Birmingham Moseley - Billesley Common
The New Main Stand
Moseley
are the biggest rugby club in the Birmingham area, and have a proud
history to boot. Originally formed in 1873, the club are one of the
oldest in English rugby and throughout the amateur era were one of the
top sides in the country, racking up plenty of famous victories and
international recognition for those playing in their red and black
stripes. The club rebranded themselves as Birmingham Moseley for the 2015-16 season.
Ground Information Back to Top ^
Moseley have played home fixtures at Billesley Common since
2005, and although it is a smaller ground in comparison to some of the larger sides in the Championship, it's a
great place to watch rugby. Visiting fans receive a warm welcome in the
clubhouse, the atmosphere is good and you have the chance to watch a
top-class game up close and personal.
There are now two stands at Billesley following the recent construction
of a new modern all-seater stand alongside the touchline, complete with
protection from the elements and a function suite within. A smaller
seated uncovered stand sits opposite, with the overall seated capacity
1,450. Behind one set of posts you'll find the club's corporate boxes,
and aside from that spectators can choose to stand
pitchside, with a raised
slope at the far end of the ground offering another perspective on the
action.
Getting There
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From whatever direction you are coming, your best bet is to get to Junction 3 of the M42 then head North on the A435. Continue on the A435 for 4 miles until you come to a large roundabout at Sainsburys, then take the third exit onto Maypole Lane (signed for Warstock, Shirley and Solihull). Follow Maypole Lane for a mile then turn left into Yardley Wood Road. Go straight on at the roundabout, continue on for around a mile before turning left onto Billesley Common. There are plenty of free car parking spots just outside the ground.
By Train
The
closest train station to Billesley Common is Yardley Wood, around a
mile from the ground. The station is served by local services from
either Birmingham Moor Street or Birmingham Snow Hill that operate
around every 20 minutes.
If you are travelling from further afield, Birmingham is a focal point
of the UK rail network and as such is served by regular fast services
from across the country. National Rail Enquiries provides a
useful journey planner. The majority of services arrive at Birmingham
New Street station. From there, you can catch a bus (see below) or a
short walk will take you to Moor Street where you can get the local
train out to Yardley Wood.
By Bus
There
are loads of buses that serve Billesley Common and the surrounding
area, from all parts of Birmingham including the City Centre. The Moseley club website has a
comprehensive list of the relevant routes.
By Air
Birmingham International Airport is about nine miles from Billesley Common and is served by regular flights to most parts of the UK and Ireland. There is a train station at the airport, with journeys to New Street station in the City Centre taking about 15 minutes.Drinking Back to Top ^
The clubhouse opens a few hours before kick-off and stays open until well after the final whistle. In addition, the new stand has an undercroft with bar and food facilities.
Eating
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Back in the centre of Brum, there are plenty of places to fill your face, from the ubiquitous chain restaurants alongside some great independents.
Sleeping Back to Top ^
Birmingham is a popular conference destination during the week, so there are usually plenty of City Centre hotels offering good rates on the weekends. If you want to stay closer to the ground in the southern suburbs, here are a few options.- The Railway Guest House in King's Heath is either a long walk or short drive from Billesley.
- The Premier Inn at Hall Green is handily located near to the ground and the A34.
- Likewise the Travelodge Birmingham Maypole is not too far from Billesley Common.
Make a Trip of It Back to Top ^
Birmingham sometime suffers from a dated and ill-informed reputation for having nothing to offer the visitor, but there is plenty to keep you entertained for a couple of days. The much-redeveloped City Centre offers top-class shopping, nightlife and restaurants, whilst golfers will find plenty of courses in the area, including the world-famous Belfry.Key Information
- Capacity
Unknown - Address
Billesley Common
Yardley Wood Road
Birmingham
B13 0PT
- Website
www.moseleyrugby.co.uk
- Fan's Forum
moseleysupporters.proboards.com/
Disabled Supporters
- In addition to free car parking, disabled badge holders are
offered parking next to the Moseley clubhouse, which is also wheelchair
accessible.
- Can you add information for this section? Let us know here.
Tough Times at Moseley
- Shortly after the introduction of professionalism the club
got into serious financial difficulties, which led to administration
and the sale of their traditional home at the Reddings.
- A new home of sorts was found at Birmingham University, but
Moseley Rugby club and its history were still in danger of extinction
until thankfully a consortium including former captain Dave Warren took
over in 2002.
- The club were relegated in the 2002-03 season to the third
tier of English rugby, but the new-found stability allowed the club to
look to the future and rebuild.
A New Start
- Moseley moved to a new permanent home at Billesley Common
in time for the 2005-06 season, and went on to win promotion to
National Division One (now the RFU Championship) that season.
- They have managed to maintain their status as a
second-tier side ever since, despite attendances/funding lower than
most other clubs in the division, a few relegation scares and a league
restructure along the way.
- The side even managed to pull off a shock defeat of Leeds at Twickenham in 2009 to lift the EDF National Trophy, a fitting reward for all those who battled to make sure that the name of Moseley is still around in English rugby today.
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