A Guide to attending your first English Premier League Match
Introduction
Attending an English Premier League (EPL) match is an unforgettable experience, filled with excitement, energy, and the electric atmosphere of passionate fans. Whether you’re a lifelong supporter or a curious newcomer, here’s your ultimate guide to making the most of your first English Premier League matchday.
Securing your tickets
The first step in your journey will and should be deciding which match or matches you want to attend. From there, you should look to actually purchase your tickets before you start to delve into hotel bookings, flights etc.
Warning: There is significant potential that match dates/times could change at short notice in recent years because of TV schedules and fixture congestion. As such, be prepared that you can do everything right in planning your trip but the game may change to another day which might disrupt your plans.
Top Tip: While you may wish to plan other activities around your trip to the UK to watch the English Premier League, try to buy flexible tickets for other attractions. By doing that, you allow yourself to remain flexible in case the match date/time changes.
Where to buy tickets
As you would expect, the first port of call on this is the official club website for the team you want to go and watch. So if you want to watch Manchester United at Old Trafford or Liverpool at Anfield, visit their official website first to see the tickets you can buy.
Top Tip: It is well worth purchasing a membership for your favourite club, as this gives you priority access to tickets when they go on sale and increases your chances of getting your hands on one!
Should you not want to fork out the extra cash to become an official member, keep a close eye on the club’s official website, as it will tell you when tickets go on general sale so you can have your phone and/or laptop ready at the right time to try and get one before they sell out.
If you are unsuccessful with buying tickets through the club website, all is not lost.
You could still look to purchase Corporate Hospitality tickets direct from the club. These come at a premium and may have certain dress code requirements. However, you benefit from a great seat and often a meal and drinks package also.
Finally, if you are unsuccessful via the general sale and do not want to blow your entire trip budget on Corporate Hospitality, your final port of call may be online ticket exchanges.
This offers a platform for supporters to sell their ticket if they are unable to attend for whatever reason. Each club may have its own ticket exchange platform or you can use well established third party sites such as Stubhub or Viagogo.
Top Tip: Be extremely careful about buying a ticket from a source that is not the football club itself. There are many scams these days aimed at enthusiastic supporters who want to watch their club. Search online for reviews of individuals/websites before handing over any cash. If in doubt, do not buy the ticket as nothing will sour your Football Trip more than turning up to find your ticket is a fake.
Planning your Football Trip
Once you have your tickets sorted, you can really start to delve into the finer details of your Football Trip.
The most important things to start with are Travel and Accommodation to make sure you can get to the UK and you have somewhere to stay once you are here.
When considering your Football Trip, you need to decide whether you want to stay close to where the game is taking place or if you do not mind a bit of travel to the ground on match day.
As mentioned above, it is quite often the case that a match date/time gets moved at short notice for TV schedules. Therefore, it is advisable for you to book your Football Trip so that you are in the UK for a few days either side of the original fixture date – that way if the game gets moved from a Saturday to a Friday or Sunday, you are still in the UK and can move things around to still make the game, meaning you won’t have wasted your time travelling all the way to the UK.
For club specific information including Travel and Accommodation advice, Find Your Club in our list. Each club has its own guide for fans attending a match along with how to get to the ground, the ground layout and where to stay and go before/after the match itself.
Finally, it is also worth noting that if you have any specific accessibility requirements, the clubs themselves will be best people to assist you and advise you. As such, I would contact the club directly to discuss what you may need and I am sure the club would be more than happy to help make your Football Trip as special as possible.
Packing for your Football Trip
So you have your tickets booked and all your travel/accommodation sorted – what should you pack to be prepared but get the most out of your Football Trip?
First things first, you will need some form of ID and for most fans travelling into the UK this will be your Passport.
However, you may not wish to carry your passport around with you for the duration of your trip so a driving licence or similar will be needed.
From there it is always useful to have some cash with you in case of emergencies but most places will accept card payments these days. As such, it is best to opt for card payments as your first method of choice so the cash reserves are only used if you need it.
As with most people these days, you are likely going to need your mobile phone charged and ready to use. Whether it be taking photographs or using Google Maps for directions, make sure your device is charged and has sufficient data to be able to take the hassle out of your Football Trip.
Top Tip: Do not expect a warm reception from fans inside the stadium if you bring along a large iPad to take photos, as this can often block the view of those behind you. Stick to your mobile phone for this if you feel the need to capture the moment!
As for dress code, if you do not have Corporate Hospitality seats then you will be fine wearing whatever you feel comfortable in. However, if you wish to show your support and blend in with the locals, why not take a trip to the club shop near the stadium, buy a scarf from a street vendor or plan ahead and buy club merchandise online before you set foot in the UK.
Top Tip: A half and half scarf is a scarf that has 50% of its pattern dedicated to the home team and 50% of its pattern dedicated to the away team. These are frowned upon by many fans because it doesn’t show allegiance to one side in particular. By all means buy one of these to commemorate your trip but be aware it could attract some jokes from fans in and around you on match day.
Finally, it is the UK after all so it is best to pack for all weather possibilities so you are not left stranded with nothing but a T-shirt if it decides to rain or snow. Check weather forecasts ahead of time wherever you can but bring some items of clothes suitable for all weather just to make sure you are not caught by surprise.
Match Day!
Match day is finally here!
By now you should have planned how you will get to the ground and even potentially where you will go.
If you need any tips on where to go before and after a match for your favourite club, check out our handy guides for each team – just Find Your Club and start planning.
In general, each stadium will have its own slightly different pre-match activities. However, most, if not all clubs will have some form of fan zone where you can have a bite to eat, have a drink and chat with other fans. In fact, some clubs even have a stage where a former player will speak about their time as a player and discuss the game you are about to watch.
To make the most of this, it is advisable that you arrive at least a couple of hours before kick-off, even if you do not actual enter the ground until 30 minutes to an hour before kick-off itself.
Arriving this early will also ensure you have plenty of time to visit the club shop and buy any other merchandise that you like the look of. Alternatively, you can pre-book yourself onto a Stadium Tour so that you can see behind the scenes on match day and experience things from a player/manager point of view. These experiences are often in high demand so it is best to book these well in advance directly with the club.
Finally, if you are unsure about anything once inside the stadium, there will be a number of stewards located around and inside the ground. These perform a dual function of providing a safe and secure venue while also being able to offer advice or point you in the right direction!
Experiencing the Match
Once the match kicks off, sit (or stand) and enjoy the fast-paced action that the English Premier League has to offer.
Depending on where you are sat in the ground, you may be with families or the section of fans that start the chanting.
Ultimately, what you do depends on your own personality and fellow fans will be too busy concentrating on the game to notice whether you did or did not join in one of their chants.
At half time, many fans will often go into the concourse section of the stadium. For many years, drinking alcohol has been banned anywhere in the ground that you can see the pitch from. As such, the half time break serves as a timely opportunity for fans to have a drink or something to eat while discussing the first 45 minutes with their friends or even watching the first half highlights on television screens near the refreshment areas.
If you decide to join the fans for the half-time drink then you will witness a real melting pot of fans gathering in what can be extremely close quarters.
However, with this great number of fans all making their way down to the concourse at the same time, it means that if you want to pay a visit to the toilet – chances are you may have a bit of a wait!
After the game, you may wish to stick around the ground or head to a local pub to soak up more of the atmosphere with the fans.
Each club will have its own post-match traditions and places to go. If you want to find out more and plan your trip in specific detail, Find Your Club and learn about the post-match rituals that you could be a part of during your own Football Trip.
Conclusion
Attending an EPL match is more than just watching football; it’s about immersing yourself in the culture and passion of the game. With this guide, you’re ready to create lasting memories and experience the magic of live football.
FAQs
What time should I arrive at the stadium?
Arrive at least 1-2 hours before kick-off to enjoy pre-match activities and avoid last-minute rush.
Can I bring my own food and drink?
Most stadiums have restrictions, so it’s best to check the specific venue’s policy.
Are there any family-friendly sections?
Yes, many clubs have designated family areas to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all ages.
What should I do if I lose my ticket?
Contact the club’s ticket office immediately for assistance.
Is there a dress code for attending matches?
While there’s no strict dress code (unless in Corporate Hospitality seating), wearing team colours and comfortable clothing is recommended.
