New Football Grounds.

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Doon frae Troon

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Following on from the Aberdeen stadium conversation on the SPFL thread.

I have always thought that new grounds/stands/improvements were a good thing for clubs and then I thought about Darlington, Airdrie and Falkirk.
When the SPL was started they insisted all clubs should have 10,000 all seater stadiums.
Some clubs such as St Johnstone, Livingston, Gretna etc never stood a chance of filling their grounds.

Any other stories, good or bad on how new grounds/ stadium improvements affected your club,
 
In the 1970's Wolves built a nice shiny 9,000 seater stand as the first part of a ground redevelopment. It was miles away from the pitch, but the whole stadium was due to be shifted towards the new stand as it developed. They went bankrupt, it it took 30 years to get the stadium sorted properly.
 
I used to know a rival team that had the biggest toilet in all of British football. 120 yards long with a goal at each end.
 
Souless places most of them... I'm working in Southampton at the mo and St Marys is mice and modern, but lacks character and atmosphere.... The Dell is now covered in some equally awful flats...sorry appartments. But that's progress...

Conversely, I grew up watching Aldershot..... their ground is virtually the same as when I first when there in 1974....... some drastic is needed!

But, looking forward to going to Spurs new ground....... but so are all the Spurs Fans! :-)
 
It was always going to happen once they decided to do away with terraces. Even my club's ground which has the listed Cottage and Stevenage Road stands has lot a lot of its charm with both ends seated. I had been to over 80 grounds, many of which are no longer there (Elm Park, Roker Park etc). However in the modern climate, with more women and children going I can see why clubs are building these stadiums and then getting more cash from naming rights (which with some of the daft names could be a thread itself). I guess the stadiums are indicative of football selling out into the PL era
 
I've been at the new Tottenham ground several times recently and its staggering, it will be the envy of every team in Europe. (when it finally opens!)
 
Robin Hood said:
My teams big rivals have a great stadium but an amazing pitch......
Well it would be as it gets s**t on it every other week.
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Rob me man. Would your team be Forest. Saw a piece where Forest are extending there ground to be the largest in the East Midlands. It does look proper impressive. However some wag put on face book a picture of what Notts County's ground will look like next year once it has gone into administration. It was a photo of ASDA. PMSL.
 
HomerJSimpson said:
It was always going to happen once they decided to do away with terraces. Even my club's ground which has the listed Cottage and Stevenage Road stands has lot a lot of its charm with both ends seated. I had been to over 80 grounds, many of which are no longer there (Elm Park, Roker Park etc). However in the modern climate, with more women and children going I can see why clubs are building these stadiums and then getting more cash from naming rights (which with some of the daft names could be a thread itself). I guess the stadiums are indicative of football selling out into the PL era
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If you went to Maine rd Homer, glad you got out in one piece.
 
HomerJSimpson said:
Not as bad as places like St Andrews, The Den or Twerton Park
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St. Andrews as in Birmingham, City played Birmingham a few years back. It was an anniversary of there hooligans "Zulu" battle when they played City. They were nutters. There was a bird/ woman there who was out of it. Not good.
 
HomerJSimpson said:
Not as bad as places like St Andrews, The Den or Twerton Park
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Until last season I cannot recall Fulham ever bringing more than a couple of coachloads of fans to St Andrews so you would have been pretty safe.

Trouble only occurs when there's an opposition presence.
 
My club is a Rugby League ground (Widnes). The old Naughton Park was definitely at the end of it's life and needed re-vamping. The council took it on and it is now a 15,000 seater stadium with an artificial pitch. It gets used by:
  • Widnes Vikings (Rugby League).
  • Everton Ladies (Football).
  • Liverpool Ladies (Football).
  • Widnes Football Club (Football).
  • Halton Spartans (American Football)
  • Concerts (including Elton John)
  • Plus people can hire it out as well
So is the new Halton Stadium better than the old ground? Yes, pretty much in every way. The pitch (iPitch) is the most controversial part of it but the facilities, cover, view of the pitch and facilities are far better than the old ground. There are much better memories from the old Naughton Park though.

We can look back with rose-tinted specs at the old grounds but most that are being replaced have seen better days.
 
MetalMickie said:
Until last season I cannot recall Fulham ever bringing more than a couple of coachloads of fans to St Andrews so you would have been pretty safe.

Trouble only occurs when there's an opposition presence.
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I was talking in the 80's (84 I think from memory) when there was an ominous presence amongst Blues supporters that made it uncomfy for away fans. We came away with a point (2-2)
 
HomerJSimpson said:
I was talking in the 80's (84 I think from memory) when there was an ominous presence amongst Blues supporters that made it uncomfy for away fans. We came away with a point (2-2)
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Unlike Craven Cottage the ground has changed significantly in the intervening 35 years.

Mind you there's still an element amongst the crowd without whom the Club would be better off.
 
MetalMickie said:
Unlike Craven Cottage the ground has changed significantly in the intervening 35 years.

Mind you there's still an element amongst the crowd without whom the Club would be better off.
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Seem to remember (or at least i think I do) there was a patch of waste ground near the away end where the idiots mingled. Also, getting back to New Street if you got the train up was never easy as I recall from around 91. Wouldn't mind but think you'd done us 2-0 (maybe even 3-0). I agree though, all clubs have an element of idiots certainly going back to those dark days
 
MetalMickie said:
Unlike Craven Cottage the ground has changed significantly in the intervening 35 years.

Mind you there's still an element amongst the crowd without whom the Club would be better off.
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You see MM, City are the same. Missis T had a nose to nose with a young spunker City fan in the post office pub in Wembley the year we won the FA cup against Stoke. Young knobhead City fan was a grade one ***. Missis T told him as well. However there are some clubs that have " perfect " fans cough.
 
HomerJSimpson said:
Seem to remember (or at least i think I do) there was a patch of waste ground near the away end where the idiots mingled. Also, getting back to New Street if you got the train up was never easy as I recall from around 91. Wouldn't mind but think you'd done us 2-0 (maybe even 3-0). I agree though, all clubs have an element of idiots certainly going back to those dark days
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Away fans now have their own protected gates, coach park and some car parking but the walk to New St can leave some feeling vulnerable.
 
Tashyboy said:
You see MM, City are the same. Missis T had a nose to nose with a young spunker City fan in the post office pub in Wembley the year we won the FA cup against Stoke. Young knobhead City fan was a grade one ***. Missis T told him as well. However there are some clubs that have " perfect " fans cough.
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Never ceases to amaze me the age of some of the most aggressive fans.

Not kids but many in their 40's and 50's.

It's like they have not grown up.
 
MetalMickie said:
Until last season I cannot recall Fulham ever bringing more than a couple of coachloads of fans to St Andrews so you would have been pretty safe.

Trouble only occurs when there's an opposition presence.
Click to expand...

I remember waiting in the football special just outside Birmingham New street, the train was fairly quiet but you could hear a commotion coming from the from of the train getting closer, chants of “leader” and “Engerland etc” Slowly on the next track a train went past, and sitting in first class reading his newspaper and refusing to look out the window was Enoch Powel! Must have been late 70s early 80s. Enjoyed days out at St Andrews, always lively!😄
 
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