Best: Stamford Bridge, St. Mary's, Denplan Stadium (Winchester), The Testwood Stadium (AFC Totton), Grigg Lane (Brockenhurst) Worst: The Dell (Laverstock & Ford), approximately 5 miles from civilisation; Moneyfields Sports Ground, which is miles away from the train station. Also, it backs onto the Waterloo to Portsmouth line, and when the ball ends up on the track the ball boys have been known to jump the fence ; Cams Alders Football Stadium (Fareham) Decent food and atmosphere, but the clubhouse looks like a strip joint and in a less-than-reputable location (inc. graffiti on the stadium wall, where the author boasts of receiving a first BJ); and Hayling Utd's College Ground, which is bleak, exposed, and shared with a school.
Best Veltins Arena (Schalke 04) - Awe-inspiring atmosphere, want more grounds like in the UK The New Den (Millwall) - One of the best and most underrated atmospheres in any UK ground, nice stadium too. Fratton Park (Portsmouth) - Ground's a dive, but doesn't matter with the atmosphere, incredibly good. stadium:mk (MK Dons) - Biased I know, but I love our ground and will be better when finished in Spring next year. Elland Road (Leeds) - Great history and even better atmosphere, not a great admirer of Leeds fans, but they deserve credit for the atmosphere they take with them everywhere. Worst Kenilworth Road (Luton) - Doesn't need much explanation really.. Sixfields (Northampton) - Used to be nice but seems to have gone downhill in the last 5-7 years and looked run-down in September. Glandford Park (Scunthorpe) - Just a dive, don't like the place at all.
Worst stadium Celtic park becuase it is located in the East end of Glasgow 9the east end of glasgow is a nasty dump). Best Stadium:- Meadowbank Stadium (not been to my stadia).
The Crown Ground, Accrington has to be if not the worst, the most non-league league ground I have ever been too. Best ground? Goodison. Forget the restricted views, the double decker stands are so atmospheric and keep you close to the action for such a big ground. I used to like Villa Park when the Old Trinity Road stand and Holte End were still there. Didn't go in 1993/4, but for one season when the Witton Lane stand had been extended but the Holte was still in place it was perfect. I never went in person until the mid-90s horror with the gigantic Kippax, but Maine Road with standing on the Kippax and the Old Platt lane stand seemed to have a great moody presence. The views were probably diabolical, but the rows and rows of benches under the dark roof were in their way unique in English football.
A valid reason? OK - it's placed in a shit hole. The stands are uninspiring structures that looked like they were designed by people with no imagination whatsoever. None have character, except the half a stand with a shed for a roof. In my opinion, that I'm entitled to, it's a proper shit ground.
I tend to split my views of grounds between the old and new to try to step away from the 'soul' arguments that are often thrown in. Favourite new grounds - Find it hard to split Bolton and Brighton. I think both would be widely viewed as being among the best grounds in the country if they could hold more fans. Brighton probably edges it on atmosphere in my experience, while Bolton would get the nod for the overall spectator experience. Least favourite new grounds - Probably Coventry. Nothing about my trip there makes me want to go back anytime soon. Favourite older ground - Goodison Park. The place just oozes atmosphere and heritage. Least favourite older ground - Old Trafford. I can just about accept being crippled by a lack of legroom at a ground like Luton's, but not when I've paid £40+ for the privilege in the Stretford End.
best ..sheff weds or nottingham forest worst ground.. luton, what a dirty craphole.. thought we was going into someones house! worst in ground faciluties for away fans peterboro mind you ive not been in the away section at our ground, i cant imagine that its good in there either.
luton is the worst i have been too.. wrexhams away end under the stand is shite facilities wise (but it is/was my favourite away trip) best - Goodison Park great atmosphere and for a big club its still got that traditional football club feel to it unlike so many others
Worst - Luton, just a shithole. Best - Villa Park,i was there for The FA Cup Semi-Final v Liverpool in 2001 and being a wycombe fan i wasn't used to such luxury.
Not sure if I have already contributed but **** it... Best - Wembley Worst - being non league for 8 years took us to some right shitheaps such as St Albans, Accrington, Grays, Canvey, Histon, Eastbourne, Stafford Rangers, hell the list could go on forever.
Best: Amsterdam Arena - Everything is set up so well, spacious concourses, great views and leg room and little touches including pre-paid cards for the kiosks, saves dicking about with change and quicker service. Very reasonable prices compared to over here too. Worst: Darlington - Feethams no longer with us I know but what an utter hole.
The (relatively) new Wembley is a nice ground. Terrible to get out of like, but it's not too shabby on the eye once you're in. of the new grounds that have been built I really like St Mary's and the Islington Arena a bit tasty. Worst? There's so many shite stadiums in England isn't there? I'm old enough to remember some of the old grounds (Sunderland, Bristol Rovers, Burnley, Wimbledon etc) and all I can say is thank feck they've either gone or had a massive facelift..
In the "shithole" stakes, few can match the utter dump that is Royal Antwerp's place. It has plenty of character, no denying that, but two sides of it look like they was abandoned shortly after WWII. With a bit of tarting up it'd be a classic, but it doesn't so much look dated, as carbon-dated. The main stand's "posh seats". ...yes, really. I once went to AZ Alkmaar's old place, and the gents urinal was just a metre long section of guttering. Thinking back, the away end toilets at Cardiff used to be a four sided roofless roof with no facilities at all. If you wanted a crap you had to wait until the women's was empty. On the same theme, while not a dump as such, you'd need to be pretty brave or lacking any self-consciousness to go for a slash here... (Lierse) My least favourite ground has to be Vale Park though. It looked horrible before it got a makeover in the 90s, then became the first "modernised" ground to look even older afterwards.
Celtic Park on a champions league night - nothing like it, unbelievable stuff. Went to a game in America, PPL Park. The stadium was alright, but just no atmosphere at all.
