Football Stadia - Past, Present & Future

[The Cube]

[Edit: This is a reply to Terminal Boredom's post, which I thought I'd quoted.]


No idea on the first one which intrigues me.

Second was used by Thames - capacity supposedly 120,000 but that's just another Cockney lie.

Third one unlikely to be Yeovil because the Huish slope was side-to-side rather than end-to-end. The pub on the right, and the background, makes it look like Peel Park but I don't think it had a slope like that when I visited there (the pitch was a school playing field in the 1980s and probably still is).

[From Despair To Where?]

You're right, it is Peel Park, back in the 20's.

[Winchester Royal]

Top one looks like New Brighton.

[From Despair To Where?]

Top one looks like New Brighton.

A google search brings up mostly pictures of the Amex Stadium.

Apparently it held 80,000 but their average attendance in the Football League was about 1,000.

My favourite for stadia overlooked by imposing buildings is still Millerntor.

[The Cube]

Top one looks like New Brighton.

A google search brings up mostly pictures of the Amex Stadium. :wink:

Apparently it held 80,000 but their average attendance in the Football League was about 1,000.

My favourite for stadia overlooked by imposing buildings is still Millerntor.

I think that's a typo for 8,000 seats.

[Winchester Royal]

I thought it was bigger, but having checked wikipedia, it appears that largest attendance was only 16,000.

On another subject, I've always been fascinated with the Filadelfia in Turin, where the famous Grande Torino side played before the loss of the side in 1949, in a plane crash. Only parts of it are left now, such as below, and it's such a big part of the history of this club with the records that were set there. I can't think of any other stadium which is in this state now, or evokes so much of the past as this one. There are plans for Torino to return, but these seem fanciful and ongoing.

[Terminal Boardom]

In answer, the first one is New Brighton Tower. The second Thames FC and lastly, Peel Park of Accrington.

[Ark Royal]

Nene Park to be demolished: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-29042417

[Platypuss]

Nene Park to be demolished: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-29042417

Tim Morris said: "No one yet has disagreed that the stadium is not economically viable."

That makes my eyes bleed.

[From Despair To Where?]

I don't really know what to make of Rushden & Diamonds' demise. I think Max Griggs had the best of intentions and I suppose I had a bit of a soft spot for R&D but at the back of my mind, their formation always had a whiff of the Thames Valley Royals about it.

I do think it's a shame that Nene Park will be destroyed because it's better than Sixfields but the only club in the area who could come anywhere near to justify having a stadium of that size is Northampton.

[SPARTA]

I don't really know what to make of Rushden & Diamonds' demise. I think Max Griggs had the best of intentions and I suppose I had a bit of a soft spot for R&D but at the back of my mind, their formation always had a whiff of the Thames Valley Royals about it.

I do think it's a shame that Nene Park will be destroyed because it's better than Sixfields but the only club in the area who could come anywhere near to justify having a stadium of that size is Northampton.

Agreed, and they were planning to expand as well, although I don't know if losing Coventry as tenants will change that.

[From Despair To Where?]

I think Sixfields has a larger capacity than Nene park but Nene Park would have had more scope for expansion.

I know they had a proposal to double the capacity at Sixfields but I just can't see how it could be done on that site and not be a shambles

[Angry Shed Sex]

I think Sixfields has a larger capacity than Nene park but Nene Park would have had more scope for expansion.

I know they had a proposal to double the capacity at Sixfields but I just can't see how it could be done on that site and not be a shambles

Sixfields sits on a large site with nothing around it (save for the car park in front of the main stand). To be honest, the main stand is the only thing worth keeping - I think the new plans involve developing (demolishing and rebuilding) the East Stand. I can't see it having much impact even during the football season.

[From Despair To Where?]

My memory tells me it was in what amounted to a crater on the edge of a retail park with a shitty gastro pub that only let in home fans across the road. A look on Google maps confirms the site is more spacious than i remember.

Still one of the worst examples of a lower league new build.

[Angry Shed Sex]

My memory tells me it was in what amounted to a crater on the edge of a retail park with a shitty gastro pub that only let in home fans across the road. A look on Google maps confirms the site is more spacious than i remember.

Still one of the worst examples of a lower league new build.

Considering where they came from, Sixfields looks like the San Siro in comparison!!

[From Despair To Where?]

Or to quote a Northampton Fan on footballgroundguide.com

Without doubt it was the worst ground in the football league, but it was home

[SPARTA]

I think Sixfields has a larger capacity than Nene park but Nene Park would have had more scope for expansion.

I know they had a proposal to double the capacity at Sixfields but I just can't see how it could be done on that site and not be a shambles

Sixfields sits on a large site with nothing around it (save for the car park in front of the main stand). To be honest, the main stand is the only thing worth keeping - I think the new plans involve developing (demolishing and rebuilding) the East Stand. I can't see it having much impact even during the football season.

Yep, think it was a new east stand and expanded west stand.

[SPARTA]

Or to quote a Northampton Fan on footballgroundguide.com

Without doubt it was the worst ground in the football league, but it was home

Hotel End


Hotel End


Old main stand before demolision


Temp main stand


Spoin Kop


Cricket Ground Side

[Angry Shed Sex]

Or to quote a Northampton Fan on footballgroundguide.com

Without doubt it was the worst ground in the football league, but it was home

I lived very close to the ground for a few years in the mid 80's and was a regular visitor when Reading weren't playing. Used to love standing on the hotel end. Football nowadays is too sanitised. I still desperately miss Elm Park.

[Wimb]

Nene Park to be demolished: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-29042417

Former Reading full-back and member of the 'magnificent seven' Stuart Gray taking the corner in that pic...