All you need to know ahead of Rovers trip to the Riverside.
Get Away: Middlesborough
Venue: The Riverside Stadium
Capacity: 35,100
Address: The Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, Cleveland, TS3 6RS
Main Telephone Number: 0844 499 6789
Official Website:www.mfc.co.uk
Date: Friday 25th October 2013 (Kick-Off: 7.45pm)
Sat Nav Postcode: TS3 6RS
Weather: Cloudy and wet with temp dropping to 10
Team News
Richie Wellens is missing suspended. Rob Jones is back from injury.
The Stadium
Middlesborough moved to the Riverside Stadium in 1995 after leaving its former home of Ayresome Park where it had played since 1903.
The stadium is totally enclosed, after the previous open corners to either side of the West Stand were 'filled in' with seating in 1998. All the stands are two-tiered, although the West Stand is slightly larger than the other three sides. This stand also has a row of executive boxes running across its middle and has the players’ tunnel and team dugouts in front. There is also an electric scoreboard mounted onto the roof at each end of the stadium. The stadium has a very pleasing appearance from the outside and at night, the stadium is illuminated and is visible from some miles around. Outside the main entrance you will find a pair of statues dedicated to two former Boro greats: George Hardwick & Wilf Mannion. In between the statues are the old entrance gates to Ayresome Park.
Away Fans
Away supporters have now been moved to one side of the East Stand (towards the South East corner) at one side of the stadium. Up to 3,500 fans can be accommodated in this area. Once inside then the leg room is reasonable and the view from the away section is excellent. There is a Ladbrokes betting outlet available and there are a number of flat screen televisions, showing Sky Sports (and the match itself once it has kicked off). The catering is described as one of the best in the league!
Where to Drink
Doctor Browns is a ten minute walk away from the ground at the bottom of Corporation Road in the city centre. This pub serves real ale, has SKY TV and a good mix of home and away fans, both inside and outside of the pub. To get to the pub from the main entrance of the stadium, head over to your left and turn right down the road, going under a bridge. A little way down this road on your left, there is an underpass (there are usually some programme & fanzine sellers standing by its entrance). Go down through the underpass and as you emerge on the other side turn right and go down the road and through another underpass. You will emerge in a small retail park (there is a McDonalds over on your right), which you walk through unto you come to a main road. Turn right along this road and you will see the Doctor Browns pub over on your left. Otherwise, there is a bar at the back of the away stand within the ground which serves pints of Tetleys Bitter and Carlsberg Lager. There is also a pub called "The Lord Byron" on Dock Street, which is only around a five minute walk away from the ground. It is reasonably priced, has a very friendly atmosphere and kids are welcome too.
Travelling by Car
The ground is quite easy to find. Just follow the A66 (signposted Teesside from the A1) on into Middlesbrough. Carry on up the A66, through the centre of Middlesbrough and you will pick up signs for the Riverside Stadium. There is a small amount of parking available at the stadium itself (in Car Park E). It costs £6 per car and spaces can be booked through the ticket office. Otherwise there are a number of private parks located (mostly on waste land) nearby. Also when you reach the turn off the A66 (as signposted) for the stadium, then rather than at the top of the slip road turning left towards the stadium, then instead if your turn right to go back across the A66, then there is plenty of street parking available in this area. It is then about a 15-20 minute walk to the away turnstiles.
Travelling by Train
The ground is around a 15-20 minute walk from Middlesbrough railway station which is located on Albert Road.
If you come out of the main station entrance, turn left onto Zetland Road. Then left again into Albert Road and proceed under the railway bridge. Turn immediately right into Bridge Street East, going past the Bridge pub (not recommended for away fans) and then take the next right into Wynward Way. The stadium is down this road. If you come out of the rear station entrance, turn right onto Bridge Street East. Go straight past the Bridge pub and then take the next right into Wynward Way for the ground. The stadium is visible in the distance along most of this route.
Last Visit:
The last time Rovers travelled to The Riverside Stadium was on 17th April 2012 in a Championship encounter. It was a rather uneventful affair, as both sides had every little to play for. The game ended 0-0, despite Rovers coming close on several occasions.
History
Rovers have yet to score a goal at the Riverside Stadium in three attempts.
Sky Bet Latest Odds
Middlesbrough 8/11
Draw 11/4
Doncaster 4/1
(Odds correct at time of publish)