Scottish World Cup fans issue warning to England counterparts about ‘expensive’ Boston before Ghana clash | OneFootball

England fans travelling to their World Cup clash against Ghana on Tuesday are bracing themselves for costly journeys and significant delays before and after the game.

Boston has faced widespread criticism for transport ticket prices during the World Cup – with trains now costing fans 80 dollars (£60.40) rather than the usual 20 dollars (£15.10).

Supporters have also said the price of parking has left many with an "expensive day out" – as one fan described paying 180 dollars (£135.89) to park near the Gillette Stadium in the nearby town of Foxborough.

Anticipating extensive road queues and huge crowds at train stations, many fans are starting their match day journeys early.

Scotland fans who have experienced the long waits have told the Three Lions to expect to be delayed for hours after the final whistle.

Barnsley fan Adam Parkinson, 32, said: “We’ve got the train booked so we’ll see how that goes. We’ve been advised to go early.

“One Scottish guy told us to get there a good four hours in advance.”

Leigham Stone, 38, from Essex, added: “He said it could be anything – when you leave the ground and you get the train it could take you nine hours, so they better win.

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England face Ghana on Tuesday (Getty)

Mr Parkinson added: “It’s just pot luck.”

Another England fan, Matthew Maidment, 23, from south-east London, said he had also secured a place on the dedicated train service despite the cost.

“We’re doing the 80-dollar train,” he told the Press Association.

“I know there’s a lot of talk… but it is what it is, we’re staying a bit outside of Boston, so we’ll come to Boston, go to the city centre, soak up the atmosphere – that’s what it’s all about really.

“We booked it in advance before it sells out – it is what it is.”

Mr Maidment said he expected to begin his day early, adding: “We’ll head to Boston city centre for about 9am… and I think we’re heading to the stadium at about 12pm.”

Others have decided to avoid the rail network altogether – with Uber announcing a 45-dollar rideshare from the stadium back into Boston after the match or fans could elect to choose a shuttle bus for a return fare of 95 dollars.

Joe Bernacki, 43, who grew up in London but now lives in Massachusetts, said he would be driving to the stadium and taking part in the American tradition of tailgating before kick-off.

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England fans Joe Bernacki, 43, Matty Peacock ,52, and Helen Bernacki, 38, in Boston (PA)

“We’re quite lucky… our cousin lives in Boston so he’s local,” he said.

“It’s going to cost an arm and a leg to get to the ground on the train so we’re going to drive there and do a bit of drinking in the car park. What can go wrong?”

His sister, Helen Bernacki, 38, added: “We’re going with the flow, I don’t think we’ve planned a single thing.”

Jordan Womack, 45, from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, said his family were fortunate to have relatives living close to the venue, but that attending matches in the United States was proving far more expensive than previous World Cups.

“It was Father’s Day yesterday so this is his treat,” he said of his trip with his 81-year-old father Paul and seven-year-old son Joey.

“I’ve been to a few World Cups and I’ve never paid more than £80 or 100 dollars.

“It’s not just the ticket itself – the parking, the transportation, the hotels.

“It’s definitely not a working class man’s sport any more.”

Mr Womack said parking alone would cost his family about 180 dollars for the Ghana match.

“So it’s expensive – for a family of four or five it’s an expensive day out,” he added.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), which is operating special event trains to the match, has urged supporters to arrive at their designated queue times and buy tickets in advance.

They said additional signage and revised pedestrian routes had been introduced after previous matches, when some passengers were directed towards the regular commuter rail entrance rather than the dedicated World Cup queue.

The MBTA said nearly 70% of tickets for the England v Ghana train service had already been sold and advised supporters to book as soon as possible.