Football grounds thread

[exile]

What about your football ground, or different football grounds visited across Scotland or beyond?

Is it the traditional ground or is it a new ground and/or does it have a new name?

What is special or distinctive? What about the pies, the facilities, the access?

What memorable matches or occasions?

[exile]

Well to kick off, how about Hampden Park (now Barclays Hampden). Where to start?

Original ground named after nearby Hampden Terrace, named after a John Hampden, a cousin of Oliver Cromwell, who fought in the English civil war. 'This is where the ‘Scotch Professors’ developed the modern passing game of football and exported it to the world.'

The current Hampden was the biggest football ground in the world when it opened (1903) and still hold European records for attendance, such as international (149,415 attendance for Scotland v England, 1937) or UEFA competitions (136,505 for Celtic v Leeds in 1970).

As well as football, has hosted many other sports events as well as concerts from AC/DC to U2.

Apparently during the second world war the government ordered it to be poughted up and planted with vegetables, but the stadium authorities ignored that.

More history here.

Edited December 23, 2025 by exile

[slasher]

What a brilliant thread!

I’ll need to have a think about it but off the top of my head two domestic favourites for character and atmosphere would be the old Broomfield (Airdrie) and Station Park ((Forfar) 

[fringo]

I can't think of many different grounds that many people here won't have been to apart from my first ever game as a 5 year old which was Tunisia v Coventry in Tunis as I lived there until 1975. Don't remember much about it but the splendour of your first ever game, floodlights and the immensity of the stadium and all the people for the first time still vaguely registers with age but still lodges in the memories. 

[fringo]

PS. I'd be interested to hear all the different grounds people have been to outside Scotland and Scotland games in particular.  There's bound to be some great ones especially from the football daft TAMB. I've seen many posts over the years about trips to Italy,  South America etc. Great thread exile Sir.

[NSIGN]

Great thread. 
 

A fantastic ground a lot of people might not have been to was Underhill stadium where Barnet used to play. 
I went there to watch Notts County about 20 years ago. Mad stadium with five or six rickety stands and no segregation on the terracing. Austin Mcann was playing for Notts that day (Hearts fans may remember him)
 

I always liked Shielfield Park as well. We were driving up from England to Easter road once and we passed through Berwick. I used to collect Pennants so my dad made sure we stopped at Shielfield park so I could get one. 
We could see the players and manager training on the pitch. One of the coaching staff came over and sorted the pennant out for us. Made such an impression on me as a young boy I’ve made a point of going back there to watch a few matches over the years. 

Stade de la Frontiere in Luxembourg was a ground which I liked. Saw Celtic beat Jeunesch Esch about 10-0 in the UEFA cup. Seem to remember there were no pubs but the weather was beautiful and watching football in the uncovered stands in the summer evening was a great experience. 

Worst grounds I’ve ever been to would be Swindon, Rochdale, the Emirates stadium and Darlingtons gigantic empty stadium.  

 

[RDFH64]

The 1st football ground I went to was Portsmouths Fratton Park, a real old fashioned stadium with a grand entrance to the stand we stood in.

The 1st Scottish team I seen play was Partick Thistle playing Portsmouth in a friendly just after they’d beaten Celtic 4-1 in the 1971 league cup final, sure it ended 0-0.

[McTeeko]

La Bombonera for me. Always loved the aeriel photos of the place, and was fascinated by that wee skinny main stand with the VIP boxes. Made it over in April for a stadium tour and a game under the lights in among the fans behind the goal. Wee bucket list ground I don’t think will be beaten (Still love to visit the Azteca mind you). 
The week before the Boca game we were in La Monumental for a River game. Still an iconic ground and the biggest in South America, but it didn’t have that magic that La Bombonera had. Loved how the Boca kids tied their hoodies to the fence to make a wee seat! 🙌🏼🇦🇷

Edited December 24, 2025 by McTeeko

[exile]

18 hours ago, slasher said:

What a brilliant thread!

I’ll need to have a think about it but off the top of my head two domestic favourites for character and atmosphere would be the old Broomfield (Airdrie) and Station Park ((Forfar) 

👍

[exile]

17 hours ago, fringo said:

I can't think of many different grounds that many people here won't have been to apart from my first ever game as a 5 year old which was Tunisia v Coventry in Tunis as I lived there until 1975. Don't remember much about it but the splendour of your first ever game, floodlights and the immensity of the stadium and all the people for the first time still vaguely registers with age but still lodges in the memories. 

Fascinating, but what kind of game was Tunisia v Coventry and why?

[exile]

Cowdenbeath Racewall (aka Central Park) - home of Scottish stock car racing

https://www.racewall.co.uk/

[RDFH64]

8 hours ago, RDFH64 said:

The 1st football ground I went to was Portsmouths Fratton Park, a real old fashioned stadium with a grand entrance to the stand we stood in.

The 1st Scottish team I seen play was Partick Thistle playing Portsmouth in a friendly just after they’d beaten Celtic 4-1 in the 1971 league cup final, sure it ended 0-0.

 

[exile]

40 minutes ago, McTeeko said:

La Bombonera for me. Always loved the aeriel photos of the place, and was fascinated by that wee skinny main stand with the VIP boxes. Made it over in April for a stadium tour and a game under the lights in among the fans behind the goal. Wee bucket list ground I don’t think will be beaten (Still love to visit the Azteca mind you). 
The week before the Boca game we were in La Monumental for a River game. Still an iconic ground and the biggest in South America, but it didn’t have that magic that La Bombonera had. Loved how the Boca kids tied their hoodies to the fence to make a wee seat! 🙌🏼🇦🇷

Great photo! 👍

[fringo]

37 minutes ago, exile said:

Fascinating, but what kind of game was Tunisia v Coventry and why?

It was just a friendly I assume. Not sure why it was Coventry.  Went with my dad and brothers.

[Big Ramy 1314]

Only been to Parkhead, Hampden, and Ibrox. I love the history and mystique of old grounds. I found Cathkin Park fascinating....

[slasher]

My favourite English grounds would be the old Ashton Gate, the City Ground and Craven Cottage. I was at the City Ground when we played Forest in the UEFA Cup and crushing led to a pitch invasion. I was very young so it was quite frightening but the city and the trip overall were amazing. There was a link up between Forest/Celtic for years off the back of that, many of them coming up regularly and I remember being down at theirs for a European match vs Bayern and a game v Liverpool. It would never happen now as the two supports are oil/water politically. Isn’t it funny that people with different viewpoints can’t tolerate each other anymore and how it has poisoned football fans. Segregation leads to misunderstanding imo.

Anyway loved Craven Cottage whilst down visiting in-laws who were ST holders. Most famously had a wee drink with Hugh Grant after one game. Saw Celtic win pre season friendlies at the cottage and Loftus Road.

My biggest disappointment and coincidentally one of Celtic’s best European nights was Anfield. I just don’t get the mystique about the place. It’s always easier for the away support obviously but we totally took over that night and as decent as they were I didn’t think they were all that. The whole place just seemed smaller and less atmospheric than i imagined!

Edited December 24, 2025 by slasher

[fringo]

23 minutes ago, slasher said:

My favourite English grounds would be the old Ashton Gate, the City Ground and Craven Cottage. I was at the City Ground when we played Forest in the UEFA Cup and crushing led to a pitch invasion. I was very young so it was quite frightening but the city and the trip overall were amazing. There was a link up between Forest/Celtic for years off the back of that, many of them coming up regularly and I remember being down at theirs for a European match vs Bayern and a game v Liverpool. It would never happen now as the two supports are oil/water politically. Isn’t it funny that people with different viewpoints can’t tolerate each other anymore and how it has poisoned football fans. Segregation leads to misunderstanding imo.

Anyway loved Craven Cottage whilst down visiting in-laws who were ST holders. Most famously had a wee drink with Hugh Grant after one game. Saw Celtic win pre season friendlies at the cottage and Loftus Road.

My biggest disappointment and coincidentally one of Celtic’s best European nights was Anfield. I just don’t get the mystique about the place. It’s always easier for the away support obviously but we totally took over that night and as decent as they were I didn’t think they were all that. The whole place just seemed smaller and less atmospheric than i imagined!

I've never been to Craven Cottage but it looks like a place worth a visit as it's so different.  I think Scotland played Nigeria there a few years back so no doubt a few tambers were there.

I went to Loftus road once when Blackburn Rovers came with Colin Hendry etc a few weeks before Blackburn won the the league.  Also the Charlton home ground when they were in top tier which was Div 1 several years before Premier league. 

I'd almost forgotten about these games until this thread resurrected the memories. 

[dan cake]

Easter Road stadium, the leith San Siro home of the Hibernians from Edinburgh. This place was an absolute toilet when my father first took me in the late 70s early 80s, main stand stank of shite literally (police horses kept under it while the match was in progress) old dilapidated huge east terracing half shut with punks sniffing glue , skinheads drinking vodka and east of Edinburgh street gangs having pre arranged fights at half-time, pitch was a tattie field with a ridiculous slope. Fast forward 40 years and it’s now a functioning place of beauty, 4 modern stands with ample facilities, all seats with a non restricted view and a pitch like a bowling green (weather permitting) apart from filling in the corners which I believe can’t be done due to light restrictions on residential properties it’s all good for the next couple of decades. The team on the park however is a different story, GGTTH

[DoonTheSlope]

On 12/25/2025 at 1:41 AM, dan cake said:

Easter Road stadium, the leith San Siro home of the Hibernians from Edinburgh. This place was an absolute toilet when my father first took me in the late 70s early 80s, main stand stank of shite literally (police horses kept under it while the match was in progress) old dilapidated huge east terracing half shut with punks sniffing glue , skinheads drinking vodka and east of Edinburgh street gangs having pre arranged fights at half-time, pitch was a tattie field with a ridiculous slope. Fast forward 40 years and it’s now a functioning place of beauty, 4 modern stands with ample facilities, all seats with a non restricted view and a pitch like a bowling green (weather permitting) apart from filling in the corners which I believe can’t be done due to light restrictions on residential properties it’s all good for the next couple of decades. The team on the park however is a different story, GGTTH

I’ve no idea what you mean…

[C2405]

I was at Hillsborough in the early 70’s and watched Sheffield Wednesday play Notts Forest. What made it interesting was Willie Henderson was up against Tommy Gemmell.

[Ally Bongo]

8 minutes ago, C2405 said:

I was at Hillsborough in the early 70’s and watched Sheffield Wednesday play Notts Forest. What made it interesting was Willie Henderson was up against Tommy Gemmell.

Most of the Celtc 1967 squad had a sojourn at the end of their careers in England along with many other Scottish players 

Must have been their last chance of a payday to get something out the game they had given so much to 

 

[vanderark14]

On 12/24/2025 at 11:45 PM, slasher said:

My favourite English grounds would be the old Ashton Gate, the City Ground and Craven Cottage. I was at the City Ground when we played Forest in the UEFA Cup and crushing led to a pitch invasion. I was very young so it was quite frightening but the city and the trip overall were amazing. There was a link up between Forest/Celtic for years off the back of that, many of them coming up regularly and I remember being down at theirs for a European match vs Bayern and a game v Liverpool. It would never happen now as the two supports are oil/water politically. Isn’t it funny that people with different viewpoints can’t tolerate each other anymore and how it has poisoned football fans. Segregation leads to misunderstanding imo.

Anyway loved Craven Cottage whilst down visiting in-laws who were ST holders. Most famously had a wee drink with Hugh Grant after one game. Saw Celtic win pre season friendlies at the cottage and Loftus Road.

My biggest disappointment and coincidentally one of Celtic’s best European nights was Anfield. I just don’t get the mystique about the place. It’s always easier for the away support obviously but we totally took over that night and as decent as they were I didn’t think they were all that. The whole place just seemed smaller and less atmospheric than i imagined!

Another vote for craven cottage here. Went to see them 4 times when they were still in the championship. Great atmosphere

 

[vanderark14]

Ive been to a few non league matches in england. Mostly Woking FC but have been to Aldershot FC, Farnham Town, Eastleigh and Havant & Waterville.

Farnham Town was recently made famous because Peter Crouch lost a bet and had to be mascot for the day 😆 

From the above....and it pains me to say it because they are the huns of the south east but Aldershot have a great ground for atmosphere. Proper old school shed terracing behind the goal with a lot of atmosphere, just ashame their fans are bell ends

Edited December 29, 2025 by vanderark14

[glasgow jock]

On 12/24/2025 at 11:45 PM, slasher said:

My favourite English grounds would be the old Ashton Gate, the City Ground and Craven Cottage. I was at the City Ground when we played Forest in the UEFA Cup and crushing led to a pitch invasion. I was very young so it was quite frightening but the city and the trip overall were amazing. There was a link up between Forest/Celtic for years off the back of that, many of them coming up regularly and I remember being down at theirs for a European match vs Bayern and a game v Liverpool. It would never happen now as the two supports are oil/water politically. Isn’t it funny that people with different viewpoints can’t tolerate each other anymore and how it has poisoned football fans. Segregation leads to misunderstanding imo.

Anyway loved Craven Cottage whilst down visiting in-laws who were ST holders. Most famously had a wee drink with Hugh Grant after one game. Saw Celtic win pre season friendlies at the cottage and Loftus Road.

My biggest disappointment and coincidentally one of Celtic’s best European nights was Anfield. I just don’t get the mystique about the place. It’s always easier for the away support obviously but we totally took over that night and as decent as they were I didn’t think they were all that. The whole place just seemed smaller and less atmospheric than i imagined!

 That would be 1983 Slasher ? 

I went to the return at Parkhead with my Celtic daft best mate. . . . quite a bit of bother before and after (a couple of stabbings) IIRC (although a long time ago, so I could be way off the mark)

Celtic should have won down there though.

[Big Ramy 1314]

On 12/24/2025 at 12:21 PM, McTeeko said:

La Bombonera for me. Always loved the aeriel photos of the place, and was fascinated by that wee skinny main stand with the VIP boxes. Made it over in April for a stadium tour and a game under the lights in among the fans behind the goal. Wee bucket list ground I don’t think will be beaten (Still love to visit the Azteca mind you). 
The week before the Boca game we were in La Monumental for a River game. Still an iconic ground and the biggest in South America, but it didn’t have that magic that La Bombonera had. Loved how the Boca kids tied their hoodies to the fence to make a wee seat! 🙌🏼🇦🇷

This !!! Would love to go to this ground !!