Worst Football League Ground in the Country?

[Green]

JJB Stadium

[AbovetheI]

Turf Moor

[Schards#2]

For the experience, i'd have to go with The Ricoh Arena. Whilst it obviously has better facilities than the older stadiums it is the most soulless ground I've ever been to and also one that is an absolute pain in the arse to get to. It has a morgue like atmosphere though it prolly didn't help that both games I've been to there have been numbingly tedious 0-0's

[Dave the rave]

Even a broken down ramshackle wreck like Luton has some identifying features and some character (like walking out through someone's house) and some soul.

Another person reminiscing. I'm sorry but Luton is an absolute dump of a ground. Can't wait for the identifying features part! Saying that I rather follow Luton rather than Darlington..it's the saddest ground in England.

What part of "broken down ramshackle wreck" suggests that I think Luton isn't a dump of a ground?

What part of "like walking out through someone's house" isn't an identifying feature of it? Did you actually read my post?

But in my book a ground that's unique, even one that's falling down, is far more interesting than a pristine new ground that looks exactly the same as all the other new grounds.

Any examples?

It's oft said about the Madstad being an identikit stadium but a lot of the old grounds were built on the same principles as the old grounds that preceded them.
Look at Elm park and Greenock Morten. Nothing's changed except building materials/designs.
If that means that our new stadium is going to last 500 years then that's ok by me. Welcome to steel construction, people.
If that means stadiums are going to resemble (shock horror) other stadiums it's ok because that's the way of things.
It will gain its own charm over time. Like all grounds.

[Alexander Litvinenko]

When I posted it I nearly added a PS that as the majority of old grounds were Leitch designed or in that image, then there was a uniformity there, although things like different gables and the tendency to build and extend stands at different times did lead to diversity and take away for the standard design.

But with a concrete, all-round bowl there are fewer development options available. All you can really do it decorate it a bit, like Leicester have done with the hangings from the roof showing past players - I love those!

[Jerry St Clair]

Saying that I rather follow Luton rather than Darlington..it's the saddest ground in England.

Darlington FC died, and have been replaced by Darlington 1883. They now play at Heritage Park, Bishop Auckland in the Northern League. Looks rather lovely. Darlo fans are chuffed to bits.

[Dave the rave]

When I posted it I nearly added a PS that as the majority of old grounds were Leitch designed or in that image, then there was a uniformity there, although things like different gables and the tendency to build and extend stands at different times did lead to diversity and take away for the standard design.

But with a concrete, all-round bowl there are fewer development options available. All you can really do it decorate it a bit, like Leicester have done with the hangings from the roof showing past players - I love those!

Or put new stands/roofs in etc.

Fair enough. I wasn't having a dig at all. And if I was then it was towards people who think that history/grounds etc are somehow inherited rather than built up over years.

We had our Elm Park and, yes, I miss it but would I trade that for what we've built over the last 13 years? No way. In x years time we'll be able to say "I was there when Grant Brebner scored the first goal here". By that time the ground may have been developed into something truly unique.

[Alexander Litvinenko]

When I posted it I nearly added a PS that as the majority of old grounds were Leitch designed or in that image, then there was a uniformity there, although things like different gables and the tendency to build and extend stands at different times did lead to diversity and take away for the standard design.

But with a concrete, all-round bowl there are fewer development options available. All you can really do it decorate it a bit, like Leicester have done with the hangings from the roof showing past players - I love those!

Or put new stands/roofs in etc.

Fair enough. I wasn't having a dig at all. And if I was then it was towards people who think that history/grounds etc are somehow inherited rather than built up over years.

We had our Elm Park and, yes, I miss it but would I trade that for what we've built over the last 13 years? No way. In x years time we'll be able to say "I was there when Grant Brebner scored the first goal here". By that time the ground may have been developed into something truly unique.

Agreed. I just wish we'd do something to make the ground more distinctively "ours" (like the hangings at Leicester). At the moment it's a faceless dual-use sports ground rather than a football ground that belongs to one club.

[Terminal Boardom]

I am surprised that no-one has mentioned The Bescot. Of the new builds, that is the worst I have been in. Roots Hall is a bit of a dump as is Priestfield even though the latter has been tarted up a bit.

[Ark Royal]

I am surprised that no-one has mentioned The Bescot. Of the new builds, that is the worst I have been in. Roots Hall is a bit of a dump as is Priestfield even though the latter has been tarted up a bit.

Agreed about Bescot. Very flat-pack, but was saved by the rather excellent Chicken Balti pies when I visited.

[floyd__streete]

Page and a half in and no

Madejski Stadium

Yet

Is he ill

[Badger Finger]

I am surprised that no-one has mentioned The Bescot. Of the new builds, that is the worst I have been in. Roots Hall is a bit of a dump as is Priestfield even though the latter has been tarted up a bit.

Agreed about Bescot. Very flat-pack, but was saved by the rather excellent Chicken Balti pies when I visited.

'greed about the bescot baltis. Top notch...

[From Despair To Where?]

I am surprised that no-one has mentioned The Bescot. Of the new builds, that is the worst I have been in. Roots Hall is a bit of a dump as is Priestfield even though the latter has been tarted up a bit.

Agreed about Bescot. Very flat-pack, but was saved by the rather excellent Chicken Balti pies when I visited.

In fairness to Walsall, after Scunthorpe,, it was the first of the new builds and it was done on a budget, hence the pillars instead of the canterlevered roofs. That ground is getting on for 25 years old and was really the blueprint for a lower league new build. I quite like what they've done to the home end too. Makes it more of a landmark on the M6. Certainly has more character than a lot of the lower league grounds that have been built in the lasat 10 years. They do all look the same

[Terminal Boardom]

Burnden Park when they slapped a supermarket killing one end of the ground in one fail swoop. Selhurst is a dump as well.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

At the time I'd say old Northampton county ground? Shared with cricket team.

I guess Aldershot of the ones which haven't fundamentally changed since we played them - a lot of the dire old 4th div grounds i went to like spotland, gresty road etc have been vastly improved since 1980's.

[Blakey's Right Peg]

Haven't particularly enjoyed any previous visits to Turf Moor - Burnley is a horrible place and I always found it a bit intimidating a few years back as a kid to walk up that street to the ground that is lined with dodgy looking boozers.

Agree with Schards about the Ricoh. The facilities are undeniably top notch but it's a soulless place, rarely more than half full with a non-existent atmosphere. Preferred going to Highfield Road, even though that was a bit of a shithole too.

[Royalist]

Hillsborough. Cannot go without thinking of those poor fans that died. The fact the only real change from that day is seats astounds me

[Man Friday]

I've always thought St Andrews is a dump as well.

Anfield was a let down as was Old Trafford (no legroom, seats too small).

[RIP apes]

Hillsborough. Cannot go without thinking of those poor fans that died. The fact the only real change from that day is seats astounds me

I thought precisely that when I went for the first time.

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

Fair enough. I wasn't having a dig at all. And if I was then it was towards people who think that history/grounds etc are somehow inherited rather than built up over years.

We had our Elm Park and, yes, I miss it but would I trade that for what we've built over the last 13 years? No way. In x years time we'll be able to say "I was there when Grant Brebner scored the first goal here". By that time the ground may have been developed into something truly unique.

Agreed. I just wish we'd do something to make the ground more distinctively "ours" (like the hangings at Leicester). At the moment it's a faceless dual-use sports ground rather than a football ground that belongs to one club.

I don't think having rugby at the Madejski has the slightest bearing on how interesting the ground is. It's not as if the place is a neutral colour or is influenced by London Irish in any way at all.

It's dull because large expanses of single tier symmetrical seating is a dull look, and it's located in a boring area. Flat upturned roofs are dull too.

Stadiums that are a single tier bowl are as dull as dull can be, and nothing hanging from a roof will ever polish a turd

I'd also argue against the idea that old grounds were also dull when they were built. Some may have been very basic, and grown that way, but clubs saw their main stand as a thing of pride, and rather like the old victorian cricket pavilions, they wanted to make them as attractive as possible