Ground Ratings (a tale of two parades)

[Trapdoor]

What do we think of these stadium ratings lads?

https://www.the92.net/stats/league-two/overall#.XaQx_EZKjcs

Top of the bill with a whopping 3.25 points is Valley Parade while languishing in 24th place with a mere 2.59 is Rodney Parade.
I've not done all the grounds in the league yet but it broadly fits with what I've seen. Maybe the Lamex is over-rated on this list though...

Valley Parade
Brisbane Road (Breyer Group Stadium)
Home Park
Globe Arena
Moor Lane
Brunton Park
St James Park
Alexandra Stadium
Banks's Stadium
Abbey Stadium
Sixfields
Weston Homes Community Stadium
Field Mill (One Call Stadium)
Whaddon Road (World of Smile Stadium Johnny RCocks)
County Ground
The New Lawn
Boundary Park
Vale Park
Moss Rose
Blundell Park
Lamex Stadium
Glanford Park
Broadfield Stadium
Rodney Parade

 

[Son of Cod]

Valley Parade is big, and I imagine it's great full but it's absolutely wank at this level when it's half full. Rodney Parade being bottom is a joke too, that's a great ground. The Globe 4th?! County Ground, Vale Park and Blundell Park all too low.

Ridiculous list, based more on facilities than character of stadium/atmosphere.

 

[Agombar stool]

Its as good as anything I guess but you have to bear in mind every football fan has their own idea of what makes a good ground. So whereas one person may love the comfort and safety of a new ground, another will hate it and would rather have that 'old school buzz' of pissing into a trough and standing on a terrace etc. Horse for courses really

Its a bit like Tripadvisor, you generally get a good idea if how good or bad somewhere is, but there is always people who are just never satisfied, for example before booking our honeymoon we used Tripadvisor for our research and noted that a prospective location had received some 1 star ratings because 'there was too much seaweed in the sea'. For me, this seems like lunacy to rate somewhere so badly for something so trivial, but for the people rating, clearly this was very important for them.

 

[Son of Cod]

Its as good as anything I guess but you have to bear in mind every football fan has their own idea of what makes a good ground. So whereas one person may love the comfort and safety of a new ground, another will hate it and would rather have that 'old school buzz' of pissing into a trough and standing on a terrace etc. Horse for courses really

Its a bit like Tripadvisor, you generally get a good idea if how good or bad somewhere is, but there is always people who are just never satisfied, for example before booking our honeymoon we used Tripadvisor for our research and noted that a prospective location had received some 1 star ratings because 'there was too much seaweed in the sea'. For me, this seems like lunacy to rate somewhere so badly for something so trivial, but for the people rating, clearly this was very important for them.

So that's why we are only 19th in the table above...

 

[SELatic]

I’m not having Boundary Park below Weston Homes Community Stadium ‍

As above, it must depend on what different people value in a stadium but is there anywhere more boring to watch a game of football (apart from MK)?!

 

[GodsGift]

Valley Parade is big, and I imagine it's great full but it's absolutely wank at this level when it's half full. Rodney Parade being bottom is a joke too, that's a great ground. The Globe 4th?! County Ground, Vale Park and Blundell Park all too low.

Ridiculous list, based more on facilities than character of stadium/atmosphere.

Salford 5th as well? No chance, it's a dreadful ground built on the cheap.

 

[shoddycollins]

As you point out in your opening post though, the difference between top and bottom isn't very much. Moor Lane is only based on 55 visits, so a single person liking or disliking it could skew the average enough to shift it up or down the table.

The ratings are also broken down into different categories. Moor Lane does extremely well in some; value for money, quality of programme and stewarding, as you might expect; then also as you'd expect does very poorly in terms of atmosphere, character etc.

We split opinion too, because our ground is very old and ramshackle... some people like that, some hate it.

 

[AdamStag]

I’ve never understood why we don’t do so well.

Whereas Mansfield isn’t exactly a posh southern suburb its right by the m1, the station is by the ground, the away end is decent and good views and there’s plenty of decent pubs in town.

 

[Hedonist Puncture]

Only been to Newport's old ground (Somerton Park), so cannot comment. For those of you interested in football history, the link between Scunny (The Iron) and Newport County (The Ironsides) is the Lysaght's company, who had Orb works in Newport before opening their steel works in Scunthorpe. In the late 60's, I spent a student summer working in steel mills of Lysaght's Scunny.

In the "old days", most footballers did not have contracts during the close season and many worked in the steel mills in laboring jobs. If they ended up being transferred, many used to switch between South Wales and Scunthorpe so that they had summer employment. We have had loads of Welshman who have played for Scunthorpe because of this and of course most of them were transferred in from Cardiff, Swansea and Newport. Likewise lots of Scunny players left for the South Wales clubs. With the advent of all year round contracts, this has now stopped. Bit of trivia for you.

Valley Parade is a fine stadium, except for the away end which is a big let-down. Facilities are disappointing for away fans, unless they have improved (I haven't been for a few seasons).

 

[GodsGift]

Good
Bradford
Carlisle
Leyton Orient
Plymouth
Port Vale
Swindon

Alright
Cambridge
Cheltenham
Crewe
Exeter
FGR
Grimsby
Mansfield
Newport
Northampton
Oldham
Stevenage
Walsall

Shit
Colchester
Crawley
Macclesfield
Morecambe
Salford
Scunthorpe

 

[Si Robin]

Whaddon Road (World of Smile Stadium)

Um, Johnny Rocks Stadium please. Not been World of Smile since 2016.

 

[E10rifle]

No idea how Glandford Park isn’t bottom. At least the Dave has a bit of character. WHCS and the vile Moor Lane are bafflingly high as well.

 

[Agombar stool]

I’ve never understood why we don’t do so well.

Whereas Mansfield isn’t exactly a posh southern suburb its right by the m1, the station is by the ground, the away end is decent and good views and there’s plenty of decent pubs in town.

I have never been to Mansfield personally but for me, a ground located close to a Train Station, with good friendly pubs and a ground with a bit of character works for me, so I would imagine that Mansfield would be a positive experience.

 

[Hedonist Puncture]

As for the other stadiums, I agree with those who think it is a subjective matter. These types of lists are mostly crap, which BTW aptly describes our ground. However, we do own it 100% with the surrounding land.

I'm an Old Show Ground supporter and never got use to playing at Glanford Park or Sands Venue Stadium (it's new name).

 

[nerazzurro]

Salford 5th as well? No chance, it's a dreadful ground built on the cheap.

The only positive of Salford's ground is the food and drink concessions, in the home ends at least, are really good. Other than that it's in an appalling location and full of bandwagoners.

 

[WilsdenBantam]

Valley Parade is big, and I imagine it's great full but it's absolutely wank at this level when it's half full. Rodney Parade being bottom is a joke too, that's a great ground. The Globe 4th?! County Ground, Vale Park and Blundell Park all too low.

Ridiculous list, based more on facilities than character of stadium/atmosphere.

It's not bad when we're winning even at this level, but that's just modern football atmosphere's are generally crap unless the team is doing well. It's more than half tbf, 14,500 with 3,000 cordoned off for away fans, i believe a sell out in the home end is only 21,000 due to how the stadium is set out.

Plus it's a 5 minute walk from the City centre with plenty of cheap booze.

The only cons are it is in the biggest shithole in town and the facilities for away fans are dreadful, but tbh when I go to away games I'm there for the game I'm not bothered as long as there's somewhere to piss.

 

[AdamStag]

I’ve never taken to any form of soulless Lego stadium away from the town in the middle of nowhere with nothing of use near it like food or pubs.

The ones in the middle of the towns or close by always work best for me.

 

[AdamStag]

It's not bad when we're winning even at this level, but that's just modern football atmosphere's are generally crap unless the team is doing well. It's more than half tbf, 14,500 with 3,000 cordoned off for away fans, i believe a sell out in the home end is only 21,000 due to how the stadium is set out.

Plus it's a 5 minute walk from the City centre with plenty of cheap booze.

The only cons are it is in the biggest shithole in town and the facilities for away fans are dreadful, but tbh when I go to away games I'm there for the game I'm not bothered as long as there's somewhere to piss.

It’s a decent ground, though it’s odd when they announced 14,000 against Shrewsbury last season and there was maybe 8,000 there (we were trying to work out how many and came to that number - the 3 really decent Bradford fans behind us said that was common place)

The grounds not in the best part of town, though Bradford from manchester is easy enough

 

[WilsdenBantam]

It’s a decent ground, though it’s odd when they announced 14,000 against Shrewsbury last season and there was maybe 8,000 there (we were trying to work out how many and came to that number - the 3 really decent Bradford fans behind us said that was common place)

The grounds not in the best part of town, though Bradford from manchester is easy enough

We used to include season tickets sold, not sure if they still do that or not, but Tuesday night games for us are always way down, suppose it's because we have so many young supporters.

 

[AdamStag]

We used to include season tickets sold, not sure if they still do that or not, but Tuesday night games for us are always way down, suppose it's because we have so many young supporters.

think it is for everyone mate. I guess the bigger the average crowd the more the fall in numbers. I can’t do our home Tuesday night games

 

[valefan16]

Salford surely is the worst? Vale fans were up in arms about it (we'd sold out), there was literally two portaloo's for the 1500 or so there! Apparently you could barely see the game either.

 

[denzel ecfc]

We should be rocketing up that table now the redevelopment is finished. City centre location, away fans welcomed in inside and outside bars, a real ale bar, choice of sitting or standing, what's not to like?

For me, Crewe and Cheltenham would be higher, Colchester much lower.

 

[LS Bantam]

think it is for everyone mate. I guess the bigger the average crowd the more the fall in numbers. I can’t do our home Tuesday night games

I think this year, our attendances announced are much closer to the truth. The stand behind the goal that away fans will be use to which is really poor isn’t being used this season (unless someone actually brings enough to open it) so facilities should be loads better in comparison as they share the Midland Rd stand with home fans.

 

[AdamStag]

I think this year, our attendances announced are much closer to the truth. The stand behind the goal that away fans will be use to which is really poor isn’t being used this season (unless someone actually brings enough to open it) so facilities should be loads better in comparison as they share the Midland Rd stand with home fans.

The ground itself it’s obviously massive for our level, we were in the top part of the stand opposite the away fans - got some decent snap and drink within the ground tbh so more than did the job!

It’s just if you’re coming from town or the station that it’s not so close

 

[James Frost]

Only been to Newport's old ground (Somerton Park), so cannot comment. For those of you interested in football history, the link between Scunny (The Iron) and Newport County (The Ironsides) is the Lysaght's company, who had Orb works in Newport before opening their steel works in Scunthorpe. In the late 60's, I spent a student summer working in steel mills of Lysaght's Scunny.

In the "old days", most footballers did not have contracts during the close season and many worked in the steel mills in laboring jobs. If they ended up being transferred, many used to switch between South Wales and Scunthorpe so that they had summer employment. We have had loads of Welshman who have played for Scunthorpe because of this and of course most of them were transferred in from Cardiff, Swansea and Newport. Likewise lots of Scunny players left for the South Wales clubs. With the advent of all year round contracts, this has now stopped. Bit of trivia for you.

Valley Parade is a fine stadium, except for the away end which is a big let-down. Facilities are disappointing for away fans, unless they have improved (I haven't been for a few seasons).

I hadn’t realised there was that connection between Newport & Scunthorpe.

It is reported that the original club was set up by steelworkers predominantly from Wolverhampton who had moved to Newport for work hence the black & amber shirts.

 

[James Frost]

What do we think of these stadium ratings lads?

https://www.the92.net/stats/league-two/overall#.XaQx_EZKjcs

Top of the bill with a whopping 3.25 points is Valley Parade while languishing in 24th place with a mere 2.59 is Rodney Parade.
I've not done all the grounds in the league yet but it broadly fits with what I've seen. Maybe the Lamex is over-rated on this list though...

Valley Parade
Brisbane Road (Breyer Group Stadium)
Home Park
Globe Arena
Moor Lane
Brunton Park
St James Park
Alexandra Stadium
Banks's Stadium
Abbey Stadium
Sixfields
Weston Homes Community Stadium
Field Mill (One Call Stadium)
Whaddon Road (World of Smile Stadium Johnny RCocks)
County Ground
The New Lawn
Boundary Park
Vale Park
Moss Rose
Blundell Park
Lamex Stadium
Glanford Park
Broadfield Stadium
Rodney Parade

I love Rodney Parade, whilst appreciating the pitch is poor for football, the stadium and the grounds it is located in has lots of “character” and a fascinating history.

They actually played a couple of Davis Cup finals there earlier in the last century & they held grass court tournaments prior to Wimbledon until the 1960s.

I saw the last Glamorgan cricket match in the grounds as when the likes of Ravi Shrastri, Greg Thomas & Matthew Maynard played for them.

Also remember watching the All Blacks smash Newport in 1989.

 

[Buxton Vale]

Salford surely is the worst? Vale fans were up in arms about it (we'd sold out), there was literally two portaloo's for the 1500 or so there! Apparently you could barely see the game either.

The view was ok, but the facilities were not, and the ground came out of a Lego factory.

 

[valefan16]

The view was ok, but the facilities were not, and the ground came out of a Lego factory.

Is all temporary stands isn't it? Sure I saw that on the documentary being bolted together!

Vale is alright, away end is too shallow - similar to Oldham's away end (the one they used 4-5 years back anyway) but has character, decent facilities in the Lorne Street but is tired. If fans go into Burslem there is plenty of good pubs.

Colchester is a poor one too, literally nowhere near anything and souless, they used to stick the home fans down one end of the stands down the side so the away fans are literally isolated from the home fans and makes no atmopshere (may have changed since my visit)

Crewe would probably be a different experience if we only took 4-500 but their away end is horrific when full, not enough space to get out and one set of toilets that requires a sardine experience to get to, although behind the goal wasn't too bad when I ended up in there once.

Bradford is decent if you end up down the side and not behind the goal, although top tier of that little stand isn't too bad, struggled to find many drinking places for away fans though and ended up walking to a hotel.

I liked FGR in the cup, its unique, assumed my Sat Nav had fooked up driving down a single track road past a farm telling me im 100 yards from destination... it hadn't! OK fans bar in the ground, parking was fine and a decent terrace.

Don't mind Macc Town with a terrace but as with FGR not ideal if raining.

Cant understand why Walsall and Scunthorpe are rated differently... literally the same ground except Walsall chucked an extra tier behind the home goal!

 

[F!RTHY]

Is all temporary stands isn't it? Sure I saw that on the documentary being bolted together!

Vale is alright, away end is too shallow - similar to Oldham's away end (the one they used 4-5 years back anyway) but has character, decent facilities in the Lorne Street but is tired. If fans go into Burslem there is plenty of good pubs.

Colchester is a poor one too, literally nowhere near anything and souless, they used to stick the home fans down one end of the stands down the side so the away fans are literally isolated from the home fans and makes no atmopshere (may have changed since my visit)

Crewe would probably be a different experience if we only took 4-500 but their away end is horrific when full, not enough space to get out and one set of toilets that requires a sardine experience to get to, although behind the goal wasn't too bad when I ended up in there once.

Bradford is decent if you end up down the side and not behind the goal, although top tier of that little stand isn't too bad, struggled to find many drinking places for away fans though and ended up walking to a hotel.

I liked FGR in the cup, its unique, assumed my Sat Nav had fooked up driving down a single track road past a farm telling me im 100 yards from destination... it hadn't! OK fans bar in the ground, parking was fine and a decent terrace.

Don't mind Macc Town with a terrace but as with FGR not ideal if raining.

Cant understand why Walsall and Scunthorpe are rated differently... literally the same ground except Walsall chucked an extra tier behind the home goal!

There’s literally about 20-25 boozers within 15 walk from the ground. It always baffles me when away fans say there’s no where to drink. It just stinks of getting off the coach, walking up to Manningham Lane and falling into the Bradford Arms because that’s the first pub they stumble across - which is arguably the worst boozer in the City.

 

[valefan16]

There’s literally about 20-25 boozers within 15 walk from the ground. It always baffles me when away fans say there’s no where to drink. It just stinks of getting off the coach, walking up to Manningham Lane and falling into the Bradford Arms because that’s the first pub they stumble across - which is arguably the worst boozer in the City.

Last time I went I asked a copper and got pointed on a walk to the hotel... oh any Rory McArdle that my mate stopped to ask as he was walking in to the ground!