Where are the worst away grounds in the country for abuse? It used to be said that Milwall was bad and according to Leroy Rosenior Leeds was pretty grim. Abuse used to be part of making a ground a fortress but changes of attitudes can alter things but can they alter how people think inside a football ground after a few beers?
QPR and Brentford
Gillingham and Luton
Upton Park/Boleyn Ground.
West Ham's new ground is also terrible, an impersonal athletics stadium miles from anywhere and very hard to get to and from.
And ask Orient fans think about them getting the Olympic stadium on the cheap.
Hartlepool, Scarborough.
Pompey used to be bad.
When it comes to abuse of all types I think the old Den would be pretty hard to beat.
And when it came to actual physical danger, modern fans will never know the character forming experience of making their way through that maze of railway arches and alleys back to New Cross Gate station, especially after a Fulham win.
Quote from: RaySmith on July 18, 2021, 11:25:52 AM
Upton Park/Boleyn Ground.
West Ham's new ground is also terrible, an impersonal athletics stadium miles from anywhere and very hard to get to and from.
And ask Orient fans think about them getting the Olympic stadium on the cheap.
Absolute disgrace that the Authorities were allowed to get away with breaching their own rules by dumping a big(-ish) time rival in the catchment area of a much smaller rival. One law for....etc.
Stoke
Going back down the years, the worst for abuse was the Baseball ground especially "that match" and the walk to and from the station. Worst actual ground for facility was plough lane imo.
Quote from: blingo on July 18, 2021, 11:10:34 AM
QPR and Brentford
What grounds have you for these accusations Mr Blingo.
Molineux is pretty ropey. Upton Park has to take it though; we were once pelted with fruit and veg as we walked to the away end, which I thought was a bit of an ironic east end stereotype. Can also recall there being police in the concourses and along the separating barrier in the stand instead of stewards, which is something I can't recall seeing anywhere else
One visit to the old Man City ground Maine Road was quite 'orrible - fans piddling up against the walls outside the stadium and so it went on. Very definately not welcome there. Birmingham fans fairly nasty on a visit there too - very few of us but the fans shouting and taunting us throughout the match (don't think they watched much footie that day)
Quote from: Holders on July 18, 2021, 11:32:14 AM
Pompey used to be bad.
Still is ! Add Burnley , Celtic and Chesterfield !
Birmingham City back in the mid 70s for me, what a horrible bunch. They were not of this earth and believe me I have come across some human garbage in my working life. So I was use to it but nevertheless was not expecting the hostility before during after the game.
I happened to be in a shop doorway with my girlfriend at the time and a herd of these Cretins came running down the street attacking anyone they thought was a Fulham Fan, and my girlfriend was wearing a Fulham scarf.
Three of them screeched to a halt when they saw us. Took a long hard stare and as I was preparing myself for sore knuckles, their so called leader said leave him he is with his girlfriend much to my surprise and carried on looking for other victims whilst we composed ourselves.
What made me smile was that my girlfriend who knew me very well said they do not know how lucky they were to have carried on down the road, they will never know it but they dodged a bullet today and I have to agree she was probably right.
West Ham home and away are not nice experiences for anybody, not forgetting the Celtic and Cardiff pond life.
Roker Park - remember how hostile they were because we drew 0-0!. The local train journey back to Newcastle was one of the sacriest experiences ever had at a football match
Quote from: Woolly Mammoth on July 18, 2021, 12:15:23 PM
Quote from: blingo on July 18, 2021, 11:10:34 AM
QPR and Brentford
What grounds have you for these accusations Mr Blingo.
They both hate us Mr Brevit
Quote from: Woolly Mammoth on July 18, 2021, 12:15:23 PM
Quote from: blingo on July 18, 2021, 11:10:34 AM
QPR and Brentford
What grounds have you for these accusations Mr Blingo.
They both hate us Mr Woolly. If we had become fulham Park rangers it would have been the end for blingo.
Quote from: blingo on July 18, 2021, 02:46:35 PM
Quote from: Woolly Mammoth on July 18, 2021, 12:15:23 PM
Quote from: blingo on July 18, 2021, 11:10:34 AM
QPR and Brentford
What grounds have you for these accusations Mr Blingo.
They both hate us Mr BrevitQuote from: Woolly Mammoth on July 18, 2021, 12:15:23 PM
Quote from: blingo on July 18, 2021, 11:10:34 AM
QPR and Brentford
What grounds have you for these accusations Mr Blingo.
They both hate us Mr Woolly. If we had become fulham Park rangers it would have been the end for blingo.
Perish the thought Mr Blingo, I once had an affair with a woman of a loftus road player and I certainly made the ground move for her.
But that probable does not count as a worst ground, more a grounds for divorce if she had been caught.
Quote from: Cornishnick on July 18, 2021, 01:27:35 PM
One visit to the old Man City ground Maine Road was quite 'orrible - fans piddling up against the walls outside the stadium and so it went on. Very definately not welcome there. Birmingham fans fairly nasty on a visit there too - very few of us but the fans shouting and taunting us throughout the match (don't think they watched much footie that day)
Plus the 10 pounds I had to pay a 7/8 year old boy to park my car at Maine Road and ensure it didn't get scratched.
One goood point, the car wasn't scratched :0)
Most frightening experience, a train full of Millwall supporters arriving at Coventry station, charging through
everyone abusing and shoving people before marauding through the streets to the ground.
Can there be a worse ground than Gillinghams?
Quote from: mrmicawbers on July 18, 2021, 03:40:00 PM
Can there be a worse ground than Gillinghams?
Definitely not, an absolute pit, I would not care to return to the club from Kent. Really had to keep your wits about you going there.
I could be wrong, bit I'm sure our last meeting with them resulted in a 3 or so goal victory.
Exeter´s St James Park. The away end is 6 steps & uncovered. It was pissing down & we asked if we could transfer to the covered stand. The stewards said no & the Police said if we left the ground to get into the stand we would be refused entry. Vowed to never go there again.
Surely the worst has to be the old County Ground at Northampton? Uncovered and the toilets were an open sewer
Birmingham, Derby, Gillingham, horrible people humourless nuckledraggers. Someone mentioned Chesterfield, always a little mob ready to have a pop at us after the game, but then it is Derbyshire.
In terms of abuse, the worst I suffered was leaving Stamford Bridge after an away game. It was during the 70's but I forget when or whether it was cup or league. Bloody horrible experience though.
Quote from: Bas White on July 18, 2021, 09:19:21 PM
Surely the worst has to be the old County Ground at Northampton? Uncovered and the toilets were an open sewer
I was stopped from going in with two other friends about 20 years ago as we looked like trouble. Honestly, at that time in my life, I probably was. We were eventually let in and sat through the most unmemroable game. I think we won
Quote from: Twig on July 18, 2021, 10:00:42 PM
In terms of abuse, the worst I suffered was leaving Stamford Bridge after an away game. It was during the 70's but I forget when or whether it was cup or league. Bloody horrible experience though.
Around that time, a cup game I think, the travelling Palace fans were set on big time by the blue scum & the police did nothing to protect them. My neighbour, who narrowly escaped a beating has never been back to a league game since.
Quote from: 70sPimlico on July 18, 2021, 10:46:02 PM
Quote from: Bas White on July 18, 2021, 09:19:21 PM
Surely the worst has to be the old County Ground at Northampton? Uncovered and the toilets were an open sewer
I was stopped from going in with two other friends about 20 years ago as we looked like trouble. Honestly, at that time in my life, I probably was. We were eventually let in and sat through the most unmemroable game. I think we won
Think you'll find it was a bit more than 20 years ago. They moved to Sixfields in the early 90s. Only went there once. That was enough. Agree though it was an unusual ground being three sided with the cricket field opposite the main stand. The old Colchester United ground, Layer Road was another 0 star ground but loads of character.
Quote from: SP on July 19, 2021, 06:19:34 PM
Quote from: Twig on July 18, 2021, 10:00:42 PM
In terms of abuse, the worst I suffered was leaving Stamford Bridge after an away game. It was during the 70's but I forget when or whether it was cup or league. Bloody horrible experience though.
Around that time, a cup game I think, the travelling Palace fans were set on big time by the blue scum & the police did nothing to protect them. My neighbour, who narrowly escaped a beating has never been back to a league game since.
It was a dark time for football hooliganism, I hope we never return.
Back in our promotion season in the 90s the last away match which confirmed promotion was Mansfield. A grim run down place.
Quote from: Whitestone on July 19, 2021, 07:01:46 PM
Quote from: 70sPimlico on July 18, 2021, 10:46:02 PM
Quote from: Bas White on July 18, 2021, 09:19:21 PM
Surely the worst has to be the old County Ground at Northampton? Uncovered and the toilets were an open sewer
I was stopped from going in with two other friends about 20 years ago as we looked like trouble. Honestly, at that time in my life, I probably was. We were eventually let in and sat through the most unmemroable game. I think we won
Think you'll find it was a bit more than 20 years ago. They moved to Sixfields in the early 90s. Only went there once. That was enough. Agree though it was an unusual ground being three sided with the cricket field opposite the main stand. The old Colchester United ground, Layer Road was another 0 star ground but loads of character.
Much changed now. Went there a couple of years ago for cricket. Where the football ground was is now further seating for the cricket and an indoor cricket school. That also has some corporate facilities overlooking the field. The County Hotel is still standing but the old turnstile block next to it was bricked up.
In Northants pavilion, there are some good photos of how the ground looked prior to 1994 when the football team moved out.
As a football ground, The County Ground was awful. Especially the Meccano stand on the half way line. Also, the less said about the bogs at the away end......
Maine Road in the Keegan/Tigana days was vile. Horrible atmosphere and it just felt dangerous. Loads of their hooligans staring at Fulham rather than watching the game. That is the worst ground I have watched Fulham at. I know they came looking for aggro after the game too.
Birmingham in the late 80's was awful. I remember watching us lose 3-2 in a midweek game there. They were top of the league, we were bottom and Gary Brazil missed a penalty. There must have been about 100 Fulham fans there that evening. Blues tried to charge at us across the wasteland outside the ground after the game. It was only the police dogs that kept them away. Horrible lot.
The old Den @ Millwall, seriously intimidating.
The old concrete stand (no cover) @ Reading's Elm Park
The 6 or was it 8 concrete steps 9again no cover) @ Doncaster Rover's old ground - but as we were 91st or 92nd & @ the very bottom of Division 4 we managed an away 2 - 0 win against Sammy Chung's DR team who were near the top.
Mickey Adam's blackanwhite army climbed away from the bottom & the rest as they say is history.
I stopped off to watch the match heading for Leeds on business. Somewhat shamefully some "nice" shirtless FFC fans burned £5 notes yelling "loads of money.." @ the DR fans. Bless them they had the old wooden rattle noise mekers. The burgers probably killed some who ate them!
Quote from: AnotherVicHalomLoveChild link=topic=82258.msg1261276#msg1261276 date=1626720470
The 6 or was it 8 concrete steps 9again no cover) @ Doncaster Rover's old ground -
/quote]
Ah! Belle Vue - a right dump just over the road from the racetrack.
Will always live in my memory, not for any abuse or danger but because their chairman burnt down their main stand. Whenever I hear moans about our current ownership I always think of Ken Richardson.
Quote from: Stoneleigh Loyalist on July 19, 2021, 07:35:37 PM
Back in our promotion season in the 90s the last away match which confirmed promotion was Mansfield. A grim run down place.
Remember that night very well. I was a Director at Mansfield at the time - we tried our best to be welcoming - sending a crate of champagne down to the dressing room . Sadly it is a run down town - it was never wealthy - but the closure of the mines really did see it suffer. Hopefully though you suffered no harm from the locals.
Quote from: Birmingham White on July 19, 2021, 07:45:20 PM
Maine Road in the Keegan/Tigana days was vile. Horrible atmosphere and it just felt dangerous. Loads of their hooligans staring at Fulham rather than watching the game. That is the worst ground I have watched Fulham at. I know they came looking for aggro after the game too.
Birmingham in the late 80's was awful. I remember watching us lose 3-2 in a midweek game there. They were top of the league, we were bottom and Gary Brazil missed a penalty. There must have been about 100 Fulham fans there that evening. Blues tried to charge at us across the wasteland outside the ground after the game. It was only the police dogs that kept them away. Horrible lot.
A load of us walked back to the Station together and had to repel some grief.We went to a pub by the station and they were trying to get in there too.The police wanted us gone and stuck us all on the same train going back.
I remember all those uncovered terraces mention above, Freezing cold, windy and wet, Reading, Southend, Colchester, Doncaster, Chesterfield, Mansfield to name a few. The sun never seemed to shine, nearly always dark by half time, the football was certainly nothing to write home about, the only nice thing was the damp grass smell as you clasped your half time cup of tea or bovril. I do remember getting chased through Mansfield after the game by a group of skinheads, we later heard they were from the local coal mining community. We are spoilt these days!
Milwall, Gillingham, West Ham, Wolves
Barnet (back in the day).... play with, or without the slope.
Just to stick up up for St.James Park (the Exeter version) - the away end is completely covered now.
Elm Park was grim, but Stoke for me. Not so much the ground, but the supporters, police and stewards were arseholes.
So many memories from the grounds mentioned in the thread. Quite a few of them happy ones. Some not so much. The worst thing that happened to me was a hard whack on the side of the head in the alley behind the stand at Barnet's Underhill ground. Administered by the wheeling turn of a large police horse's backside. Can't really blame the Barnet fans, who weren't amongst us, or indeed the horse for that. The loons just ahead of me who spooked the horse knowing they were nowhere near the business end should have a circle of hell reserved for them.
The fans at Welling seemed fairly pleasant but had an original way to intimidate opposition penalty takers. As the run up started a dustbin came sailing through the air and into the six yard box.
I'd also stick up for Exeter's St James's Park having lived there for a few years, I found it a brilliant place on a spare Saturday afternoon. People friendly, unless you come from Plymouth.
Look we all know that if you go looking for trouble, you will find it pretty quick outside a football ground. But the overwhelming majority of football fans are decent people who quietly and stubbornly will not allow idiots to come between themselves and something they love.
The ground with the worst memories for me was Highbury back in the 70's after being beaten 5-3 bought a burger outside the ground which was soggy after the rain. Then had my scarf stolen. Chased after the guy got pushed to the ground and given a good kicking. Met up with my brother at the station and found that he had suffered the same fate. I've never had any sympathy for anything arsenal since.
Quote from: Andy S on July 22, 2021, 10:10:50 AM
The ground with the worst memories for me was Highbury back in the 70's after being beaten 5-3 bought a burger outside the ground which was soggy after the rain. Then had my scarf stolen. Chased after the guy got pushed to the ground and given a good kicking. Met up with my brother at the station and found that he had suffered the same fate. I've never had any sympathy for anything arsenal since.
Quote from: Andy S on July 22, 2021, 10:10:50 AM
The ground with the worst memories for me was Highbury back in the 70's after being beaten 5-3 bought a burger outside the ground which was soggy after the rain. Then had my scarf stolen. Chased after the guy got pushed to the ground and given a good kicking. Met up with my brother at the station and found that he had suffered the same fate. I've never had any sympathy for anything arsenal since.
Andy , I don't want to sound picky but that game was October 1967 , and yes I remember it poured down with rain that day . I was at the game aged 10 with my dad and had an old rattle , from the Second World War . on me and unfortunately whacked an Arsenal fan , by accident , across the back of his head when celebrating one of our goals !He was not a happy bunny and my dad quickly defused the situation!
Thanks for that Dr know I was 15 at the time. I remember the game it would have been called an 8 goal thriller
I have normally attended away matches by going as an anonymous secret FFC supporter and hid in plain sight but kept my big mouth shut. I admit it's a bit of cowardice on my part, but I kept my teeth. But wear your colours at your own peril is what I have learned over the years.
I remember one time at Upton Park a very kind West Ham fan (Tomo) had noticed my tiny FFC pin on the lapel of my fleece jacket. Oops! Rookie move on my part.
Anyway thankfully after I removed it, Tomo said something like: "Yeah don't mind Fulham, family club, nice ground, always liked the supporters." Surprising how many people have admitted that to me over the years.