Tom Wheeler, a 29-year-old Chelsea supporter from Leamington Spa, has found a way to beat matchday parking problems: he parks on other people's driveways. By pre-booking a private parking space near Hayes and Harlington Station, he saves about £70 over a season, enough to cover the cost of another ticket.
Parking problems used to ruin matchdays
Tom, a property manager, regularly drives from Leamington Spa to Hayes and Harlington Station, then takes the Elizabeth line to Stamford Bridge. He previously relied on the station car park but found it was sometimes full on busy days. The cost was high, and waiting for a space added uncertainty to an already long journey.
On one occasion, the delay made him miss kick-off—and an early Chelsea goal in an FA Cup fixture against Port Vale. That experience prompted him to look for a more reliable option.
Switching to driveway parking
Tom now books a space on a nearby residential driveway through YourParkingSpace. He says the arrangement gives him peace of mind because he knows exactly where he's going and that the space will be available.
“I drive from Leamington Spa to Hayes and then take the train to Stamford Bridge, but parking used to be the most unpredictable part of the journey,” Tom said. “The car park was often full, so I would either have to wait or start looking somewhere else. It was expensive too, and you never really knew whether you would get a space.”
He added: “On one occasion, it meant I even missed kick-off and an early goal against Port Vale in the FA Cup, which was incredibly frustrating after travelling all that way. I now book a space on someone’s driveway nearby. It gives me peace of mind because I know exactly where I’m going and that the space will be available.”
Financial and practical benefits
Tom estimates he saves about £7 per match. “I probably go to Chelsea around 10 times a year, so that’s roughly £70 over a season—enough to pay for another ticket,” he said. “You spend enough money and time following your team without missing part of the match because you’re driving around looking for somewhere to park.”
YourParkingSpace recently launched its Park Like a Champion competition for the new Premier League season. Five supporters will each win free matchday parking near their club's home ground for all remaining home Premier League matches during the 2026/27 season, starting from the date they are notified. There will be one winner for each of last season’s top five Premier League clubs. Fans can enter the competition before midnight on Sunday, August 23, 2026.
Parking's impact on matchday experience
Larne O’Donoghue, spokesperson at YourParkingSpace, said: “Football fans shouldn’t have to choose between setting off hours earlier, parking miles from the ground or leaving before the final whistle just because they are worried about parking and congestion. Yet our research shows just how much parking can influence the entire matchday plan, from whether somebody drives in the first place to when they arrive and even when they leave.”
“Matchdays bring thousands of people into a relatively small area at almost exactly the same time, so relying on finding a space after arriving can be a gamble. Planning ahead and pre-booking parking gives drivers greater certainty before they set off, allowing them to focus on enjoying the football rather than worrying about where they are going to leave the car.”
