The main stand at Elm Park

[Behindu]

Was Inglis not commenting architecturally rather than 'emotionally'. There is no way he could visit all 92 grounds and see them in different conditions to assess the way they 'felt' to the locals. He was an outsider considering the merit of the structures, the amount of 'interest' in the fabric. I loved EP, but there was little to point out to a visitor if you toured the empty ground:

- the rust of the roof
- the fenced off part of the town end
- the clock over the Southbank
- the mosaic in the entrance hall
- the smell of the urinals

[Bowman's Quiver]

Was Inglis not commenting architecturally rather than 'emotionally'. There is no way he could visit all 92 grounds and see them in different conditions to assess the way they 'felt' to the locals. He was an outsider considering the merit of the structures, the amount of 'interest' in the fabric. I loved EP, but there was little to point out to a visitor if you toured the empty ground:

- the rust of the roof
- the fenced off part of the town end
- the clock over the Southbank
- the mosaic in the entrance hall
- the smell of the urinals

I might be wrong but wasn't Inglis a reporter on the Reading Evening Post in the 70's and covered RFC in much the same way Baskerville and Ive have done since? If I'm right he wasn't so much of an outsider.

[Mad Dog's Ghost]

Don't recall him being a local reporter Bowman. Not sure he's quite old enough to have been working in the 70s. Think he's got an architechtural background. He's a brummie and supports Villa I think. Really love his books as I am a bit of a football ground anorak. Sightlines is good read.

He's still wrong about Elm Park though!

[RoyalBlue]

A Brummie lecturing us on 'interesting'?!!

[Dirk Gently]

Simon Inglis grew up going to the Trinity Road Stand at Villa Park - an outstanding Leitch masterpiece (before Doug Eilis had it demolished )



On that score alone I trust his judgement.

Elm Park was a run-down, faceless, undistinguished and pretty anonymous ground - the important thing is that it was OUR run-down, faceless, undistinguished and pretty anonymous ground.

We loved it for what happened there - surely no-one could argue it had an historical or architectural merit?

[RoyalBlue]

But the least interesting of all 92 league grounds?

Surely someone can think of a ground that was of even less interest than Elm Park?!

[Only one Trevor Morley]

But the least interesting of all 92 league grounds?

Surely someone can think of a ground that was of even less interest than Elm Park?!

Gillingham?

[Dai Brainbocs]

No, Gillingham had a really quaint old stand which I think at the time Simon Inglis's first book came out was the oldest in the country at a league ground.

[Behindu]

Atone point we had the largest terrace of any club in the entire country....

Does Swindon's ground have anything interesting about it ?

[paultheroyal]

Oxford's old ground is the only stadium i know with about 20 different stands!!

[Dirk Gently]

Atone point we had the largest terrace of any club in the entire country....

Does Swindon's ground have anything interesting about it ?

The magic rounabout nearby?

[Norfolk Royal]

Used to have a freebie season ticket in 'A' stand (before it became an 'away' section) through my junior sunday side and loved it. The only other people in there were very senior supporters who all seemed to smoke pipes or cigars. I like Simon Inglis's work but his assessment of Elm Park was very harsh. No other terrace shaped quite like the Tilehurst End, Southbank offered a good view, shelter (and atmosphere, on its day/evening) and the Norfolk Road Stand was a 20s(?) classic, again with good views and decent capacity.

And in its later days, it had proper floodlights on damn great pylons which you could see from miles. You don't get 'em like that any more.

Fully agree with your assessment and not that of Simon Inglis. I am now looking up at an oil painting on my wall, which shows those very same floodlights cutting through the dark night and illuminating the Norfolk Road stand (complete with post Valley Parade fire exit) on a typical winter's midweek match. Maybe we are just blind romantics but I thought Elm Park had fantastic character and atmosphere on those sort of evenings.

Who else can remember the 'old gits' of the centre section offering match officials free cups of tea and other fluids as a reward

[Behindu]

Oxford's old ground is the only stadium i know with about 20 different stands!!

Watford was similar, haven;t been for a while but the side that hdan;t been rebuilt still had a few different stands last time I was there...