Ewood Park

Every time I see a guy looking at my girl, I think to myself, it’s obvious Ewood go home with her if Ecould. But Ecan’t. Well I mean it’s up to her. But knowing her, Ewood, if Ecould, but Ecan’t.
Ewood Park is full of men that «would» and women that probably won’t let them.
First-​Hand Experience: More info about my personal experience at this stadium — Ewood is one of the stadiums I am most familiar with. I stopped supporting Liverpool when Dalglish left, I was only a kid so I am allowed. When he resurfaced with Blackburn I began supporting them instead and went to some games during their 2^nd place season. I was only a tiny kid. It was amazing! What a crowd. What a feeling.
Then I saw them play a few times more recently. But my fave experience at Ewood was when I sneaked into this stadium through an open gate and was able to take pix of myself right on the field. Pretty amazing. That was in 2005. I have been back here since, in 2014 to be exact. It’s a big and impressive place that should fill in the corners to keep atmosphere inside and earn an extra star.
I’ve been to most UK & US stadiums, due to lifelong obsessions with travel, sport & especially footy (soccer to Americans). Born & raised in England, I followed Oxford United (hometown team) to stadia all over the country at away games, and later Liverpool (fave team) around. Every stadium review — like all my reviews — are from first-​hand personal experience, usually from several visits. In 2011, I was on music tour in the UK, and visited most stadiums for fun in my spare time. As recently as Fall 2014, when I was «stuck» in UK for 3 months, I went to hundreds yet again while travelling. I have pictures of me at most, which I’ll post later. Also, when back in UK I’ll take more pix, and add more stadia!
*** return to regular review ***
It’s not the best attended stadium, and it has open corners, so I have to dock it a point, but for a little town like Blackburn it’s a really fabulous size and a good atmosphere and a very tough place to come and play for any given team. Some of my fave games were here, it has really great memories.
A long time ago, I snuck into the stadium through a gate that a groundsman left open, and managed to go on the pitch. That was a really glorious moment. Maybe 10 years ago. Hopefully it will be a Premier League stadium again soon.
Jack Walker pretty much built this stadium. Yay him.
It was built in 1882!

I’ve been watching Blackburn for around 18 years and been there through the ups, downs, changes in management, hundreds of players coming and going, the trophies lifted (Yes we have won the Premiership) and the tears wept with relegation.
The good times outweigh the bad though, Blackburn fans are a good natured bunch and away supporters can be safe in the knowledge that we are not renowned for starting trouble (not even with the Burnley Dingles down the M65, they start on us).
The Fernhurst pub is the drinking hole for the away fans and it is a good pint in there, from the beer garden/​car park you will be able to wave to your players passing on the coach into the ground and the pub is only a two minute walk to the Darwen end.
The Dawen end is in fact home for the away fans, usually Blackburn allocate the left bottom tier (from viewpoint of the pitch), but if your Man United or Man City fans, then you will be allocated the full stand.
The Walker era has now ended and the club is currently owned by Venky’s, we have yet to see if they will prove their worth in the ²⁰¹¹⁄₂₀₁₂ season.
Come on you blues!!!

What can I say? I love going to Ewood Park, more than anywhere else most likely. It’s a good, old fashioned football stadium with four stands, plenty of pie shops and bars. Always a good day out for the away fans as well, as they usually get a large allocation.
Make sure to visit the Fox and Hounds across the road afterwards, and bring a rubber chicken to throw at the Venkys.

Most fans love going to Ewood Park, well away fans anyway. Not that you’re guaranteed three points — Blackburn Rovers, although they will always struggle to regain their Jack Walker and Alan Shearer inspired success of the mid-​nineties, have consistently been a club that are well managed and will take points of even the top teams.
But going to Ewood Park is one of the closest things to going back in time to those days when football didn’t have the sugar coated pretensions it has today. For a start, Blackburn being under-​supported (or under-​populated, depending on who you ask) means that away fans get a good allocation — up to 8,000, plus however many can sneak into the home end. This, together with the excellent pre-​match drinking opportunities both outside (The Fernhurst being the biggest and most popular is within spitting distance of the ground and will even put up a marquee outside for the better supported teams) and inside means that there can be a great atmosphere. It rivals Wigan for its choice of pies, and you can normally park on the road a mile or at the most two from the ground.
It’s nearer Darwen railway station than Blackburn. Get off there and either catch a bus or pub crawl the two miles to the ground.
The only thing stopping Ewood getting a 5 star rating is the dreadful electronic entry system that always leaves well supported away fans queing for ages after kick-​off. Oh, and it always rains. Get in early and bring a coat with a hood on it. Sorted.