MY all-time favourite football ground visited is Loftus Road – the stadium of Queens Park Rangers.
It is my second home and hosts a lifelong love affair with my local football team from where I grew up.
As the stands are really close to the pitch, there is no atmosphere quite like it anywhere else when Loftus Road is full and the place is rocking.
Accordingly, I decided to ask my social media followers for their own favourite football arenas.
And I received some wonderful replies concerning venues where many matches will have attracted interesting football odds in the sports betting stakes…
Michael Faulkner - @MrMSFaulkner
Highbury. The magnificent East and West Stands, built when football and architecture colluded to make stadia beautiful and alluring.
Blueoystercardcult - @oystercardcult
Aldershot Town. It’s a ground frozen in time. And get a decent noisy atmosphere on a relatively small crowd as most of it is covered.
John Wilberforce - @JohnWilberforc1
Tow Law Town FC is my favourite ground. Up in the Durham hills, stunning views across Weardale, a proper bar and an actual turnstile that clicks. Perfect.
CFC52 - @VillagerCFC
84/85 20,000+ Chelsea fans in the Clock End at Highbury plus 100s elsewhere in the ground. Old school day out will never be beaten. Finished 1-1.
QPR REPORT - @QPRReport
QPR’s [Matrade] Loftus Road. It’s home!
george ridgeway - @toprefgeorge
Backdrop of a blast furnace at Margam FC home ground - Groeswen Playing Fields, Margam.
Mart - @MartCAFC45
Used to love going to the old Wembley. As a kid growing up in the 70’s and 80’s you’d watch the FA Cup Final & would dream of going there to watch a game but to actually go there & watch your club play there and win a cup final are what dreams are made of.
Brin Jones - @CliffordBucks
In my retired years now and don`t want to travel to football, so I stay local at Burnham FC. So much football to enjoy on the 3G pitch and it truly is a lovely experience for me when I go there. I love the people and the football is always a great watch. Top range of food too.
Martin Pearce - @dungey2002
The old Maidstone Utd ground on London Road, Maidstone. Sadly no longer there. I watched my brother play there, very proud to see him play at what was a Division 4 ground.
Tony Poole - @ogmorebyseakid
Coychurch Road, home of much lamented Bridgend Town. Growing up, it was a part of my life and 1979/80 was stand-out as club were Southern League champions defeating Dorchester in play-off final. Ground has become housing estate.
R1ch1e - @R1ch1e_Roux_Dj
My favourite will always be The Victoria Ground, Hartlepool simply because of the memories. A very close 2nd is Crown Meadow. Home of Lowestoft Town FC. A very special place with a unique vibe I’ve not experienced anywhere other than at The Vic in Hartlepool.
Barry St Germain - @BarryStGermain1
I used to love Portman Road, great old stadium with excellent views. Highbury was great, lots of history there. I recently went to the Etihad and have to say it was impressive.
Lintstein - @staffsref
The old Hednesford Town Cross Keys ground. A venue absolutely dripping with history and character. The place where I really connected with non-league football.
Ian - @ianghostbynight
The old Northampton Town ground. Stood on the cricket pitch at the halfway line behind a rope.
DazMileham - @dazmileham
Weymouth FC’s old ground at The Rec. In the heart of town, overlooked by an old railway embankment so you could see half the game if skint, the gasworks end with home fans singing all game, ahh the memories!
S.P.R sports stats (Simon) - @Footiespr5687
Being a Walsall fan favourite ground to visit in UK always is Bramall Lane but abroad think it’s definitely Amsterdam Arena.
Paul Gurney - @PaulGurney7
Loftus Road. Traditional football ground, great view anywhere you sit and the atmosphere! Near to tube stations and good pubs too. Proper old football ground that isn’t an hour’s walk from a station.
Mike Schofield - @MikeSchofield59
La Bombonera - Boca Juniors. The stadium shakes constantly as a result of the fans bouncing up and down throughout the whole game.
Ploppy The Gaoler - @LadLeamore
Fellows Park, Walsall. Nowhere else like it.
My uncle wasn’t torpedoed - @MrSteveThomas
It has to be my beloved Loftus Road, because of the unique atmosphere and the intimidation other teams fear.
FunkySkullz - @FGtherapies
My favourite football ground has got to be on Easter Island. There is an actual carved head looking at the pitch.
Rob Finney - @RobFinney_Dream
Lewes’ Dripping Pan - such a unique ground, feels gladiatorial looking down into the bowl, and who doesn’t love an executive beach hut!
Wayne Abbott - @abbo08
Nene Park. RIP.
Dai Samuel - @Daisamuel2
Blandy Park elevated stand gives you an amazing view of the game – home of Garw S.B.G.C.
Donat Iskanderoff - @dxn_iskanderoff
Pakhtakor FC in Uzbekistan always tops in our part of the world - inaugurated in 1958 it had more lows rather than ups, including the tragic and untimely death of the whole team in a plane crash over Minsk, Belarus.
matthew brion - @mjschlong
Loakes Park former home of Wycombe Wanderers. Sloped pitch, change ends during the game, virtually all standing, Gas works & horrible toilets, proper non-league ground.
Timmy Malloy - @ConorjBoyce
Finn Park, Ballybofey. Home of Finn Harps.
Name can’t be blank - @Nowttodo
Canal Street, Runcorn. Blokes could use the urinals AND watch the game at the same time. No Premier League ground gives that sort of customer service.
Jeremy Arnold - @JeremyArnold31
Apart from my own Moss Lane at Altrincham, I’d say Wealdstone’s Grosvenor Vale. Just a nice welcome more than anything.
Bob Dobalina - @ROBYORK64
Roker Park, Sunderland. Coldest windiest most inhospitable place on earth.
Me - @bigcbeat
Pro game St. James’ Park, Newcastle. Non-League, Northallerton Town. Artificial pitch, Penrith.
*Credit for the main photo belongs to Adobe*
