How to Plan the Perfect English Premier League Soccer Trip

Another English Premier League season is in full swing, with clubs from throughout England vying for the coveted league title. As the likes of Harry Kane, Paul Pogba, and Alexis Sánchez suit up for their respective clubs, soccer fans around the world are studying the calendar, checking flights, and planning a trip to see some of the world's best squads in-person.

If you're among those fans, you likely have a few important questions: When should you go? Who should you see? And, most importantly, how do you score tickets?

To find out, we spoke with Paul Gerald, an author, travel consultant, and ticket broker who has attended more than 50 English soccer matches at more than 40 stadiums—and who is currently writing An American's Guide to English Soccer. Gerald discussed strategies for securing tickets, offered insider tips for perfect timing, and more.

Here's everything you need to know for planning the perfect English Premier League soccer trip.

Know What You're Getting Into

First thing's first: You'll want to know a little about English soccer before booking your flight. Here's a quick primer.

Know the Pyramid

Every professional soccer club throughout England is part of a larger league system, which is shaped like a pyramid. There are eight levels of the pyramid, each corresponding to various divisions or leagues. For the purpose of this article, we're focusing exclusively on the top four steps.

Sitting atop the pyramid, the Premier League is home to all the big-name clubs you've come to know and love (or loathe) over the years. Some of the biggest, most recognizable clubs include Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Tottenham.

The next three steps comprise what's known as the English Football League (EFL). The Championship is one step below the Premier League—some of the Championship's most notable clubs include Cardiff City, Nottingham Forest, Queens Park Rangers, and Fulham—with League One and Two rounding out the league. Wigan Athletic and Blackburn Rovers are two of the better-known clubs in League One, while Coventry City and Exeter City are two of the bigger clubs in League Two.

English soccer leagues don't use a playoff system similar to what we're used to in the United States for crowning champions; rather, the team with the most points (i.e. the most wins and draws) at the end of the season wins their league.

Teams finishing each season atop their respective leagues are eligible for promotion to the next league or division up on the pyramid. (Rather than being promoted, the best Premier League teams are eligible for what's called the UEFA Champions League—but that's a whole other article.) Teams finishing at or near the bottom of their league may be relegated or bumped down to a lower league.

Know the Competitions

While each team strives to win its respective league, English clubs from various levels of the pyramid play each other in two annual competitions:

• *FA Cup: *The tournament is open to all soccer clubs throughout England.

• *EFL Cup: *The cup is open to teams in the Premier League, as well as the EFL—The Championship, League One, and League Two.

Get Tickets

With surging worldwide growth spurring unprecedented demand, you'll face long odds scoring tickets to some of the Premier League's top-flight teams. Gerald has a pretty simple rule-of-thumb for scoring tickets: "If you've heard of both clubs, it's going to be really hard."

That said, you're not entirely out of luck. Here are a few avenues for finding tickets:

• *Single Tickets: *Tickets are much easier to come by if you’re traveling alone. “There’s a huge difference between wanting one ticket and wanting any more tickets,” Gerald says. “If you’re looking for two, three, or four, the traditional route is just not open to you at one of those big clubs.”

• *Ticket Brokers: *Many ticket brokers partner with Premier League clubs and, for a fee, can help secure tickets.

• *Hospitality Packages: *Ticket brokers and Premier League clubs sell what are known as hospitality packages, which include match tickets and some kind of perk, such as stadium tours or drink vouchers.

• *Memberships: *Each club offers what are known as memberships, which run roughly $50 per year. Members usually get first crack at tickets, though it’s still difficult to buy tickets for some of the Premier League’s top teams—or for decades-old rivalries.

• *Cup Matches: *If you’re not dead-set on seeing certain matches or specific squads, plan around the FA and EFL cups; tickets won’t necessarily be *easy *to get (especially if two rivals square off), but you’ll actually have an easier time than for important league matches.

• *Front Office: *It sounds obvious to our American sensibilities, but it’s worth a shot: For lower leagues or lesser-known Premier League squads, try calling their Front Office.

As for price, Gerald estimates you'll spend up to $60 or $70 for some of the Premier League squads, while tickets can start at $100 and up for some of the top-flight clubs.

Don't Skip the Lower Leagues

You may have your heart set on a rivalry match between Liverpool and Manchester United or Arsenal and Tottenham, but you're not alone. "It's this big complicated world, and people are very focused on a very slim sliver at the top," Gerald says. “It's very expensive and very hard to do.�

Alternately, he recommends focusing on the Championship, League One, or League Two, where tickets are cheaper—$40 USD, at the most—and typically available at the stadium on match day.

Specifically, Gerald cites the Championship. You'll see high-quality soccer, typically played in decades-old stadiums that charm for any number of reasons. Fulham Football Club, for instance, plays in century-old Craven Cottage on the banks of the River Thames.

Time Your Trip Right

English soccer teams usually start their seasons in early to mid-August and wrap it up by mid-May of the next year. Here are a few tips for timing your trip:

• *Know the International Breaks: *Each year, leagues shut down for one or two weeks at a time while their best players compete for their national squads. Before booking your flight, check FIFA’s website for international breaks and avoid those weeks.

• *Check the Lower Leagues: *The Championship, League One, and League Two each have four more teams than the Premier League, which means they play midweek matches throughout the season. Check the schedule, and you might be able to get into two or three matches in a given week.

• *Skip the Holidays: *The holidays are an active time in English soccer. Premier League teams usually enter the FA Cup competition around this time, and Boxing Day and New Year’s Day are some of the busiest days in the Premier League.

• *Go in Mid-May: *Around this time, each league’s season is winding down. The final week in the Premier League is always tense, and teams in the lower leagues are fighting for promotion to the next step.

Getting Around

Unlike in the United States, no matter where you go or which clubs you see, you won't have to fly between cities or rent a car. Train travel throughout England is easy, convenient, and affordable (assuming you skip peak rush hour for longer trips), and travel time between London and Manchester should take about three to four hours.

Dress For the Weather

If you're traveling to England, you probably know to plan for gray, wet, and cold weather—no matter the time of year. Fortunately, Craghoppers has you covered with outdoor apparel suited to unpredictable climates:

• The *365 5-in-1 Hooded Jacket *is perfect for year-round travel. It has nine pockets (including a phone, credit card, and inner map pocket), zipped side hand warmers, and is made with AquaDry fabric that is waterproof *and *breathable. The best part? You can wear it five different ways – the inside liner comes out and is wearable as a jacket itself or even as a vest.

• The Gallin Jacket also comes with the waterproof AquaDry fabric, and it’s inner stormflap and ribbed cuffs and hems will keep you dry and warm, no matter what.

• If it’s just going to be cold, but not raining, the** Edvin Fleece Jacket** is your best bet, and the wool-rich trim gives you a little added warmth.

• Kiwi Pro Stretch Pants (for men and women) come with a water-repellent, stain-resistant SmartDry technology, protect against the sun’s UV rays with SolarShield technology, all while providing a stretchy, yet comfortable fit.

Originally written by RootsRated for Craghoppers.

Featured image provided by Live4Soccer68