How to get to Sunderland AFC's Boxing Day match - as record attendance expected at Stadium of Light

Supporters travelling to the game are advised that Metro trains and buses will be operating across the region.

To help supporters to plan their journey, information on the services are listed in the timetables - Metro and Go North East.

Sunderland station in the city centre is closed on Boxing Day. Supporters should use the Stadium of Light and St Peter’s as the nearest stations for the Stadium of Light. Passengers wishing to access the City Centre should use Park Lane Interchange.

Sunderland AFC’s park and ride service, which operates from Sunderland Enterprise Park just off the A1231, will be running as normal and offers a quick and easy way to get to the stadium. There is also ample car parking available in Sunderland City Centre.

Supporters are reminded of the parking restrictions in the vicinity of the Stadium of Light. Police and local authority parking restrictions, including permit schemes, are in place on more than 60 streets and are heavily enforced.

Supporters should aim to arrive early to the ground.

More than 39,000 tickets have already been sold and the ticket office and stadium turnstiles will be extremely busy on the day of the game.

The club urges all those attending the game to please take into account the significantly higher numbers of people who will be collecting tickets and accessing the stadium, when planning their journey.

Supporters collecting pre-paid tickets should do so as early as possible to avoid queues as there are an exceptionally high number of ticket collections. The ticket office is open from 10am on the morning of the game, for both collections and sales.

Supporters who have purchased tickets and clicked the ‘print at home’ option MUST print their tickets prior to coming to the game. The ‘print at home’ option does not allow access with a mobile phone and supporters must bring a hard copy of their ticket print out.

They should also ensure that the barcode on the printed ticket is fully visible and not damaged or smudged, as this could prevent entry.

Stadium turnstiles will open at 1.30pm and supporters should leave additional time to enter the stadium, due to the higher attendance. Queues are expected at the turnstiles, in particular from 2.30pm onwards and supporters are advised to enter the stadium prior to this time to avoid delays.

The FanZone will be open in the Beacon of Light before the game, offering a wide range of activities and entertainment for all the family, from live music from The Lake Poets, a visit from club mascots Samson and Delilah, come-and-try football, table tennis and a SAFC versus Bradford City fans 5-a-side.

Supporters will also get the chance to have their picture taken with current and former players, as well as meet Sunderland AFC directors.

The FanZone at the Beacon will open at 12noon.