British Railways poster

British Rail poster. "On the Ball" Supporters follow Away Matches by Rail.

Football has always had a close link with the railways.

The growing railway network allowed amateur football to develop and teams to play further afield with some of these teams developing to become highly successful. Many of the largest football clubs deliberately built their grounds next to railway lines and stations so that fans could travel more easily to support their team.

Supporter numbers were so huge that the Railway companies laid on special trains.