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Lille Olympique Soccer Club v Everton travel advice

Travel advice for Everton fans travelling to Lille for the Europa League Lille Olympique Soccer Club (LOSC) v Everton match on Thursday 23rd October 2014.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government
Grand Stade Lille Métropole LOSC first match - Credits: Liondartois - CC BY-SA 3.0

Grand Stade Lille Métropole LOSC first match - Credits: Liondartois - CC BY-SA 3.0

  • Date: 23 October 2014
  • Venue: Grand Stade Pierre Mauroy, Villeneuve d’Ascq
  • Kick off time: 7.00pm (French time)

Along with this advice, check out our travel advice for France, and follow us on Twitter at @BritishinFrance

Passports and visas

  • you don’t need a visa to enter France. Make sure that your passport is valid until you return to the United Kingdom
  • remember your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), but also take out travel insurance, even if you’re only going for one night – it could save you a lot of money if you get into difficulties
  • you should carry your ID at all times

Getting to the stadium

  • by car from Calais or Dunkerque ferry port or Eurotunnel, take A16 motorway towards Dunkerque then A25 motorway to Lille, these are toll free roads. Then follow Brussels, then Villeneuve d’Ascq, follow signs for Grand Stade and take the exit for your designated car park as given on map below.
  • from Lille Europe train station take Metro line 2 to Lille Flandres, from Lille Flandres take Metro line 1 to “4 Cantons Grand Stade”.
  • from the centre of Lille take Metro line 1 from Republique, Rihour or Lille Flandres to 4 Cantons Grande Stade.
  • from the stadium coach park – immediate access to the stadium, access to Lille centre is by Metro from 4 Cantons Grand Stade to Lille Flandres or Rihour.
  • from the visitors car park – short walk to the stadium. access to Lille centre is by Metro from 4 Cantons Grand Stade to Lille Flandres or Rihour.

Parking at the Stadium

Road access from Lille to the stadium will be difficult from 5pm due to rush-hour traffic. Those travelling in vehicles and arriving several hours ahead of kick off are advised to park at the stadium where there is direct underground (Metro) access to and from the centre of Lille. See map at the end of this document for designated car parks and directions below for coaches and cars/vans..

Coaches

Those coaches planning on arriving in the morning are requested to pull in on the A25 motorway at the resting area “Aire de Steenwerck” between junctions 10 and 9 and where motorbike escorts will be waiting to take coaches to the dedicated coach park at the stadium. The coach park will be signed posted C2, Avenue Paul Langevin, Villeneuve D’Ascq. Coaches arriving later should make their own way to this designated car park.

Cars

Those arriving in cars or vans should park in “Car Park Police” . Follow zone A – RD 146 and turn on the right in front of C1. Rue du Virage, Villeneuve D’Ascq.

Tickets

Match sold out so don’t travel if you don’t have a ticket.

IMPORTANT: Please note that the French authorities have decided to ban Everton supporters (and LOSC supporters) without tickets from Lille city centre, some areas in Villeneuve d’asq, Lezennes, Mons en Baroeul and Ronchin as well as the area around the stadium between 10am and 5pm on Thursday 23rd October 2014.

At the match

  • all official Everton supporters (except VIPs and sponsors) will enter the stadium via boulevard de Tournai and will be seated in stands I, J, K, L, M
  • full body searches will be carried out by French police
  • alcohol is banned inside the stadium
  • please note that Everton fans will be held back for around 20 minutes while the home supporters disperse
  • the stadium opens 2 hours before kick-off, you are advised to arrive well before the start of the match as ticket and security checks can take up to an hour to complete before admittance to the visitors’ section
  • if you appear drunk you may be refused entry to the stadium

Tips

In addition to items which would usually be prohibited in the UK, the following items are banned in the stadium and will be confiscated (and are unlikely to be returned):

  • banners and flags displaying anything which can be construed as racist or homophobic
  • flagpoles, sticks
  • fireworks, smoke bombs and flares
  • alcoholic drinks, bottles, glasses, and cans
  • megaphones and drums
  • knives, belts, chains or any objects which can be thrown or used as a weapon

  • as in any other city beware of pickpockets and bag snatchers at the ariports, railway stations, around the city centre, public transport and in restaurants
  • smoking is not permitted in the stands
  • possession and use of recreational drugs is illegal in France and any infringement may result in arrest and imprisonment

Consulate contact details

British Embassy
Consular Services
16 rue d’Anjou
75008 Paris

Tel: +33 1 44 51 31 00
Emergency number: 112

Everton FC website

Map of stadium area and car parks

Map of stadium area and car parks

Published 17 October 2014
Last updated 21 October 2014 + show all updates
  1. Further information on tickets and attendance

  2. First published.