Football Ground Guide: Reebok Stadium, Bolton Wanderers FC

Contents
What's The Reebok Stadium Like? Reebok Stadium (photo) What Is It Like For Away Supporters? North and Nat Lofthouse Stands (photo) Where To Eat & Drink? West and North Stands (photo) How To Get There By Car & Where To Park By Train South Stand (photo) Ground Layout Programme & Fanzines Local Rivals North Stand Admission Prices Stadium Layout Fixtures 2012-2013 Stadium Tours Disabled Facilities Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Burnden Park Hotel Accommodation Reebok Stadium Location Map

What's The Reebok Stadium Like?
The stadium built by Birse Construction was opened in 1997. From the outside it looks simply stunning and can be seen for miles around. I still think the view of it driving down the slip road from the M61 motorway, is one of the greatest sights to be seen in English football, especially when it is lit up at night. It has a great eye catching design and is unlike anything else in the country. The inside is functional and tidy, but not unsurprisingly lacks the wow factor of the stadium's external appearance. It is totally enclosed and each stand has a conventional rectangular lower tier, with a semi circular upper tier above. Situated between the two tiers is a row of executive boxes. Above the stands there is a gap between the back of the stands and the roof to allow additional light to reach the pitch. The roofs are then topped with some diamond shaped floodlights that sit above a striking supporting tubular steel supporting structure. There is large video screen in one corner, situated between the South and Nat Lofthouse Stands. One unusual feature of the ground is that the teams emerge from separate tunnels on either side of the halfway line. Top Of Page
Reebok Stadium
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What Is It Like For Away Supporters?
Away fans are housed in the two tiered South Stand at one end of the ground, where up to 5,000 supporters can be accommodated, although the normal allocation is nearer 3,000. The lower tier is shared with home supporters, but the upper tier is given entirely to away fans. The leg room and facilities within this stand are good and the atmosphere is boosted in the home end by the presence of a drummer. Alex Smith adds; 'away fans should note that the bottom rows of the lower tier are not covered by the roof and therefore you may get wet if it rains'. Whilst Paul Kelly warns; 'the stewards at the Reebok can be a bit over zealous, often throwing out fans for little reason. My advice to away fans is do not even think about celebrating a goal by going further forward than the front row. They'll have you even if you're just on the bit of track behind the adverts. Also you may be told to sit down during the game, take heed and do so. Fans have been removed who persistently stand up during the game'. I was particularly impressed with the stadium and for the first time in this country, I felt I could have easily been sitting in a comparable stadium in the United States. The refreshment facilities are good (albeit queuing times can be long on occasion) and I wish that other clubs would copy the way that supporters in the Reebok are served. There are proper queuing barriers and exit lanes. One person takes the order and deals with the money, whilst another prepares your order at the same time. Simple when you think about it, it is just a pity that other clubs seem to think that supporters enjoy the lottery of being in the scrum that develops around the refreshment kiosk. Food on offer includes a range of Holland's Pies; Chicken Balti (£2.40), Peppered Steak (£2.40), Meat and Potato (£2.30), Cheese and Onion (£2.10), Chicken Wraps (£3.50), Cheesburgers (£3.20) and Rollover Hot Dogs (£3.20). The stadium is certainly one of the best in England, although a capacity of under 30,000 means that it is on the small side compared to other stadia. There is 125 room hotel located behind the away end of the ground, 19 of which have views of the pitch. I just wonder if any of the hotel guests occupying these rooms may at some time put on their own half time show! Top Of Page
North & Nat Lofthouse Stands
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Where To Eat & Drink?
Alas the favoured away pub of many years the Bromilow Arms has closed down. There is the Barnstormers on Lostock Lane (from the M61, go past the stadium on your left, move into the right hand filter lane and turn right at the traffic lights into Lostock Lane, the pub is down on the right) which does admit away fans. There is also a mixture of street parking and paid parking (at some industrial units) in this area. There is also the Beehive Pub near to the ground where you can also park your car (see below). Otherwise alcohol is served within the ground, although for some games such as local derbies, the Club opt not to sell any. Alcohol available inside the ground, includes; Carling (£3.20), Worthingtons (£3), Magners (£3.30) and Echo Falls Wine (£3.70). In another good move then the Club allow your to pre-order and pay for your half time drinks, before the game has kicked off, through the purchase of tokens. Thus making it quicker to get your hands on your interval liquid refreshments. There are a number of bars on the nearby Middlebrook Retail Park (Reebok Stadium is on the Middlebrook Retail estate). However most of these have bouncers on the doors that only admit home fans on production of a matchday or season ticket, There are though plenty of eating outlets on the Retail Park; KFC, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Subway and a Bolton Wanderers themed McDonalds as well as several other themed restaurants. Top Of Page
West And North Stands
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How To Get There By Car & Where To Park
From The South: M6 to Junction 21a, take eastbound M62 leaving at Junction 12. Follow signs for M61 (Bolton/Preston) and leave the M61 motorway at Junction 6. The ground is visible from this junction and is clearly sign posted. From The North: M6 to Junction 29 and take the M65 towards Blackburn. Leave the M65 at junction two and join the M61 towards Manchester. Leave the M61 at junction six. The ground is visible from this junction and is clearly sign posted. John Walsh adds; 'Because of traffic congestion on the M60 (formerly M62), caused by the Trafford Centre, I would recommend that those supporters travelling from the South should take the North directions above. It is about 10 miles further but can save 30 minutes and a lot of frustration!' There is a car park at the ground, but this costs £6 for cars (£12 for minbuses). Plus on my last visit the cars in the away section of the car park were packed in like sardines, meaning that away fans leaving early (my team had just been stuffed!) couldn't get a quick getaway as there were cars blocking them in. However a lot of the surrounding industrial estate units offer cheaper parking, usually around the £4-£5 mark. Some of these are located on either side of Lostock Lane. From the M61, go past the stadium on your left, move into the right hand filter lane and turn right at the traffic lights into Lostock Lane. If you continue down Lostock Lane and take a left hand turn before to the Bromilow Arms, then I noticed on my last visit that there was some street parking to be had at the bottom of this road. Neil Casson a visiting Tottenham Hotspur fan informs me; 'I've been to Bolton a couple times and parked at a factory unit on Cranfield Road, which is the first right off Lostock Lane. Its the first unit on the right as you enter Cranfield Road costs £3.50 and it's staffed for the duration of the game. Away fans are located in the South Stand, so it's just a short walk back to your car. The official car parks seem to be well snarled up and parking I recommend parking just away from the ground if you want a quick getaway'. Gary Lovatt adds 'On the parking front, a handy little idea is to park at the Beehive pub which is on the roundabout (half a mile past the stadium coming from the motorway) where you pay £5 per car but get it all back at the bar. I also recommend the cajun chicken baguette there!' To get to the Beehive leave the M61 at Junction 6 and drive down towards the stadium. Then continue straight on past the stadium and the Beehive pub is situated at the next roundabout, on Chorley New Road. Whilst Mark Pickering suggests; 'St Joseph's school on Chorley New Road, offers parking on matchdays at £4 per car. On reaching the roundabout with the Beehive pub, turn left and St Joseph's School is on the left hand side after about 250 yards. There is a path way from the school leading down to the stadium - allowing fairly rapid entrance and exit to and from the ground.' Map showing the location of the Reebok Stadium (at the bottom of this page). Top Of Page
By Train
Horwich Parkway railway station serves the stadium, with regular trains from Bolton's main railway station. Horwich Parkway is only a few minutes walk from the stadium. Top Of Page
South Stand

Programme & Fanzines
Official Programme: £3 White Love Fanzine £1 Tripes & Trotters Fanzine £1 Top Of Page
Local Rivals
Manchester United, Manchester City, Bury, Blackburn, Wigan, Preston and from a little further a field; Tranmere Rovers. Top Of Page
North Stand
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Admission Prices
Bolton operate a four category system of ticket pricing (A, B & C) whereby the most popular matches will cost more to watch than the least popular ones. Category A prices are shown below with Category B & C shown in brackets: Home Fans: East & West Stands (Upper Tier): Adults £35 (B £31) (C £28), Over 65's/Under 21's £24 (B £21) (C £18), Under 18's £13 (B £11) (C £9) East & West Stands (Lower Tier): Adults £32 (B £27) (C £24), Over 65's/Under 21's £22 (B £19) (C £16), Under 18's £12 (B £10) (C £8) North Stand (Upper Tier): Adults £32 (B £27) (C £20), Over 65's/Under 21's £22 (B £19) (C £16), Under 18's £12 (B £10) (C £8) North Stand (Lower Tier): Adults £28 (B £24) (C £22), Over 65's/Under 21's £21 (B £17) (C £15), Under 18's £11 (B £9) (C £7) Family Area: 1 Adult + 1 Under 18 £37 (B £30) (C £26), 2 Adults + 2 Under 18's £74 (B £60) (C £52) Away Fans: South Stand (Upper Tier): Adults £32 (B £27) (C £20), Over 65's/Under 21's £22 (B £19) (C £16), Under 18's £12 (B £10) (C £8) South Stand (Lower Tier): Adults £28 (B £24) (C £22), Over 65's/Under 21's £21 (B £17) (C £15), Under 18's £11 (B £9) (C £7) Top Of Page
Stadium Layout
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Fixtures 2012-2013
Bolton Wanderers Fixture List (to take you to the BBC Sports Website). Top Of Page
Stadium Tours
The club offer regular tours of the stadium on most days. The cost of the tours is Adults £4 and £2 for concessions or £10 for a family ticket (2 adults & 2 children). Tours must be pre-booked at the Club Shop, or by calling the Club on 01204 673650. 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: At The Reebok: 28,353 v Leicester City Premier League, December 28th 2003. At Burnden Park: 69,912 v Manchester City FA Cup 5th Round, February 18th, 1933. Average Attendance: 2011-2012: 23,670 (Premier League) 2010-2011: 22,870 (Premier League) 2009-2010: 21,881 (Premier League) Top Of Page
Fans Reviews Of The Reebok Stadium
Steve Williams (Cardiff City) 3/11/12 Alan Parker (Wigan Athletic) 11/2/12 Thomas Ling (Norwich City) 17/9/11 Kevin Laidler (Newcastle United) 20/11/10 James Baxter (Neutral) 14/3/09 Andy Hall (Blackburn Rovers) 13/1/08 Kevin Grant (Newcastle United) 11/8/07 Richard Belk (Sheffield United) 31/3/07 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. Visit their Bolton Hotels & 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
Burnden Park
To see some photos of Bolton's previous ground Burnden Park then visit the Old Grounds & Stands Section of the Guide. Top Of Page
Map showing the location of the Reebok Stadium, railway station and listed pubs
Instructions for using the map: - Use the bar on the left of the map to zoom in / out using the + / - keys - Click and drag an area of the map to move around or use the up/down, left/right arrows - Click the Satellite button to see aerial view photograph.
Feedback
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail duncan@footballgrounds.net and I'll update the guide.

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Bolton Wanderers Reebok Stadium

Bolton Wanderers
Reebok Stadium