All you need to know ahead of the Papa John’s Trophy FinalThe countdown is on to this year’s Papa John’s Trophy Final! Here is all you need to know ahead of Sunday’s showdown.
When and where is the Final taking place?
The Papa Johns Trophy Final 2023 takes place at Wembley Stadium this weekend on Sunday 2 April with a 3.00 pm kick-off time, contested between Sky Bet League One rivals Bolton Wanderers and Plymouth Argyle.
The order of events is as follows:
- 1:00 pm: Turnstiles open
- 2:00 pm: Team news
- 2:10 pm: Players warm-up
- 2:53 pm: Players enter the pitch
- 2:56 pm: National anthem performed by Lily-Day Scott and BSL Interpreter
- 3:00 pm: Kick-off
- 3:45 pm: Half-time
- 4:45 pm: Full-time*
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All you need to know ahead of the Papa Johns Trophy Final
*In the event of the scores remaining level after 90 minutes, half an hour of extra time will be played. Should the scores remain level at the end of extra time, the winner will be decided by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark at an end of the stadium to be determined by the referee.
Will there be any pre-match entertainment?
The Bolton Wanderers Fan Zone is located on the East Concourse area of the stadium. The fan zone area offers supporters the chance to enjoy a drink, including alcohol, food, a DJ and are the perfect place to soak up the pre-match party atmosphere.
The Plymouth Argyle Fan Zone is located on the west side of the stadium on the event pad. The fan zone area offers supporters the chance to enjoy a drink, including alcohol, food, and a DJ, and is the perfect place to soak up the pre-match party atmosphere.
The fan zones will be open from 11.00 and stop serving alcohol one hour before kick-off (15.00). Supporters will need to present a valid stadium ticket to enter the area which has a limited capacity.
What do I need to know before traveling?
A large crowd is expected. Anyone without a ticket should not travel to the game. Fans with tickets are advised to check they are seated in the appropriate area of the stadium.
Heading to the game: Avanti West Coast, NorthernRailway, and East Midlands Railway all operate services from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston. The average train journey from Manchester takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes direct. Supporters can interchange at London Euston for London Underground and bus services to Wembley Stadium. Please factor additional travel across London into your travel time /costs.
CrossCountry and GWR operate services from Plymouth to London Paddington. The average train journey from Plymouth takes around 3 hours and 40 minutes direct. Supporters can interchange at London Paddington for London Underground and bus services to Wembley Stadium. Please factor additional travel across London into your travel time /costs.
Traveling home: There are likely to be limited services back to Manchester after the game, with the last, current, scheduled departure from London Euston at 21.49. Additional services may be added in the run-up to the final, but please do check National Rail Enquiries for the latest up-to-date information.
There are likely to be limited services back to Plymouth after the game, with the last, current, scheduled departure from London Paddington at 20.03. Additional services may be added in the run-up to the final, but please do check National Rail Enquiries for the latest up-to-date information.
Wembley Stadium benefits from easy access to three rail / London Underground stations. These are:
- Wembley Stadium station
- Wembley Central station
- Wembley Park station
Supporters should plan to arrive at Wembley stations no later than one hour prior to kick-off, to allow sufficient time to walk to and enter the stadium. Spectators are advised to check the National Rail Enquiries and TfL websites on event day for real-time travel information and status updates.
Event day parking at Wembley Stadium is limited and must be booked in advance via the Wembley Official Parking website. Please book early to avoid disappointment. Blue badge parking is available for ticketholders with accessibility needs and this can also be booked directly through the Wembley Official Parking website.
National Express is the official coach partner of Wembley Stadium. National Express drop off at the stadium from over 50 locations around the UK making it the easiest and most convenient way to travel to Wembley.
