Rank the Grounds

[SF_]

Bit of discussion on Villa Park in another thread so lets settle it, rank every Championship ground you've visited from favourite to least favourite.

Not including Deepdale:

1. Elland Road
2. Hillsborough
3. Villa Park
4. Bramall Lane
5. Craven Cottage
6. City Ground
7. St Andrews
8. Molineux
9. Loftus Road
10. Oakwell
11. Pride Park
12. Macron
13. KCOM

 

[Dirk]

Am I allowed to take part in this? In 30 years of visiting the UK I watched many matches and some grounds you listed are in there. My absolute favourite (and the ground I watched the most matches) is, of course, Molineux. So here are my personal favourites of the (actual) Championship Grounds (Molineux will be a PL ground next season ). Although not all are actual impressions (Deepdale for example I watched only once in 2000 but I was very impressed nonetheless)

1. Molineux
2.Craven Cottage
3. Villa Park
4. Deepdale
5. The Den
6. City Ground
7. Pride Park
8. Loftus Road

That's it of my visited Championship grounds

edit: Damn it. I forgot Millwall's The Den (I visited the old Den (in the last match ever played there against Bristol Rovers. I still have the commemorative matchday programme) and the new Den. I am getting old. Can't forgive me this fault. The Den at #5 it is then in the list above). I left out Hillsborough because I visited it only once in 1987 then never again

 

[joethegill]

1. Villa Park
2. Craven Cottage
3. Deepdale
4. Carrow Road
5. Molineux (preferred it pre-development though)
6. Portman Road
7. Bramall Lane
8. Stadium of Light
9. Elland Road
10. The City Ground
11. The Den
12. Griffin Park
13. Pride Park
14. The Madejski
15. The Riverside
16. Loftus Road
17. The Pirelli

I'm doing Bolton this weekend and at a guess I'd slot it between Griffin Park and Pride Park in 13th. Could be way out though.

 

[TomPNE94]

1) City Ground
2) Villa Park
3) Elland Road
4) Bramall Lane
5) Griffin Park
6) Hillsborough
7)Ashton Gate
8) Craven Cottage
9) KCOM
10) St Andrews
11) Macron
12) Pride Park
13) Cardiff City Stadium
14) Riverside
15) Molineux
16) Portman Road
17) Oakwell
18) Pirelli

 

[HertsWolf]

Ranking only the ones I've been to in living memory.

1) Bramall Lane
2) Craven Cottage
3) Hillsborough
4) City Ground
5) Loftus Road
6) Elland Road
7) Ashton Gate
8) St Andrews
9) Deepdale
10) Villa Park
11) Pride Park
12) Molineux
13) The Den
14) Griffin Park
15) Madjeski
16) Stadium of Shite
17) Portman Road

Scariest The Den, Best atmosphere Bramall Lane, Best food Swindon, Worst toilets that awful fucking away end at Pompey, Best bar by the river at Craven Cottage

And nothing against Ipswich Town, the club...I just really hate Portman Road. Twinned with Gomorrah. And no, not a huge fan of Molineux either. I remember standing on a crumbling South Bank when I was at uni. **That** was atmosphere.

Good thread, though.

 

[Bottega Don]

Villa Park
Griffin Park
Pirelli
Pride Park
Elland Road
Riverside
Oakwell
KCOM
Deepdale
City Ground
Bramall Lane
Ashton Gate
Hillsbrough
Loftus Road
Macron
Madejski
Carrow Road

 

[LancashireTrotters]

1) Villa Park
2) Griffin Park
3) Hillsborough
4) Craven Cottage
5) Bramwell Lane
6) Ashton Gate (Old away end)
7) Molineux
8) Stadium Of Light (Old away end)
9) City Ground
10) Oakwell
11) Deepdale
12) Loftus Road
13) Pride Park
14) St Andrews
15) Elland Road
16) Portman Road
17) Carrow Road
18) Cardiff City Stadium
19) The Den
20) KCOM
21) Riverside
22) Madejski

Burton is the only ground I’m yet to do, i imagine that’ll be around the top 10 with it being a terrace.

That said, looking at that list, there’s not many decent away days at this level. Handful at that.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Villa Park
Stadium of Light
Hillsborough
Griffin Park
City Ground
Carrow Road
Oakwell
Deepdale
Pirelli Stadium

Adding Cardiff to the list this weekend also. Anywhere good for a drink before that close or should I stick to the city centre?

 

[Another Walkley Owl]

Villa Park
Stadium of Light
Hillsborough
Griffin Park
City Ground
Carrow Road
Oakwell
Deepdale
Pirelli Stadium

Adding Cardiff to the list this weekend also. Anywhere good for a drink before that close or should I stick to the city centre?

Only been once, can safely say stick to the City Centre.

 

[Caer]

Craven Cottage
Griffin Park
Villa Park
Molineux
Pirelli Stadium
City Ground
Hillsborough
Oakwell
Riverside
KCOM
St. Andrews

I have a penchant for West London stadiums apparently, never been to Loftus Road but not heard much in the way of praise for it.

 

[Luke_1884]

1) Elland Road
2) City Ground
3) Villa Park
4) St Andrews
5) Craven Cottage
6) Deepdale
7) Bramall Lane
8) Hillsborough
9) Pride Park
10) Stadium of Light
11) Molineux
12) Ashton Gate
13) Carrow Road
14) KCOM
15) Oakwell
16) Portman Road
17) Loftus Road
18) Den
19) Riverside
20) Reebok
21) Pirelli
22) Madjeski

 

[blademan89]

1. Wednesday
2. Villa
3. Sunderland
4. Leeds
5. Forest
6. Millwall
7. Brentford
8. Bristol city
9. Fulham
10. Birmingham
11. Burton
12. Qpr
13. Barnsley
14. Ipswich
15. Norwich
16. Pne
17. Wolves
18. Derby
19. Boro
20. Hull
21. Bolton
22. Cardiff
23. Reading

I'll not include bramall lane in it.

 

[Ciderup]

I'm in the rare position that I've been to all of the grounds of clubs in the Championship this season...

Villa Park
Craven cottage
City ground
Molineux
Bramall lane
Deepdale
Pirelli
Carrow road
Hillsborough
New Den
Pride park
Riverside
Reebok (or whatever it's called this week)
KCOM
Oakwell
Stadium of light - too bloody far, nice ground I would imagine when it's full though.
Portman Rd
Elland Rd
Madjeski
St Andrews
Griffin park
Legoland (CCS)
Loftus Rd

 

[tiltontrev]

Villa Park
Stadium of Light
Hillsborough
Griffin Park
City Ground
Carrow Road
Oakwell
Deepdale
Pirelli Stadium

Adding Cardiff to the list this weekend also. Anywhere good for a drink before that close or should I stick to the city centre?

Depending if I have my lad with me or not I go to one of two clubs at Cardiff away these days, if I’m without child I go to a rugby club about 5 minute walk from the away end, if I’m with child I go to a football club (further along the same road) with five aside AstroTurf pitches out the back, both are Home/Away mix, both are [surprisingly?] friendly & engaging with away supporters, I only say surprising after having visited Cardiff in the old days!!!

I’ve been to virtually all the grounds in this league, as days out I like Barnsley, Millwall, Forest, Leeds, Villa. The rest are much of a muchness, aside from QPR & Molinuex, which I detest in equal amounts, wouldn’t bother me if I never visited either of those ever again. (I’m aware this is possible!! )

 

[The Southbank]

Like ciderup I've done all the grounds.

Bramall Lane, Elland Road or Villa Park the best stadium wise.

The Madejski by far the worst.

 

[Another Walkley Owl]

Like ciderup I've done all the grounds.

Bramall Lane, Elland Road or Villa Park the best stadium wise.

The Madejski by far the worst.

Been to all except Sunderland (which I have high expectations for at Easter) I prefer old school my top 5 not including Hillsborough
1 Villa (don't get all those semis at a poor ground)
2 Bramall Lane (now a very tidy stadium obviously always a great atmosphere for our games)
3 City Ground
4 Elland Road (was much better with away end behind net)
5 Deepdale (quite tidy with large away allocation)

I do also like the grounds with terracing but the away allocations at both grounds are too small.

 

[The Southbank]

I do also like the grounds with terracing but the away allocations at both grounds are too small.

I think the 'newer' terraces, the likes of Burton and Brentford (class day out, though), are okay but nothing special - certainly not better than the 'old' terraces which had a certain charm and character to them.

 

[Ciderup]

Like ciderup I've done all the grounds.

Bramall Lane, Elland Road or Villa Park the best stadium wise.

The Madejski by far the worst.

I'm really not impressed by Elland Rd nowadays Southbank but don't know the answer. It's cramped and a bit tatty but they are land locked by the road at one end. When the Revie stand was terracing a good few years ago, it was awesome though as was the Holte end in its' heyday.
I miss the old terraces.

 

[The Southbank]

I'm really not impressed by Elland Rd nowadays Southbank but don't know the answer. It's cramped and a bit tatty but the are land locked by the road at one end. When the Revie stand was terracing a good few years ago, it was awesome though as was the Holte end in its' heyday.
I miss the old terraces.

Agree with you on the terraces; the old East End at Ashton Gate was class, many a good trip there.

I haven't been since 2006, so I can't really comment on what it's like nowadays. That season we were in that corner stand which wasn't the best.

Went up there in 1997 for a League Cup match. It was a Tuesday night and we took 4,000 odd, right behind the goal - great evening, we won 3-2 with Tricky Trevor Morley netting the winner!

 

[MagpieBee]

I'm going to be really sad when our terrace goes - hope they'll get safe standing up and running as soon as possible, we're making one of our stands in preparation for that becoming legal again, so we can quickly change it over, but it still won't be the same.

Interesting question, Burton will have to convert their stadium to all seater if they manage to stay up for a couple more seasons (unlikely but could happen), which would reduce their capacity anymore (you'd guess to about 5,000), would they be allowed to use a stadium that small? No idea what the size limit is in this league.

 

[Another Walkley Owl]

Ranking only the ones I've been to in living memory.

1) Bramall Lane
2) Craven Cottage
3) Hillsborough
4) City Ground
5) Loftus Road
6) Elland Road
7) Ashton Gate
8) St Andrews
9) Deepdale
10) Villa Park
11) Pride Park
12) Molineux
13) The Den
14) Griffin Park
15) Madjeski
16) Stadium of Shite
17) Portman Road

Scariest The Den, Best atmosphere Bramall Lane, Best food Swindon, Worst toilets that awful fucking away end at Pompey, Best bar by the river at Craven Cottage

And nothing against Ipswich Town, the club...I just really hate Portman Road. Twinned with Gomorrah. And no, not a huge fan of Molineux either. I remember standing on a crumbling South Bank when I was at uni. **That** was atmosphere.

Good thread, though.

I would really like you to rank the ones you have been to, but not in living memory.

 

[Ciderup]

I'm going to be really sad when our terrace goes - hope they'll get safe standing up and running as soon as possible, we're making one of our stands in preparation for that becoming legal again, so we can quickly change it over, but it still won't be the same.

Interesting question, Burton will have to convert their stadium to all seater if they manage to stay up for a couple more seasons (unlikely but could happen), which would reduce their capacity anymore (you'd guess to about 5,000), would they be allowed to use a stadium that small? No idea what the size limit is in this league.

I have never heard of a capacity restriction TBH MB.
Another club who are doing something is Shrewsbury but I think they might have cocked up.
They are converting one of their PURPOSE BUILT SEATED AREAS into safe standing, all good so far, well done them. The only problem is they are 2nd in L1 and have a chance of promotion. The rules currently state that any seated area cannot be used as anything other than a seated area in the top 2 divisions. They would have to convert it back to seats or close it if they came up.
I would suggest holding fire just in case TBH.

 

[Luke_ciderhead]

Taking into account the overall matchday experience such as atmosphere, location etc rather than the quality of the stadium itself.

Craven Cottage
Villa Park
City Ground
Griffin Park
Hillsborough
Brammal Lane
Pirelli Stadium
Elland Road
Pride Park
Molineux
The New Den
St Andrews
Madejski Stadium
Loftus Road

I loathe the bottom two, not keen on the next four up and all the rest are good days out in their own ways. Craven Cottage has to be number 1 for me because it's got just about everything. Beautiful location, easy to get to, no aggro, plenty to do nearby and you can really make a big racket in that away end.. Plus we ALWAYS win there!

 

[blademan89]

Atmosphere is almost non existent at most grounds and it's only getting worse, I don't even expect the sheffield derby to be any good next Friday.

 

[Another Walkley Owl]

Atmosphere is almost non existent at most grounds and it's only getting worse, I don't even expect the sheffield derby to be any good next Friday.

Give over.

 

[blademan89]

Give over.

I'm being serious it's like a morgue at the lane most of the time, were gonna be going in as favourites too which is never good for atmosphere in derby games. Are you going

 

[Aaron-Bcfc]

1. Griffin Park
2. Villa Park
3. Craven Cottage
4. Hillsborough
5. Molineux
6. City Ground
7. Pirelli
8. Oakwell
9. St Andrews
10. Loftus Road
    
11. Deepdale
12. Cardiff City Stadium
13. KC Stadium
14. Macron
15. Madejski

 

[hodge]

1. Deepdale
2. St Andrews
3. Oakwell (Not helped by it being bloody freezing that day)

 

[Another Walkley Owl]

I'm being serious it's like a morgue at the lane most of the time, were gonna be going in as favourites too which is never good for atmosphere in derby games. Are you going

No, not got anywhere near enough points for tickets.
I could have still got them, but didn't think that was fair on the genuine away day fans plus I fully expect us to take a beating.

Will be watching in either Hillsborough or West Street. I don't get out anywhere as much as I would like nowadays, due to cost and having a 3 year old daughter so I'm looking forward to the night out with some decent lads I don't see often enough, but I'm dreading the match.

 

[blademan89]

No, not got anywhere near enough points for tickets.
I could have still got them, but didn't think that was fair on the genuine away day fans plus I fully expect us to take a beating.

Will be watching in either Hillsborough or West Street. I don't get out anywhere as much as I would like nowadays, due to cost and having a 3 year old daughter so I'm looking forward to the night out with some decent lads I don't see often enough, but I'm dreading the match.

I feel quite confident which is very strange for a derby. I just definitely think we will turn up and play well but you could also do what bolton did to us.