Tranmere Rovers

Prenton Park Road West

Birkenhead

CH42 9PY

Away fans are housed in the affectionately named Cowshed Stand at one end, where up to 2,500 fans can be accommodated in this single tier all seated stand. You will be relieved to know that the only connection with a real cowshed is the name. As this covered, all seated stand, has good facilities and unhindered views of the playing action, being free of any supporting pillars. The concourses are of a good size and the acoustics of the stand good, meaning that away fans can really make some noise from inside this stand. The stand is also located close to the pitch, which is always good.

By Supporters Coach – The easiest & best way.

For full details of Away Travel: –

Click here: – FGR Away Travel – Forest Green Rovers Supporters Club (fgrsc.com)

Book your coach ticket with your match ticket from FGR.

Discount for FGR Supporters Club members. Supporters Club Members need to book by phone or go to Reception to get their discount.

Click – Tickets | WE ARE FGR

Coach Departure times etc. – Tickets & Travel: Tranmere Rovers (A) | WE ARE FGR

By phone on 0333 123 1889 Monday to Friday, between 9am and 3pm.

Please try to book as early as you can.

By Train

From Stroud Station it takes about 3 hours 40 minutes and normally involves changes at Cheltenham, Birmingham & Liverpool. Please check times carefully particularly as there is always the risk of a rail strike or engineering work.

Fans travelling from Liverpool/Chester should alight at either Birkenhead Central or Rock Ferry Station (Merseyrail) – both are around a 15 to 20-minute walk from the stadium.

Walking from Rock Ferry – Upon leaving Rock Ferry turn right and walk up Bedford Road for a fair distance until you reach a roundabout. At the roundabout, turn right into Bebington Road and walk along this road until you reach the Sportsman pub. Then turn left into Prenton Road and you will reach the ground and away fans turnstiles on your left.

Walking from Birkenhead Central – On exiting the station cross the road, turn right, then at the roundabout turn Left onto Borough Road (A552 towards) Heswall. Go through four sets of traffic lights passing a Shell Garage on the on the left hand side and at the 5th roundabout (signposted B5152 Clatterbridge and Tranmere Rovers FC), Walk straight through onto Borough Road and the Ground is on the right hand side after passing the Prenton Park Pub.

Alternatively, taxis can be found outside both Chester and Liverpool station – it is significantly cheaper to travel by taxi from Liverpool, but it can still be expensive due to the tunnel charges. (Argyle Satellite Taxis – Tel: 01512011111)

By Car

Post Code CH42 9PY – it is about 150 miles and takes about 3 hours from the Stroud area..

From M6/M56 join the M53 and exit at Junction 4 and take the B5151 Mount Road from the fourth exit of the roundabout (the ground is signposted from here). After two and a half miles when Mount Road becomes Storeton Road, turn right at the traffic lights (there is a church on the far-right hand corner) into Prenton Road West and the ground is down this road on the right-hand side.

Car Parking:

Official car parking is available but there are limited spaces online for £6 at www.trfctickets.co.uk subject to availability. It is advisable to book in advance.

Tranmere have 5 accessible car park spaces reserved for away supporters and these must be booked in advance by calling the ticket office on 03330 144452 (Please speak to Kate or Liz).

The Mersey Clipper/Birch Tree pub next door also provides parking at a cost – payable on the day – but this is a very small car park and does often fill up fast.

On occasion Shaftesbury Youth Club will offer parking next door to Prenton Park on Borough Rd. Please keep an eye on Tranmere’s Twitter (now called ‘X’) pages for match day information

Please be aware that all roads around Prenton Park are resident parking only and there will be road closures in place around the ground from approximately an hour ahead of KO and for the 30 minutes following the game.

Outside The Ground

Just across the road from the away turnstiles is the Prenton Park Hotel), which normally has a good mix of home and away supporters. Around the corner from the Prenton Park Hotel is a Chinese takeaway. Almost a stone’s throw away along Prenton Park Road is the Birch Tree, which also welcomes visiting fans. Previously called the Mersey Clipper, it has been refurbished. Apart from offering food, it also has the benefit of showing Sky and BT Sports. You can also park in their car park for £5, the price of which is redeemable inside the pub against the cost of food and drink. The Mersey Clipper Pub in Birkenhead, (greeneking.co.uk)

Other pubs in walking distance of the ground are the Sportsmans Arms on Prenton Road East, which welcomes visiting supporters Sportsmans Arms | Community Pub in Tranmere | Craft Union (craftunionpubs.com), as well as the Cock and Pullet on Woodchurch Road. Cock & Pullet | Eastham | Facebook

There is a small Tesco and a few takeaways found on Borough Road near the ground.

Please note, it is a criminal offence to drink alcohol on the streets of Birkenhead, you may find yourself being arrested if you do.

There are also a number of pubs in Liverpool and Chester which fans may prefer to stop at if travelling by train. For example The Hooton Arms CH62 0AN is a decent stop for (if you call them beforehand they will sometimes offer food).  The Hooton Arms | Birkenhead | Facebook

At The Ground

Away fans are typically welcomed into the Fan Park outside the ground; however this can be particularly busy in the hour before kick-off.

There is your usual hot food and drinks, as well as alcohol served in the away end (cash and card accepted).

Cash Point:
The nearest cash point is on Borough Rd just behind the away end, about 50 metres walk outside Tesco’s or alternatively, for anyone walking from Rock Ferry Station, there are cash points on Mount Rd which is a few hundred metres from Prenton Park

Tranmere are currently second bottom in the table with 10  points.

Recent Results

Stevenage  4 Tranmere  3 (FA Cup)

FA Cup highlights: Late winner gives Stevenage win over Tranmere – BBC Sport

Stockport  2 Tranmere 0

Morecambe 1 Tranmere 0

Tranmere  1 Doncaster 2

Josh Hawkes originally joined Tranmere on loan from Sunderland before making the move permanent.

Connor Jennings – Team Captain in his second spell at Tranmere. He scored for Tranmere at Wembley when FGR won promotion to EFL by beating them 3-1. He is the brother of James Jennings who played as a defender for FGR (34 appearances, 6 goals – 2014 to 2016). James is currently Head of Professional Player Support at Stockport County.

Current top scorers –

Josh Hawkes – 4,

Connor Jennings – 4,

Kieron Morris – 4.

Samuel Taylor – 3,

Luke Norris – 3.

Nigel Adkins – Despite what this picture might suggest Tranmere are one of the best supported clubs in L2.

Nigel Adkins played as a goalkeeper for Tranmere and Wigan. He finished his playing career and began his managerial career at Welsh club Bangor City before spells at Scunthorpe (where he had previously been the club physiotherapist so he may be able to help you with any aches you might have) and Southampton, where he led both clubs to promotion. His tenure with the latter was noted for taking the Saints from League One to the Premier League in successive seasons.After much speculation over his future, on 18 January 2013 it was confirmed that Adkins had been sacked as Southampton manager and replaced by former Espanyol manager Mauricio Pochettino.

 Adkins subsequently managed Reading, Sheffield United, Hull & Charlton but failed to reprise his previous successes.

 In May 2023, Adkins returned to Tranmere as Technical Director and mentor to manager Ian Dawes On 10 September 2023 Adkins was appointed interim manager following Dawes’s sacking.

Adkins has said that he recites the poem The Guy in the Glass, by Dale Wimbrow to control stress.  The poem’s message is essentially that you need to be true to yourself and not worry what others might think of you. So if you hear Adkins mumbling ‘..your final reward will be heartache and tears’ that will be a good sign for FGR fans.

Luke McGee played 101 times for FGR between 2020 & 23.

Regan Hendry – Made 53 appearances for FGR, scoring 4 goals during 2021-23.

Jacob Maddox (on loan from Chelsea in 2019 – 0 appearances), Callum Jones (Youth, 2010-2017) & Luke Daniels (on loan from WBA 2009-10, 37 appearances) have all had spells at Tranmere.

The Superwhite Army are familiar opponents and there has recently been a friendly rivalry between the two clubs.  FGR fans will obviously fondly remember the 3-1 win at Wembley in 2017 that took FGR into the football league.  The two clubs’ supporters have some heroes in common – Andy Mangan (now Bristol Rovers interim manager), James Norwood (Oldham) and Kaiyne Woolery  (playing in Greece) all played that day and have represented both FGR and Tranmere.

Kaiyne Woolery celebrates scoring against Tranmere at Wembley in 2017

Tranmere Rovers were, initially, formed as Belmont Football Club when the football arms of two cricket clubs – Lyndhurst Wanderers and Belmont – came together in 1884.

Tranmere played in regional leagues until they were invited to become a founder member of Football League Third Division North in 1921. They finished as champions for the 1937–38 season, though were relegated out of the Second Division the following year. They dropped into the 4^th Division in 1961, before winning 4^th Division promotion back to the third tier at the end of the 1966–67 season. Relegation in 1975 was followed by an immediate promotion in 1975–76 under the stewardship of manager John King, and this time they survived for just three seasons in the third tier until being relegated once again in 1979. During the 1980s, they were beset by financial problems and, in 1987, went into administration. However John King returned to manage the club for a second spell and guided Rovers to promotion in 1988–89, which they followed up by winning the Associate Members Cup in 1990 and then promotion out of the play-offs in 1991.

The 1990s would prove to be the most successful period in the club’s history as Tranmere remained in the second tier and came close to reaching the Premier League with three consecutive play-off campaigns at the start of the decade. Under King’s successor, John Aldridge, Tranmere experienced a number of Cup runs, most notably reaching the 2000 League Cup Final. They were finally relegated in 2001 and then spent 13 seasons in the third tier, before two successive relegations saw them drop out of the Football League after an 84-year stay. Tranmere spent three seasons in the Conference and then returned to the third tier of the Football League via successive play-off campaigns in 2018 and 2019. They were relegated from L1 in 2020 after clubs voted to end the season early due to the Covid pandemic.

The Tranmere Rovers mascot is called Rover the Dog – that is why marketing staff deservedly command such big salaries.

Here Rover is getting ready for Christmas or maybe explaining Christmas Tree formations to the school children.

TV Presenter brothers David Dimbleby & Jonathan Dimbleby. No idea why as they were born and brought up in the home counties.

Half Man Half Biscuit
The band Half Man Half Biscuit turned down the chance to appear on The Tube, as Tranmere Rovers were playing that night, even though Channel Four offered to fly them by helicopter to the game. Their hit ‘Dickie Davies Eyes’ got to No 86 in the UK charts.

Craig Charles
Dave Lister in Red Dwarf, Lloyd Mullaney in Coronation Street. Before turning to entertainment, Charles played professional football, most notably for Tranmere Rovers

Ray Stubbs – TV presenter.
He was initially a professional footballer, leaving School to join Tranmere Rovers for five years. He also played for Bangor City between 1978 and 1980. After ending his playing career with Tranmere, he stayed with the club in an administrative capacity and then spent three years with BBC Radio Merseyside as a reporter and presenter.

The Coral

The Coral is a band formed in 1996 in Hoylake on the Wirral. Their biggest hit was ‘Pass It On’ which might be a football reference?

Referee Mike Dean celebrating a Tranmere victory at TNL.

Mike Dean
Michael Dean is an English professional football referee who officiates primarily in the Premier League. He is based in Heswall, Wirral, and is a member of the Cheshire County Football Association. He and his daughter have season tickets to Prenton Park. You’d think he would be busy on Saturdays.

Elvis Costello
Declan Patrick MacManus better known by his stage name Elvis Costello, is a musician, singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, author, television presenter, and occasional actor. He has been seen at Tranmere games. He was born in London, but both his parents are from Liverpool. His song ‘I Don’t want to go to Chelsea’ is clearly a football reference.

John Bowe
Best known for his roles in Emmerdale as Lawrence White and Coronation Street as Duggie Ferguson. Tranmere Rovers supporter John was born and brought up in Greasby – a village on the Wirral.

Port Sunlight The village was built to house Lever’s ‘Sunlight Soap’ factory workers, but today is home to a fascinating museum, beautiful architecture, a world-class art gallery (see below), stunning parkland and a thriving community. Port Sunlight | Welcome to Port Sunlight (portsunlightvillage.com)

The Lady Lever Art Gallery – Port Sunlight Village, Wirral, United Kingdom CH62 5EQ – is a real treasure, housing a stunning collection of paintings including many Pre-Raphaelite masterpieces, the world’s finest collection of Wedgwood jasperware, exquisite furniture, Chinese ceramics, tapestries and sculpture, Paintings on display include works by Reynolds, Gainsborough, Stubbs, Turner, Leighton, Millais, Rossetti, Burne-Jones, Holman Hunt and Waterhouse, to name but a few. Admission is free, booking essential at Lady Lever Art Gallery | National Museums Liverpool (liverpoolmuseums.org.uk)

Birkenhead Priory is a unique family outing – experience the history, wonder and beauty of this 850-year-old site. As the oldest standing building on Merseyside, the Priory offers a unique insight into the town of Birkenhead, and its historical and spiritual importance in the North West. Now surrounded by factory units and shipyards, the Priory is an oasis of calm in a busy world. Climb the 101 steps to the top of St Mary’s tower for spectacular views of the Mersey & local area. You can even bring a picnic to enjoy in the grounds. The Chapter House is consecrated as a Church of England chapel. The Birkenhead Priory – The Birkenhead Priory : The Birkenhead Priory. Birkenhead Priory, Priory Street, Birkenhead, Wirral, Merseyside, CH41 5JH

Ness Botanic Gardens The award-winning superb gardens at Ness are situated on the Wirral Peninsula overlooking the Dee Estuary were founded in 1898 by Arthur Kilpin Bulley, a Liverpool cotton merchant with a passion for gardens and for plant collecting. The gardens were donated to The University of Liverpool in 1948 by Lois Bulley, the daughter of the founder. Ness Botanic Gardens (visitwirral.com)

Williamson Art Gallery & Museum As well as a dynamic programme of temporary exhibitions, permanent collections include artworks, ceramics, sculptures, and maritime history. Home to the largest public collection of Della Robbia pottery in the UK. Slatey Road, Birkenhead CH43 4UE. Williamson Art Gallery & Museum | Birkenhead

The Zone – Bidston Moss, Birkenhead CH43 7AA. zone2014.org

This sounds very interesting, but it might help to go see Andrei Tarkovsky’s film Stalker before you visit.

Birkenhead Park It was designed by Joseph Paxton (His greatest achievement was the Crystal Palace) and opened on 5 April 1847. Central Park in New York is based on Birkenhead Park. Birkenhead Park (birkenhead-park.org.uk)

Hamilton Square has the most Grade I listed buildings anywhere in the UK except for Trafalgar Square, London. A short walk from Hamilton Square Railway Station (CH41 1AL) and Woodside Ferry Terminal.

Speke Hall (National Trust) is a rare Tudor timber-framed manor house in an unusual setting on the banks of the River Mersey. Restored in the 19th century, it is a unique mixture of Tudor simplicity and Victorian Arts and Crafts’ aesthetics. The gardens have a hedge maze and it is a good place for bird watching. Speke Hall | Liverpool | National Trust

Temporarily Closed – Wirral Transport Museum & Heritage Tramway Wirral Tramway & Wirral Transport Museum (visitwirral.com).1 Taylor Street, Birkenhead CH41 1BG.

Tranmere Fans Forum – Total Tranmere – The Paddock – For Tranmere Rovers Talk (thefootballnetwork.net)