1. Why you were looking forward to going to the ground (or not as the case may be):

This was to be my first trip to Ewood Park. A first visit to a ground always makes it more exciting. I use the Football Ground Guide website for guidance on parking & a pre match pint etc.. but first visits give me a kind of nervous excitement – will I find the car parks? Have I made the right choice of pub? Will the motorways be clear?.....the list goes on!

2. How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

Ewood Park is a really easy ground to find if approaching from the M65 – basically one road off the motorway. We drove around the area looking at our pre chosen potential parking and pub spots but eventually decided on parking at The Golden Cup pub just by the M65 bridge. This is about a mile from the ground but we based our decision on being informed that the roads immediately around Ewood Park would we blocked off for a while after the game. On walking back (in the seriously heavy, heavy rain) we saw no evidence of roads being blocked – that said, the ground was probably only half full.

3. What you did before the game pub/chippy.... home fans friendly?

We spent an hour at the Golden Cup pub before the game. They offer limited parking at £5.00 – quite reasonable. There’s a good range of beers and excellent service. This pub seemed to be for away fans in the main but the odd friendly Blackburn face was also on show.

4. What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the ground?

The redevelopment of the ground in the 90s’ still looks quite fresh on approaching the Darwen end for away fans. Once inside the stadium the ground has a quaint feel to it with trees visible in the open corner sections – a sort of larger version of Shrewsburys' old Gay Meadow ground in some ways?

5. Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

A combination of Rovers playing very badly and Leicester playing very well leads me to quote the old phrase “We were robbed!” The assistant ref disallowed a perfectly good goal for The Foxes which would, I’m sure, have seen Rovers off at the time of happening. Where we certainly were not robbed is in the catering department! I had a steak & pepper pie and a coffee at half time. Both reasonably priced and both, without a doubt, the best quality pie and coffee I’ve had in 35 years of visiting football grounds!

6. Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Once we’d walked the mile back to the car in the relentless rain that had started on our arrival in Blackburn and continued all afternoon, we had a good get away, accessing the M65 easily. One or two taunts from some young Rovers fans accompanied our walk to the car but nothing sinister!

7. Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

I enjoyed the day, despite the result. I’d definitely return – not least of all for the food!

!