On the morning of the game some branch members are travelling on the 11.13 train out of Euston, arriving Fenny Stratford at 12.04. Groupsave fares are available on this route so return tickets will be £10 each if we are in groups of 4. If you would like to travel with the group please email Al on travel@carlislelondonbranch.org to register your interest.

The Red Lion, Lock View Lane, Bletchley, Milton Keynes, MK1 1BA Tel: 01908 372317

Traditional pub alongside the grand union canal that harks back to the days before Fenny Stratford and Bletchley were absorbed into the concrete monstrosity of Milton Keynes. Good Beer Guide listed and CAMRA North Bucks pub of the year 2010, 3 real ales are available as well as a scrumpy cider. The pub is split into two bars with Sky Sports on flat screen TV’s, a pool table and darts board. If the weather is nice beer can be enjoyed alfresco on the tow path next to the lock and the clock in the bar goes backwards. The Red Lion is a lovely pub with a remarkably rural feel to it considering its proximity to the rest of Milton Keynes. Bars snacks are available but meals are not. To get to the Red Lion, come out of Fenny Stratford station onto Simpson Road and do a left. Head up the road for about 60 meters and Lock View Lane is on the right with the pub at the end of the road.

Enigma Tavern, 2 Princess Way, Bletchley, MK2 2EN Tel: 01908 645523

Bland and functional much like the rest of Milton Keynes, this bog standard boozer is reasonably close to Bletchley Railway station and en route to and from the ground. For this reason only a few folks might pop in here post match for a couple of ales before heading back to the smoke. There’s nothing particularly wrong with this pub just very little good about it.

Pretty decent scran is available inside the ground and a massive Asda is over the road from Stadium MK.

There are three train stations relatively near to the stadium, the closest being Fenny Stratford a 15 min walk away. Other options are Bletchley, a 25 minute walk to stadium MK or Milton Keynes Central a 45 minute walk.

To walk to the stadium from Bletchley head left up the very busy Saxon Street, dice with death crossing straight over a few roundabouts and eventually you will see stadium MK on your left.

From Fenny Stratford Station turn right up Watling Street for about 400 meters then right again into Saxon Street, over the big roundabout and the ground is on the left in about 500 meters.

There are shuttle busses on match days from Milton Keynes Central and Bletchley stations which cost a quid.


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If using Sat Nav you might want to enter MK1 1QB into your device which is the post code of the local Asda. As Stadium MK is a fairly recent structure some devices may not be able to locate it and Asda is over the road from the ground.
There is limited parking at the stadium for a fiver and cars can be left in neighbouring industrial areas around the stadium. We wouldn’t advise parking in the car parks at the local trade and retail outlets as you are likely to find a clamp attached to your vehicle when you get back to it.

From the M1 use junction 14 for Milton Keynes and follow signs to Stadium MK. For detailed directions and extensive information on prohibited substances that cannot be taken into Stadium MK, please click here.

Very shiny, bright, modern and new. Whether it’s shiny and happy is open to debate. On one hand it is spacious, with big comfy seats and lots of leg room. The concourses are wide and the catering outlets are efficient and well stocked with decent scran. On the other hand it’s a soulless concrete monstrosity with no charm, poor pedestrian access and a crap atmosphere. Currently Stadium MK has a capacity of 22,000 seats but has space in the (currently empty) upper tier for 10,000 more giving it a potential capacity of 32,000. Additionally the stadium is designed to accommodate a possible 3rd tier meaning the maximum potential capacity is around 45,000. Seeing that England have failed to win the world cup bid for 2018 and MK Franchise attract an average of around 8000 fans to home games it seems unlikely the ground will be expanded anytime soon.

This will be only our 4th away game against Milton Keynes since the club formed in 2004. The previous meetings have been lively affairs with lots of goals. Last season we lost 3-2 having been 2-1 up with 10 minutes to go. The previous year Carlisle won a cracker 4-3 having been 3-0 up at one point and in October 2008 we lost 3-1 on a lovely warm day autumn day. To read a match report from 2008 please click here.

MK Franchise, AFC Wimbledon and the Football Supporters Federation were engaged in a lengthy dispute regarding the legacy of the original Wimbledon FC. Milton Keynes eventually announced that they considered themselves to be a new club formed in 2004 and renounced all claims to a previous club history. All Wimbledon FC trophies and memorabilia were returned to the London Borough of Merton. As a result Milton Keynes are in a unique position in modern times. They formed as a new club in 2004 but were allowed to start in the 3rd tier of English Football.