Red Funnel is adding an extra late-night passenger ferry service to help football fans travel home from Southampton on Tuesday 14 April 2026. The additional crossing will assist supporters returning from the Championship match between Southampton and Blackburn Rovers at St Mary’s Stadium.
The match was moved from its original date of 25 April to 14 April due to Southampton’s involvement in the Emirates FA Cup semi-finals. With an 8:00pm kick-off, the extra ferry service is intended to provide a reliable route for those needing to return to the Isle of Wight after the final whistle.
The special passenger-only ferry will depart from Terminal 2 at Town Quay in Southampton at 23:45 and will leave West Cowes at 00:20. In addition to this extra service, the usual 23:55 vehicle ferry will also sail as scheduled for those travelling to East Cowes.
St Mary’s Stadium, which has a capacity of approximately 32,384, is expected to host a significant crowd for the fixture. Red Funnel, which has operated ferry services since 1861, frequently adjusts its schedules to accommodate major sporting events for fans travelling between the mainland and the Island.
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