The 10 Best Away Day Trips in Football
In an age where ‘armchair fans’ dominate the football landscape, the importance of travelling supporters has increasingly become sidelined.
However, fans who travel thousands of miles to follow their team each season are the true custodians of the beautiful game.
Rising ticket prices and an increased focus on building international fan bases have left many fans feeling their local clubs have abandoned them.
Despite this, many fans still pull out all the stops to follow their favourite team across land and sea. With that in mind, here are ten of the best away-day trips in football.
Bloomfield Road – Blackpool
Football fans located overseas will have no concept of the magnificence of travelling to Bloomfield Road to watch their team face Blackpool.
The seaside town is a throwback to an era when sticks of rock and chippy teas formed the bedrock of the great British holiday.
An away day to Blackpool is an excuse for a weekend of unadulterated debauchery that no other place can match.
Old Trafford – Manchester
Former Manchester United star Roy Keane famously described casual fans as the ‘prawn sandwich brigade’, and he undoubtedly had a point.
However, a visit to Old Trafford is a pilgrimage for genuine football fans. The stadium is falling apart, but it is still a superb amphitheatre.
United are still the benchmark club for fandom. Liverpool supporters may argue differently, but they don’t come close to their Manchester counterparts.
Signal Iduna Park – Dortmund
Despite being overshadowed by Bayern Munich in German football, Borussia Dortmund can lay claim to leading the way in the fan stakes.
The enormity of the infamous ‘Yellow Wall’ dawns on you during the warm-ups before becoming a living thing when the first whistle is blown.
Matching the energy of the home fans is a near-impossible task. They are fuelled with German beer and a belief that they are superior to visiting clubs.
San Siro – Milan
The San Siro’s infamous concrete pillars and corkscrew ramps create a sense of occasion where away fans may feel sidelined.
The theatre of a Milan night resplendent with fireworks, fan displays and hostility is the perfect backdrop for thrilling European encounters.
AC Milan and Inter Milan are reportedly in the process of creating a new stadium, which they hope to have ready before the 2032 European Championship.
Johan Cruyff Arena – Amsterdam
The modern-day Johan Cruyff Arena is located on the outskirts of Amsterdam, but still provides the vibe that people expect when they visit the city.
Ajax fans expect their team to control the entire game, but the mood changes the moment visiting teams start to make things hard for them.
The away end is closely packed, making it the perfect place for deafening noise in a venue famed for staging thrilling football matches.
Villa Park – Birmingham
Villa Park offers an old-ground feel where memories of their history as one of the founding members of the English Football League have not been lost.
The Holte End generates a level of noise that will drown you out if you don’t react. However, away fans can make themselves heard if they put their minds to it.
Outsiders often malign the city of Birmingham, but it is a great place to visit for a weekend away.
Bramall Lane – Sheffield
Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane ground is a throwback to a time when English football wasn’t as sanitised as it is today.
Away fans are generally housed in the lower tier of the Bramall Lane Stand, which can accommodate up to 3,000 supporters.
Fans visiting Sheffield can also benefit from the city’s vibrant atmosphere. People in the know will make a weekend of it!
Estadio Azteca – Mexico City
The Azteca provides a heady mix of altitude, history and scale. Away fans sit high above a sea of colour, listening to the noise that starts long before kick-off.
Mexico’s reputation as one of the most passionate football countries in the world is well-earned, making a visit to the Azteca a bucket-list item for genuine football fans.
With a capacity of 87,523, it is the largest stadium in Latin America and the eighth-largest football stadium in the world.
La Bombonera – Buenos Aires
La Bombonera in Buenos Aires is an intimidating place. The heavily guarded away section is something you will never forget in a hurry if you visit.
Located in the La Boca neighbourhood, it is the home of Boca Juniors. Their fans are renowned for passionately supporting their team.
The unceasing noise ensures that this uncomfortable away day is entirely about the emotions it generates rather than the view.
Rajamangala National Stadium – Bangkok
Rajamangala National Stadium is a place where the spectators generate incessant noise. The colours are also a sight to behold.
The stadium was built in 1997 as part of Thailand’s preparations for the 1998 Asian Games.
Visiting Bangkok gives you the chance to experience a new culture and football through a different lens, proving that away days shouldn’t all look the same.
