Hi all,

just wanted to know if anyone had any advice on how to score some football tix for December 27 through Jan 3. My husband and I will be in London for that time and I almost fell out of my chair when I saw that Premiership tix were 200GBP each - definitley can't swing that!

What are my other options and how can I buy advance tix? I'm a big fan (tho nowhere near as big as the English )and would love to check out a real match

any and all info would be great - thanks!

Hi - I've just registered for this site (which I've somehow managed to not ever see before - just happened upon it whilst looking up a recipe!) so that I can answer your question. Though perhaps not terribly useful...

My best suggestion is to try to go to a Champs or Division 1 or 2 match. It may not have the same frenzied excitement of a proper Premiership match, but if it's a big one, ie perhaps a local derby and/or a club who's high up in the table, it should be OK.

That being said, I've been living in the UK for five years and have only been to three matches (one Premiership - I won't say who, cos I'll get in trouble - let's just say it's NOT the team I support, but it was a free ticket) and 2 x division two.

You can generally turn up on the day and pay £10-20 for a lower level team. Again, perhaps not the most exciting, but still a fun day/evening out...

Also look at fixtures for Premiership Reserve matches.

If of interest, let me know if you need help picking out a team/a good fixture.

Sigh, now I've made myself homesick; I live 5mins from the Arsenal grounds but am currently in California for a couple of months on business... I have definitely turned footy-barmy, but, too, can ill afford doing much about it when in London, apart from shouting at the telly and walking up the road to mill about with the crowds. And here...well, the matches come on circa 5am local time and the place where I'm staying doesn't have the channel...poo

Cheers

Yes premier league tix costs about GBP200, IF you can get hold of 'em.
Championship match tix is usually around GBP25-30.

If you want to see a match in London, try home matches with Crystal Palace or QPR (Queens Park Rangers).

Premiership tickets only cost 200gbp if you get them from "Agencies" (Glorified touts). Otherwise they range from between £30 and £60.

The problem is one of availability - the Christmas games are traditionally full houses.

I would suggest one of two things - contact the clubs directly and ask if it is possible to obtain tickets - I know my local premiership team does have some available for overseas visitors.
The premiership games in London over the period are :

December 26th
Chelsea v Reading
Tottenham v Aston Villa
Watford v Arsenal
West Ham v Portsmouth

December 27th
Charlton v Fulham

30th December
Charlton v Aston Villa
Chelsea v Fulham
Tottenham v Liverpool
Watford v Wigan
West Ham v Man City

You may have more luck with Charlton or Watford than with Chelsea , West Ham or Spurs.

The alternative would be to go to a Championship game - the atmosphere at a Premiership reserve game is almost non existent, whereas championship is still a good class of football in front of a noisy crowd. The problem here is that the two London clubs, QPR and Crystal Palace are not playing at home during this period.

If he really wishes to see a game, one possibility would be Southampton on Saturday 30th - There will easily be tickets available for around £25 and the stadium is large and modern and easily walkable from the train station. A Direct train from Waterloo takes under 90 minutes.

(I cannot believe I have just recommended "The Scummers" !!! - the things I do for Fodors).

Charlton vs Fulham looks like the best bet of getting a ticket, Should be a good game, london derby too, their ground is a bit of a trek out of london though, you should check charltons official site to see if you can book tickets

>Football Match in London Between Christmas and NYE<

XMAS is playing NYE?

Did anyone see the rather nice BBC programme the other night about museum guards, which featured a football match between the Uffizi and the Vatican Museum ? The Vatican won 7-0 I think.

sdtrach : "I'm a big fan (tho nowhere near as big as the English" - not all of us - some of us hate it !!

< the atmosphere at a Premiership reserve game is almost non existent >

These days the atmosphere at a Premiership game is almost non-existent

For many games, I would agree with Alan, but it depends i some ways which game, which fans and as to any local rivalry.

I am a season ticket holder at Portsmouth, and I do think that the atmosphere is not what is was in previous years - many of my friends have been "priced out" of regular attendance - possibly there seats have been taken over by a less passionate, less vocal, more "middle class" support.

Those people I have taken, who have often never been to a big sporting event, are always impressed with the noise and support of football league and premiership games.

thank you SO much for all of the great advice...I will try calling some of the clubs directly to see if they have any tix and if not, i'll take my chances at the tix booth when we get there

THANK YOU - you guys have been great!

Please, OP, do post your results as I'd love to take in a few EPL matches some day, too. As Willit mentioned, I've heard about the teams holding out some tickets for "foreigners." If you nab some without having to pay those absurd agency prices (250 GBP for Man Yoo the last time I checked!), please tell us how you managed it.

The prices from touts outside the grounds aren't usually in the £200 range - more like £80, but you're taking a chance.