This Saturday’s game against Wasps sees the Saints kick off at the same time as Northampton Town, who are playing Southend United at Sixfields on Saturday afternoon, with the Saints’ game being televised live on BT Sport.
With this being the first direct clash of the season all supporters – whether this is their first time at Franklin’s Gardens or who have been coming to the stadium for years – are recommended to plan their journey well in advance.
OPENING TIMES
Turnstiles and the Match Day Village open at 12noon, with a wide range of food outlets including street food from across the globe, Frank’s famous hamburgers and hot dogs and the perennial favourite Saul’s of Spratton pork rolls. The stadium itself opens at 1pm.
The bars will be open after the game, with live music in the Rodber Suite for supporters who want to stay for a drink and a chat while traffic subsides
BY CAR
The Saints’ official car parks are on Edgar Mobbs Way (sat nav: NN5 5JT). No advance booking is required as there are over 2,000 spaces available. Car parks open at 11am and remain open until 11pm.
Post-match traffic management will be in operation, but heavier-than-normal road usage is to be expected in the St James and Sixfields areas of Northampton, so allow additional time to get to and from Franklin’s Gardens.
Should supporters choose not to use the club’s official car parks then they should park with due care and respect for the needs of local residents and businesses.
BY TRAIN
Saints Season Ticket Holders can take advantage of a special 50 percent saving on their match day travel on London Midland trains. Simply show your Season Card at the manned ticket office of any station between Leighton Buzzard and Rugby to claim your discount.
Tickets can be booked in advance from Wolverton and Long Buckby, whose ticket offices are closed on Saturdays.
For full train timetables head to www.londonmidland.com
BY BUS
A number of bus services operate along Weedon Road, with stops outside Franklin's Gardens:
Number 5 runs between Northampton town centre and New Duston
Numbers 9 and 9A run between Northampton town centre and Duston
Numbers 15 and 15A run between Northampton town centre and St Crispins
Numbers D1, D2 and D3 run between Northampton town centre and Weedon and Daventry
Number 50 runs between Northampton town centre and Swan Valley, with a stop on Edgar Mobbs Way by the Saints’ official car parks
Number 3 runs between Northampton town centre and Harlestone Manor, with a stop at the junction between Harlestone Road and Weedon Road, approx 200 metres from Franklin's Gardens
Number 96 runs between Northampton centre and Long Buckby, East Haddon and Rugby, with a stop at the junction between Harlestone Road and Weedon Road, approx 200 metres from Franklin's Gardens
All of the above also stop outside Northampton train station
Further services operate between Northampton town centre and Wellingborough, Kettering, Milton Keynes and other regional centres. Change at Northampton bus station for connecting services to Franklin’s Gardens
Supporters who want to use bus services from Northampton town centre can make the most of the free parking in the Northampton Borough Council car parks such as the Mayorhold, which is directly opposite Northgate bus station
For more information and the full map of the local bus network head to www.stagecoachbus.com/northants-map.aspx
Tickets for the Saints' home Aviva Premiership clashes with Wasps and Exeter are now on general sale to all supporters. Make sure your voice counts by booking your place at Franklin's Gardens! Head to www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/buytickets and use Print@Home to beat the match day queues and save the admin fees.