Memory Lane Favourite away grounds (including ex-Grounds)

[DanC]

In our latest episode, we get sort of nostalgic about the football grounds of the 80s and 90s (including the Manor, obvs) ... but what are or were your favourites to visit?

For me, I've always loved Fratton Park, I adored Hillsborough (although I felt real sadness when realising we were going to sit in Leppings Lane), and Boothferry Park and Highbury will always be places I remember for sentimental reasons.

I was also utterly bewildered by the state of St Andrews and Molineux in the 1980s, which were utterly decrepit.

I've also loved Aggborough, the Dripping Pan, Carlisle with it's weird misplaced stand, and even secretly quite like Kenilworth Road, although I've mostly had bad results there.

Anyway, have a watch of our podcast with football writer Giles Goford who visited all 92 in 1988 and 1989 with his Dad. And get all nostalgic either here, or better still in the comments of our YouTube.

 

[Lost Marbles]

Just counting grounds ive been to:

Gone but not forgotten: apart from the Manor it has to be Gay Meadow. The setting was incredible.

New build: I really like the Stadium of Light. The crowds crossing the huge bridge over the Wear. Walking into the stand and being half way up.

Traditional: I can't say Fratton Park because the away end is just rubbish. I really liked the look of Brunton Park, feels like it's hardly changed in 50 years.

 

[SteMerritt]

Good to see The Baseball Ground mentioned, I have been there a couple of times to watch Oxford (one draw, one loss) - a great old-fashioned football stadium. And I was also at the Arsenal 0-0 game mentioned in the podcast - yeah it was a bit of a bore draw, and the thing that stood out most for me was how dilapidated the Clock End was, we were in the corner of that stand. Twerton Park is also one I've been to, we won the game there, it was reminiscent of the Conference years really but a Championship game being played instead of non-league.

Only ground that springs to mind that wasn't mentioned is Filbert Street. Probably aided by one of the best OUFC away league wins I've seen, the atmosphere in the ground was electric. And there was just the right level of 'menace' in the atmosphere to make it feel like an epic 'us vs them' win.

 

[Basham Wonderland]

Probably Bradford City

With my objective hat on, I would genuinely say the Kassan, Wigan and Shrewsbury are tied for worst away ground. No charm whatsoever.

 

[holdsteady]

I think how the game went plays a part, affects your memory of a place, always hard for me to separate a ground completely from surroundings such as ease of travel, nearness to pubs etc as well.

But the two or three mentioned above stand out, I liked Upton Park the one time I went there. Hull and Blackpool's grounds were pretty terrible for away fans on open terraces before one was knocked down and the other redeveloped but they kind of fitted in with the overall ascetic of being by the sea in those towns.

 

[joshua]

Yorks old ground

 

[OUFCGav]

my fav away grounds are heavily influenced by experiences from particular matches:
Leyton Orient in 1984. Last away game of promotion season. full open terrace behind goal, substantial part of the stand/terrace on one side. Packed, celebratory. Mick Vinter and John Aldridge goals.
Man City in 1985. Kippax, 3-0 win. Amazing atmosphere despite small crowd. Great day despite the police lining us up and walking police horses along the line and almost getting toes broken due to hoof on foot.
Carlisle 2016 - bit of a shock in town seeing the damage still there from floods, but nothing could stop the amazing feeling of seeing yellow everywhere. filling the away terrace, and the weird offset stand on the side.

Others for the ground in general:
Villa Park
St James Park Newcastle
St James Park Exeter

Least favourite:
Charlton, always scared by coach bricking in 80s
Birmingham City, always been a pit.
QPR - should be good, but somehow always just a pain.

 

[Boris]

Apart from the King Power, which is more like a home ground I think one of my favourites is Hartlepool. From the press box you can see over the opposite stand and watch container ships and tankers manoeuvring around the harbour and out to sea, with cranes and ships' rigging in the foreground. The actual stadium is a bit of a dump though.

Also like the press box at Newcastle - low down and right behind the dugouts. Morecambe's also had a great view, right on the half way line. Although possibly the most fun was at Barnet's new ground, where we were sat right next to the home dugout and enjoyed much friendly banter with Martin Allen!

Grounds I've been to as a spectator that have made their mark on my unreliable memory include Brentford's Griffin Park (and not just because of the pub on each corner), Plymouth, and Carlisle. Have to say, though, that it's hard not to look at the whole day out rather than just the stadium, so Shrewsbury's Gay Meadow was always a good one - I don't think I ever went there sober, and I used to love going to places like Vale Park, Accrington, and Barnet's old ground, just for the vibes.

Having said that, the first ground I ever went to and which was (apart from the Manor) my favourite, was Filbert Street.

 

[East Stand Fan]

I quite like Nottingham Forest away because it’s a ground that has a belting atmosphere, you are close to the pitch and it hasn’t changed much in the last 30-odd years. Unfortunately our paths have evaded each other and we are stuck with Notts County!

 

[Kernow Yellow]

St James' Park at Newcastle stands out as a proper old 'big' ground - it's changed hugely over the years, and the away end is miles from the action, but the setting is superb so close to the city centre.
Fratton Park and Kenilworth Road have bags of character. The opening-day 4-1 at Pompey remains one of my favourite ever football days. Portman Road has something about it too.

Of those we've lost, as well as the Manor, the Baseball Ground and Upton Park were great.

I generally don't have much time for newer build stadiums, but Rotherham impressed me as a compact town-centre ground, and I have absolutely loved my two trips to the King Power - for the pubs of Leicester as much as the famous away wins in front of big crowds.

The real individual character is at the smaller grounds. Over the years I have enjoyed the following off the top of my head:

SJP (Exeter - now there is a roof on the away end), Griffin Park (Brentford), Feethams (Darlington), The Rec (Aldershot), York Street (Boston), Plainmoor (Torquay), Edgar Street (Hereford)...

Too many to list really. Some places like the Memorial Ground are crap as an away fan, but would be great as a Gashead on that terrace behind the goal. Others are just crap all round (Sixfields, Rushden, Salisbury etc). But that's the joy of going to away games - I feel I know the towns and cities of England so much better than I would otherwise.

 

[Carlislehotdog]

I will miss the old York ground if we ever find ourselves in the same tier as them again. A long old train trip up there, but then a great city for beers (starting right on the platform), a short walk to the ramshackle shitheap and then a quick stride over the bridge on the way back.

Kenilworth Road's somehow even less than the sum of its parts, it feels like it ought to be a classic old-school experience but these days I struggle to get over the crap view and crap seats.

 

[Orkney Islands Yellow]

One of the best away grounds I've been to was Rushden and Diamonds! Great stadium that was finished to a spec we can only dream of at the Kassam.

A very underated stadium which doesn't even exist anymore!

 

[SSU1965]

Goodison Park had a great vibe. I saw Oxford play there a few times and the atmosphere was always excellent. The FA Cup tie against Middlesbrough was particularly memorable. It felt like football from the old days, especially when Oxford scored the second goal and the celebrations descended into complete mayhem.

I also enjoyed Brentford's old ground, as well as Selhurst Park and Coventry's Highfield Road.

I'd add Villa Park to the list too, although your view depended very much on where you were. Standing behind the goal in the 1980s provided a pretty poor view of the game, whereas the North Stand seats were superb. Regardless of where you watched from, the atmosphere was always brilliant.

I think Villa and Everton supporters are quite similar in many ways. Both sets of fans are incredibly passionate and really do act as a 12th man for their team, creating an atmosphere that can make a genuine difference on matchday.

 

[Foxy]

my fav away grounds are heavily influenced by experiences from particular matches:
Leyton Orient in 1984. Last away game of promotion season. full open terrace behind goal, substantial part of the stand/terrace on one side. Packed, celebratory. Mick Vinter and John Aldridge goals.
Man City in 1985. Kippax, 3-0 win. Amazing atmosphere despite small crowd. Great day despite the police lining us up and walking police horses along the line and almost getting toes broken due to hoof on foot.
Carlisle 2016 - bit of a shock in town seeing the damage still there from floods, but nothing could stop the amazing feeling of seeing yellow everywhere. filling the away terrace, and the weird offset stand on the side.

Others for the ground in general:
Villa Park
St James Park Newcastle
St James Park Exeter

Least favourite:
Charlton, always scared by coach bricking in 80s
Birmingham City, always been a pit.
QPR - should be good, but somehow always just a pain.

I remember being at that Man City game in 1985, yes a 3-0 win, with us sat behind the goal, all 50 of us? The smallest amount I remember us ever taking away. And that was in the old First Division, only a year after we took over 3000 there as well in the 2nd Division.

 

[Royalstandard74]

I liked kidderminster ground, they did a cracking shepherd pie.

 

[Peterdev]

Best ones for me
Ipswich…been there many times. Good atmosphere and nice fans.
Aston Villa, great day out, good fans and wonderful atmosphere. Attractive ground.
West Ham..Upton Park sure had atmosphere.
Not been to Manchester. Been to Liverpool, many of the fans go to both Everton and Liverpool. Decent people.
Chelmsford City, New Writtle Street. Although non league had a great atmosphere when over 6000, against Cambridge and Hereford in the 60s and 70s. When they played Ipswich 16000 including myself crammed in.

 

[MarkG]

I have a soft spot for these grounds
Aldershot, Southend, Luton - great atmosphere with barrel shaped roof over the stand.
Grounds with traditional terracing rather than "rail standing": Carlisle, Kettering, Accrington, Hayes and Yeading, Accrington.
Modern terracing like Burton, Morecambe
Quirky grounds like St Albans with a tree in the terrace?, Histon which when I first went, had a drop down fence panel along one side for a kebab van to pull up, Lewes and the Dripping Pan. Palm trees at Eastbourne.
Home fans' traditions: the air raid siren at AFC Sudbury, the guys with the bell at Grays, changing ends at half time at Tonbridge Angels.
Grounds with a view: Merthyr Tydfil looking over the valley, Northwich Victoria with the industrial plant looming over it, Tamworth and the ski centre, Dumbarton with only one stand , one of the Scottish pre-seasons with a huge crane over the Clyde.
Great food : Kidderminster obviously , Burton for faggots and gravy and mushy peas, Sunderland parmo, Woking amazing baps.

 

[tim lane]

I’ve no idea why, but I’ve always enjoyed visiting Bristol Rovers.

 

[windmill]

I have a soft spot for these grounds
Aldershot, Southend, Luton - great atmosphere with barrel shaped roof over the stand.
Grounds with traditional terracing rather than "rail standing": Carlisle, Kettering, Accrington, Hayes and Yeading, Accrington.
Modern terracing like Burton, Morecambe
Quirky grounds like St Albans with a tree in the terrace?, Histon which when I first went, had a drop down fence panel along one side for a kebab van to pull up, Lewes and the Dripping Pan. Palm trees at Eastbourne.
Home fans' traditions: the air raid siren at AFC Sudbury, the guys with the bell at Grays, changing ends at half time at Tonbridge Angels.
Grounds with a view: Merthyr Tydfil looking over the valley, Northwich Victoria with the industrial plant looming over it, Tamworth and the ski centre, Dumbarton with only one stand , one of the Scottish pre-seasons with a huge crane over the Clyde.
Great food : Kidderminster obviously , Burton for faggots and gravy and mushy peas, Sunderland parmo, Woking amazing baps.

Hastings United 1960. Nice high terrace along the side with good view over the town, facing the sea. Regulation victory 3-2. Unusual for any game to be so close that season.

 

[Didcotox]

Probably Bradford City

With my objective hat on, I would genuinely say the Kassan, Wigan and Shrewsbury are tied for worst away ground. No charm whatsoever.

You’d have to include Colchester in that list of soulless venues.

 

[SteMerritt]

I'd add Villa Park to the list too, although your view depended very much on where you were. Standing behind the goal in the 1980s provided a pretty poor view of the game, whereas the North Stand seats were superb.

I have only visited Villa Park the once, back for the Milk Cup Semi in 1986, and the view was pretty poor from what I remember, which is why I didn't include it. Similar for The Dell, which I'm sure the away terrace was lower than the pitch and you were looking up at the action.

 

[East Stand Fan]

Probably Bradford City

With my objective hat on, I would genuinely say the Kassan, Wigan and Shrewsbury are tied for worst away ground. No charm whatsoever.

It's definitely a terrible away day especially in terms of travel, entertainment and having 3 stands but I was quite surprised at how much positive feedback we got over the past two years in the Championship. A big selling point is that we sold out practically every game. Wigan only need one stand open in all honesty and Shrewsbury is a miserable place to go even in beautiful weather. As said above, Colchester is another dismal venue with empty seats galore. Selling out can make such a difference as Exeter and Lincoln find.

 

[OUFCGav]

I have only visited Villa Park the once, back for the Milk Cup Semi in 1986, and the view was pretty poor from what I remember, which is why I didn't include it. Similar for The Dell, which I'm sure the away terrace was lower than the pitch and you were looking up at the action.

The Dell away terrace was around waist height at pitch level from memory. And it always used to flood.

 

[Londonroader1]

The Goldstone ground and our 3-0 win there many, many years ago. We were all made to take off our 'Bovver boots' before entering if I remember correctly.
OUFCX

 

[Whingit]

Rushden gets my vote. Stamford Bridge is a great stadium also.

 

[SteMerritt]

The Goldstone ground and our 3-0 win there many, many years ago. We were all made to take off our 'Bovver boots' before entering if I remember correctly.
OUFCX

Yeah I liked the Goldstone Ground as well. We drew both times I visited, one in our Division 2 promotion season 1984/5 - 0-0 and I believe David Langan got sent off. Second time was mid 90s, drew 1-1, think Moods got the goal.

 

[windmill]

Yeah I liked the Goldstone Ground as well. We drew both times I visited, one in our Division 2 promotion season 1984/5 - 0-0 and I believe David Langan got sent off. Second time was mid 90s, drew 1-1, think Moods got the goal.

A good post match running battle in the park opposite

 

[Jster]

Loved the fact that Matt mentioned that 1992 match at the Valley. It was my first ever away game, and I remember that Fordy goal all too well!

 

[Essexyellows]

Fratton Park
Portman Road
Goodison
White Hart Lane
Highbury
Baseball Ground
Filbert Street
Griffin Park
Villa Park
St Andrews

Plenty more...............

 

[SteMerritt]

Loved the fact that Matt mentioned that 1992 match at the Valley. It was my first ever away game, and I remember that Fordy goal all too well!

My first ever away game was away at The Den (the old one) in 1983/4 - quite why dad decided that Millwall was the first game he would take me to I have no idea. The walk up to the ground, the home fans right next to the away support giving throat slitting gestures... I'd never seen anything like that before. Then Oxford scored in the first few minutes and the atmosphere went up a notch... Luckily our boys managed to lose the game 2-1 in the end, would have been interesting getting back to the car had we won!