Newport fans will hit the road for the second time in five days on Saturday when we make the long trip to Kent to take on Gillingham at the Priestfield Stadium. Here is everything you need to know ahead of the journey.
Where is The Priestfield Stadium?
The Priestfield Stadium is located at:
Redfern Ave,
Gillingham
ME7 4DD
Where will Newport fans be during the game?
Newport fans will be placed in the Brian Moore Stand. This is the open stand that is located behind the goal. It can host around 1,500 fans.
How do I get to the Priestfield Stadium?
Following Tuesday’s trip to Nottingham, Gillingham is another long away day for Newport fans. The following are the best ways to get to the game.
Car
Priestfield is around 190 miles away from Rodney Parade, making it one of the longest away days of the season. The trip will take around 3 hours and 15 minutes, depending on traffic. The weather forecast for the weekend suggests that there may be some adverse conditions on the road, so fans should make sure they give themselves plenty of time to make the game.
Train
There are no direct trains from Newport to Gillingham. If fans want to travel by train, they will need to take the train to London Paddington, take the tube to London Victoria, and then a train to Gillingham.
Depending on the type of ticket you book, this ticket will cost upwards of £94. To give yourself time before kick-off, the best train will be the 09:32 from Newport to London Paddington. You can then connect to the 12:10 from London Victoria to Gillingham.
Coach
The easiest way to get to Gillingham this weekend is by taking one of the official supporter's coaches arranged by the NCAFC Supporter’s Club.
Can I park near the stadium?
Gillingham FC Supporters Club has provided the following information about parking for Saturday’s game:
“With permit parking restrictions in place all around the MEMs Priestfield Stadium, members and non-members, including away fans, are welcome to park at Barnsole Primary School.
This is located on Barnsole Road, ME7 2JG, which is around a 5-10-minute walk from Priestfield Stadium. The entrance to the car park can be found on School Avenue, which is located off Barnsole Road. It will be clearly signposted.
We have availability for approximately 50 cars, with an overflow area available for an extra 20 cars when required.”
The car park opens at 1 pm and closes at 6 pm. The car park will be locked 10 minutes before kick-off and open approximately 10 minutes after the full-time whistle.
The car park costs £5 for the day.
Please note that Gillingham lists the following roads as being off-limits for away fans:
Balmoral Road, Windsor Road, Ferndale Road, Linden Avenue, Priestfield Road, Gordon Road, Livingstone Road, Coulman Street, Beaconsfield Avenue, Harold Avenue, School Lane, Toronto Road, Redfern Avenue and parts of Sunnymead Avenue.
How far is the train station to Gillingham?
The stadium is relatively close to Gillingham Station. It will take around 10-15 minutes, depending on your pace. As you leave the stadium, turn left onto Balmoral Road and walk down to the crossroad. Cross over onto Priestfield Road, and the stadium will be in front of you.
Where to eat and drink locally
The Fleur De Lis pub is around a ten-minute walk from the stadium and has always been a popular venue for away fans on matchdays. It has shown live sports in the past and could be screening the early kick-off game this weekend.
There are several fast food outlets in Gillingham if fans need a quick snack before the game. There is also food and drink served in the away end until the end of half-time.
Last time out
Our last trip to Gillingham was the final away game of last season, and it was one to remember. Cameron Norman met James Waite’s corner at the near-post to put us 1-0 up in the eighth minute, only for Tom Nichols to pull one back ten minutes later from the penalty spot.
Omar Bogle was on fire at the end of the season, and he followed his brace against Harrogate in the previous game by bagging his fifteenth of the campaign in the 78th minute. A free kick was headed down in the area to the striker, who thumped it past Glenn Morris in the Gillingham goal to secure a 2-1 win.
How much are tickets for Gillingham vs Newport County?
Tickets for our trip to Gillingham are priced as follows:
Adult - £22
Senior 65+ - £19
Young Adult 18-21 - £14
Under 18 - £10
Under 14 - £7
You can purchase tickets for the game here.