Lovely old Cine film of Highbury circa 1979 : [video]http://www.youtube.com/v/I-04GKvfSMk&fs=1&source=uds&autoplay=1[/video]
Ace vid again. I was lucky enough to get a stadium tour in 04, great stadium. Classic. Which one do you prefer?
Thought that might be the case. It will be sad the day we move from Anfield as well. Much like you, Fenway Group want the new stadium to reflect their name as well. Probably Fenway Park. No Anfield, but we need a new one.
Did you see the thread on Terracing? There's an argument that by reintroducing safe standing, existing grounds can increase capacity and thereby not have to build new stadiums and in the process save themselves from huge debt
I did two weeks 'work experience' with Steve Braddock, the old groundsman back in 91. It was fantastic. As a star struck school kid, going onto the pitch at half time to fork the ground, repair divots in front of 45,000 fans was overwhealming My job was also to clean out the dugouts after games. I remember keeping old chewing gum and the wrappers from Fergie after a Man Utd game - I should have kept those and sold them on ebay for a ****ing fortune
Haha wicked story! I bet you had a write job clearing up the mess fergie left! 25 packets a game i'v heard! I'v played on Fratton Park. That is all!
Just thought I'd dig up this old thread for anybody who hasn't seen this film. Brings a tear to the eye . . .
sorry, vid is here now [video]http://www.youtube.com/v/I-04GKvfSMk&fs=1&source=uds&autoplay=1[/video]
I genuinely had tears in my eyes watching that goodbye Highbury stuff after the final game against Wigan
She was a diamond in the rough was Highbury. I'll never forget the first time I walked up the slope from the tube station onto Gillespie Rd and experienced the sights and smells. The Flag and scarf sellers from the front gardens, the burger and hot dog stands, people selling programmes, horse **** in the road, fans drinking outside the travel club, burger and chips from the Golden fish bar . . .
Interesting. I wonder if what this says is that there is a discernable difference that fans know between a football ground and a modern stadium. Football grounds are the clubs home and generate an atmosphere that is genuine and unique to each place. Stadia are modern architectural wonders that stage "events". The old grounds were not beautiful, having grown like topsy and ending with some idiosyncrantic features, that added to their charm. Old Trafford still has that feeling of being a football ground, as does Real Madrid and Barca.
Nail absolutely on head!!!!! There is something truly spiritual about the old stadiums. There is an energy, a vibe, a sense of all that has gone before it. It makes sense too when you consider that the space between things is not empty but powerful energy; they always say that sacred sites like stonehenge, giza etc... contain energy that is remembered, football stadiums are exactly the same. Even when you walk around an old empty stadium there is a buzz, nostalgia, the energy of all that joy and emotion is still there in some ways. The new 'arenas' are just not the same, they feel commercial, sterile, they have very little character or life energy within them.
Deep . . . Totally agree though, a building is more than simply a physical structure. It has 'soul', imbued by the energies that are played out within it. . . and Highbury had a lot of soul.
We have an affinity with Highbury because that is where we won trophies.I think when we win a trophy our perceptions of the Grove will change.I miss standing on the North Bank but it's nearly 25 years since i last did it.I must admit i'm now used to going to the Grove and in it's way it's preferable to Highbury.There are no restricted views and the facilities are a hell of a lot better.I agree with a lot of what the BSM are fighting for.The away fans should be moved to the top tier.There should be a season ticket "light".ST's should be available for the Clock End and there should be a singing section there.
The other thing that marks a real football ground out from a stadium is that the ground belongs to the club, is for the club and its fans, and is not something that is diluted by prostituting it out to other sports. I feel strongly about this. It makes me laugh to hear Rugby League fans say how the Grand Final thing at OT is a special occassion and part and parcel of their game's recent heritage. I was so pleased that Pep Guardiola put an end to the Nou Camp being used for a one-off Rugby Union game. These places are citadels of the game - it'd be like the Jews hiring out the Vatican or the Muslims hiring out St Pauls or others hiring out Mecca. The thought of our Grove ground having the Drake/Adams/Rocastle murels covered over by some Rugby motifs for their WC in 2015 would have angered me. Telling as well that even the MLS have recognised this, and their clubs are building their own grounds exclusively for their clubs despite there being non shortage of ready builts in the US. They do this because they want to build real clubs with real fans all belonging to a real home. I hope that when LFC build their new ground it is not just another modern anodyne bowl.
