first train out of Crewe on the Saturday (having a kip in Crewe station). Not exactly the same standard as Man Utd or someone like, but whatdya expect? they were a BSP team last season - and scarcely managed to cover the wages (the highest wage was 300/week at this point). Some of them seemed very surprised to see a fan doing the same trip as them (purely coincidental)
*NOTE* Sleeping bags in Crewe station isnt exactly the way to a good match the following day, it was a 2-2 draw, and Nantwich were 3 divisions below Alty at this point (IIRC)

I'd be starstruck if it was altrincham! sleeping in sleeping bags at Crewe is exactly the sort of thing that gives non-league football its romance.