Windsor Park Sports Fan Tips
Windsor Park is a venue in or near Belfast that is most often used for Soccer
Best Insider tip at Windsor Park?
If you're going to visit Windsor, it might as well be for a derby match with a bit of fire to it! Local Belfast rivals Glentoran are a great bet: it costs £10 for adults and £6 for concessions (so really not very expensive at all) and you'll at least get some kind of atmosphere for that game. The Crusaders from the North are also good rivals, so that promises to be a game with a good level of excitement!
Best Bars around Windsor Park?
Situated two miles out of the centre of Belfast, there aren't really any drinking establishments within sight of the stadium. Your best option is to have a few beers in town before the game, then make your way across to the match. In town there's the Crown Liquor Saloon, with its 19th century décor and delicious drinks (including cocktails!) or Rockie's Sports Bar is more of a standard, down-to-earth pub with hot food, cold beer and large TVs.
Best Food and Drink at Windsor Park?
Windsor park is no different from the majority of UK and Ireland football stadiums in this regard: they offer a nice selection of hot food such as sausage rolls, though they are a few quid each and won't exactly feel like a great lunch!You should be able to get your hands on a hot drink or a beer as well, though personally I recommend you spend a bit of time relaxing with quality drinks before or after the game, as they're sure to be better quality!
What to expect from the Windsor Park crowd?
Unfortunately, Windsor Park is just a little too big for Linfield FC and 3 of the 4 stands tend to be entirely closed off during their home games. The North Stand is generally shared between home and away fans, totalling around 2-2,500 per game. When attendance is less than a fifth of the stadium capacity, it's never going to be a thriller. Even if it's an exciting game, the crowd just can't generate any noise. It is, unfortunately, a bit of a let-down compared to most other stadiums in British football.
How do I get to Windsor Park?
Parking is fairly ample, relative to the size of the venue crowd. There's a large car park behind the West Stand, and as with many stadiums you can often find a space in the nearby industrial areas for a few quid. Watch out for residential areas around the stadium as you could get fined or clamped there.The easiest way is to get the bus to Victoria Street Railway Station take the 20 minute walk. If not, take the Metro 9 bus from town to Lower Windsor Avenue and then it's only a 2 minute stroll to the stadium!
Windsor Park seating?
It's pretty lacklustre really. Three of the stands have been heavily renovated, but the North Stand (where the fans are actually sat) has had the seats replaced and little else. The seats are comfortable enough, and the overhanging roof provides a nice respite for any Irish rain that comes along. Otherwise, it just feels a little worn. The capacity of the crowd is usually a lot less than the capacity of this stand, which doesn't lend itself to a great environment either.
Best restaurants near Windsor Park?
There's a gorgeous Italian restaurants just 10-15 minutes walk from the venue. Most customers rate the quality of food (including presentation) extremely highly and wouldn't hesitate to go back for a second time. Alternatively, there's The Barking Dog (also only a short walk away) which offers delightful British classics: comfort foods and great drinks at reasonable prices. If you head into town, you'll find a tonne of other options beyond just these two!
Things to check out around Windsor Park?
If you're going to visit Belfast and are looking for something to do, it has to be a visit to the Titanic! The Dock and Pump House has a brilliantly designed self-guided tour with bucket loads of fascinating information about the Titanic: how and why it was built, the way it affected the town and of course, its ill-fated maiden voyage across the Atlantic. It really is a superb day out, and I'd recommend it to anyone in the area.