Football Grounds

Discussion in 'Prem talk, Those Other Leagues, and International' started by HatterDon, Aug 11, 2006.

  1. HatterDon

    HatterDon Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2006
    Location:
    Peoples Republic of South Texas
    Well, here's another useless thread. It's UK fitba grounds I've visited. The higher up the list, the more often I've gone there. Here's my list; what's yours?

    Luton Town [of course; all four divisions from 1967 to 1992]
    Leeds United One of my buds had a brother who lived near there. Leeds had an American supporters club in the mid-70s. Every time I saw a match there, I was among 50-75 Yanks. One guy had a 10-gallon cowboy hat festooned with Leeds scarves and medals.
    Arsenal [Highbury] One of my other buds was Arsenal nuts. We went to several matches there because it was easy to get to [drive to Cockfosters, take the Northern line south to Arsenal. When the match was over, 98% of the people were going south and we had an easy ride north. Problem was, those were the days of the Highbury Library. I don't think I ever saw a match there with two goals scored. BOOOOORRRRRIIING!]
    Ipswich pretty friendly ground, but I was always a neutral there.
    QPR [I really liked this ground and its location. I was always treated well there.]
    Tottenham
    Fulham [either 2nd or 3rd division; can't remember]
    Derby County [Baseball Ground]
    Coventry [Highfield Road] [my one experience with Yobbos. Our coach was attacked on the way back from the match. A bobbie no bigger than 5'5" 140 lbs subdued two thugs single handed. The downside was the father and six-year-old son showered in glass.]
    Newcastle Utd [the Hatters beat the Toons in the FA cup. We were in the old 2nd division then. We walked through a crowd of angry Geordies with our heads down and our faces muffled by the same black-and-white scarves they were wearing. Got around the corner where nobody could see us, did a 70s version of the Happy Dance, and then took the train back south.
    Notts Forest [nice ground]
    Notts County [slag heap]
    Peterborough [nice town; rotten ground]
    Millwall [the original Den; scary, ugly place -- scary, ugly fans; the only time I ever wanted to leave a match early]
    Cambridge United [in the league then]
    Northampton Town [shared a ground with the country cricket team so there was one sideline with no fans.]
    Brighton and Hove Albion
    Rotherham [seemed like a good idea at the time]

    Bedford Town/Hitchin Town/Shefford [non-league]

    Anyone?
     
    #1
    HatterDon, Aug 11, 2006
  2. BC

    BC New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2006
    Location:
    Decatur, IL
    That's quite a list! I've only been to Pittodrie in Aberdeen. It is a great ground and from the pictures I've seen, it seems similar in style to the Cottage. I'll always remember Pittodrie fondly for I attended my first professional football match there.
     
    #2
    BC, Aug 12, 2006
  3. Martin-in-Nashville

    Martin-in-Nashville New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2005
    Location:
    Smyrna TN

    WOW and you never got to Baldock Town FC I'm amazed?
     
    #3
    Martin-in-Nashville, Aug 12, 2006
  4. ChicagoTom

    ChicagoTom Administrator

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2004
    Location:
    Chicago
    RE: Re: Football Grounds

    I have been to a few grounds in England. Not necessarily to matches there, but inside for tours and such. Here is my brief list which I hope to expand in October while in England. For those going on the trip, I am thinking about leaving Chicago on Monday night, watching Fulham's third round Carling Cup match on either Tuesday or Wednesday and then going another Carling Cup match the opposite day somewhere in England. So, if anyone wants to partake in this, let me know.

    Anyways, here is my list:

    Craven Cottage - Fulham

    Selhurst Park - Crystal Palace, the groundskeeper at the stadium let my brother and I run around on the pitch the day before Manchester United was visiting in 2005. It was sweet and the way we were treated by said groundskeeper and all at the club we ran into that day is the reason I like Palace.

    Highbury - Arsenal, once again, we convinced a guard to let us in the stadium. We did not get on the pitch, but we were able to walk around in the stands and take some photos.

    White Hart Lane - Tottenham, it was an interesting trip to North London for my brother and I. I will say this, the neighborhood Fulham is in, is much, much, much different than that of White Hart Lane. It is a nice ground. We walked around and it was relatiively quiet at the time.

    Stamford Bridge - Chelsea, with it being so close to Fulham, I went over and checked out the stadium. It is nothing special.
     
    #4
    ChicagoTom, Aug 12, 2006
  5. HatterDon

    HatterDon Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2006
    Location:
    Peoples Republic of South Texas
    My gooseness! A clanger.

    No, I never did; but I did get to Wembley once which is pretty much the same, right? :D
     
    #5
    HatterDon, Aug 12, 2006
  6. Martin-in-Nashville

    Martin-in-Nashville New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2005
    Location:
    Smyrna TN
    RE: Re: Football Grounds

    NO Baldock was much Better, You surprise me you didnt because it was owned by the Chaliss family that's why.
     
    #6
    Martin-in-Nashville, Aug 12, 2006
  7. HatterDon

    HatterDon Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2006
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    Peoples Republic of South Texas
    RE: Re: Football Grounds

    Drawing a blank on the Chaliss family, pard.
     
    #7
    HatterDon, Aug 12, 2006
  8. Martin-in-Nashville

    Martin-in-Nashville New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2005
    Location:
    Smyrna TN
    RE: Re: Football Grounds

    I thought you supported Luton, Challis was the Chairman of both Luton and Baldock
     
    #8
    Martin-in-Nashville, Aug 13, 2006
  9. kwdawson

    kwdawson New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2005
    Location:
    Spring Hill, Florida
    RE: Re: Football Grounds

    Im only 21, so I havent been to a game in England yet.
     
    #9
    kwdawson, Aug 13, 2006
  10. Martin-in-Nashville

    Martin-in-Nashville New Member

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2005
    Location:
    Smyrna TN
    Re: RE: Re: Football Grounds


    Just go to Craven Cottage when you get the chance, you wont want to go anywhere else.
     
    #10
    Martin-in-Nashville, Aug 13, 2006
  11. HatterDon

    HatterDon Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2006
    Location:
    Peoples Republic of South Texas
    Re: RE: Re: Football Grounds

    paid little attention to the Chairmen. They kept changing over time. The only board member I every paid attention to was Eric Morcambe!
     
    #11
    HatterDon, Aug 13, 2006
  12. americanmike

    americanmike Administrator

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2004
    RE: Re: RE: Re: Football Grounds

    My Short List (In Order):

    Loftus Road: Where I watched my first two Fulham matches and I still got hooked. Looks like a giant tin box.

    Craven Cottage: I get the chills everytime I see the Cottage

    The Valley: Charlton's ground and site of my first away match. Nice stadium

    Upton Park: West Ham, crap ground in one of the worst areas in London. NASTY.

    Old Trafford: Every English person I speak to thinks this ground is amazing but to the average American, it won't look like anything special. Especially if you're used to NFL stadiums. Too modern to have much character but impressive in size.

    Villa Park: Nice stadium and fairly large, with a nice brick outface but in Birmingham...need I say more.

    Sunderland: Huge stadium with very loud fans but again, not much character on the outside and in the middle of nowhere!
     
    #12
    americanmike, Aug 13, 2006
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