Your Favourite Ground?

[C C Csiders]

Quote[/b] (canveyshrimper @ Jan. 06 2006,16:09)]

Quote[/b] (The Artful Shrimper @ Jan. 06 2006,15:35)]The old den.  more than a ground, an experience that turned your hair white, or in my case made it fall out.

..and it gets my vote as best and worst...a paradox.

I remember going to the old Den around 1980, with a work colleague who was a Millwall fanatic. All was going well at 1-1 with a few minutes left. Enter Micky Stead to score the winner for Blues, I leapt up to cheer, but in the process of leaping remembered where i was. I escaped with my life - just about.

Fortunately i was wearing brown trousers.

I remember a Southend game there in the early 80's which finished 1-1 where the official supporters club refused to run a coach there for a game on Easter Monday because of fear that the coach would get smashed-up.

This was in the days of yore when the two brothers, who I wouldn't let anywhere near my kids, used to run the away travel. What was there names?

Anyway, a coach was organised and the usual away contingent went, minus the brothers, and we were waiting for ages after the game to go, with evil Millwall faces glaring at us, because we had to wait for the handicapped bloke who used to go to all the away games that walked at 6 inch steps at a time. Another name that escapes me. Anyway, he eventually arrived, and we all went cheerily on our way - just!

 

[FeedTheGoat]

Quote[/b] (Uxbridge Shrimper @ Jan. 06 2006,09:51)]Jose Avalade (Lisbon)

a quality stadium, so bizarre to be going to watch a film or going bowling inside a stadium. although i didn't like the seat colouring, seemed really bizarre like they were trying to make it look full when there were no Sporting fans there. I preferred Luz although getting away with a full stadium was an absolute nightmare because there was only one way out to the metro, i bet that was fun after England vs France

 

[canveyshrimper]

Quote[/b] (The Artful Shrimper @ Jan. 06 2006,15:35)]The old den.  more than a ground, an experience that turned your hair white, or in my case made it fall out.

..and it gets my vote as best and worst...a paradox.

I remember going to the old Den around 1980, with a work colleague who was a Millwall fanatic. All was going well at 1-1 with a few minutes left. Enter Micky Stead to score the winner for Blues, I leapt up to cheer, but in the process of leaping remembered where i was. I escaped with my life - just about.

Fortunately i was wearing brown trousers.

 

[Matt the Shrimp]

That's the third time you've posted that one...?!

 

[canveyshrimper]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ Jan. 06 2006,16:42)]That's the third time you've posted that one...?!

Sorry Matt had problems with the server, bloody thing crashed for a time.

Guess it wasn't funny the first time let alone three.

 

[Uncle Leo]

Quote[/b] (FeedTheGoat @ Jan. 06 2006,16:37)]

Quote[/b] (Uxbridge Shrimper @ Jan. 06 2006,09:51)]Jose Avalade (Lisbon)

a quality stadium, so bizarre to be going to watch a film or going bowling inside a stadium. although i didn't like the seat colouring, seemed really bizarre like they were trying to make it look full when there were no Sporting fans there. I preferred Luz although getting away with a full stadium was an absolute nightmare because there was only one way out to the metro, i bet that was fun after England vs France

Was there for the UEFA Cup Final (in which Sporting Lisbon were playing CSKA Moscow), so the stadium was virtually full, but I was really impressed at how quickly we got out of the stadium and how quickly the metro took us all back to the centre of town.

The toilets were very clean and nicely decorated too

 

[C C Csiders]

Quote[/b] (canveyshrimper @ Jan. 06 2006,16:49)]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ Jan. 06 2006,16:42)]That's the third time you've posted that one...?!

Sorry Matt had problems with the server, bloody thing crashed for a time.

Guess it wasn't funny the first time let alone three.

Do you remember that time in about 1980 when Micky Stead scored our winner in a 2-1 victory.

You got up to cheer and then realised where you were.

Lucky you had brown trousers on wasn't it.

 

[canveyshrimper]

Quote[/b] (C C Csiders @ Jan. 06 2006,16:57)]

Quote[/b] (canveyshrimper @ Jan. 06 2006,16:49)]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ Jan. 06 2006,16:42)]That's the third time you've posted that one...?!

Sorry Matt had problems with the server, bloody thing crashed for a time.

Guess it wasn't funny the first time let alone three.

Do you remember that time in about 1980 when Micky Stead scored our winner in a 2-1 victory.

You got up to cheer and then realised where you were.

Lucky you had brown trousers on wasn't it.

Yeah i went with an old work colleague of mine who was a Millwall fanatic.

How did you know?

By the way it was the Brothers Grim, not sure what their real names were. The handicapped lad was at my junior school, but i can't remember his name.

 

[FeedTheGoat]

Quote[/b] (Uxbridge Shrimper @ Jan. 06 2006,16:52)]

Quote[/b] (FeedTheGoat @ Jan. 06 2006,16:37)]

Quote[/b] (Uxbridge Shrimper @ Jan. 06 2006,09:51)]Jose Avalade (Lisbon)

a quality stadium, so bizarre to be going to watch a film or going bowling inside a stadium. although i didn't like the seat colouring, seemed really bizarre like they were trying to make it look full when there were no Sporting fans there. I preferred Luz although getting away with a full stadium was an absolute nightmare because there was only one way out to the metro, i bet that was fun after England vs France

Was there for the UEFA Cup Final (in which Sporting Lisbon were playing CSKA Moscow), so the stadium was virtually full, but I was really impressed at how quickly we got out of the stadium and how quickly the metro took us all back to the centre of town.

The toilets were very clean and nicely decorated too  

I was there last Summer and when the Dutch played there in the semi-final they took a procession of all of their fans from the centre of town where they had been partying in orange all day, and walked all the way up the avenida da liberdade to the ground. must have been a good few thousand of them, and must have taken a good 2 or 3 hours too, but something utterly incredible to see

 

[Maldon Blues]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ Jan. 06 2006,11:33)]Worst - Manor Ground (not sadly missed),

I always had a soft spot for the Manor Ground - had a certain charm

 

[Sebastian Weetabix]

Quote[/b] (Matt the Shrimp @ Jan. 06 2006,11:33)]Manor Ground (not sadly missed),

Ah, The Manor Ground. What a experience that was as a cocky 14 year old many years ago. The entrance to the away end took you down an alleyway running alongside a mental asylem and the ground. You either had to put up with bottles being lobbed over the wall from the stands or loonies dribbling and trying to grab you through the fence. I prefered the bottles. Those loonies scared the sh!t out of me.

 

[Sebastian Weetabix]

Quote[/b] (canveyshrimper @ Jan. 06 2006,15:10)]Had forgotten about County Ground Northampton, went there one year and the bloody floodlights failed.

I remember that. A tuesday night and the big switch on for the new floodlights.

'it gives me great pleasure to switch on the new floodlighting for Northampton Town'

**FLASH**PING**DARKNESS**

Game called off, floodlight failure.

 

[Yellow Army]

That i've been to.....

Best ground - Mill Stad obviously

Leauge Ground - Upton Park



Worst - Layer Road (wins hands down!) or Priestfield stadium (Gillingham) - errected temporory away stand, no real toilet facilities, they were disgusting, and no consideration for away fans, queue times for food a loo too long as poor facilities avaialable.

Brisban Road was a dump last time io went to it when away end was uncovered terracing.

 

[Jonny_Stokes]

Favourite trips - Dale, Notts Counteh, Peterborough

Least Favourite - Millwall, Hull, Darlo

 

[shrimper loz]

Best away(other than Mill Stad) - City Ground

Worst away - Underhill, aggborough stadium, birdbrain road and Layer road

 

[Xàbia Shrimper]

Best in the UK has to go to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff; I'm glad we flew back to see the first LDV Vans Trophy Final because the experience of being inside that huge cavern with the roof closed was awesome, especially as I was one of the first in! At the other end of the scale, I quite like Nene Park in Irthlingborough.

Best in Spain (visited so far) is probably the José Rico Peréz Stadium in Alicante, the home of Second Division side Hércules CF and shared (reluctantly) with Second Division 'B' side Alicante CF. It narrowly beats Valencia CF's Mestalla Stadium which, apart from the terrific Tribuna Main Stand, lacks a little character. However neither stadiums can be faulted for the passion of the fans during matches; absolutely awesome!

The worst?

In the UK, my vote would go to Layer Road in Col******r for a complete shambles of a stadium and the Kassam Stadium in Oxford for its complete lack of soul and atmosphere.

In Spain I'd go for the pathetic little ground of C.D. Enguera; I've seen better facilities at park pitches!

WS
Jávea

 

[canveyshrimper]

Good to see all the votes for Layer Road as the worst ground. I first went there with Blues in 1968. It was a complete sh1thole then, and in the intervening years nothing has been done to improve it.

 

[Guest]

I was very impressed with Old Trafford, despite the Manure fans only knowing 2 chants, so that'd have to be the best league ground. The milstad is probably the best overall, while a special mention goes to Highbury - it may be cramped but inside it's really quite special (I liked the marble halls!) and the seats in the North bank are padded! Shame about the lack of atmosphere, though.

The worst ground I've been to has to be Doncaster's Belle Vue ground. It really was terrible.

 

[davewebbsbrain]

Best- Fiorentina..Cracking shopping mall under the stand.

Worst- Scarborough (obviously were in the league at the time, beat them 2-1 to help push them out of the league, but my friend got her window smashed by knobjockey boro fans)

 

[Maldon Blues]

Quote[/b] (Whatever @ Jan. 08 2006,07:06)]I was very impressed with Old Trafford, despite the Manure fans only knowing 2 chants, so that'd have to be the best league ground. The milstad is probably the best overall, while a special mention goes to Highbury - it may be cramped but inside it's really quite special (I liked the marble halls!) and the seats in the North bank are padded! Shame about the lack of atmosphere, though.

The worst ground I've been to has to be Doncaster's Belle Vue ground. It really was terrible.

Only critism of Old Trafford is that much of the lower tiers are, shall we say, a bit manky! The the seats have turned pink and flaking!

However, when the two new corners are completed, linking the three upper tiers, it will be very impressive indeed.

Moving across the City a few miles, the City of Manchester Stadium is certainly one of the very best.