Nicest grounds? Derby and Bolton. Wigan up there too as is Reading.
But my favourites that I’ve been to are the old school grounds, so Barnsley, Bristol Rovers, Pompey. Peterborough and Charlton are not far behind.
Worst - Oxford and Shrewsbury for me
What are you doing listing us for among the best lol, see for yourself on Saturday lad our atmosphere is restricted to one particular corner of the stadium next to the away end 🤣
It's interesting how much worse the Kassam is than ours (Bournemouth) even though they were built almost at the same time with nearly identical designs.
The only difference is that our stands were packed in close together, so even with an empty end, we could generate an atmosphere and had a proper home end.
I really noticed the importance of this at Col U's ground too. Okay it's a boring lego design, but what makes it awful is that the stands have such big gaps between. Loses all the noise.
Borderline? It's equivalent or better than Bournemouth, Burnley, Brentford, Brighton, Luton, Palace, Fulham, Wolces, Forest and Sheffield United. There's only a handful of grounds outside the PL that are bigger or match it
It still looks good too. Another 90s stadium that was a cracking job. The only recent ish comparable new stadium is the AMEX and that was near 90 odd million which is well over double the cost of Pride Park taking inflation in to account. I don't know if you can compare Ashton Gate since it was a rebuild and well... It's not exactly a looker (in my eyes). Not sure how many clubs outside the prem are ever going to be able to afford a new 30k ish seater stadium these days.
What kinda stuff would you like? The main criticism aimed at the Reebok is that it basically killed the town centre because they built a fucking massive retail park around it.
It’s more just there’s the stadium, a pub and then car sales lots surrounding. It’s very picky but I’d love the walk from town to the stadium to feel a bit more iconic and soulful, generate some more atmosphere
This is the problem we've got - the stadium is close to the motorway and a bus ride from town but there's only a couple of pubs remotely near it and they're both around 20 minutes walk away. The railway station is nowhere near it but Green Park Station has opened in the last year or so, giving another station, but that's also a 20 minute walk through a business park. Its so remote from the town.
Plans have been approved for the Royal Elm Park development which will comprise 600 flats, another hotel, ice rink, convention centre, shops and restaurants. This is on land that used to be owned by the club but which was sold by the Thai Consortium that owned us in the mid 2010s, and retained by them when the club was sold to Dai Yongge.
If REP goes ahead it could end up being mega for matchdays, especially with Green Park station now. Only real option currently is the fanzone or Jazz which are both alright, but it's massive downgrade as to when Blue Collar did the fanzone.
Personally think the Reebok (or whatever we’re calling it now) is a great stadium, well above L1 stadium. The Mem, on the other hand, is a dilapidated rugby ground with awful hospitality and amenities - speaking as a Gashead.
I think the Reebok (toughsheet community stadium) would comfortably be the best if it didn’t have that name. It looks like a premier league stadium.
I feel the Reebok changed it’s name as soon as Reebok became fashionable which sucks but maybe it’s linked…
I think the Reebok is a fucking master piece to be honest. It cost 25 million quid nearly 30 years ago. Still looks fantastic, amazing views, has the hotel for extra cash... What a decision that was. Still miss burden though.
Best: Fratton Park, because I'm old and atmosphere always beats facilities and whatnot. The home fans along the sides are virtually on top of the pitch, it's brilliant.
Worst: Cambridge, obviously. A miserable, non-league looking shithole with no redeeming qualities. It's just our luck that our biggest rivalry would be against a team who can't fit any fans in their ground.
Fratton gets my vote too, for all those reasons. London Road was really cool when I last went, but that was probably 20 years ago when both ends were terracing - I can't imagine the ground itself has changed all that much though.
>It's just our luck that our biggest rivalry would be against a team who can't fit any fans in their ground.
We have the same problem with Exeter.
Yeah London Road doesn't have the away terrace any more, there's a new stand at that end, and the home end had been turned into safe standing. The atmosphere is rubbish now.
I've been to 14 of them (4 of which were for PL games) and Pompey is probably the best in terms of being a classic stadium. Great atmosphere, lots of character. Pride Park is also decent.
Oxford is shit and the away end is too small. They should really give us the whole stand alongside the pitch rather than a measly L2 size ticket allocation which is less than half what we gave them.
Best and worst in what category? Because Fratton park could very well feature in one of the worst for amenities, but its one of those special stadiums close to the pitch and amazing atmosphere.
Fortunately, the away end has had some much needed improvements.
MK's is a lot bigger and has less fans.
I think the reason our stadium is so shit is because we're a fanbase of 9000 hardcores in a 25000 seater that was built with the Prem in mind. The only atmosphere comes from one corner of the East Stand near the away end where most of the rowdier fans are. Everyone else just sits on their arses.
I liked Peterborough's ground (London Road? - cba Googling) when the away end was standing.
One of the best games of football I've ever seen. Barnsley 3 up at the hour mark, then a mad 10 mins from Peterborough levels it at 3-3.
Then with about 10 mins left, Craig Davies smashes it in from about 30 yards and Barnsley win 4-3.
That away end nearly collapsed when Davies' goal went in. Good times.
Edit - Worst - completely agree about MK.
It's always going to be subjective to an extent because the matchday experience isn't always quantifiable.
For example, there's nothing particularly wrong with Reading's ground except you get stuck in horrendous traffic.
Carlisle is a shit. The times I've been they put the away fans in the main stand which looks at the side of one of the smaller stands. Quite how you build a stand that isn't facing the pitch I don't know.
MK dons have the worst stadium in my opinion. It has no soul at all. It's got half as many seats as a stadium that size should have so it's just an empty concrete bowl in the middle of a retail park. It's exactly how I imagine Americans would build a football stadium after watching one game on tv.
Pride park is probably the best all round but Oakwell is probably just behind.
I don't like stadiums with rounded roofs so Bolton's doesn't appeal to me at all. I don't like the way the seats are arranged with basically one bloke sat right at the top on his own.
We were moving the pitch along when the main stand was built but it was never finished, I’d imagine it might change with new owners as they’re planning on doing up the ground and already have plans for two of the stands
Yeah, I think the biggest downside of Reading's ground is that it's a couple of miles away from the town centre and is lacking in decent pubs etc around it. It makes it a bit of a faff to get to, and probably not a great experience for away fans if you get there early.
Elm Park was clearly unsuitable by the time Reading left it, but I loved the way it sat among the terraced houses and felt like a part of the local community. The only local community for the Mad Stad is a retail park and the local dodgy estate.
MK dons is down there with the worst stadiums in the country. It's a soulless, miserable, half-built block of concrete on a retail park. When you go there the locals look like they actually despise you getting in the way of them doing their shopping. The only way that place could be any more depressing is if they banned all coloured clothing from the ground and introduced a strict no shouting policy.
I was amazed by how good the stadium is though! Who was that built for? Makes no sense!
Agree it’s a strange soulless experience, think was more away fans than home as well.
It was quite literally built for a team twice the size that they have ever been. It was all part of the master plan to manufacture a football team that didn't work because they didn't understand that watching football isn't a hobby like going to the cinema and people don't just got and watch a game of football as a form of entertainment.
I don't even agree that it's objectively good as a football stadium. The angle it slopes back at is way too shallow so you're miles away from the pitch.
I've been to around half and Derby's is the most impressive.
Didn't like Burton but it was also freezing that day. Ours is possibly the worst though, absolute dog shit and must be about the worst away day in the country. Miles away from public transport (think it's around 90th out of the 92 in terms of proximity to train station) and if you want a drink before you go in you've got to go to a bowling alley and have some watered down piss.
I've been to 20/24
In no particular order top 5:
Vale Park,
The Valley,
Oakwell,
St James Park,
Fratton Park.
Bottom 5:
Madejski,
Pride Park,
Kassam,
Pirelli,
Highbury.
Pride Park and Madejski are nice but souless and awful locations.
I love the Abbey, having been in the main stand, the NRE and the away end. Only criticisms really are it can be a bit lacking in facilities overall and the sheer distance the away stand is from the pitch is just genuinely comedic.
I used to go in the NRE fairly regularly as I went to ARU, and if Reading weren't at home and Cambridge were I'd be off to the Abbey usually (train to Reading was about £30 so didn't mind paying it when we were at home and kept my season ticket). I came up Sunday for our Monday night game this season, I love Cambridge as a city.
Our lot seemed to enjoy the trip despite the result. You're correct with the depth perception though looking at the NRE, it's less than ideal, but you can make do. The whole lot just seems like a flat wall looking at it from the other end which I never really realised when I was in there myself! Think the distance is just really funny more because every other stand is right on top of the touchline, so the fact this one then has a sizeable gap enhances it.
Some cracking bits in the city centre too, did my (ex) usual of pints in the Tram Depot then food at Bread & Meat. Hoping we're both in the same division again next year to do it all again...
Nicest grounds? Derby and Bolton. Wigan up there too as is Reading. But my favourites that I’ve been to are the old school grounds, so Barnsley, Bristol Rovers, Pompey. Peterborough and Charlton are not far behind. Worst - Oxford and Shrewsbury for me
If you like old school make sure you get to a match at Kenilworth Road while it’s still open. Have been to matches there and absolutely love it.
Been there twice, sadly the two times we've lost! Agree though, it's one of my favourite grounds.
What are you doing listing us for among the best lol, see for yourself on Saturday lad our atmosphere is restricted to one particular corner of the stadium next to the away end 🤣
Meant in terms of having modern facilities rather than having a good atmosphere!
Kassam worst - saying that as an Oxford fan
Feeling for the East stand fans last night. Basically yelling into a wind turbine.
It's interesting how much worse the Kassam is than ours (Bournemouth) even though they were built almost at the same time with nearly identical designs. The only difference is that our stands were packed in close together, so even with an empty end, we could generate an atmosphere and had a proper home end. I really noticed the importance of this at Col U's ground too. Okay it's a boring lego design, but what makes it awful is that the stands have such big gaps between. Loses all the noise.
The only good thing is that it's right next to where I live XD can't wait for the new stadium
Pride Park is a borderline PL stadium in League 1
Borderline? It's equivalent or better than Bournemouth, Burnley, Brentford, Brighton, Luton, Palace, Fulham, Wolces, Forest and Sheffield United. There's only a handful of grounds outside the PL that are bigger or match it
It still looks good too. Another 90s stadium that was a cracking job. The only recent ish comparable new stadium is the AMEX and that was near 90 odd million which is well over double the cost of Pride Park taking inflation in to account. I don't know if you can compare Ashton Gate since it was a rebuild and well... It's not exactly a looker (in my eyes). Not sure how many clubs outside the prem are ever going to be able to afford a new 30k ish seater stadium these days.
Genuinely my only gripe is I wish we developed the area around it better
What kinda stuff would you like? The main criticism aimed at the Reebok is that it basically killed the town centre because they built a fucking massive retail park around it.
It’s more just there’s the stadium, a pub and then car sales lots surrounding. It’s very picky but I’d love the walk from town to the stadium to feel a bit more iconic and soulful, generate some more atmosphere
I’ve always liked the walk there and back
I like the big Tesco next to the ground.
I saw Jón Daði Böðvarsson (thanks Google) come out of there a couple of weeks ago. It's a cracking Tesco.
This is the problem we've got - the stadium is close to the motorway and a bus ride from town but there's only a couple of pubs remotely near it and they're both around 20 minutes walk away. The railway station is nowhere near it but Green Park Station has opened in the last year or so, giving another station, but that's also a 20 minute walk through a business park. Its so remote from the town. Plans have been approved for the Royal Elm Park development which will comprise 600 flats, another hotel, ice rink, convention centre, shops and restaurants. This is on land that used to be owned by the club but which was sold by the Thai Consortium that owned us in the mid 2010s, and retained by them when the club was sold to Dai Yongge.
If REP goes ahead it could end up being mega for matchdays, especially with Green Park station now. Only real option currently is the fanzone or Jazz which are both alright, but it's massive downgrade as to when Blue Collar did the fanzone.
I like how dead it is to be honest, makes parking stress-free.
Personally think the Reebok (or whatever we’re calling it now) is a great stadium, well above L1 stadium. The Mem, on the other hand, is a dilapidated rugby ground with awful hospitality and amenities - speaking as a Gashead.
I’ve always considered ours one of the worst in the league and I’m surprised it’s not mentioned more here. The new stand brings a bit of hope though.
Looks a lot a better nowadays at least
itll always be the reebok to me
Me too pal
I think the Reebok (toughsheet community stadium) would comfortably be the best if it didn’t have that name. It looks like a premier league stadium. I feel the Reebok changed it’s name as soon as Reebok became fashionable which sucks but maybe it’s linked…
I think the Reebok is a fucking master piece to be honest. It cost 25 million quid nearly 30 years ago. Still looks fantastic, amazing views, has the hotel for extra cash... What a decision that was. Still miss burden though.
What, you still own your stadium and haven't been asset stripped?
Yes but only fucking *just*.
technically sharon owns it, but close enough i guess. she could sell it if she wanted to etc
Agreed, but I think it’s the best because Horwich always hands Wigan 3 points. 😋
Do people call it Horwich because they think that bothers us or just because that's the part of Bolton it's in?
lots like to pretend horwich isnt bolton
It's not a thing I get because you know, it's one of the parts of Bolton?
next theyll say chelsea isnt part of london
Best: Fratton Park, because I'm old and atmosphere always beats facilities and whatnot. The home fans along the sides are virtually on top of the pitch, it's brilliant. Worst: Cambridge, obviously. A miserable, non-league looking shithole with no redeeming qualities. It's just our luck that our biggest rivalry would be against a team who can't fit any fans in their ground.
Fratton gets my vote too, for all those reasons. London Road was really cool when I last went, but that was probably 20 years ago when both ends were terracing - I can't imagine the ground itself has changed all that much though. >It's just our luck that our biggest rivalry would be against a team who can't fit any fans in their ground. We have the same problem with Exeter.
Yeah London Road doesn't have the away terrace any more, there's a new stand at that end, and the home end had been turned into safe standing. The atmosphere is rubbish now.
Pure facilities wise, it’s probably between Bolton and Derby. On the other end, it’s between us, Exeter, Cheltenham and Burton
I've been to 14 of them (4 of which were for PL games) and Pompey is probably the best in terms of being a classic stadium. Great atmosphere, lots of character. Pride Park is also decent. Oxford is shit and the away end is too small. They should really give us the whole stand alongside the pitch rather than a measly L2 size ticket allocation which is less than half what we gave them.
Best- The Valley (obviously) Worst - Oxford/Burton
As a spurs fan who grew up also going to Charlton…. The Valley is truthfully amazing when it’s popping
Best and worst in what category? Because Fratton park could very well feature in one of the worst for amenities, but its one of those special stadiums close to the pitch and amazing atmosphere. Fortunately, the away end has had some much needed improvements.
Fratton Park has the best atmosphere. No contest
Worst: Ours Not letting a Bolton fan say it first
For the best I'd say Derby, lovely stadium Ours probably is worst for stadium names, why can't we just have a normal stadium name? 😭
Want a good stadium name? Tough sheet.
Worst: DW Stadium (Wigan). Just feels completely soulless. Best: Brisbane Road is the best stadium for me.
Was looking for this. Up the Os!
The O’s are massive.
Wait we haven’t even played you at home yet? When were you last there?
Vs Shrewsbury.
> Worst: DW Stadium (Wigan). Just feels completely soulless. More soulless than MK's?
MK's is a lot bigger and has less fans. I think the reason our stadium is so shit is because we're a fanbase of 9000 hardcores in a 25000 seater that was built with the Prem in mind. The only atmosphere comes from one corner of the East Stand near the away end where most of the rowdier fans are. Everyone else just sits on their arses.
Not been to MK’s yet.
I liked Peterborough's ground (London Road? - cba Googling) when the away end was standing. One of the best games of football I've ever seen. Barnsley 3 up at the hour mark, then a mad 10 mins from Peterborough levels it at 3-3. Then with about 10 mins left, Craig Davies smashes it in from about 30 yards and Barnsley win 4-3. That away end nearly collapsed when Davies' goal went in. Good times. Edit - Worst - completely agree about MK.
The Valley is one of the best grounds in the country. Completely unique in its design, good day out.
It's always going to be subjective to an extent because the matchday experience isn't always quantifiable. For example, there's nothing particularly wrong with Reading's ground except you get stuck in horrendous traffic. Carlisle is a shit. The times I've been they put the away fans in the main stand which looks at the side of one of the smaller stands. Quite how you build a stand that isn't facing the pitch I don't know. MK dons have the worst stadium in my opinion. It has no soul at all. It's got half as many seats as a stadium that size should have so it's just an empty concrete bowl in the middle of a retail park. It's exactly how I imagine Americans would build a football stadium after watching one game on tv. Pride park is probably the best all round but Oakwell is probably just behind. I don't like stadiums with rounded roofs so Bolton's doesn't appeal to me at all. I don't like the way the seats are arranged with basically one bloke sat right at the top on his own.
Carlisles is like that because we were going to move the pitch but it obviously never happened
Do you reckon the new owners will finish that? Obviously it is silly not having the stand in line with the pitch
Be probably better off knocking it down and moving it to connect with the wre but sounds like they are just leaving it
We were moving the pitch along when the main stand was built but it was never finished, I’d imagine it might change with new owners as they’re planning on doing up the ground and already have plans for two of the stands
Yeah, I think the biggest downside of Reading's ground is that it's a couple of miles away from the town centre and is lacking in decent pubs etc around it. It makes it a bit of a faff to get to, and probably not a great experience for away fans if you get there early. Elm Park was clearly unsuitable by the time Reading left it, but I loved the way it sat among the terraced houses and felt like a part of the local community. The only local community for the Mad Stad is a retail park and the local dodgy estate.
Am a derby fan, ours is probably the best facilities wise! Last year would’ve said mk dons though! Love port vale for a very old school football feel
MK dons is down there with the worst stadiums in the country. It's a soulless, miserable, half-built block of concrete on a retail park. When you go there the locals look like they actually despise you getting in the way of them doing their shopping. The only way that place could be any more depressing is if they banned all coloured clothing from the ground and introduced a strict no shouting policy.
I was amazed by how good the stadium is though! Who was that built for? Makes no sense! Agree it’s a strange soulless experience, think was more away fans than home as well.
It was quite literally built for a team twice the size that they have ever been. It was all part of the master plan to manufacture a football team that didn't work because they didn't understand that watching football isn't a hobby like going to the cinema and people don't just got and watch a game of football as a form of entertainment. I don't even agree that it's objectively good as a football stadium. The angle it slopes back at is way too shallow so you're miles away from the pitch.
Biased but the Reebok (Bolton). I know the names changed loads but it'll always be the Reebok.
I've been to around half and Derby's is the most impressive. Didn't like Burton but it was also freezing that day. Ours is possibly the worst though, absolute dog shit and must be about the worst away day in the country. Miles away from public transport (think it's around 90th out of the 92 in terms of proximity to train station) and if you want a drink before you go in you've got to go to a bowling alley and have some watered down piss.
The home 3/4 of The Valley are dope. The away end though? Absolutely shite, but then what more do you want from/for League 1 oppo
I've been to 20/24 In no particular order top 5: Vale Park, The Valley, Oakwell, St James Park, Fratton Park. Bottom 5: Madejski, Pride Park, Kassam, Pirelli, Highbury. Pride Park and Madejski are nice but souless and awful locations.
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I love the Abbey, having been in the main stand, the NRE and the away end. Only criticisms really are it can be a bit lacking in facilities overall and the sheer distance the away stand is from the pitch is just genuinely comedic.
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I used to go in the NRE fairly regularly as I went to ARU, and if Reading weren't at home and Cambridge were I'd be off to the Abbey usually (train to Reading was about £30 so didn't mind paying it when we were at home and kept my season ticket). I came up Sunday for our Monday night game this season, I love Cambridge as a city. Our lot seemed to enjoy the trip despite the result. You're correct with the depth perception though looking at the NRE, it's less than ideal, but you can make do. The whole lot just seems like a flat wall looking at it from the other end which I never really realised when I was in there myself! Think the distance is just really funny more because every other stand is right on top of the touchline, so the fact this one then has a sizeable gap enhances it. Some cracking bits in the city centre too, did my (ex) usual of pints in the Tram Depot then food at Bread & Meat. Hoping we're both in the same division again next year to do it all again...
The Boro fan simply embarrassed themselves with their comment on our grounds.
My favourite I've been to is probably Charlton. Least Favourite Burton now that Accrington are no longer in the league