Keeping away from the 20 best stadiums idea, which isn't far removed from the 20 biggest grounds, my favourite 20 grounds I've visited, in no order, are... Tottenham Aston Villa Liverpool Fulham Norwich Ipswich West Ham Wolves Sheffield United Derby (a bowl, but a good bowl, partly because it's usually full) Charlton Luton (a dump, but really tight and a good away end) Notts County Leyton Orient Exeter Cheltenham York Kidderminster Ebbsfleet And finally The Rec, Bath. True, it's a rugby ground, but it has to be one of the most agreeable venues in the country. Honoury mentions go to Blackpool (pre-redevelopment), Victoria Ground (Stoke), Roker Park, The Baseball Ground, The Dell and Gay Meadow, which no longer exist but would have otherwise made the list.
There is pubs around. I leave at 2.45 and I am in my seat for kick off. Also you can have a drink in the casino. Also a train station should be ready in a few years time. I don't think the Ricoh is that bad, the crowds are poor, if we ever did get promotoed to the PL or are a top end NPC club then it will be full. Us lot in the corner generate some atmosphere. Don't get me wrong, I loved the West Terrace at Highfield Road, but its gone now, and at least their are no pillars at the Ricoh.
If you want to experience the majesty of a ground with three sides, Vicarage Road is the place to be. Pretty unique in the that aspect. The whole East stand was condemned in 2008 but we still don't have enough money to demolish it or replace it. Means that all of the sound dissipates into the gaping hole where nobody is, meaning there is no atmosphere. Classic. Boleyn Ground is the best I have been to in terms of that intangible football ground feeling of excitement. Definitely my favourite. Fans are always up there own backside talking about the 'west ham way' and all the bollards, but the ground feels fantastic. A proper occasion.
You know what, I went to Vicarage Road on a Tuesday night a few seasons ago. You beat us 2-1 and it was chucking it down all night. The highlight of evening was the in-coach entertainment. They played Hear No Evil, See No Evil on the tellies (that 80's comedy with Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder). But after saying allll of that, I actually didn't find Vicarage Road that bad. I'm always biased towards older grounds, especially ones with imperfections / quirks that make them unique. If you could sort out that East side, I think it would be a tidy little ground. Also, you could do with closing up the sides of that Vicarage Road end - there was nothing at all to stop the wind blowing the rain sideways into the stand.
I'm sorry but out of all the boring bowls I've been to, the Ricoh is the hardest to get to as an away fan. Closely followed by the Keepmoat. It's up a dual carrigeway which was more or less grid locked taxi ran up to about 16 quid. Surely the should have had the common sense to build the train station while they were building the Stadium?
Haven't been to any except Loftus Road, as I am a youngster. But I know that St James' Park looks brilliant!
Nothing special about any of the stands less the condemd one where you are not allowed. Unless Watford are doing well or they are playing a big side the atmos is crap. Its my local ground league after Barnet but id never go to Watford as its frankly a complete rip off. When you look at old videos of the Rookery it looks so unusual - tragic. Why did we let them do this to our wonderfull game?
I found Anfield relatively disappointing. Admittedly I was the second row from the back of the top tier of the Anfield Road End (The furthest away from the Kop basically) and the game was a sterile 0-0 with Spurs- but there was nothing except the occasional groan- the atmosphere around me was one of incredible anxiety and you could hear naff all of what was going on in the Kop. Elland Road (I'm a Leeds fan) is probably not a great visit for the unbiased observer (see above). The Nou camp was poor- however that was only for the Joan Gamper trophy so I'll let them off- although there's never much noise in the European games when they're on telly. Not football- but the best stadium atmosphere I've experienced was at Headingley in the Rugby League World Club Challenge. It was an atmosphere for which it is allowed to use the cliche 'the atmosphere was electric...'
I thought the Emirates was brilliant when I visited for Argyle's FA Cup match against Arsenal [January 2009]- I hadn't visited a Premier League ground before, so I was amazed by the size of the whole thing. The design is also excellent. Before the match kicked off, me & my dad went up to the top tier to have a look, I wish we had got tickets for there instead, looked like a superb view!
Brightons home ground is nice, looks like there's room for extensions too. Not to sure about the stands behind the goals but the big stand almost reminds me of Stamford bridge
Only going on grounds I've been to - 5 for their history - Ellen Road (Leeds) Villa Park (Aston Villa) White Hart Lane (Tottenham) Hillsborough (Sheffield Wednesday) Boleyn Ground (West Ham) 5 for personal memories/reasons Brisbane Road (Orient) - My first ever away game. I was 7/8 and we won 2-0. Zamora tore them apart. Withdean Stadium (Brighton) - A shithole, but I saw 4 promotions there and met some of my closest mates. Whaddon Road (Cheltenham) - First away game with mates when I was 14. We came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2, scoring in the 88th minute. Gave me the away game bug. Kingfield Stadium (Woking) - Probably one of my favourite games. Flares, stolen match balls, meeting John Barnes. Loved the ground too. Galpharm Stadium (Huddersfield) - Saw us all but clinch our safety there. 2000+ Albion fans, away end exploded when Llyod Owusu scored. 5 for the away end/atmosphere London Road (Peterborough) [video=youtube;aKyUdL_NEW4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKyUdL_NEW4[/video] Vicarage Road (Watford) [video=youtube;JUJLDX_U670]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUJLDX_U670&feature=related[/video] Ashton Gate (Bristol City) [video=youtube;n46LzIHrMe4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n46LzIHrMe4&feature=related[/video] St.Mary's (Southampton) [video=youtube;Tj0S47_sgxE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj0S47_sgxE[/video] The Valley (Charlton) 5 others I just kinda like New Den (Millwall) Boundary Park (Oldham) Huish Park (Yeovil) Griffin Park (Brentford) County Ground (Swindon)
I am an old timer. I went to the old grounds in the past and back then I liked the Old Valley, Highbury and Craven Cottage, and disliked White Hart Lane, Eastville, Vicarage Road and of the tin-pot grounds, Priestfield, Fellows Park, Withdean and London Road, Peterborough, not liking the Dell, Dean Court, Selhurst Park, and most of them by today's standards. Portman Road was OK for comfort but lacked atmosphere and I was underwhelmed by Old Trafford and together with the City Ground Nottingham, the away fans were treated badly. There are more but I can't remember the names. But the questions is what are the best Championship grounds to visit this coming season? I rarely travel north of Watford though.
Etihad Emirates Stadium of light Old Trafford Stamford Bridge St James' Park Anfield Stadium Mk King Power Stadium White Hart Lane Elland Road Hillsborough Bramall Lane Valley Parade The Valley Goodison Park KC Stadium St Andrews Carrow Road City Ground
