Football Ground Guide Logo


Blackburn Rovers
Ewood Park

Capacity: 31,367 (all seated)
Address: Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 4JF
Main Telephone No:
0871 702 1875
Fax No: 01254 671 042
Ticket Office: 0871 222 1444
Pitch Size: 115 x 76 yards
Club Nickname: Rovers
Year Ground Opened: 1890
Shirt Sponsors: Prince's Trust
Kit Manufacturers: Umbro
Home Kit Colours: Blue & White
Away Kit Colours: Yellow & Black
Official Web Site:
www.rovers.co.uk
Unofficial Web Sites:
BRFC Supporters

Rovers Mad (Footy Mad Network)
Vital Blackburn Rovers (Vital Football Network)

Map

Contents
What's Ewood Park Like?
Future Ground Developments
Jack Walker Stand and Ronnie Clayton Blackburn End
 (photo)
What Is It Like For Away Supporters?
Riverside Stand (photo)
Where To Drink?
Looking Towards The Ronnie Clayton Blackburn End  (photo)
How To Get There And Where To Park
Jack Walker Statue (photo)
By Train
Local Rivals
Admission Prices
Programme & Fanzines
Ground Layout
Fixtures 2011-2012
Disabled Facilities
Record & Average Attendance
Fans Ground Reviews
Hotel Accommodation
Location Map Of Ewood Park
Old Ewood Park


What's Ewood Park Like?

The ground is quite impressive, having had three new large stands built during the 1990's. These stands are at both ends and at one side of the ground. They are of the same height and of roughly similar design, being two tiered, having a row of executive boxes and similar roofs. The ends are particularly impressive, both having large lower tiers. The only downside is the open corners, although there is a superb Sony Jumbotron screen at one corner by the away end, which shows an excellent pre-match programme and the teams emerging from dressing rooms and onto the pitch. There is also an electric scoreboard at the Darwen End of the ground.

The Riverside is the only undeveloped stand, running down one side of the pitch. This is a smaller single tiered stand and is not as pleasing to the eye as its modern counterparts. It also contains a fair number of supporting pillars and is partly covered (to the rear). Just to highlight how much the ground has changed, this was at one time the 'best' stand at Ewood Park. One other interesting feature of the ground, is the fact that the pitch is raised. This means that players have to run up a small incline, whilst taking throw-ins and corners. Outside the stadium behind the Ronnie Clayton Blackburn End (named after the former Blackburn Rovers legend) there is a statue of former club owner Jack Walker
.

Top Of Page

Future Ground Developments

There are plans to re-develop the Riverside Stand, but there are no firm time scales as to when this is likely to take place. The proposed new stand will increase the capacity at Ewood park to around 40,000.

Top Of Page

Jack Walker Stand And Ronnie Clayton Blackburn End


  Jack Walker Stand & The Ronnie Clayton
                    Blackburn End photo

Top Of Page

What Is It Like For Away Supporters?
Away fans are housed at the WEC Group Darwen End, where the facilities provided are good. However, the spacing between the rows of seats leaves a lot to be desired, being quite tight. The Darwen End is shared with home supporters, but if demand requires it the whole of the stand can be made available. Normally the away allocation is for three quarters of the stand, at just under 4,000 tickets, which are split between the whole of the upper tier and part of the lower tier (with the lower tier being allocated first). If you have not bought a ticket in advance, then you need to buy one from the away supporters ticket office at the ground as you can't pay on the turnstiles. The ticket office is located on the corner of the Darwen End & the Jack Walker Stand. 

On the concourse the food available includes; Pies (Chicken Balti, Steak, Meat and Potato, all £2.30), Pasties (£2.30), Sausage Rolls (£2), Burgers (£3), Hot Dogs (£3) and Chips (£2). The pies and other baked products are made by the Clayton Park company, located nearby in Accrington. The refreshment areas are opened 90 minutes before kick off and close 15 minutes into the second half. If you are looking to eat something prior to entering the ground, then there is a baker in Bolton Road selling hot pies from one of its windows. Across  the Bolton Road by the home end is a McDonalds, which I noticed had a walk through service for fans! I found the Blackburn fans both friendly and helpful, plus coupled with the relaxed stewarding, has made it so far for me, four pleasant visits to Ewood Park.'

Riverside Stand


 Riverside Stand photo

Top Of Page  

Where To Drink?
The traditional haunt of away fans, the Fernhurst, has recently been refurbished and is now part of the Hungry Horse chain, however it is currently closed on matchdays. This leaves very little choice for visiting supporters, as most pubs near to the ground do not admit away fans. There is the Golden Cup pub which is futher on past the Fernhurst (going away from the ground) on Bolton Road and is tucked in by the motorway bridge. However this Thwaites pub is quite small, gets rather crowded and it is a good 20 minute (mostly uphill) trek from Ewood Park.

If you are arriving at Mill Hill station, then you might want to give the Navigation pub a try. It is a Thwaites pub which sits on one side of a canal and on my visit had a good mix of home and away supporters. It is about a five minute walk way from the station. As you exit the station turn left and just keep straight on up the road in front of you. As you approach a bridge going over the canal, the pub can be seen just over on the right.

Whilst just around the corner from the entrance to Blackburn Railway Station is a Wetherspoons outlet called the Postal Order.
Alcohol is also served within the ground in the form of; Fosters (£3.40 pint), Thwaites (£3.40 pint), Kingstone Cider (£3.20 bottle), Carlsberg (£3.40 bottle), Guinness (£3.80 can) and Wine (£3.80 small bottle). The Club offer two pints of lager or bitter for £6.50 and Pie & Pint for £5.50.

Looking Towards The Ronnie Clayton Blackburn End


   Looking Towards The Ronnie Clayton Blackburn
                    End photo

Top Of Page

How To Get There And Where To Park

From The North
Use Motorway M6 to junction 30, to the M61 - leave junction 9 then onto the M65 towards Blackburn - leave the M65 at Junction 4 (A666) and follow signs towards Blackburn. Ewood Park is about 1 mile down the road on the right hand side.

From The South
Use Motorway M6 to junction 29, then onto the M65 towards Blackburn - leave the M65 at Junction 4 (A666) and follow signs towards Blackburn. Turn right at the first set of traffic lights and Ewood Park is about 1 mile down the road on the right hand side.

From The East
Use Motorway M62 onto M66/A56, then onto the M65, head towards Blackburn - leave the M65 at Junction 4 (A666) and follow signs towards Blackburn. Turn right at the first set of traffic lights and Ewood Park is about 1 mile down the road on the right hand side.

Various private Car Parks are available around the ground, costing in the region of £5. If you want to get away reasonably quickly after the game (the roads immediately around Ewood are closed off for crowd safety for around 30mins after the game) then as you come down the hill on the A666, you will pass a Total garage on your left. Turn right at the next traffic lights and down on your left there are some industrial units where you can park for £3. After the game turn left out of the car park, so that you are going away from Ewood, turn right at the second mini roundabout and this will take you back up to the M65.

Map showing the location of Ewood Park (at the bottom of this page).

Top Of Page

Jack Walker Statue

 

Jack Walker Statue photo

Top Of Page

By Train

Blackburn station is at least a couple of miles from the ground and hence a good 20-25 minute walk away. Perhaps grab a taxi instead, or as Dave Grest suggests; 'get a Darwen bound bus from stand M, outside of the railway station. It costs £1.50 one way and you really can't miss the ground'. Blackburn station is served by trains from Manchester & Leeds.

Tony Durkin adds; 'The main doors to the railway station face the bus station, from where you can take a either a Number 1, 3 or 225 bus (the latter goes from Stand N) bus to Ewood. To walk it to the ground instead, turn left at those main doors and go straight on towards Darwen Street. Turn left and you will reach a major junction over which runs a railway bridge (Darwen Street Bridge), which is impossible to miss. Crossing over the road as soon as you turn left onto Darwen Street will be a help, as when you get to the junction you need to follow the road towards Bolton. It is called Great Bolton Street after the bridge and then becomes Bolton Road. Follow this straight along for just over a mile (passing the Infirmary on your left and the canal on the right). After you go under another railway bridge, the ground is down on your left just after you pass the Aqueduct pub (for home fans only)'.

Tony Hughes informs me; 'Closer to the ground is the small station of Mill Hill, which is a 10-15 minute walk away. Blackburn station is only a three minute ride away from Mill Hill. Walk up the steps from the platform and turn Left onto New Chapel Street continue along the street past the shopping area and park. (If you need any money, there is a Lloyds TSB bank with 2 cash machines on this street.) With the Spar supermarket on the opposite side of the road from you, turn left into New Wellington Street. Continue down New Wellington Street until you come to a small bridge that crosses over the Leeds Liverpool canal. You are now on Albion Street there is a large mill building on the left and a small school on the right. Walk along Albion Street to the end, and you will find yourself on Livesey Branch Road. Turn Left onto this road, and you will be able to see the football stadium in front of you at the foot of the hill'.

Top Of Page

Local Rivals

Burnley, Bolton, Preston, Manchester United, Manchester City.

Top Of Page

Admission Prices

Like a number of Clubs, Blackburn operate a match category policy (1 & 2) whereby the ticket prices cost more for the most popular games. Category 2 prices are shown below in brackets:

Home Fans:

Jack Walker Stand (Centre):
Adults £38 (£28), OAP's/Under 21's £28 (£17), Juniors £20 (£15)
J
ack Walker Stand (Wings):
Adults £33 (£22), OAP's/Under 21's £22 (£12), Juniors £15 (£7)
Riverside Stand:
Adults £28 (£17), OAP's/Under 21's* £17 (£12), Juniors £15 (£7)
Ronnie Clayton Blackburn End:
Adults £35 (£29), OAP's/Under 21's* £25 (£15), Juniors £15 (£7)
Ronnie Clayton Blackburn End (Family Area):
Adults £35 (£29), OAP's/Under 21's £22 (£12), Juniors £15 (£7)
WEC Group Darwen End: Adults £35 (£29), OAP's £25 (£15), Juniors £15 (£7)

Away Fans:
WEC Group Darwen End:
Adults £35 (£29), OAP's £25 (£15), Juniors £15 (£7)

* Under 21's can qualify for these reduced prices, providing that they become a Club Member for a cost of £10. 

Top Of Page

Programme & Fanzine

Official Programme £3
4000 Holes Fanzine £1 

Top Of Page

Ground Layout


Ground layout

For a stadium plan showing the individual block numbers
Then visit the official Blackburn Rovers
website.

Top Of Page

Fixtures 2011-2012

Blackburn Rovers fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website).

Top Of Page

Disabled Facilities
For details of disabled facilities and club contact at the ground please visit the relevant page on the Level Playing Field website.

Top Of Page

Record & Average Attendance

Record Attendance:
62,522 v Bolton Wanderers,
FA Cup 6th Round, March 2nd 1929.

Modern All Seated Attendance Record:
30,895 v Liverpool
Premier League, February 24th, 1996.

Average Attendance:
2010-2011: 25,000 (Premier League)
2009-2010: 25,428 (Premier League)
2008-2009: 23,105 (Premier League)

Top Of Page

Fans Reviews Of Ewood Park

Joseph Thomas (Swansea City) 3/12/11
Kevin Wrenn (Neutral) 24/8/11

Patrick Burke (Everton) 17/4/10
Pete Lowe (Wolverhampton Wanderers) 12/9/09
George Dunn (Hull City) 23/8/08
Neil Harding (Hull City) 23/8/08
James Prentice (Doing The 92) 23/8/08

Top Of Page

Hotel Accommodation
If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Late Rooms. They offer all types of accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets from; Budget Hotels, Traditional Bed & Breakfast establishments to Five Star Hotels and Serviced Apartments. Plus their booking system is straightforward and easy to use. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will go to help with the running costs of keeping the Guide going. The Hotels listing also includes details of how far away the accommodation is located from the football ground.

Access their Blackburn Hotels and Guest Houses page.

Remember that you can use the above link or panel below to book any other hotels that you may need for business or leisure, either in the UK or abroad.


Top Of Page

Map showing the location of the Ewood Park football ground, railway stations and listed pubs.



Top Of Page

Old Ewood Park
To see photos of Ewood Park shortly prior to its redevelopment then viist the Old Grounds and Stands Section of the Guide.

Top Of Page

Feedback
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me duncan@footballgrounds.net and I'll update the guide.


 

Return To The Main Menu


Copyright Duncan Adams 2012
All rights reserved                                                                  
Last Updated: 2 May 2012