Was it not one of those old Welsh coracles?I was visiting Shrewsbury once and walked over a bridge and there was Gay Meadow, there old stadium right beside the river. It had a tiny wee stand along its side, I was told when there was a game on they’d have a ‘ball boy’ in a canoe to try and fish out any match balls that went into the river.
The new stadium is a lot nicer but it’s out in the burbs as usual with these new builds.
I was visiting Shrewsbury once and walked over a bridge and there was Gay Meadow, there old stadium right beside the river. It had a tiny wee stand along its side, I was told when there was a game on they’d have a ‘ball boy’ in a canoe to try and fish out any match balls that went into the river.
The new stadium is a lot nicer but it’s out in the burbs as usual with these new builds.
I was down last week in Stratford for a show,I was having a few drinks in the big Westfield shopping centre adjacent to the Olympic stadium and got talking to a few hammer supporters as they were playing at home that day,they absolutely hate their new ground and would go back to Upton Park tomorrow the match day isn’t a patch on what it was before with plenty pubs on the road into tha old ground with great atmosphereHighbury and Upton Park were much more atmospheric than the grounds that replaced them. The Boleyn had only recently been rebuilt and was a great ground to visit. It's also the first place I saw Defoe play (and Lampard, Ferdinand, Joe Cole).
Much prefer the old stadiums to the soulless new ones. You can feel the history oozing out of every pore at Ibrox. All these teams have lost that.
Could have been right enough, I was told a canoe on that day but now I seem to remember Football Focus doing a story on the guy in a coracle.Was it not one of those old Welsh coracles?
It’s out on the ring road so not right beside the town centre as Gay Meadow was.In the middle of nowhere the new one is it?
Think you are right.......remember seeing something about it on World of Sport........jeez that wasn't yesterday!!Was it not one of those old Welsh coracles?
This is the ground which immediately came into my mind. First ground I ever saw Rangers play at outside Scotland, in 1993 for Gary Bennett's testimonial. Superb day out.Roker Park 1936 reconstruction of the Clockstand opposite Main stand designed by renowned football architect Archibald Leitch.
Part of the Leitch balustrade now situated in the car-park at the Stadium of Light.
Could have been right enough, I was told a canoe on that day but now I seem to remember Football Focus doing a story on the guy in a coracle.
It’s out on the ring road so not right beside the town centre as Gay Meadow was.
Doesn't look big enough to fit a football stadium. Must have been tight as hell.Virtually all of them replaced by housing developments. Interesting that Derby’s old pitch is now a park for new build residents.
I thought this would be in the list as well.Bolton wanderers burnden park was a great atmosphere when it was full not like the new stadium I was lucky that over the years went to a few of the old grounds use to go to all the old boozers in and around the grounds all changed with the new stadiums all seem to be stuck out of town no atmosphere in them and the pubs around them they look good but you couldn’t beat the old grounds
Been to all those featured above except the Goldstone Ground
Highbury, Filbert Street, Main Road the Dell and Boleyn ground many times as an away fan with Chelsea, less often the old Sunderland and Boro grounds. Most of them before all seated
To be honest it’s true they were iconic but other than Arsenal and West Ham in later years they were not blessed with facilities etc.
I would say Highbury and Boleyn ground are sad losses but the rest the new grounds far better. Southamptons new ground just the right size for them and good atmosphere etc.
One thing I miss about the FA cup were the semis being played at a neutral venue, it just made getting to Wembley that more special for the final.I used to love watching games at White Hart Lane in the seventies on TV. Also every game at the Baseball Ground was fascinating as the pitch would turn into a farmers field after about 10 minutes.
The league cup and FA cup semi’s always seem to be played at Villa Park and Hillsborough.
Forgot the old White Hart Lane used to love going their to 3 point lane as it became known though walk back to the tube or train often a bit crazyBeen to all those featured above except the Goldstone Ground
Highbury, Filbert Street, Main Road the Dell and Boleyn ground many times as an away fan with Chelsea, less often the old Sunderland and Boro grounds. Most of them before all seated
To be honest it’s true they were iconic but other than Arsenal and West Ham in later years they were not blessed with facilities etc.
I would say Highbury and Boleyn ground are sad losses but the rest the new grounds far better. Southamptons new ground just the right size for them and good atmosphere etc.
Was it not one of those old Welsh coracles?
Bolton wanderers burnden park was a great atmosphere when it was full not like the new stadium I was lucky that over the years went to a few of the old grounds use to go to all the old boozers in and around the grounds all changed with the new stadiums all seem to be stuck out of town no atmosphere in them and the pubs around them they look good but you couldn’t beat the old grounds
was one of those grounds you could see from a passing train en route to Manchester, and in post war times from a passing steam train behind one of the goalsI thought this would be in the list as well.
When I was in it, by that time it had lost the big kop and one end was sold to a supermarket.
I used to go to the greyhound racing at the old Wembley. Back in the 80s/90sBeen to;
Roker Park
Ayersome Park
Highbury
Old White Hart Lane
Old Wembley
Elm Park was pretty good before Reading got the new one. Thought it was good as a kid anyway
Certain clubs??? Wimbledon perhaps? Also as a side note. Good old Fred was the shout that went up in the mess onboard ship when watching the classic Tom and Jerry and Fred Quimbys name came up on the credits!!!It was indeed. Good old Fred.
"When Shrewsbury play certain clubs, who'll remain nameless, Fred might spend the entire afternoon trotting round the ground."
I agree 100% , bus was booked into the roker working mans club , £1 to get in , £1 for your dinner, and strippers providing " entertainment".This is the ground which immediately came into my mind. First ground I ever saw Rangers play at outside Scotland, in 1993 for Gary Bennett's testimonial. Superb day out.
I like how the centre circle at the old Maine Road is now a grass roundabout.