I posted this on the OT, but with instruction it seems this might be worthy of it's own thread. I came across this article on the BBC of what has become on some of footballs 'lost' grounds. If anyone else like me enjoys the history and nostalgia of grounds of old then I recommend this little piece giving some info on the grounds of Arsenal, Oxford, Middlesbrough, Stoke, Bolton, Bristol Rovers....and Southampton! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29460621 Additonally, for anyone interested, I recommend http://www.footballgroundguide.com for some info/photos on other lost grounds.
Fascinating stuff Bassett, thanks. I didn't know about Crossley Place, does anyone else know if it was named after Mark Crossley?
I had heard of the various courts e.g. Le Tiss, Channon, but I wasn't aware of Crossley Place either. If it is, it's a good joke! Has anyone been to the sites of any former grounds? I've been to the Emirates a few times and each time I go I mean to pass along the old West and East stands of Highbury but haven't quite managed it yet.
I live near Bristol and have been to the dreaded IKEA a few times. My advice if you're thinking about it is... don't. Even the famed meatballs aren't worth the agony. And every time I have been there it brings back memories of Rovers knocking us out of the FA Cup in 1978, which was the only time I ever went to Eastville. I do have happier memories of the old Manor Ground in Oxford, again in the 3rd round of the Cup, when a very late headed goal by Terry Paine earnt us a replay, which we won easily at the dear old Dell.
That was my first ever away game, I can remember the masses of coaches stopping in Warminster and packing the pubs. Then getting to the ground and actually feeling grateful for The Dell!....12,000 Saints fans trudging through a swamp of mud to the terraces, Paul f**ing Randall scoring twice and then all hell breaking loose as some Saints fans had the bright idea of a pitch invasion to try to get the game abandoned!.... [video=youtube;YGnW9b99EHI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGnW9b99EHI[/video]
I get dragged round toys r us in brighton a bit, its on the goldstone retail park. The former site of the Goldstone ground.
When I was a youngster my dad used to take me to games at the Goldstone. Then when I was a teenager, I worked at the Burger King that makes up part of the retail park they built in its place.
Sadly England will loose two more of it's legendary grounds in the next few years: The Boleyn Ground and White Hart Lane. Would expect to see Goodison Park live out its last fews days very soon and others that have seen better days such as Loftus Road and Selhurst Park.
I walked down Milton Road, during the summer, and had to smile at a sign, at the entrance, to the Dell housing. "NO BALL GAMES".
Same here for me when I returned to Hampshire in 2007 having left in 1984 - I took a walk down Milton Road, remembering games I attended when Terry Paine and Big Ron et al played through to the nastier times of attending games in the 70's with all the crowd problems - really hated that feeling of having to watch over your shoulder for opposition fans ready to lay into you, especially on night games... and then I got to the ground and saw that sign - sadly ironic...
Since when has it been called The Boleyn Ground? It was always Upton Park. Only recently have I heard Boleyn. No doubt its always been that but can anyone enlighten me?
I think it's always been called The Boleyn Ground, mistakenly called Upton Park because its synonymous with the area (address is Green St, Upton Park, London, E13 9AZ)
Part Two now on the Beeb website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29706200 Fabulous picture of the crowd at the Den in 1923. All of them men wearing flat caps.
I'm back with more! Pt.2: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29706200 Manchester City, Sunderland, Hull, Derby, Millwall, Brighton
