Author

Adam Baker writes

Posted Sunday, December 24th 2017 @AdamBakerBCFC

Gate Guide: Reading

Sunday, December 24th 2017

City welcome Reading to Ashton Gate in the Sky Bet Championship on Boxing Day (3pm kick-off).

Here’s a guide of what to expect if you’re heading to Ashton Gate.

ORDER OF EVENTS

10.00 - Coffee Shop & Store opens
11.00 - Supporter Services open (phones/online until 1pm)
12.00 - Sports Bar & Pizzeria opens
12.30 - Spurs v Southampton in Sports Bar
13.00 - Turnstiles open
14.00 - Team announcements
14.20 - Team out to warm up
15.00 - Kick-off - City v Reading
15.45 - Half-time interval
16.00 - Second half begins
16.45 - Full time
17.30 - Liverpool v Swansea City in Sports Bar

STADIUM

The South Stand, Dolman Stand and Lansdown Stand will be open for home supporters, including the Family Area and full upper tier.

The Atyeo Stand will play host to the travelling Reading supporters.

TICKETS

A festive crowd in excess of 20,000 is expected. The match is pay on the day for home supporters only.

The match is all-ticket for visiting supporters.

SECURE YOUR SEAT

BAND

Listen out for Ruby Jazz band on the stage. They are a Bristol-based outfit, playing upbeat Swing and Jazz, keeping in with the Christmas spirit.

PROGRAMMES

As well as the usual selling points, programmes will be available for purchase in S2, S3 and D1 concessions. Price is £3.

PARKING & TRAVEL

AG1, AG2 and AG4 First Bus routes will be operating as normal.

For full information about Parking and Travel, click here.

SCOTT MURRAY'S GUIDE TO ASHTON GATE

SPORTS BAR & PIZZERIA

The new Fan Village will be in operation, with a raft of food and drink outlets, while the Sports Bar & Pizzeria will also be open.

STORE

The Store at Ashton Gate will open from 10am.

SUPPORTERS CLUB & TRUST BAR

Access to the Supporters Club and Trust Bar is via the Sports Bar & Pizzeria. Go through the main bar and up the stairs at the far end. The bar is on your left at the top of the stairs. There is a lift that takes you straight there as well.

RUCKSACKS

Ashton Gate Stadium asks supporters not to bring large rucksacks on matchdays, following advice from the National Counter Terrorism Office and Avon and Somerset Police.

Fans will still be able to bring smaller handbags into the stadium, although these will be subject to the usual search process.

An Ashton Gate spokesman said: “The searching process will always be subject to change and whilst there is no specific threat to any Sports Ground, we must ensure that we remain vigilant and the message to spectators is to ‘Be Alert not Alarmed’.”

If larger bags are brought to the stadium, they will be subject to a thorough search, with a bag and tag procedure in place.