Matchday Information: Saints v Forest
Nathan Jones’ side will look to bounce back in the Premier League as Saints face a huge midweek fixture, welcoming Nottingham Forest to St Mary’s for the first time in more than a decade, on Wednesday 4th January (7:30pm GMT).
Fans are advised to arrive early so there’s enough time to collect tickets, get through security checks, turnstiles and make your way to your seats ahead of kick off.
Tickets are still available for the game and can be purchased online.
Supporters can also visit the ticket office at St Mary’s, open from 9.30am until half time. Ticket office phone lines are also open from 9.30am-5pm on matchday (02381 780 780).
E-tickets are permitted on this fixture and can be either printed or scanned via your mobile phone. For anyone using a mobile phone, please download your tickets, ensure brightness is full and pinch your barcode to extend across the width of the screen and then scan at the turnstile to enter.
For pre-arranged collections, please visit ticket office 2 and if your tickets haven’t arrived and you haven’t contacted us, please visit ticket office 1.
Remember that all bags will be searched on entry to St Mary’s, so only bring an A4-sized bag if you need to.
TRAVEL
Be aware that strike action will be affecting South Western Railway trains on Wednesday so check your journey because a severely reduced service is expected.
Buses will be running as usual and are capped at £2 per journey, dropping to £1 post 6pm.
ST MARY’S LIGHT SHOW
From 7:15pm, fans in the stadium will experience our ground-breaking light show, the like of which hasn’t been seen in the Premier League.
Supporters in the Kingsland stand will find a wristband on your seat, which you’re invited to wear throughout the show.
Wristbands will then be recycled after the event.
AROUND THE GROUND
CATERING CHOICES
A variety of food options will be available around the stadium ahead of the match, including bacon double cheeseburgers, chips, cheesy chips and salt and pepper fries.
You’ll also find food in the Fanzone, at the Gasworks bar and the 8 Bells bar:
Fanzone: Pizza by the slice (margherita or pepperoni), loaded fries, chilli, guacamole, sour cream, grated cheese, salsa. (Season ticket discount from 5:30pm - 6pm)
The Gasworks: Loaded nachos and beef rendang, with jasmine rice and prawn crackers.
The 8 Bells: Chilli con carne pie with mash and gravy, butterbean, bean and cheese pie with mash.
FAN BARS AND THE GASWORKS
From 5:30pm you can soak up the matchday atmosphere from three fan bars outside St Mary’s. You’ll find The Deanery located on the corner by the bridge, The Gasworks midway down the Kingsland stand and the 8 Bells at the corner of Chapel and Kingsland.
The Gasworks is open to all on a first-come-first-served basis from 5:30pm until kick-off – with no membership required.
The extended outdoor seating area makes the perfect place to enjoy a pre-match pint or cocktail and if you’re watching the game from the Kingsland stand you’ll also be able to access The Gasworks at half time.
In addition we’re opening the Gasworks post-match, so you can stay and soak up the atmosphere until 10:15pm.
MASCOTS
Sammy and Mary will be roaming the footprint from 6pm, meeting fans and posing for photographs.
SAINTS BRASS
Saints Brass are bringing the party atmosphere and playing family favourites ahead of the game, from 6pm outside the ground. They’ll then join us pitch-side for a pre-match rendition of 'Oh When The Saints'.
FANZONE
Join us in The Fanzone from 5:30pm for some pre-match pizza and drinks and get game ready with the shot-stopper and fast-feet footie challenges.
ACADEMY ZONE
Located outside the Gasworks in the Kingsland stand, you’ll find children’s inflatable activities, the active play zone and try out the JWP scanning challenge.
PROGRAMMES
Programmes are available to purchase from cashless stalls outside the stadium.
SAINTS STORE
Get kitted out for 2023 with the full range of merchandise available to buy at the Saints Store, opening until kick-off, and again after the final whistle.
Make sure to take advantage of our January sales, with up to 50% off on retail merchandise and deals on ticketing and memberships too.
Remember that all Season Ticket holders get 10 per cent off merchandise from the Saints Store!
CAR PARKING
Fans with car parking at the stadium are advised that there will be no vehicle movement permitted in the car parks or within the road closure area from 1 hour and 30 minutes ahead of kick-off, and until the crowd is cleared from the stadium.
Please be advised that on matchday parking is not permitted on Rochester Street, unless you have prior approval or you have a Blue Badge and are parked in allocated Accessible Parking Spaces. No parking is permitted on Victoria Street, unless you have prior approval.
IN THE CONCOURSE
HUMMEL RETAIL BOOTHS
You can now pick up a variety of Saints merchandise from hummel retail booths situated in the concourse of the Kingsland, Northam and Chapel stands – remember, Season Ticket holders get 10% off!
CASHLESS STADIUM
St Mary’s is now a cashless stadium so make sure you bring an alternative payment method for any purchases at the stadium on matchdays.
REUSABLE CUPS
Remember you can find reusable pint cups in the St Mary's concourses and the Fanzone in a bid to reduce single-use plastics - when you’ve finished with yours, please place it inside so they can be collected after each match, washed thoroughly and recirculated.
WATER REFILL STATIONS – FAMILY AND KINGSLAND STANDS
In line with our Halo Effect initiative, we now have water refill stations in the Kingsland and Family stands. Refillable water bottles are permitted in the Kingsland and family stands only. Single use plastic bottles are permitted everywhere in the ground though they will need their lids removing in all areas other than the family stand. Flasks are not permitted into any areas of the stadium.
MATCHDAY BEHAVIOUR
Attendees are advised that home end tickets are only to be purchased by Southampton FC fans. Away supporters will not be allowed access to home stands or will be ejected if found in home areas of the ground.
Supporters are reminded the use of pyrotechnics is strictly prohibited and they are highly dangerous to the person using, other supporters and staff within the ground.
If you witness any form of anti-social, abusive or discriminatory behaviour, crime, violence or the use of pyrotechnics, please report it to your nearest steward or police officer. Alternatively, text SFCReport to 60060 with a full description and location of the incident, giving as much detail as you can.
