Memory Lane Favourite away grounds (including ex-Grounds)

[Lost Marbles]

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!

I thought The Valley was my first away ground (a 2-0 loss in October 1996), but it turns out my Grandpa, who was a QPR fan, had already taken me to Loftus Road in August 1996. We lost that one too, 2-1.

 

[Kernow Yellow]

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

I wouldn't describe Layer Road as soulless at all. A bit of a shithole maybe, with a terrible view from the away end, but with a certain ramshackle charm. Their new ground might be soulless, but we've never played there so I don't know how people have much of an opinion on that as an 'away ground'?

Very perplexed by the love for Nene Park above - the definition of a soulless ground, on the outskirts of a soulless town, in a completely soulless part of the world, with one very s**t pub a fair walk away, nowhere near a railway station, and hosting a made-up football club! It takes all sorts I suppose.

 

[Boris]

My first away game was at that place down the A420. We lost 3-0 as per. 11-year-old me was slightly shocked that on the train from Didcot all the windows were put through and most of the fixtures and fittings were, erm, displaced. The train journey home was equally interesting, albeit there was nothing left to damage.

 

[Boris]

but we've never played there so I don't know how people have much of an opinion on that as an 'away ground'?

I saw us play there about five or six years ago.

Admittedly it was an FA Youth Cup game. I gave Chris Allen a lift, which was fun as he regaled me with tales of his football career. Difficult to judge whether the ground was soulless or not as there was no one there because Covid.

 

[dickwalton1964]

Best away ground in the Championship was Norwich, Middlesbrough or Bristol City. I also liked Watford too but playing Friday night might have enhanced that opinion. Worst grounds - take your pick from QPR (is their a worse ground anywhere?) or Southampton - flat atmosphere, bloody nightmare to get to and out of, tired and faded looking ground and without a doubt the biggest away ground disappointment in the Championship. Honourable mentions for Turf Moor and Plymouth too.

Elsewhere, I always maintain Old Trafford is the most breath taking arena, it's the one where when you catch sight walking up the steps you get a real wow factor! I don't know about the roof and stuff, the leaks and all that but first impressions that ground is awesome. Tottenham is very good too but I've only done corporate there, fantastic view and comfort though.

 

[Peterdev]

No one I think has mentioned Wycombe. Awful place to get in and out

 

[Yellowmike]

Crewe Alex away in the 1996 season was special, we realized the away end would be packed and turned up early, 1600 Oxford fans in the ground before the first crewe came in and got the biggest cheer sh1t himself and walked out, after our 2-1 win the biggest cheer was when Blackpool lost 2-1.

St Albans away was cracking as well

 

[sideshowrob]

'We can see you sneeking in!' was the chant.

 

[Boris]

Crewe Alex away in the 1996 season was special, we realized the away end would be packed and turned up early, 1600 Oxford fans in the ground before the first crewe came in and got the biggest cheer sh1t himself and walked out, after our 2-1 win the biggest cheer was when Blackpool lost 2-1.

St Albans away was cracking as well

30 years later and I still can't believe Crewe didn't make it all ticket

 

[holdsteady]

Best away ground in the Championship was Norwich, Middlesbrough or Bristol City. I also liked Watford too but playing Friday night might have enhanced that opinion. Worst grounds - take your pick from QPR (is their a worse ground anywhere?) or Southampton - flat atmosphere, bloody nightmare to get to and out of, tired and faded looking ground and without a doubt the biggest away ground disappointment in the Championship. Honourable mentions for Turf Moor and Plymouth too.

Elsewhere, I always maintain Old Trafford is the most breath taking arena, it's the one where when you catch sight walking up the steps you get a real wow factor! I don't know about the roof and stuff, the leaks and all that but first impressions that ground is awesome. Tottenham is very good too but I've only done corporate there, fantastic view and comfort though.

Southampton is a pice of p**s if you go in by train and easily walkable from the city centre, guessing you drove?

 

[mickbrownsconscience]

Gateshead was weird. One time we sat right at the top of the athletics stand and we were so far from the pitch that it was like watching from space. Ryan Clarke was warming up at the far end and when he waved to us he looked like a matchstick man.

 

[mickbrownsconscience]

Similarly, does anyone remember the old East Bank at The Valley? It held nearly 50,000 and it was a point of honour to climb to the top before kick off. We were then nearly as far from the pitch as at Gateshead. It started crumbling apart in the mid 1970s and the top got closed off.

 

[SteMerritt]

Similarly, does anyone remember the old East Bank at The Valley? It held nearly 50,000 and it was a point of honour to climb to the top before kick off. We were then nearly as far from the pitch as at Gateshead. It started crumbling apart in the mid 1970s and the top got closed off.

I can remember seeing it when we played there in '85 (the 3-3 draw), the bank was massive, and completely out of use. That game must have been one of the last ones at The Valley before they left.

 

[Marked Ox]

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

No longer do that. The owner decided to do the food themselves. Bog standard football fare from what I've heard.

 

[Thomas/Brock/Jones]

My first away game was at Elm Park in the FACup 83/84 season ....quite a crazy day for an 10 year old to experience !

 

[Basham Wonderland]

Best away ground in the Championship was Norwich, Middlesbrough or Bristol City. I also liked Watford too but playing Friday night might have enhanced that opinion. Worst grounds - take your pick from QPR (is their a worse ground anywhere?) or Southampton - flat atmosphere, bloody nightmare to get to and out of, tired and faded looking ground and without a doubt the biggest away ground disappointment in the Championship. Honourable mentions for Turf Moor and Plymouth too.

Elsewhere, I always maintain Old Trafford is the most breath taking arena, it's the one where when you catch sight walking up the steps you get a real wow factor! I don't know about the roof and stuff, the leaks and all that but first impressions that ground is awesome. Tottenham is very good too but I've only done corporate there, fantastic view and comfort though.

Old Trafford? Both Goodison and Stamford Bridge are surely more impressive? Anfield and Villa park are also more impressive IMO. Spurs also better.

I'd put Old Trafford on par with The Etihad and The Emirates - no character but lots of seats.

 

[Jimmycarterxi]

Crewe Alex away in the 1996 season was special, we realized the away end would be packed and turned up early, 1600 Oxford fans in the ground before the first crewe came in and got the biggest cheer sh1t himself and walked out, after our 2-1 win the biggest cheer was when Blackpool lost 2-1.

St Albans away was cracking as well

Crewe away was surreal. Packed out away end before a single Crewe fan turned up. Great day

 

[Marked Ox]

Old Trafford? Both Goodison and Stamford Bridge are surely more impressive? Anfield and Villa park are also more impressive IMO. Spurs also better.

I'd put Old Trafford on par with The Etihad and The Emirates - no character but lots of seats.

Villa Park in the 90s was excellent. Particularly when on the side and getting a reaction from Steve Staunton which was amusing. We only kept asking him how his knee was.

Liked Plainmoor, always seemed to be t-shirt weather, even in December.

Hartlepool was a lovely surprise as the area by the ground was really nice.

Liked Feethams, bit like the Manor, ramshackle but atmospheric.

 

[Beech Road Bokelberg]

The first biggest away stadium i visited as a 10 year old was Tottenham away in the cup when we lost 4-2. Was really impressed with the stadium but probably more impressed seeing 5,000 Oxford fans there!

I always liked Forest too, visiting twice in the 90s.

Not a good stadium, but I'm giving Cambridge a shout when Mike Ford scored both in a 2-2 draw!

 

[DanC]

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

We do win there a lot. But they always win at ours which offsets it. Their fans are great too.

 

[DanC]

Excellent thread, thanks everyone. I've been to over 100 grounds watching Oxford (and occasionally Hull City and Haringey Borough) and you've filled in loads of details I'd forgotten about.

Here's a direct link to our stadium chat with author Giles Goford.

 

[Jakeyboy13]

Fellows Park Walsall was a great ground for me....5 visits 5 wins for us....love it.

 

[Berliner]

I always liked Bramall Lane, whether with OUFC or otherwise. Proper ground with a proper atmosphere.

Darlington had its charm as well, as some have mentioned. And York was always a good day out (the new ground is nice as well, incidentally).

In terms of lower leagues, Crook Town was one that sticks out from younger days.

 

[dickwalton1964]

Old Trafford? Both Goodison and Stamford Bridge are surely more impressive? Anfield and Villa park are also more impressive IMO. Spurs also better.

I'd put Old Trafford on par with The Etihad and The Emirates - no character but lots of seats.

Stamford Bridge !!!! You have to be joking, how anyone can have that opinion is astounding. 37,000 more seats at OT for a start. Each to their own of course but I felt a wow factor going into OT and the only ground beating that for me was the Nou Camp before the makeover. Wembley well down the list.

 

[dickwalton1964]

I always liked Bramall Lane, whether with OUFC or otherwise. Proper ground with a proper atmosphere.

Darlington had its charm as well, as some have mentioned. And York was always a good day out (the new ground is nice as well, incidentally).

In terms of lower leagues, Crook Town was one that sticks out from younger days.

I hated Bramall Lane. A nothing ground for me. Dead atmosphere, cold, dreary area.

 

[Marked Ox]

I always liked Bramall Lane, whether with OUFC or otherwise. Proper ground with a proper atmosphere.

Darlington had its charm as well, as some have mentioned. And York was always a good day out (the new ground is nice as well, incidentally).

In terms of lower leagues, Crook Town was one that sticks out from younger days.

Bramall Lane was particularly good when Paul Gerrard made that save and Nicky Banger scored the winner.

 

[Berliner]

Bramall Lane was particularly good when Paul Gerrard made that save and Nicky Banger scored the winner.

Indeed, absolute limbs on that one!

 

[sideshowrob]

The first biggest away stadium i visited as a 10 year old was Tottenham away in the cup when we lost 4-2. Was really impressed with the stadium but probably more impressed seeing 5,000 Oxford fans there!

I always liked Forest too, visiting twice in the 90s.

Not a good stadium, but I'm giving Cambridge a shout when Mike Ford scored both in a 2-2 draw!

That FA Cup game at White Hart Lane was a great game. The only thing that spoilt it for me slightly was that I met up with up with some other family members who had bought tickets at a different time. We hadn't realised that despite the away end being all standing it was separated into different pens so we couldn't stand together ot meet up after the game (being before the age of the affordable mobile phone).

 

[SirAndyOfCrosby]

Each to their own of course but I felt a wow factor going into OT

Yes, but you were realising a childhood dream in doing so.

 

[NorthWestOx]

Of the Championship grounds I went to, I thought the Hawthorns was very good.
Not too big, and created a very good atmosphere.
The food at The Vine was worth a very early start too.