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  1. Features

Ranked! The top 20 matchday experiences at English league stadiums

By Greg Lea published 24 October 2017

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

20. Bournemouth (Dean Court)

20. Bournemouth (Dean Court)

In five words or less: Something different for Premier League

Most recent visit: 2016/17

Best feature: Murals in the corners of the stadium depicting great moments in the club’s recent history

Worst feature: Small for a Premier League ground

Quirk factor: 3/5

Page 1 of 20
Page 1 of 20
19. Leeds (Elland Road)

19. Leeds (Elland Road)

In five words or less: Big, if not pretty

Most recent visit: 2013/14

Best feature: The scale of the place, and the atmosphere when full

Worst feature: Only one stand is anything close to modern

Quirk factor: 2/5

Page 2 of 20
Page 2 of 20
18. Watford (Vicarage Road)

18. Watford (Vicarage Road)

In five words or less: Premier League ground with character

Most recent visit: 2016/17

Best feature: Rickety main stand finally replaced with something better

Worst feature: Parking is severely limited

Quirk factor: 3/5

Page 3 of 20
Page 3 of 20
17. Everton (Goodison Park)

17. Everton (Goodison Park)

In five words or less: Famous ground on last legs

Most recent visit: 2014/15

Best feature: The aura of an old-school football ground

Worst feature: Outdated facilities, poor view from away section

Quirk factor: 3/5

Page 4 of 20
Page 4 of 20
16. Brighton (Amex Stadium)

16. Brighton (Amex Stadium)

In five words or less: Home to be proud of

Most recent visit: 2015/16

Best feature: A stunning improvement on the Goldstone and the Withdean

Worst feature: A long way out of Brighton

Quirk factor: 2/5

Page 5 of 20
Page 5 of 20
15. Fulham (Craven Cottage)

15. Fulham (Craven Cottage)

In five words or less: Quainter than quaint

Most recent visit: 2011/12

Best feature: Perfect for tourists keen to sample an old-fashioned English ground - it’s even got Ye Olde Cottage

Worst feature: Perhaps too touristy - lacks the vociferous atmosphere of some other stadiums

Quirk factor: 5/5

Page 6 of 20
Page 6 of 20
14. Middlesbrough (Riverside Stadium)

14. Middlesbrough (Riverside Stadium)

In five words or less: Comes with free transporter bridge

Most recent visit: 2015/16

Best feature: Pigbag before kick-off

Worst feature: Very similar design to Derby

Quirk factor: 1/5

Page 7 of 20
Page 7 of 20
13. Norwich (Carrow Road)

13. Norwich (Carrow Road)

In five words or less: Cuts the mustard

Most recent visit: 2015/16

Best feature: Impressive attendances, even when the team have been struggling

Worst feature: Not enough people running on and hurling season tickets at managers these days – that’s always fun

Quirk factor: 1/5

Page 8 of 20
Page 8 of 20
12. Manchester City (Etihad Stadium)

12. Manchester City (Etihad Stadium)

In five words or less: Athletics transition can be done

Most recent visit: 2016/17

Best feature: Was adapted well for football after hosting the Commonwealth Games

Worst feature: Lacks some of the character of Maine Road

Quirk factor: 3/5

Page 9 of 20
Page 9 of 20
11. Arsenal (Emirates Stadium)

11. Arsenal (Emirates Stadium)

In five words or less: English Benfica

Most recent visit: 2015/16

Best feature: Padded seats, even in the away end

Worst feature: Ticket prices

Quirk factor: 2/5

Page 10 of 20
Page 10 of 20
10. Sunderland (Stadium of Light)

10. Sunderland (Stadium of Light)

In five words or less: Like being on The Apprentice

Most recent visit: 2012/13

Best feature: Large and loud crowd when team’s doing well, and brought Prokofiev’s Dance Of The Knights to the masses long before The Apprentice launched on BBC - played deafeningly loud before kick-off

Worst feature: Away fans moved to the top tier, too far from the pitch

Quirk factor: 1/5

Page 11 of 20
Page 11 of 20
9. Leicester (King Power Stadium)

9. Leicester (King Power Stadium)

In five words or less: Where the magic happened

Most recent visit: 2015/16

Best feature: Atmosphere can be electric

Worst feature: The actual design is basic – like Southampton but with blue seats

Quirk factor: 1/5

Page 12 of 20
Page 12 of 20
8. Chelsea (Stamford Bridge)

8. Chelsea (Stamford Bridge)

In five words or less: The Roman Colosseum

Most recent visit: 2015/16

Best feature: Good atmosphere, the Liquidator pre-match

Worst feature: Tickets are expensive

Quirk factor: 2/5

Page 13 of 20
Page 13 of 20
7. Stoke (bet365 Stadium)

7. Stoke (bet365 Stadium)

In five words or less: Hilltop fortress

Most recent visit: 2014/15

Best feature: Loud. It’s topped the Premier League table for decibels in the past

Worst feature: On a hill, so there’s a serious wind chill

Quirk factor: 2/5

Page 14 of 20
Page 14 of 20
6. Newcastle (St James’ Park)

6. Newcastle (St James’ Park)

In five words or less: Dramatic, if vertigo-inducing

Most recent visit: 2014/15

Best feature: Good atmosphere, stunning views over Newcastle from the away section in top tier

Worst feature: Distant views of the pitch from said away section – plus the gruelling climb to get there, on a par with scaling Everest

Quirk factor: 3/5

Page 15 of 20
Page 15 of 20
5. Manchester United (Old Trafford)

5. Manchester United (Old Trafford)

In five words or less: Biggest club ground in England

Most recent visit: 2015/16

Best feature: Its sheer size and history – England’s equivalent of the Bernabeu

Worst feature: Atmosphere can be hit and miss

Quirk factor: 2/5

Page 16 of 20
Page 16 of 20
4. Liverpool (Anfield)

4. Liverpool (Anfield)

In five words or less: Temple of football

Most recent visit: 2014/15

Best feature: The Kop singing You’ll Never Walk Alone pre-match

Worst feature: Sight lines in the away end aren’t great

Quirk factor: 3/5

Page 17 of 20
Page 17 of 20
3. Bradford (Valley Parade)

3. Bradford (Valley Parade)

In five words or less: Passionate home fans

Most recent visit: 2016/17

Best feature: Excellent atmosphere, three nice stands

Worst feature: Poor view from the old two-tiered stand behind one goal

Quirk factor: 3/5

Page 18 of 20
Page 18 of 20
2. Sheffield United (Bramall Lane)

2. Sheffield United (Bramall Lane)

In five words or less: A true football experience

Most recent visit: 2016/17

Best feature: Atmosphere, the Kop home stand, view from away end top tier

Worst feature: Away end is pretty old

Quirk factor: 2/5

Page 19 of 20
Page 19 of 20
1. West Brom (The Hawthorns)

1. West Brom (The Hawthorns)

In five words or less: Modern and atmospheric

Most recent visit: 2014/15

Best feature:  Combines the best features of a Premier League football ground – modernised in the last 20 years to bring the facilities up to a good level, but the stadium still retains its own identity. The atmosphere can be electric on a good day: when the "boing boing" chant gets going, the home fans are literally bouncing. Away fans are well placed behind the goal, with good views, and the stadium is also handily located near the M5. More often than not, it's an enjoyable away day at a stadium that epitomises what English football is all about.

Worst feature:  Sometimes the gate next to the away end is shut after the game, forcing visiting fans to make a long detour if they want to head in the direction of the motorway

Quirk factor: 2/5

Page 20 of 20
Page 20 of 20
TOPICS
Premier League Championship League One League Two Leeds United Watford Everton Brighton and Hove Albion Fulham Middlesbrough Norwich City Manchester City Arsenal Sunderland Chelsea Leicester City Stoke City Newcastle United Manchester United West Bromwich Albion Sheffield United Bradford City
Greg Lea
Greg Lea
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Greg Lea is a freelance football journalist who's filled in wherever FourFourTwo needs him since 2014. He became a Crystal Palace fan after watching a 1-0 loss to Port Vale in 1998, and once got on the scoresheet in a primary school game against Wilfried Zaha's Whitehorse Manor (an own goal in an 8-0 defeat).

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