West Bromwich Albion visitor guide | The Hawthorns guide

The Hawthorns has been the home of West Bromwich Albion since 1900. It was one of the first Football League grounds to be constructed in the 20th century; the first match played here was a 1-1 draw with Derby County on the 3rd September 1900.

At one point the Hawthorns could hold a capacity of up to 70,000, this has dropped gradually over time and today the capacity of the modern all-seated ground is 28,003. The attendance record stands at 64,815 spectators who came to see West Bromwich Albion beat Arsenal 3-1 in the 1937 FA Cup quarterfinal. Over its lifetime the ground has hosted a range of other sporting events, notably two England international matches in the 1920s, a cricket match between Pakistan and India in the 1970s and Kabaddi tournaments in the 2000s.

Away fans traditionally occupy one half of the Smethwick End at the southern edge of the pitch with core home support housed in the opposing Birmingham Road End. Ticket office, club shop and entertainment suites are located in the East Stand along with the clubs offices. The West Stand is home to the press and commentary boxes. Away fans have commented on the cramped seating and tightly packed concourses at the Hawthorns but say that overall the ground has a pleasant friendly atmosphere.

Sitting at an altitude of 551 feet (168 m), the Hawthorns has the honour of being the highest league ground in the UK.

The grounds close proximity to the centre of Birmingham and excellent transport links means that away fans have an excellent choice of local and city centre accommodation to choose from when selecting their Hawthorns hotel.

Getting To The Hawthorns

By Car

The Hawthorns is on the A41 and can be easily reached by car. Those travelling from West Bromwich and junction 1 of the M5 should take the A41 eastwards heading for Birmingham City Centre, while those coming from Birmingham should take the A41 westwards and head towards the M5 junction. In both instances, the stadium is clearly visible from the road.

Match day car parking is provided near the ground on a number of industrial units, prices generally range from £3-5. Those staying in hotels near the Hawthorns might like to take advantage of hotel parking and walk to the ground or take public transport.

Drivers should be aware that Halfords Lane, which runs beside the Hawthorns and provides access to some parking areas, closes about 90 minutes before kick-off.

By Public Transport

Visitors arriving by public transport are likely to pass through Birmingham or Wolverhampton. Both cities have quick and efficient transport services that stop right by the ground. The Hawthorns station, situated about 400 metres from the stadium, provides convenient access to the ground for those travelling by rail and tram.

Bus routes 74 and 79, which run between Birmingham and Dudley/Wolverhampton stop along the Birmingham Road close to the ground. The journey time is about 30 minutes from central Birmingham and 6 minutes from the West Bromwich bus station.

The Hawthorns can also be reached from Smethwick Rolfe Street train station, which is approximately 15 minutes away on foot.