Championship football is finally back, as Lincoln City make the short trip to South Yorkshire to take on Sheffield United at Bramall Lane this weekend.
The Imps have been out of action over the international break, and this clash represents our first Saturday away day in four weeks.
As always, we are here to give you all the key information supporters need for this match.
Tickets
Imps fans snapped up the full allocation of 2850 tickets in rapid time for this fixture. 80% of the allocation was sold in the opening 90 minutes of going on sale in mid-September, before the final 20% were gone in even quicker time. City announced an away sell-out 22 minutes after the remaining batch of tickets went live later that week.
However, the ticketing situation, at least in my opinion, felt a lot smoother than Middlesbrough at the start of the season. That seems to have been reflected by fellow Lincoln supporters on social media, which is always good to see. The introduction of a virtual waiting room was tested effectively for the first time since it was introduced.
The away end at Bramall Lane is the same one from our League Cup success three years ago. For those who didn’t visit on that memorable summer evening, it’s an easy one to locate on the street aptly named Bramall Lane, also known as the A621. Roof renovations for the Bramall Lane stand mean that the tier above the away end still remains closed to home supporters.
Travel
By Train (1h9 to 1h21- 0 changes)
As a student who spent three years at university in Sheffield, I should know how easy it is to reach this particular South Yorkshire city. Northern Rail runs a direct service between the two cities that departs at approximately 25 past the hour every 60 minutes.
Interestingly, there appears to have been a special service added at 13:02 on Saturday afternoon that calls only at Sheffield and will take 69 minutes. All these services are expected to be very busy, so plan accordingly if you are using the train to get to the game this weekend.
Once in the city, it’s a 20-minute (0.9mi) walk to the ground. That means the first service out of Sheffield after the game will be at 17:38, with a further three direct trains running back to Lincoln on the evening of the match. The final train will depart at 20:54 and arrive at 22:10.
By Road (1h25- 46 to 71mi)
For those who prefer the comfort of your own vehicle, there are three distinct ways to reach Bramall Lane from Lincoln. The two easier routes both involve the A57 toll route before joining the A1. If fuel efficiency is your priority, return to the A57 until you reach the Woodhouse area, then follow several local roads on the south side of the city to reach the ground.
The marginally quicker route involves remaining on the A1(M) until Doncaster, hopping on the M18, M1, A630 and finally the A57 again to drive through the city centre. You will also take the latter part of this route if you drive to Sheffield on the less-appealing A15, M180 and M18 roads, which is far longer in terms of mileage. After this, exit Sheffield Parkway onto Sheaf Street and, passing Sheffield station, it’s on to Suffolk Street and St Mary’s Road to reach Bramall Lane.
Parking
Unfortunately, United don’t offer general parking at the ground on a matchday. However, there are plenty of paid options in the city centre, with the Blades themselves recommending the APCOA Car Park on Eyre Street, at a cost of £8 with the promo code SUFCDAY. Other options include NCP car parks on Furnival Gate & Sidney Street, Arundel Street Car Park and Milton Street Car Park.
If you’re looking for any free on-street parking, they are far more limited in and around the centre of the Steel City. Venturing further towards the south of Sheffield opens up those options, with local recommendations including Richards Road, Broomhall Road and Albert Road.
Food & Drink
Away Pubs
From our trips to the Blades’ city rivals, Sheffield Wednesday, there are plenty of cracking away pubs for our supporters to enjoy a drink at. The Howard and The Globe are the two staple pubs that are a short walk from the train station, and I recall visiting those in the past few years. The Graduate is also another option that I remember seeing Derby County supporters use when they played Sheffield United in recent times.
For more mainstream venues, Yates and the city centre Wetherspoons called Water Works are your answers. Another Spoons called The Sheaf Island is located closer to the United’s home ground, while the Rutland Arms is another good place for a pre-match pint.
Fan Zone
Unfortunately, Sheffield United’s website states that their Fan Zone is open for home supporters only. It’s a shame, because there does appear to be a good offering of entertainment, food and drink on a matchday.
Matchday Programme
The Blades continue to offer a matchday programme for supporters, called the ‘Lane Line Up’. This can be purchased from around the ground on matchday, or online at Ignition Sports Media. It is priced at £3.50, plus postage, if you are using the latter option.
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