By LUKE POWER, SPORTS REPORTER

Published: 15:15 GMT, 25 December 2025 | Updated: 15:31 GMT, 25 December 2025

Legendary Nottingham Forest and Scotland player John Robertson has died aged 72 on Christmas Day. 

Robertson was part of the iconic Forest side which won the First Division and two European Cups among other trophies under Brian Clough in the 1970s and ’80s.

He set up Trevor Francis to score the winner against Malmo in the 1979 European Cup final before becoming the goalscoring hero himself a year later against Hamburg.

The winger also picked up 28 caps for Scotland and spent a couple of years at Derby County in a career which spanned 627 games. 

Forest said in a statement: ‘We are heartbroken to announce the passing of Nottingham Forest legend and dear friend, John Robertson. 

‘A true great of our Club and a double European Cup winner, John’s unrivalled talent, humility and unwavering devotion to Nottingham Forest will never ever be forgotten. 

Nottingham Forest icon John Robertson – a two-time European Cup winner – has died aged 72

‘Our thoughts are with John’s family, friends and all who loved him. Rest in peace, Robbo… our greatest.’

Robertson made his debut for the Midlands outfit in October 1970 and made 502 appearances in a 13-year stint at the club. He then dropped down into the Second and Third Division with Derby County for a couple of years before returning to end his career at Forest in the top flight in 1985-86.

With Scotland, he is remembered for scoring the winning penalty as they beat England 1-0 at Wembley in 1981 to win the British Home Championship.

He also scored against New Zealand in the 1982 World Cup. 

Clough once described him as a ‘Picasso of our game,’ adding: ‘Give him a yard of grass and he was an artist.’

After retiring, he was Martin O’Neill’s assistant manager at Wycombe, Norwich, Leicester, Celtic, and Aston Villa. 

In 2015, a poll by the Nottingham Post revealed him to be the fans’ all-time favourite player.  

The Scottish national team posted: ‘Our thoughts are with the family and friends of John Robertson, following his passing today.’ 

Robertson, pictured at Forest in 1971, also turned out for Scotland and Derby County

Celtic added: ‘Celtic Football Club is sad to learn of the passing of our former assistant manager, John Robertson. Our thoughts and prayers are with John’s family today at such a difficult time for them all.’

Journalist Henry Winter wrote: ‘John Robertson made the ball dance. He filled Forest fans with joy and filled opposing full-backs with fear and he did it his way. He entertained and delivered. Two-time European champion. Great player, great character. Thoughts with John’s family, friends and team-mates. RIP.’ 

One fan called on the club to honour Robertson by renaming the Bridgford Stand after him.

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John Robertson dead at 72: Tributes pour in as legendary ex-Nottingham Forest and Scotland star passes away

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Bright Osayi-Samuel has praised Samuel Chukwueze for his influence on Nigeria’s attack following the Super Eagles’ opening win at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Nigeria kicked off their AFCON 2025 campaign with a 2-1 win over Tanzania, a match in which Chukwueze did not find the net or register an assist but still played a central role in stretching the opposition and driving the team forward.

Chukwueze arrived at the tournament in strong form, having recorded four assists and scored two goals for his club before the competition. That momentum, according to Osayi-Samuel, has carried over into the national team setup.

The Birmingham City defender highlighted the growing understanding between himself and the winger, particularly on Nigeria’s right flank.

“Yeah, I mean, I love playing with him [Samuel Chukwueze], we play on the same side. What I need to do is just give him the ball and run in space, you know, he’s been great in the Premier League, and you can see those flashes of quality today,” Osayi-Samuel said as quoted by Soccernet. “I think the more we gel together, the more we play together, then we will see more of him.”

Osayi-Samuel also stressed the importance of teamwork and sharper finishing as the tournament progresses, noting that the Super Eagles created several opportunities against Tanzania.

“I think taking our chances, we had quite a few today, but we didn’t take them. Overall, the more we play together, know our strengths, and try to give service to our number 9, then yeah, all the best,” he said.

Currently on loan at Fulham from AC Milan, Chukwueze has been one of Nigeria’s most dangerous attackers in recent months. Before AFCON 2025, he was directly involved in six Premier League goals, scoring twice and setting up four more.

Against Tanzania, the winger delivered an energetic 59-minute display, completing six successful dribbles, contesting 13 duels and recording four touches inside the opposition box as he repeatedly unsettled the Tanzanian defence.

Nigeria will now turn their attention to their next group match against Tunisia on December 27, as they look to build on a positive start to the tournament.

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Bournemouth attacker, Antoine Semenyo has picked Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi as a better player ahead of Al-Nassr captain Cristiano Ronaldo.

Semenyo insisted that he is a fan of the Argentina forward, as he also described what Ronaldo has done in football as incredible.

Messi and Ronaldo are widely regarded as among the best football players who have ever played the sport.

The duo are in the twilight of their football careers and are set to play their last World Cup tournament next year.

Speaking during a segment on the AwayDays YouTube channel, Semenyo was asked to pick between Messi and Ronaldo, the 25-year-old simply said: “Messi 100%.

“I’m not downplaying what Ronaldo has done. What he has done is unbelievable. And what they are both doing is great. But personally, I’m a Messi fan.”

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Day 7 (Wednesday, 24 December, 2025)

Super Eagles’ Favourite Nigerian Meals Revealed

“As a Mr. Chef ‘envoy’, most of my questions were focused on the players bud tastes. Moses Simon told me that his favourite dish is pounded yam with ‘egusi’ soup; Victor Osimhen chose ‘amala’ (yam flour) and ‘gbegiri and ewedu’ soup (beans soup and jute leaves). Calvin Bassey said he loved ‘jollof rice and dodo’ (fried plantain). I am sure that Mr. Chef is reading this and taking the players’ meal orders”

The foregoing is an extract from my diary of Sunday, 21 December, 2025 when I visited the Super Eagles at their training ground, the Sardienne Complex here in Fez, Morocco. I speculated that Mr. Chef, the Official Food Seasoning Partners of the Nigerian national football teams, must be taking the players’ meal orders. Well, I was bang on target.

Visit To Super Eagles’ Hotel Sahrai In Fez

Today, Wednesday, 24 December, 2025, I decided to pay a visit to the Super Eagles HOTEL SAHRAI, not to interview the players who needed to rest properly from the exertions of the previous match day against Tanzania, but to find out how well they were being taken care of by the hotel. I was taken to the hotel kitchen to witness dinner being cooked and, what a pleasant coincidence: on the menu list indeed were ‘ogbono’ soup, ‘egusi’ soup and, wait for it, jollof rice!

Main entrance to Hotel SAHRAI, nest of the Super Eagles in Fez.

Mezgueldi Mohammed is the Executive Chef of Hotel Sahrai. He wasn’t feeling quite well, so he delegated his deputy, 2nd Executive Chef Aziz Salaheddine to talk to me. Aziz didn’t speak English, so a smartly dressed Achraf Alazraq, director of food and beverages at the hotel, served as the interpreter. The interview took place in their cozy restaurant.

Also Read: AFCON 2025 Diary Day 6: Short Corner Genius, Chelle’s Reality Check, Super Eagles’ Fez Fight And More!

Aziz has been a Chef for 15 years now. He regaled me with talk about Morocco’s food culture and how Couscous is the number one meal on the national food league table. But, for his Super Eagle guests, pasta and continental dishes were their favourites, aside from the local cuisines from Nigeria. And this is where Mr. Chef Nigeria comes fully into the picture.

I was welcomed by the hotel’s Director of Food and Beverages, Achraf Alazraq (middle) and 2nd Executive Chef, Aziz Salaheddine.

Inside The Hotel Kitchen — Ogbono, Egusi And Jollof Rice On The Menu

During my tour of the hotel’s expansive kitchen, I met a team of cooks clad in white overalls busy preparing the dinner for the Super Eagles. The kitchen staff couldn’t have been less than 15 from my rough estimate. Men were slicing up loads of beef and chicken while the women were stirring big pots of various soups. Naturally, I was attracted to a black lady at work. She turned out to be Esther who had been flown in from Nigeria to supervise the cooking of local dishes for the Super Eagles.

2nd Executive Chef Aziz Salaheddine taking me on tour of the hotel’s kitchen facilities…..
Esther from Nigeria in action preparing ‘ogbono’ and ‘egusi’ soups for the players, powered by Mr.Chef seasoning, Official Sponsors of the Super Eagles….

“In this pot is ‘ogbono’ soup,” she told me as she stirred frantically. “The other pot is for ‘egusi’ soup to be taken with swallows. Then, there’s jollof rice. The players love everything.” Obviously, Mr.ChefNigeria is living up to its name as the foremost food seasoning in Nigeria, and making its presence felt on the Super Eagles meals as an official partner.

Nigerian Chefs Behind Super Eagles’ Home-Flavoured Meals

Esther is not the only Nigerian in the hotel kitchen. When it was time for photographs, she sent for her partner, Queen, who came running over from another section of the kitchen. They were joined for the photo shoot by other Moroccan cooks Fatima and Amina, and the Chief Pastry, Rachid Abdelmanay. They were all very exited to shout ‘Up Super Eagles’ into my rolling camera when I encouraged them to do so.

Dining Setup For Players And Team Officials

From the kitchen, I was also taken on a tour of the restaurant where the Super Eagles ate their meals. There was a long table already set for the players, and two smaller tables by the side for the team officials and backroom staff. The restaurant manager, a lady, Boutayna, showed me where the buffet was usually arranged, a separate table for tea and coffee and a corner where assorted fruits was already lying in wait for the Nigerian team. Another round of photographs followed.

Here I am with Queen and Esther (on the right), the two cooks from Nigeria, alongside Aziz Salaheddine.
Super Eagles dining table. This is where the players eat their ‘ogbono’ and ‘egusi’ soups plus the jollof rice spiced richly with Mr.Chef seasoning.
A bunch of fruits already waiting in the restaurant to prepare the players’ stomachs for the swallows that would follow.
L-R: Yours truly, Queen, Chief Pastry Rachid Abdelmanam (doing the thumbs up), Amina, Fatima and Esther in the kitchen. At the back is Aziz.
L-R: The restaurant manager, Boutayna, yours truly, Achraf and Aziz.

Also Read: AFCON 2025 Diary Day 5: Fed Govt. Motivates Super Eagles, Tanzania Memories, Chelle’s Calm And Eagles’ Mission In Fez

‘That Would Be Third World War!’ — Chef Reflects On A Chance Morocco–Nigeria Clash

Back in the Executive Chef’s office in the kitchen, Muhammed congratulated me on Nigeria’s 2-1 victory over Tanzania in our opening match the previous day. “Of course, we’re supporting Nigeria because the players are our guests and we want them to continue winning,” he said. But when I asked what happens if Nigeria were to encounter Morocco during the tournament, Muhammed paused, breathed in the sweet aroma coming from the pots in his kitchen, and then said: “That would be a Third World War!”

Everyone burst into a laughter.

Executive Chef Mezgueldi Mohammed (seated) is the overall boss of the Hotel SAHRAI kitchen. He delegated his deputy Aziz (middle) to receive me while Chief Pastry Rachid (holding Nigeria flag) joined in the photo as I said my goodbyes to them.

Behind The Scenes At Super Eagles’ Training Camp

MY visit to the Super Eagles camp was arranged deliberately to avoid any distractions to the players. I arrived with Complete Sports photographer, Ganiyu Yusuf, as the team departed for training and we left the hotel, coincidentally, just as they were arriving back from the training ground. As they disembarked from the team bus, I noticed that only the players that featured against Tanzania went for the training, presumably for the traditional recovery session. Team captain Wilfred Ndidi was the last to walk back into the hotel.

Cold, Rain And Fatigue — A Freezing Day In Fez

IT HAS been a very cold and wet day in Fez today, forcing most Nigerians here to stay indoors. Were it not for my scheduled appointment at the Eagles hotel, I would not have stepped out either.

After our opening match against Tanzania on Tuesday night, I didn’t get back to my hotel until midnight, famished and fatigued. The rain that started falling during the match continued overnight and into Wednesday morning and it had not subsided when I went to the Eagles hotel in the evening. What a wet and freezing cold day. Huuugh!

AFCON 2025 Round-Up — Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon Win

ACTION continued at the AFCON in other groups and cities. In Group E, Algeria opened their campaign with a 3-0 win over 10-man Sudan in Rabat, with Algeria’s star player Riyad Mahrez scoring twice in the 2nd and 61st minute. In the group’s other game, Burkina Faso snatched a dramatic win with two late goals against Equatorial Guinea. After the 10-man Guineans scored late in the 85th minute, the Burkinabes fought back very late in the 95th and 98th minutes to snatch the win.

Cameroon players celebrate a goal against Gabon. Credit: @caf_online (IG)

Also Read: AFCON 2025 Diary, Day 4: Mr. Chef Partnership, Super Eagles’ Spirit And Morocco’s Opening Night Win

In Group F, Manchester United’s Amad Diallo scored the only goal as defending champions Côte d’Ivoire edged Mozambique 1-0 in Marrakech, while Cameroun beat their Central African neighbours Gabon by the same score in Agadir. Karl Etta Eyong grabbed the solitary goal for the Indomitable Lions in the 6th minute.

With the first round of matches concluded in all the groups, the big guns have delivered wins in their opening games while the underdogs are still searching for upsets. Christmas Day, Thursday, 25 December is a rest day in all groups and I will probably take a break and rest my diary, too. Action resumes again on Friday, 26 December. Join me again then……

 

By Mumini Alao, in Fez

Photos by Ganiyu Yusuf

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By DANIEL MATTHEWS, US SENIOR SPORTS WRITER

Published: 13:15 GMT, 25 December 2025 | Updated: 13:15 GMT, 25 December 2025

Saquon Barkley has revealed that he ‘couldn’t stand’ Eagles coach Nick Sirianni before moving to Philadelphia.

The running back led the league in rushing after teaming up with Sirianni last season as they led the Eagles to their first Super Bowl since 2017.

But Barkley admitted that he was not a fan of the head coach while he was playing for the New York Giants.

‘I’ve said it to him – I couldn’t stand that motherf***er,’ he said, per 6abc, ahead of Philadelphia’s clash with the Bills on Sunday. ‘I wasn’t a fan of him.’

But Barkley is now approaching the end of his second season with the Eagles and, under Sirianni, they have already secured a playoff spot and the NFC East title.

And the running back said: ‘Now being here and seeing how obsessed he is… he’s so obsessed with the little things, and there’s a reason why this team has been super successful.

Saquon Barkley said he used to hate Nick Sirianni — also said he’s the perfect coach for the city of Philadelphia. He had some high praise for Nick. pic.twitter.com/p85BiO950M

— Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) December 24, 2025

Saquon Barkley ‘couldn’t stand’ Eagles coach Nick Sirianni before moving to Philadelphia

After teaming up last season, however, Sirianni and Barkley led the Eagles to Super Bowl glory

Barkley enters Sunday’s game against Buffalo with 1,072 rushing yards and nine touchdowns

‘It’s been pretty cool to be able to go from [being] against him and not being a fan of him and seeing what he’s all about. 

‘I think he does a really good job. He’s the perfect coach for Philadelphia.’

Barkley claimed that even behind-the-scenes shows such as HBO’s Hard Knocks cannot ‘do justice’ to Sirianni’s coaching skills.

The 44-year-old is in his fifth season at the helm in Philadelphia and the Eagles have – once again – had to overcome some struggles this year.

Barkley and Co have suffered five losses and the running back has so far failed to match his heroics of the 2024 campaign.

He enters Sunday’s game against Buffalo with 1,072 rushing yards and nine total touchdowns.

The 28-year-old, who spent six seasons in New York out of Penn State, amassed 2,005 rushing yards and 15 total touchdowns in the 2024 regular season.

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Saquon Barkley reveals he used to hate Eagles coach Nick Sirianni: ‘I couldn’t stand that motherf***er’

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Spanish side Valencia have been linked with a January move for Nigerian forward Emmanuel Dennis as the club weighs up options to strengthen its attack midway through the season.

Emmanuel Dennis is currently without a club after parting ways with Nottingham Forest during the summer. The 28-year-old has since attracted interest from several sides, with Spanish outlet Fichajes reporting that Valencia are keen on adding him to their squad.

The former Watford man is valued for his versatility, being comfortable both through the middle and out wide. At the same time, his free-agent status makes the deal financially appealing for Los Che as they plan for the January transfer window.

Meanwhile, another Forest striker could also be on the move, with Taiwo Awoniyi linked with a return to Germany. According to Kicker, Bundesliga strugglers Mainz are considering a January approach as they look to boost their goal threat while sitting at the bottom of the league.

Awoniyi previously spent the 2019 to 2020 season on loan at Mainz from Liverpool, scoring once in 12 league appearances. A move back would see him reunite with coach Urs Fischer, who later played a key role in his permanent switch to Union Berlin in 2021.

The Nigerian international has struggled for game time at Forest this season, finding himself behind Chris Wood and Igor Jesus in the pecking order. He has featured just five times in the league, and a January exit could offer a fresh start as he looks to revive his campaign.

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Nicolas Jackson and Riyad Mahrez are leading the golden boot race at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, reports Completesports.com.

The duo have scored two goals each in the competition.

Jackson bagged a brace in Senegal’s 3-0 victory over Botswana on Tuesday.

Read Also:AFCON 2025: My Goal Is To Be The Best In The World –Cameroonian Midfielder

Mahrez also scored twice in Algeria’s 3-0 thrashing of Sudan on Wednesday.

The former Manchester City winger has now scored 36 goals for Algeria.

Mahrez moved to second on the nation’s all-time scorers list behind Islam Slimani.

The brace also saw him become Algeria’s leading scorer in AFCON’s history with eight goals.

By Adeboye Amosu

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Marcus Rashford has admitted that he finds he is more motivated to succeed at Barcelona following his move from Manchester United, insisting there isn’t a ‘bad type of pressure’ at his new club.

Rashford, who joined the Spanish giants on loan from his childhood club at the beginning of the season after being frozen out by Ruben Amorim, is enjoying life in Spain and has scored seven times and notched 11 assists in 24 appearances this campaign.

Previously, the 28-year-old forward has insisted he wanted to extend his stay in Spain beyond the end of the season, when his loan spell comes to an end, with the club having the option to sign him for £30.3million.

When asked if that was still his main motivator, he told Spanish outlet Sport: ‘Of course this is what I want, but it’s not the reason why I’m pushing and working hard.

‘The reason why is because I want to win. Barcelona is a fantastic club. A club that is known for winning, and it’s this type of pressure – I want to say pressure but it’s not a bad type of pressure.

‘It’s a pressure that you look forward to and a pressure that I want to have whilst I’m playing football. If I’m at a club that doesn’t demand these things then it’s more difficult for me to be motivated. It’s a fantastic environment for me to continue my football journey.’

Rashford, who joined Barcelona on loan from his childhood club Manchester United at the beginning of the season has scored seven times and notched up 11 assists in 24 appearances

‘I think there’s more scrutiny on Manchester United just because more people in the country hate them, and that’s just a fact,’ Harry Maguire told TNT Sports earlier this year. 

Asked about how he had enjoyed settling into life in Barcelona, Rashford said: ‘From the minute that I arrived I felt welcome. For me, the reason why I’m here is to help the team. I’m here to help them win trophies.

‘Last year they had a fantastic season but – like in life and in football – things move on quickly so we have to repeat the season that we had last season.

‘I’m fully focused on this and the staff, the players know that I’m focused on this so it’s really good.’

Rashford broke through from United’s academy into the first team under Louis van Gaal in 2016, and the Wythenshawe native was one of the club’s brightest prospects for the future. But a turbulent period at United – including witnessing six different managers in charge – led to inconsistent performances in his later seasons.

After netting 30 times in Erik ten Hag’s debut season, he struggled to maintain his form and the arrival of Ruben Amorim marked the beginning of the end for the Englishman’s time at Old Trafford.

Rashford joined Aston Villa less than three months after the arrival of the Portuguese boss, who said he could not get Rashford to buy into his ideas. ‘What I say is I couldn’t put Marcus to see the way you’re supposed to play football and to train the way I see it,’ Amorim said at the time.

‘And sometimes you have one player who is really good with one coach and the same player with another coach is different. I just wish the best to Rashford.’

These latest comments from Rashford, though, hint at a deeper issue the forward felt regarding the level, and nature, of the pressure at the club.

Scott McTominay has also reached incredible new heights since leaving childhood club United, helping clinch the Serie A with Napoli last season and getting a Ballon d’Or nod for his efforts

And he’s not the only person to draw upon the intense criticism felt by players at United, with Harry Maguire saying that the pressure was ‘on a totally different scale’ from other clubs.

‘I think there’s more scrutiny on Manchester United just because more people in the country hate them, and that’s just a fact,’ Maguire told TNT Sports earlier this year.

‘Everyone in the Premier League dislikes Man Utd and they don’t want to see them do well.’

And Rashford, who has been hailed an ‘absolute professional’ by his new manager Hansi Flick, is not the only recent departee to be thriving abroad. Former winger Antony has contributed 13 goal involvements in 19 appearances for La Liga side Real Betis in his first season since his permanent move in the summer.

Meanwhile, Scott McTominay was also nominated for the Ballon d’Or after helping Napoli clinch the Serie A title last season, winning the Player of the Season award for his performances.

Former Red Angel Gomes, who has received an England call-up since leaving United in 2020 for a flourishing career at Lille and now Marseille, described how some players benefit from being free of the weight of the United shirt.

‘Players may have been intimidated or not really know about the weight, what it carries and what it takes,’ he told the BBC in June.

‘But ultimately, sometimes, it’s down to environment, timing and having the right things in place to help you.

‘Some players who have left and gone on to do better than when they were at United, there might be things in place at that certain club, at that moment in time, that helped them succeed.’

 

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Tunisia star midfielder Mejbri Hannibal has said the Carthage Eagles’ win against Uganda will give them the momentum they need ahead of their clash with Nigeria’s Super Eagles.

Tunisia opened their quest for a second continental title with a 3-1 win against Uganda in Group C in Rabat on Tuesday.

One of the outstanding player for the Tunisians was Hannibal who orchestrated play in the midfield.

Also Read: Super Eagles Off To A Flyer As Millions Of Fans Tune In To Watch AFCON 2025

“It was important for us to start with victory. Obviously, it gives us momentum going into the next games and I believe we have had a good run, right from the World Cup qualifiers which could be important in our AFCON journey,” the Burnley star said.

The Manchester United academy graduate said the Cranes were affected by the cold weather condition.

“ They (Uganda) were a good team but the conditions were a bit difficult for them but I hope they have a good tournament.”

Asked if he was impressed by any player in the Uganda Cranes team, Hannibal pointed out midfielder Travis Mutyaba.

“The whole team was good but number ten was outstanding for me.”

The last time the Super Eagles defeated Tunisia at the AFCON was in the third place encounter in Egypt in 2019.

A first half strike from Odion Ighalo secured a 1-0 win for the Eagles.

The Tunisians avenged the defeat by edging out a 10-man Super Eagles side 1-0, in the round of 16 at the 2021 tournament in Cameroon.

By James Agberebi in Fes, Morocco

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When Arsenal fans settle down for their Christmas dinner this year, they’ll do so knowing their team are sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League table. 

It wasn’t always a certainty. The Gunners were momentarily dislodged on Saturday afternoon when Manchester City romped to a 3-0 victory over West Ham United at the Etihad. 

Yet a couple of hours later and normality, at least this season, was restored. Arsenal’s 1-0 win on their first visit to Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium sent them right back to the top of the league, two points clear of City and three of Aston Villa. 

Granted, it’s not quite the six-point lead they held at the end of November but this is the Premier League. No side goes through an entire campaign without a blip, at least not anymore. Arsenal’s blip – if you can even call it that – of course coming at Villa Park a couple of weeks ago. 

But Gunners know all too well that you win nothing for being top while Santa delivers his presents. In fact, Arsenal have never won the Premier League when they’ve been in pole position at Christmas. 

First, they let a lead which stretched to some eight points slip to Manchester United in 2002-03 before repeating that feat five years later in 2007-08. More recently, Arsenal fans won’t have forgotten their woes in 2022-23 and 2023-24.

Arsenal’s 1-0 win on their first visit to Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium sent them right back to the top of the league

But the last four times the Gunners were top at Christmas, they failed to convert their lead into a title

However the North London club’s post-Christmas slump is a trend which stretches back beyond the inception of the Premier League. 

Arsenal have, according to Opta Analysis, incredibly failed to win the league on the last seven occasions they’ve led on December 25. You have to go back as far as 1947-48 to find the last time the Gunners lifted the top flight trophy after leading at Christmas. 

So for all of Mikel Arteta’s plaudits – and there have been many – it looks as though being top at Christmas means nothing at all. 

In fact, of the 126 seasons of English top flight football which have been played since 1888, the side at the top of the table on December 25 has only gone on to win the title on 56 occasions. That’s just 44 per cent of the time.

If you look solely at the Premier League era, 17 of the 33 (51.5 per cent) teams to have spent Christmas top have gone on to win the league. 

And bigger leads than Arsenal’s have been blown in years gone-by. Take Newcastle United’s capitulation in 1995-96 as a prime example. 

When the clock struck midnight on 25 December, 1995, Kevin Keegan’s Magpies looked as though they were on the verge of ending their 69-year wait for the Premier League title. 10 points they sat clear of Man United.

Man United overturned a 12-point deficit on Newcastle United to win the league in 1996

Two days later they faced the Red Devils and lost 2-0, but they would go on to restore their lead to some 12 points before Sir Alex Ferguson played his famous mind games on the Newcastle boss. 

‘I’d love it if we beat them,’ Keegan blurted after his side blew their lead in April 1996.

They didn’t, and United went on to lift the Premier League trophy after an almost extraordinary comeback. 

History therefore clearly suggests that it’s far from a foregone conclusion that Arsenal will end their more than 20-year wait for the Premier League trophy this campaign. 

But don’t be fooled into thinking Mikel Arteta isn’t aware of this. The Spaniard was asked only last week about what being top of the league after 18 matches means for his side’s title aspirations. 

His response: ‘What gives me belief and confidence is the level of performance and the consistency of that. 

‘That’s very, very difficult to do in this league and that means that the team is constantly there. Enjoy the process of winning and you’re going to have to go to difficult places, you’re going to have difficult moments, we have dealt with a lot of things already and we are there.

The title race could come down to April 18, when City and Arsenal face each other at the Etihad

‘And what we’re going to do is work for the next game, try to improve and make sure that everybody is with that spirit and energy and enjoying that.’

For Arteta, this season is make-or-break. 

For all of his good work since he took over a dire Arsenal side in 2019, the club are without a trophy for some five years since they beat Chelsea in the FA Cup final of 2020. 

They may be in pole position to end that drought, though they’ll need to buck an historic trend to do so.  

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Benin Republic head coach Gernot Rohr has hit out angrily at Confederation of African Football (CAF) following his team’s narrow 1-0 loss to the Democratic Republic of Congo at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

The German tactician accused match officials of denying his side a clear penalty and questioned the standard of officiating at the tournament.

Speaking after the game, Rohr did not hide his frustration, raising concerns about the role of technology and the decisions taken during the encounter.

“I am very angry about the quality of refereeing at this AFCON,” Rohr told Osasu Obayiuwana after the match. “What is happening to the VAR? We were denied a penalty. Things are going crazy with CAF.”

The former Super Eagles coach went further to suggest that Benin Republic were not being treated on equal terms because of their profile on the continent. “It seems Benin is disregarded because we are a small country,” the 71-year-old added, as he questioned whether all teams at the competition were receiving fair consideration from match officials.

Rohr also pointed to organisational issues away from the pitch, recounting an incident involving a member of his backroom staff who travelled for scouting duties. “I sent my staff to Tangier for scouting, and he was not even allowed into an empty stadium. He had to watch on TV somewhere. This is a big mess,” Rohr stated.

The defeat leaves Benin with a tougher task in the group as they chase qualification at the 2025 AFCON. Their next game is against Botswana on Saturday, December 27, followed by a clash with Senegal on December 30.

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Spanish club Valencia have been credited with an interest in Nigerian striker Emmanuel Dennis, DAILY POST reports.

Dennis was released by Premier League club, Nottingham Forest in the summer.

The 28-year-old has been linked with several clubs leaving the Tricky Trees.

According Spanish media outlet,  Fichajes, Valencia have strong interest in the striker.

Los Che are looking to bring in a new striker when the transfer window reopens in January.

Dennis, who can play either as a striker and winger is one of the names on their list.

The fact that they won’t pay a transfer fee also makes the player an attractive option.

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Captain Wilfred Ndidi has praised Super Eagles’ resilience following a hard-fought 2–1 victory over Tanzania in their opening match  at 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, while acknowledging there is still room for improvement.

Speaking after the match, Ndidi stressed the importance of starting the tournament on a winning note.

“The first game is always about momentum,” Ndidi said. “It was really good that we got the three points, which is the most important thing.”

The Besiktas midfielder admitted the team struggled with fatigue in the second half but praised the squad’s reaction and composure under pressure.

“There’s always space for improvement. The first half was good, the pace was good. In the second half we were a bit tired, but we reacted very well,” he added.

Despite Nigeria conceding again, Ndidi downplayed concerns over defensive issues, expressing confidence in the players and coaching crew to address shortcomings as the tournament progresses.

Similarly, defender Semi Ajayi has admitted that  the Super Eagles still have areas to improve despite their winning start  against Tanzania.

Ajayi  who was named Man of the Match, emphasized the need for improvement as the tournament progresses.

“There are a few things we would iron out and improve, but there are also a lot of positives to take,” he said. “We need to do better at seeing out games and killing teams off.”

The defender also stressed the importance of goals coming from all areas of the pitch, noting that success cannot rely solely on attackers.

Nigeria now turn attention to a crucial Group C encounter against Tunisia, while Tanzania prepare to face Uganda in their next match.

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We’re republishing the best of DailyMail+ Sport from 2025 – the exclusive, in-depth stories that our subscribers love. Here, we look back at our chief sports writer completing a lifelong odyssey – doing the 92. Oliver Holt ranked all 92 grounds (as they were then, though the Hill Dickinson Stadium is still to come…) and this is where your team ranks. 

Some grounds are beautiful. Some grounds are not so beautiful. Some grounds take you to the heart of the English game. And some leave you feeling like you’re on the periphery.

But each of them holds the soul of their community and the hopes and dreams of the thousands of people who make the pilgrimage there every weekend. 

I’ve completed the journey of a lifetime and I am ranking all 92 English Football League grounds for Daily Mail Sport. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for as long as I can remember and on April 1, 2025, I did it. I completed the 92. 

I won’t give too much away just yet, but why are grounds like AFC Wimbledon and Barrow in my top 20? What about Anfield, Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge?

Where is the best grub in the Premier League and where did Tyson Fury once threaten to have my jaw broken?

This is my love letter to English football. Read on to find out who comes out on top, where your team ranks and everything else in between – then let me know what you think of my guide to the 92 grounds of England. 

92. The Den, Millwall

Division: Championship Opened: 1993 Capacity: 19,369

I’m banned from The Den at the moment, in a professional capacity anyway. I could still go in a personal capacity but, on balance, I think I’d rather not.

The Daily Mail has been told our reporters are not welcome at the club because we had the temerity to report on the horrendous challenge by Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts on Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta during the FA Cup tie at Selhurst Park a few weeks ago.

Let’s be honest about this: there are worse places to be banned from. Being banned from The Den is the football equivalent of being banned from your local abattoir.

You don’t have to be a racist, misogynistic, homophobic bloke with anger issues and a penchant for tragedy-chanting to feel at home at The Den. But it helps.

Being banned from The Den is the football equivalent of being banned from your local abattoir

It felt like embarking on a tour of Jurassic Park: you know that if the fences fail, the dinosaurs are going to take a run at you

Inside the ground, which is modern and neat and relatively characterless, the level of hatred for visiting supporters feels unusually visceral

And, yes, I know Millwall are trying to rebrand themselves a ‘family club’ now and the odd Tarquin and Tabitha stray across the county lines from Blackheath and Clapham to keep it real but that just makes The Den experience even worse.

The last time I went as a supporter was 15 years ago to watch Stockport County play there and the walk from South Bermondsey station to the away turnstiles was an eye-opener.

Not that there were any problems: even at Millwall, football has moved on since the 70s. But this still felt deeply dystopian: for their own safety, away fans walk to the ground through a long wire mesh cage that seems to have no end.

It felt like embarking on a tour of Jurassic Park: you know that if the fences fail, the dinosaurs are going to take a run at you.

Inside the ground, which is modern and neat and relatively characterless, the level of hatred for visiting supporters feels unusually visceral.

It’s loud. I’ll give it that. It’s primeval. It’s unreconstructed, which can be a good thing, too, and it breeds a sense of togetherness.

If medievalism is your thing, you’re in for a treat. If not, give it a miss.

91. Stadium MK, MK Dons

Division: League Two Opened: 2007 Capacity: 30,303

I know it’s a soft target but I really don’t care much for Stadium MK. Or for MK Dons themselves for that matter, even if they are inviting supporters to redesign their club crest and rethink their name.

The club was born under a bad sign when it was jemmied out of Wimbledon and moved to Milton Keynes in 2003 and it has never been able to shake the stigma since. The stadium fits the club.

I know it’s a soft target but I really don’t care much for Stadium MK, home of MK Dons

Its black seats lend it a sinister air and it’s a soulless, gloomy, rather forbidding place

It is a soulless, faceless, gloomy place. More than that, there is something rather forbidding about it.

Its 30,000 capacity is too big for the club it hosts and, apart from the joys of the local KFC and McDonald’s, there is little to recommend in its immediate surrounds.

Its black seats lend it a sinister air, too. It’s the kind of stadium only its mother could love. And it doesn’t have a mother.

Unless you want to do the 92, give it a miss.

90. Kassam Stadium, Oxford United

Division: Championship Opened: 2001 Capacity: 12,537 

I feel ashamed to say it, given that it is my local club, but the best experience I’ve had at the Kassam Stadium was getting my Covid jab there during the pandemic.

When they moved, around the turn of the century, abandoning the chaotic charm of the Manor Ground in Headington and swapping it for an isolated plateau outside the city, they only completed three sides, abandoning the fourth because of rising costs. 

A particularly bitter wind blows in off the car park behind one of the goals and, from the main stand – in fact, from every stand – there is a magnificent and uninterrupted view of the Frankie and Benny’s in the mini retail park that abuts the ground.

When Oxford moved, around the turn of the century to an isolated plateau outside the city, they only completed three sides

The empty end kills a lot of the atmosphere, too, although the Oxford fans are to be commended for the noise they do generate

The empty end kills a lot of the atmosphere, too, although the Oxford fans are to be commended for the noise they do generate given they have endured a generation of being stuck here.

Firoz Kassam still owns the stadium but not the club. That kind of separation always spells trouble.

Oxford are hoping to move to a new stadium to the north of the city in a couple of years’ time. It can’t come soon enough.

89. London Stadium, West Ham United

Division: Premier League Opened: 2012 Capacity: 62,500

I don’t even like calling it the London Stadium. It’s the Olympic Stadium, but it suits the David Sullivan-Karren Brady rebrand of the club to give it the capital’s name.

It was a great athletics arena and home to a whole host of golden memories at London 2012 but it’s a dog’s dinner of a football ground.

It’s also a monument to much that is wrong with the top flight of the English game: a surrender of identity and tradition as collateral damage in the owners’ pursuit of profit.

It was a great athletics arena and home to a whole host of golden memories at London 2012 but it’s a dog’s dinner of a football ground

Walking to the London Stadium, sadly, feels a bit like walking through a wasteland and its odd configuration inside harms the atmosphere

Walking to it, sadly, feels a bit like walking through a wasteland and its odd configuration inside harms the atmosphere even though the fans are right up there with the best in the country.

The old stadium at Upton Park was intimate and raucous and intimidating. The London Stadium is nothing like that.

The owners spent a lot of time congratulating themselves on the deal they did to move to the new ground: they’re the archetypes of football owners who know the price of everything and the value of nothing.

88. Hillsborough, Sheffield Wednesday

Division: Championship Opened: 1899 Capacity: 34,945

I used to think of Hillsborough as one of the cathedrals of the English game but since the disaster that claimed the lives of 97 Liverpool fans in 1989, it is hard to get past its association with so much death and despair and heartbreak and betrayal of supporters.

I know, obviously, that this would punish Wednesday fans who do not deserve to be punished for something that had nothing to do with them but Hillsborough, and its Leppings Lane End in particular, has such a cursed legacy that part of me thinks it should have been demolished and that the club should have moved elsewhere.

It is hard to get past Sheffield Wednesday’s association with so much death and despair and heartbreak and betrayal of supporters

The Leppings Lane End (pictured in foreground) in particular has a cursed legacy

Even in the last couple of years, fans of Newcastle United and Leeds United have reported serious safety concerns in the Leppings Lane End.

I recognise the flaws in my argument about demolishing the stadium, or part of it, and the emotions it provokes on all sides so perhaps it’s just enough to say I’ll never feel the same about the stadium as I once did.

Visiting it now feels like an intrusion.

87. Sixfields, Northampton Town

Division: League One Opened: 1994 Capacity: 8,203

Sixfields is a blighted stadium.

Sixfields is a soulless ground anyway but its issues have been compounded by redevelopment delays and questions about missing money

It is a soulless ground anyway but its issues have been compounded by redevelopment delays and questions about missing money.

It has the same kind of deracinated feel as so many of the new-build stadia pushed to the peripheries of towns. Its supporters deserve a lot better.

86. Broadfield Stadium, Crawley Town

Division: League Two Opened: 1997 Capacity: 6,134

Not an awful lot to relish about the Broadfield Stadium, to be honest.

Decent fans, of course, just like at every club, but Crawley Town’s home is a bit of a modern monstrosity, next to a roundabout outside town on the A23.

The place has had a bad vibe since it was acquired by Wagmi United LLC, a group of US cryptocurrency investors

If you visit Broadfield Stadium, I think you might doubt that Crawley are even a League One side

The place has had a bad vibe since it was acquired by Wagmi United LLC, a group of US cryptocurrency investors. Wagmi, by the way, stands for ‘We’re All Gonna Make It’.

If you visit the Broadfield Stadium, I think you might doubt even if they are in League Two.

I had fun when I visited because I was in the away end with Stockport fans but I’m not in any hurry to go back.

85. Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry City

Division: Championship Opened: 2005 Capacity: 32,609 

When it was called the Ricoh Arena, I had no interest in visiting what is now the Coventry Building Society Arena because it felt like a symbol of the callous way in which fans of the club were being treated by SISU, the hedge fund that owned it at the time.

Football at the CBS Arena feels like it is in an urban wasteland but it is football, nonetheless

The atmosphere inside the ground was lively enough but it is a soulless, deracinated kind of stadium abutting the M6

But SISU sold up in the end and I went along last season and saw Coventry dismantle Wayne Rooney’s Birmingham City and then, in the press room beneath the stadium, watched as my colleague Neil Moxley got into a decent old-fashioned row with Rooney about his stewardship of the Blues.

The atmosphere inside the ground was lively enough, partly because the game was a derby of sorts, but it is a soulless, deracinated kind of stadium abutting the M6.

It is football in an urban wasteland but it is football, nonetheless, and Doug King, the new owner has brought with him the promise of better times ahead.

84. JobServe Community Stadium, Colchester United

Division: League Two Opened: 2008 Capacity: 10,105 

The staff at the club are great, the stewards are friendly, there’s plenty of parking, there’s a Wendy’s next door and the home fans, largely ranged in a stand behind one of the goals, make a superb fist of creating an atmosphere.

But this stadium on a roundabout on the A12 in the middle of a retail park is still rather a bleak place to watch football.

This stadium on a roundabout on the A12 in the middle of a retail park is still rather a bleak place to watch football

The home fans, largely ranged in a stand behind one of the goals, make a superb fist of creating an atmosphere

It probably didn’t help that I went on a dank March night a few weeks ago when a wispy fog lingered in the dim floodlight glare but there was something ethereally gloomy about the JobServe Community Stadium.

The empty corridors and the cavernous suites lent it a slight feel of the Overlook Hotel on the inside. On the outside, the four corners of the stadium are open, which makes for especially bitter nights in the winter.

Home is home and there was still plenty of drama and passion in Colchester’s 1-0 victory over Chesterfield – the match I saw – but it came despite the stadium, not because of it.

83. Poundland Bescot Stadium, Walsall

Division: League Two Opened: 1990 Capacity: 10,863

The Bescot Stadium was the first of the generation of identikit new-build arenas I went to and there is not, frankly, much to recommend it apart from the loyalty of the fans.

It’s close to the M6 and it’s a seven-minute walk to Walsall station, so you can get away from it quickly, which some would say is a bonus.

The Bescot Stadium was the first of the generation of identikit new-build arenas I went to and there is not, frankly, much to recommend it apart from the loyalty of the fans

82. Brick Community Stadium, Wigan Athletic

Division: League One Opened: 1999 Capacity: 25,133

I stood on the terraces at Springfield Park as a Stockport fan.

Once again, it will not come as a surprise to learn I preferred it to its successor, the JJB Stadium, which later became the DW Stadium and is now the Brick Community Stadium.

The name changes are irrelevant to some but they betray a lack of care for the identity of a football club

I remember, in particular, the heady feeling of watching Wigan’s first home game in the top flight, against Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea in 2005

The name changes are irrelevant to some but they betray a lack of care for the identity of a football club.

There were some great days and nights there when Wigan were promoted to the Premier League and I remember, in particular, the heady feeling of watching Wigan’s first home game in the top flight, against Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea in 2005.

The limelight has moved away again now and Wigan are left with a stadium that is perfectly adequate and also perfectly unremarkable.

81. The Croud Meadow, Shrewsbury Town

Division: League Two Opened: 2007 Capacity: 9,875 

Gay Meadow, the former home of Shrewsbury Town, was one of the best grounds in our top four divisions.

Abutted by a McDonald’s and a TK Maxx on the outer fringes of the town, it feels like a disembodied place, separated from its community, functional but uninspired

It might have flooded now and again because of its position on the banks of the River Severn but it was a fine old ground and the tradition of a boatman taking to a coracle to fish wayward shots that cleared the roof of the stand out of the river was one of the most cherished peculiarities in our game.

The Croud Meadow is altogether more prosaic. Abutted by a McDonald’s and a TK Maxx on the outer fringes of the town, it feels like a disembodied place, separated from its community, functional but uninspired.

80. Select Car Leasing Stadium, Reading

Division: League One Opened: 1998 Capacity: 24,376 

I was persona non grata for a while at the Select Car Leasing Stadium when I took exception to Reading taking out two Chelsea goalkeepers in one match back in 2006, when Steve Coppell and Wally Downes were in charge at the Madejski Stadium. 

People called it the Mad Stad back then and I remember Neil Warnock telling me about being chased to his car outside the main entrance when he was manager of Sheffield United.

I was persona non grata for a while at the Select Car Leasing Stadium when I took exception to Reading taking out two Chelsea goalkeepers in one match back in 2006

I have only respect for the Reading fans who have endured so much under the ownership of Dai Yongge and are fighting for their club

And Wally took a swing at me at a Football Writers’ Association dinner a couple of years later. 

Anyway, I’ve made up with Stephen Hunt, who was one of the players involved in the tumult against Chelsea, and with Downes since then.

Even if the Mad Stad doesn’t have an awful lot of personality, I have only respect for the Reading fans who have endured so much under the ownership of Dai Yongge and are fighting for their club.

79. Pride Park Stadium, Derby County

Division: Championship Opened: 1997 Capacity: 32,956

Pride Park is the standard-bearer, sadly, for what is lacking in many of the new generation of English football stadia.

English football grounds should be about the North Bank and the Stretford End and the Kop and the Gallowgate End and the Shelf.

Pride Park is the standard-bearer, sadly, for what is lacking in many of the new generation of English football stadia

Too many of the modern bowls have lost that character because the fans just merge into one

They’re supposed to be about defined areas that give a stadium character and personality and even rivalry among home fans about who sings loudest.

Too many of the modern bowls have lost that character because the fans just merge into one.

This is not a criticism of Derby County fans in any way. They still make plenty of noise inside their stadium but the place is not a patch on the Baseball Ground, which witnessed so many momentous days and nights.

Pride Park is bland and featureless, a symbol of its team’s current struggle for identity as it languishes near the foot of the Championship.

78. Swansea.com Stadium, Swansea City

Division: Championship Opened: 2003 Capacity: 20,996 

My in-laws used to live in Swansea and when I wasn’t out walking to Worm’s Head at Rhossili or enjoying the delights of Mumbles and the Wales Coast Path, I’d make the occasional pilgrimage to what was left of the Vetch Field.

I stood in the away end there with Manchester United fans in the early 80s but when I visited later in my life, the Vetch was locked up and derelict. If you peered through the gates, you could see small trees and shrubs growing on the pitch.

My in-laws used to live in Swansea and I’d make the occasional pilgrimage to what was left of the Vetch Field

The Swansea.com Stadium lacks the same character, obviously, but it is a tight stadium where the fans can still generate a rousing atmosphere if their team’s displays allow it

The Swansea.com Stadium lacks the same character, obviously, but it is a tight stadium where the fans can still generate a rousing atmosphere if their team’s displays allow it.

At the moment, sadly, that isn’t very often but they have had some fine teams and fine managers in the post-Vetch era.

I did a phone interview with Mike Tyson from the press box here a couple of hours before a game. I couldn’t hear him very well because of various announcements being made over the loud-speaker system and soon, his tone became rather impatient but still, a conversation with Mike Tyson in the press box at Swansea is not easily forgotten.

77. Pirelli Stadium, Burton Albion

Division: League One Opened: 2005 Capacity: 7,088

The main entrance of the Pirelli Stadium looks a little like a car showroom. The rest of it struggles for character, too.

Burton’s a fine club with a distinguished non-League history that can boast Neil Warnock and Nigel Clough as former managers and which has nailed down its place in the Football League.

Burton’s a fine club with a distinguished non-League history that can boast Neil Warnock and Nigel Clough as former managers and which has nailed down its place in the Football League

Burton have punched above their weight for much of that time and their stadium is built for practicality, not for artistic merit

It has been a club to be admired for a long time, particularly under the former stewardship of Ben Robinson, who recently sold his majority stake to the Nordic Football Group.

They have punched above its weight for much of that time and their stadium is built for practicality, not for artistic merit.

76. Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth

Division: Premier League Opened: 1910 Capacity: 11,307

The club is one of the success stories of modern English football and the Vitality Stadium reflects its enthusiasm and, yes, vitality.

The club is one of the success stories of modern English football and the Vitality Stadium reflects its enthusiasm

It’s a bit of a Lego arena, sure, but it’s built for its audience and its catchment area. It’s a League Two stadium that got overtaken by the success of its side

It’s a bit of a Lego arena, sure, but it’s built for its audience and its catchment area. It’s a League Two stadium that got overtaken by the success of its side.

Its character comes from its small size and the atmosphere it generates because of it. 

Abutting King’s Park and not far from the sea front, it’s a ground that almost manages to feel quaint. But not quite.

75. Eco-Power Stadium, Doncaster Rovers

Division: League One Opened: 2007 Capacity: 15,148

It is, at least, a pleasant walk to the Eco-Power Stadium on the outskirts of Doncaster. 

Doncaster’s Eco-Power Stadium is perfectly presentable but there is little to distinguish it

It is a uniform modern bowl on the outside of town rescued by the club’s excellent support

I parked on the estate grouped around Lakeside Lake and strolled around its shores until I came to the stadium. Things go slightly downhill from there.

It’s a perfectly presentable stadium but there is little to distinguish it. It is a uniform modern bowl stuck on the outside of town that is rescued by the club’s excellent support.

74. St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton

Division: Championship Opened: 2001 Capacity: 32,384

Southampton’s former ground, The Dell, was a wonderfully quirky stadium, full of odd tiers and shelves.

It doesn’t feel as though St Mary’s Stadium has any quirks, unfortunately.

It doesn’t feel as though Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium has any quirks, unfortunately

Squatting at the edge of a slightly murky industrial estate, it falls squarely into the category of new builds largely devoid of character

Squatting at the edge of a slightly murky industrial estate, it falls squarely into the category of new builds largely devoid of character.

That does not mean that the home fans are incapable of creating atmosphere there and the renditions of When the Saints Go Marching In are a part of the cultural fabric of football in this country.

Sight lines are good and it can get loud but its design has little to recommend it.

73. King Power Stadium, Leicester City

Division: Championship Opened: 2002 Capacity: 32,259

One of the few times I was genuinely scared at a football stadium when I was a supporter was during a visit to Leicester City’s former stadium at Filbert Street.

In the crush to get out of the away end at the final whistle, I was lifted off my feet in the surge.

So I’m aware that there are limits to how much one should mourn the passing of that generation of stadia but I still find it hard to warm to arenas like the King Power Stadium.

It is comfortable and it is functional and the Leicester fans can make plenty of noise but it’s a bland, featureless bowl that has little to distinguish it from many of the new era of stadia

It provided me with one of the great memories of the last decade when Andrea Bocelli sang Nessun Dorma the game after Leicester had won the Premier League in 2016

It is comfortable and it is functional and the Leicester fans can make plenty of noise but it’s a bland, featureless bowl that has little to distinguish it from many of the new generation of stadia.

Even then, it provided me with one of the great memories of the last decade when Andrea Bocelli stood next to Claudio Ranieri and sang Nessun Dorma the game after Leicester had pulled off the shock of the century by winning the Premier League in 2016.

72. Lamex Stadium, Stevenage

Division: League One Opened: 1961 Capacity: 7,426

Broadhall Way, now officially the Lamex Stadium, is a decent little ground with a good atmosphere.

Broadhall Way, now officially the Lamex Stadium, is a decent little ground with a good atmosphere

It’s a fine club, too, that has consistently achieved more than most expected of it and has held down its place in the Football League.

The fans create more than their share of noise but it’s a friendly club with great staff and stewards.

It’s not spectacular but it’s a lovely day out watching football.

71. EV Charger Points Stadium, Cheltenham Town

Division: League Two Opened: 1927 Capacity: 6,923

It is a high bar in these days when money counts a lot more than heritage and finances are fraught at the wrong end of the EFL but the EV Charger Points Stadium may have the most chequered naming rights past of any stadium in the country.

We should just stick with Whaddon Road really but it was renamed the Abbey Business Stadium in 2009, then it became The World of Smile Stadium, then the LCI Rail Stadium in 2016–17, then the Jonny-Rocks Stadium in 2018–19, and the Completely-Suzuki Stadium in 2022 and now its current glorious and evocative name. 

EV Charger Points Stadium may have the most chequered naming rights past of any stadium in the country

It’s a shame because it’s a fine little ground that provides a different focus in a town dominated by horse racing

I hope they got a lot of money for those sponsorships because they make the club look stupid and cheap and rip chunks of its identity away from it.

Again, I know it’s probably not financially viable to do away with them but I hate stadium naming rights. I’d ban them if I could. Football survived for a century without them so why not now?

It’s a shame because it’s a fine little ground that provides a different focus in a town dominated by horse racing.

70. Priestfield Stadium, Gillingham

Division: League Two Opened: 1893 Capacity: 11,582

I remember the journey as much as anything.

Kent might be the county I’ve been to least and so it felt slightly exotic driving down the M2 and seeing the Priestfield Stadium not far from the River Medway.

Some may damn Priestfield but Gillingham have played here for more than 100 years and that weight of history counts as much as anything when you visit a stadium

Some may damn Priestfield but Gillingham have played here for more than 100 years and that weight of history counts as much as anything when you visit a stadium. 

However hard clubs may try to replicate tradition with forced rituals, you can’t cheat history.

69. Hayes Lane, Bromley

Division: League Two Opened: 1938 Capacity: 5,000 

Hayes Lane is one of those stadiums that feels wide open to the elements. It’s the opposite of a tight, enclosed ground like Loftus Road but it’s still a pleasure to visit.

Hayes Lane is one of those stadiums that feels wide open to the elements. It’s the opposite of a tight, enclosed ground like Loftus Road but it’s still a pleasure to visit

I went with Stockport when Bromley were in the National League and stood on the open terrace, which was reserved for away fans.

It was a wild evening in February 2022 and it felt as if the wind was blowing horizontal but County won 3-1 and a steward went out of his way to bring me a programme from where they were being sold in the home end, so it felt like a golden night all round.

68. Peninsula Stadium, Salford City

Division: League Two Opened: 1978 Capacity: 5,032

The players who comprise the Class of 92 were the players at the heart of one of the greatest stories I ever covered – the Manchester United Treble of 1998-99 – so perhaps it shouldn’t be a surprise that I enjoyed my visit to Moor Lane, now rebranded as the Peninsula Stadium.

Many dislike and distrust the way Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and the rest took over a non-League club and oversaw its rise to the Football League but I like what they’ve done at Salford.

This is a neat little ground and it’s been nicely modernised without losing all its character

Many dislike and distrust the way Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs and the rest took over a non-League club and oversaw its rise to the Football League but I like what they’ve done at Salford

It’s a neat little ground and it’s been nicely modernised without losing all its character. 

I went to a League Two play-off semi-final there a couple of years ago when Salford played Stockport and the atmosphere was excellent.

Stockport lost the first leg but made the final. So that helped.

67. Field Mill, Mansfield Town

Division: League One Opened: 1861 Capacity: 9,376

My only visit to Field Mill was on Saturday, November 20, 1982.

I know this because I have always been a football stadium nerd and my 16-year-old self logged all the matches I went to in a King’s School Macclesfield exercise book.

I didn’t know then that Field Mill was, and is, the oldest continually used stadium in the league but I stood on an open terrace behind one of the goals that housed the away fans and watched Stockport lose 3-2 in an FA Cup first-round tie.

Maybe that was why I’ve never been back. The atmosphere was a little bit lost because it seemed so open but there is a stand now where that open terrace was. So maybe things have improved.

I didn’t know back in 1982 that Field Mill was, and is, the oldest stadium in the league

66. Vicarage Road, Watford

Division: Championship Opened: 1921 Capacity: 22,200

I’m going to show my age again: the first time I went to Vicarage Road, Graham Taylor was the manager, in his first spell at the club, and Ross Jenkins was playing up front in a match against Manchester United.

Maybe I’ve misremembered this but I seem to recall the train dropping us away fans right outside the stadium.

I’ve always associated Watford’s home at Vicarage Road with drama for some reason

Even though it’s not tight and compact, it’s a place that can still generate a terrific atmosphere and I’ve seen a slew of upsets there

I’ve always associated Vicarage Road with drama for some reason. Even though it’s not tight and compact, it’s a place that can still generate a terrific atmosphere and I’ve seen a slew of upsets there.

The last one was when Liverpool visited in the middle of their runaway title-winning season in 2019-20.

They were still unbeaten in mid-February and on a long winning run and Watford took them apart and beat them 3-0. It was the kind of occasion that Vicarage Road excels at.

65. Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough

Division: Championship Opened: 1997 Capacity: 33,931

The location of the Riverside Stadium on the banks of the Tees, set against the backdrop of the region’s industrial heritage in steel and chemicals, makes it feel as if the stadium is at the heart of its community.

It is a friendly, passionate place to watch a game but its design is unimaginative and bland

Everton’s new ground is the latest to use its city’s waterway as a backdrop but the drawback to Middlesbrough’s home is its featureless interior.

It is a friendly, passionate place to watch a game but its design is unimaginative and bland.

The bitter wind blowing in from the North Sea can make the walk to the stadium a challenge for the efficacy of your winter clothes, too.

64. bet365 Stadium, Stoke City

Division: Championship Opened: 1997 Capacity: 30,089

There was a time, when Tony Pulis was manager of Stoke City, that a visit to the bet365 Stadium was regarded as the ultimate test of fortitude.

That was when the Sky pundit Andy Gray suggested Lionel Messi ‘would struggle on a cold night at the Britannia Stadium,’ the ground’s former name.

A visit to the bet365 Stadium is a test for fans, too. It generates a decent atmosphere but the design of the stadium means the wind blows through the gaps between the stands

Even if their new ground lacks character in its architecture, the fans have breathed life into it with their raucous vitality

A visit to the stadium is a test for fans, too. It generates a decent atmosphere but the design of the stadium means the wind blows through the gaps between the stands and chills supporters to the bone on cold days and nights.

A little way away, on the other side of the dual carriageway that runs down towards the M6, you used to be able to see the contours of the Victoria Ground, the club’s former home, etched into the patch of wasteland where it once stood but they have built a housing estate on it now.

Even if their new ground lacks character in its architecture, the fans have breathed life into it with their raucous vitality.

63. Blundell Park, Grimsby Town

Division: League Two Opened: 1899 Capacity: 9,031

I’m not saying that Steel’s Cornerhouse fish and chip restaurant is the best thing about Cleethorpes but eating fish fresh from the North Sea certainly made my visit to Blundell Park more memorable.

Ground experiences are about a lot more than the game. They’re about going with your mates, getting a sense of the local community, embedding yourself in tradition and the game, too

Ground experiences are about a lot more than the game. They’re about going with your mates, they’re about getting a sense of the local community, they’re about embedding yourself in tradition and they’re about the game, too.

I loved Blundell Park for all those reasons.

62. Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff City

Division: League One Opened: 2009 Capacity: 33,280

I was a journalism student in Cardiff so Ninian Park was the first ground where I ever sat in a press box. From that day to this, it’s never lost the thrill.

Rob Phillips, Cardiff’s South Wales Echo reporter at the time, was still commentating for the BBC until this season. He was the first example I came across of a journalist who was courageous enough to tell the truth even if it meant being banned by his local club.

It’s still a good place to watch football because they are such a passionate group of supporters

The stadium is unappealing from the outside – actually it’s downright ugly – and unremarkable on the inside

That fate befell him for a spell during my year in Wales.

Anyway, Ninian Park was a force of nature stadium and its successor was always going to struggle to replicate its intensity.

It’s still a good place to watch football because they are such a passionate group of supporters but the stadium is unappealing from the outside – actually it’s downright ugly – and unremarkable on the inside.

Unless, of course, it’s a South Wales derby or Bristol City are in town and then the atmosphere takes your breath away.

61. MKM Stadium, Hull City 

Division: Championship Opened: 2002 Capacity: 25,586

I’ve got a soft spot for Hull City but not for their stadium.

The MKM Stadium is a handsome one on the inside but there have been times I have visited when sections of it were shut down because of ticketing issues

The fans are brilliant, some of the best and most devoted in the country in a city where they have to fight against the power of rugby league

The fans are brilliant, some of the best and most devoted in the country in a city where they have to fight against the power of rugby league, but the stadium has too often become a battleground between the supporters and owners who have too often adopted a heavy-handed approach to their fans.

It is a handsome stadium on the inside but there have been times when I have visited when sections of it were shut down because of ticketing issues.

It is an arena that has been made ugly by division.

60. Carrow Road, Norwich City

Division: Championship Opened: 1935 Capacity: 27,359

There’s something special about clubs that do not share their cities with rivals. It strengthens their regional character, in particular, and it is that way with the culture at Carrow Road.

This is a gem of a stadium, a place full of passion and with plenty of enmity for Ipswich Town

The loving stewardship of Delia Smith and Michael Wynn-Jones pervades the atmosphere at the ground

It is a gem of a stadium, a place full of passion and with plenty of enmity for Ipswich Town but a fraction removed from some of the uglinesss that can blight the modern game.

The loving stewardship of Delia Smith and Michael Wynn-Jones pervades the atmosphere at the ground. They will be missed now that they have stepped down from the board.

59. Ashton Gate, Bristol City

Division: Championship Opened: 1887 Capacity: 26,459

Ashton Gate is one of the stadiums that has slipped through the gaps for me.

I’ve only been once and that was for work but it’s a handsome stadium in a beautiful city with a rich history.

Richard Scudamore, the former chief executive of the Premier League, is a fan, which always struck me as slightly strange given the damage the top flight did to the lower leagues during his time at the helm.

I’ve only been once and that was for work but Ashton Gate is a handsome stadium in a beautiful city with a rich history

58. Memorial Ground, Bristol Rovers

Division: League Two Opened: 1921 Capacity: 9,834

A quirky mish-mash of a ground whose architecture betrays its origins as a rugby stadium, the Memorial Ground is still a decent place to watch football.

Rather the kind of visual chaos you get at this place with the Popular Insulation Stand isolated like a widow stand on part of the one touchline and the West Stand looking more like a cricket pavilion than the monotonous uniformity you get at so many new-builds.

Owners are always threatening to move to a new site but the Memorial Ground, successor to Eastville, still survives.

Owners are always threatening to move to a new site but the Memorial Ground, successor to Eastville, still survives

A quirky mish-mash of a ground whose architecture betrays its origins as a rugby stadium, the Memorial Ground is still a decent place to watch football

57. Brisbane Road, Leyton Orient

Division: League One Opened: 1937 Capacity: 9,253

From the outside, the modern Brisbane Road looks as if it can’t make up its mind whether it’s a high-rise housing estate, a conference centre or a football ground. 

Maybe that’s the point. Maybe the future for some clubs is to be all three.

In Orient’s case, they have still managed to retain the character and the pride of the famous old ground.

In Orient’s case, they have still managed to retain the character and the pride of their famous old ground

The East Stand, with the lovely old gable bearing the club’s name, is one of the best stands in the four divisions and, despite all the changes, the place oozes with the local character that makes the best football clubs so distinctive.

I took my son to watch his first Stockport County game here when he was three. He didn’t catch the bug.

56. Sincil Bank, Lincoln City

Division: League One Opened: 1895 Capacity: 10,780

I haven’t been to Sincil Bank for more than 30 years but it remains one of my favourite grounds.

The reason is that it’s the home of one of English football’s more eccentric traditions, the sounding of an air-raid siren every time Lincoln get a corner.

It was abandoned for a while upon the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war but I’m told it’s been restored now.

The English game is full of odd histories. It’s what makes it so precious.

The English game is full of odd histories… and that’s what makes it so utterly precious

55. Oakwell, Barnsley

Division: League One Opened: 1888 Capacity: 23,287

They were heady days for Yorkshire football in the late 90s. Leeds United were in the Champions League and Barnsley spent a season in the Premier League.

It was a treat to visit Oakwell in those days and watch Barnsley’s underdog story play out. But there’s another reason why a visit to Oakwell is still special.

Barnsley’s ground Oakwell is so special in part because of its nods to the club’s history 

The West Stand is one of few remaining examples in our league of a stand designed by the famous football architect Archibald Leitch and it is a thing of beauty.

There was something beautiful about Leitch’s designs. Most have been demolished now but I have sat in the stand designed by him at Raith Rovers’ Starks Park stadium and it’s the best part of any ground I’ve been to in Scottish football.

Oakwell is precious because of that and because of other nods to the heritage of the club like the original changing rooms.

Barnsley’s Premier League status came and went but the club have never lost their sense of history.

54. Ewood Park, Blackburn Rovers

Division: Championship Opened: 1882 Capacity: 31,363

The first time I went to Ewood Park was October 1991 when I reported on the return of Kenny Dalglish to football management for Liverpool’s Daily Post.

I went a lot over the next 10 years as the good times rolled and it was a lovely opportunity to explore some of the Lancashire countryside around the town.

Blackburn Rovers’ Ewood Park is nestled amongst some glorious Lancashire countryside

The first time I went to Ewood Park was October 1991 when I reported on the return of Kenny Dalglish to football management

I loved it at Ewood Park. I liked being able to look out from the main stand at the gap between the stands opposite and see people standing on the hillside behind them, staring down into the stadium as the match unfolded.

I don’t know if that vantage point still exists. It does sound as if the supporter experience has worsened under the current owners.

The days when Dalglish led them to a league title seem an awfully long time ago now.

53. New York Stadium, Rotherham United

Division: League One Opened: 2012 Capacity: 12,088

There’s something bold about the New York Stadium that elevates it above the standard new-builds.

The glamour of the name – a suburb of Rotherham, not just one of the greatest cities in the world – helps, as does the charisma and the vision of the chairman and owner, Tony Stewart. It’s bold as brass and it carries it off.

There’s something bold about Rotherham’s New York Stadium that elevates it above the standard new-builds

52. Emirates Stadium, Arsenal

Division: Premier League Opened: 2006 Capacity: 60,704

If Arsenal were still at Highbury, it would be in my top five grounds.

One of my best mates owns a flat in the Highbury apartment development, in the spot closest to where his season ticket was.

It sends a shiver down my spine every time I go and visit. The respect Arsenal have shown to their old ground is a template for the way other stadiums should be preserved.

The stadium is not as bland as some of the new generation but it still lacks real character

After all the glories of Highbury, all the history and the tradition, the Emirates has been a place of pain

There’s still a lot of class at Arsenal. Right from Lynne on the front desk at the Emirates to the people who work in the media department and the upper echelons of the club so, in that regard, it’s always a pleasure to visit.

But the atmosphere turns poisonous here more quickly than any other stadium I know and it’s hard for me to disassociate coming here with the memory of the vitriol that rained down on Arsene Wenger in his final years at the club.

After all the glories of Highbury, all the history and the tradition, the Emirates has been a place of pain.

The stadium is not as bland as some of the new generation but it still lacks real character and there is such a sense of entitlement and bitterness among the supporters that I have one friend, who is a season ticket holder, who only goes to away games.

51. London Road, Peterborough United

Division: League One Opened: 1913 Capacity: 13,513

I love London Road. A well-run club with a terrific owner in Darragh MacAnthony and a stadium that’s a fine mix of old and new, tradition and modernity.

This is a place with a proper identity and fans that make a lot of noise and turn London Road into a cauldron for big games.

It’s the kind of stadium where you can feel respect for the past as well as an embrace of the future.

This is a place with a proper identity and fans that make a lot of noise and turn London Road into a cauldron for big games

50. Bloomfield Road, Blackpool

Division: League One Opened: 1899 Capacity: 16,616

Bloomfield Road is in need of a little love these days but any stadium where stands bear the name of Stanley Matthews and Stan Mortensen and where those two legends of the English game once graced the turf should be a pilgrimage for any football fan.

The first time I went was to watch Stockport in April 1983 so I remember the way the place used to look in the days when the greats ran out at Bloomfield Road.

Bloomfield Road is in need of a little love but any stadium where stands bear the name of Stanley Matthews and Stan Mortensen once graced the turf should be a pilgrimage for any fan

I was there in 2011, too, when Blackpool were back in the top flight, to see players like Charlie Adam and Marlon Harewood taking on Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United

I was there in 2011, too, when Blackpool were back in the top flight, to see players like Charlie Adam and Marlon Harewood taking on Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United on a bitter January afternoon by the Irish Sea.

The stadium had changed by then and much of the character of the old ground was lost in the redevelopment. Those days in the top flight seem like a long time ago now but while they still play at Bloomfield Road, the echoes of history will make it a magical place.

49. John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield Town

Division: League One Opened: 1994 Capacity: 24,329

One of the best of the lower-division new-builds, the John Smith’s Stadium is a classic of new football architecture.

Nestled in the lee of a hillside, its elegant, striking architecture with its curved trusses makes it a worthy successor to the old Leeds Road ground.

One of the best of the lower-division new-builds, the John Smith’s Stadium is a classic of new football architecture

More stadiums should be listed. More should have been protected. Too many have been lost but it’s not too late to safeguard the best of the ones that remain

Last year, the Twentieth Century Society called for the stadium to be listed and named it one of the best new buildings in the country in the last 30 years.

They’re absolutely right. More stadiums should be listed. More should have been protected. Too many have been lost but it’s not too late to safeguard the best of the ones that remain.

48. Adams Park, Wycombe Wanderers

Division: League One Opened: 1990 Capacity: 9,558

I know a lot of fans have Adams Park much lower on their list of stadiums to visit but I’ve always liked it.

Maybe it’s the bucolic setting, in the lee of a wooded hill on the edge of the Chilterns, that does it for me.

The stadium might be modest but the team has a habit of punching above its weight. It’s a great place to go and feel the underdog spirit that is part of the force that drives English football.

The stadium might be modest but the team has a habit of punching above its weight

Meadow Lane is a wonderful ground to visit and it’s evolved into an impressive modern arena

47. Meadow Lane, Notts County

Division: League Two Opened: 1910 Capacity: 19,841

The first time I went to Meadow Lane, it was to see Manchester United play a top-flight game there.

The away section was uncovered and the stadium had quirks and character. It’s still a wonderful ground to visit and it has evolved into an impressive modern arena that has plenty of nods to its rich history and its status as one of the founder members of the Football League.

Its location, on the other side of the River Trent to the City Ground, is not quite as spectacular as Forest’s, but it’s still a venue that blows the breath of football history across your face.

46. Highbury Stadium, Fleetwood Town

Division: League Two Opened: 1939 Capacity: 5,137

Like Leeds, Morecambe and Grimsby Town, going to watch Fleetwood is enhanced by local fish and chips.

If you can’t get good fish and chips in Fleetwood, you’re not trying hard enough and I dined royally in the Granada Fish Bar before heading to the Highbury Stadium.

This Highbury may not be quite as august as Arsenal’s old stadium but it has an elegant, modern main stand and a fierce local identity

The ground may not be quite as august as Arsenal’s old stadium but it has an elegant, modern main stand and a fierce local identity.

The club’s nickname is The Fishermen and the fans chant a lot about the Cod Army. It’s a great day out by the seaside.

45. University of Bradford Stadium, Bradford City 

Division: League One Opened: 1886 Capacity: 24,433

It is impossible to think of Valley Parade without thinking of the tragedy that befell Bradford City in 1985 when its main stand was engulfed by flames and 56 people lost their lives.

I try hard to think of happy memories there instead and the University of Bradford Stadium holds the distinction, in my football supporting life, of being the only stadium where I got chased by home fans.

Bradford’s Valley Parade still has its character, and it is still a fine stadium to visit

Every trip there is a chance to remember those who were lost in the tragic fire of 1985

I was there with Stockport in the early 80s and I could still actually run at faster than waddling pace then so I got away.

Valley Parade still has its character, it is still a fine stadium to visit. Every trip there is a chance to remember those who were lost.

44. The Hive, Barnet

Division: League Two Opened: 2013 Capacity: 6,500

The Hive flirts with soullessness but just about evades it.

For a start it’s one of the only stadiums that allows you to watch the action, fleetingly, from the London Underground.

The Jubilee Line travels past it on an embankment between Stanmore and Queensbury and the open corners allow you to gaze in at the game.

I’ve been inside a few times, too, most recently to see Stockport lose an FA Cup tie there in December 2018, and it was hard not to warm to the vision of the ground as a hub for community sport even if it looks a bit like a Lego stadium.

There is still something magical about the home of Charlton Athletic, The Valley

Even when it was crumbling and condemned, there was something majestic about it, something that recalled great days

43. The Valley, Charlton Athletic

Division: Championship Opened: 1919 Capacity: 27,111

The Valley has changed out of all recognition from the glory days when more than 75,000 crammed into it in the 1930s.

But there is still something magical about the home of Charlton Athletic. Perhaps, for those of us who are old enough, it is the memory of the old East Terrace rising up towards the South London sky.

Even when it was crumbling and condemned, there was something majestic about it, something that recalled great days.

Perhaps, too, there is something about the knowledge of how hard the fans fought, for seven years in the late 80s and early 90s, to return to the stadium when it seemed it had been ripped away from them.

And even if only that memory of the old East Terrace remains now, the walk down into the valley where the revamped stadium nestles still feels like a journey to the heart of the English game.

42. Mornflake Stadium, Crewe Alexandra

Division: League Two Opened: 1906 Capacity: 10,109

I have got a lot of affection for Gresty Road. On a Friday night at the end of September 1983, it was where I saw Micky Quinn score a hat-trick for Stockport County at the home of our bitter rivals.

Gresty Road is a better stadium now than it was in 1983, which isn’t a high bar, and it has a better owner than it did then

It was one of my best football experiences, seeing Quinn leaping on to the railings at the Gresty Road End after scoring his third, shaking his fists at us in triumph as we leapt about on the terracing.

If there was footage of the fans’ wild celebrations now, the caption might say ‘limbs’. 

Gresty Road is a better stadium now than it was then, which isn’t a high bar, and it has a better owner than it did then. But it can’t be easy living in the shadow of such mighty neighbours.

41. SMH Group Stadium, Chesterfield

Division: League Two Opened: 2010 Capacity: 10,400 

I used to have a bit of a vendetta against the SMH Group Stadium. Perhaps not a vendetta, but certainly a prejudice.

I loved the old ground at Saltergate but when the club moved to the new stadium and called it the b2net Stadium, it felt as if it had sold its soul.

Since 2009, it has also been called the Proact Stadium and the Technique Stadium. 

I loved the old ground at Saltergate but when the club moved to the new stadium and called it the b2net Stadium, it felt as if it had sold its soul

I met the owners, who are local businessmen and clearly have the club’s best interests at heart, and took in a game and suddenly the SMH Group Stadium had new life and character and soul

But getting to know a club sometimes changes your view of a place. I spent a bit of time there earlier this season when I went to watch Kieron Dyer, who is a coach at the club, and Paul Cook, the manager, at work.

I met the owners, who are local businessmen and clearly have the club’s best interests at heart, and took in a game and suddenly the SMH Group Stadium had new life and character and soul breathed into it for me.

It’s a club on the up and it’s a club that cares about its fans, and so my prejudice against the SMH Group Stadium is no more.

40. Boundary Park, Morecambe

Division: League Two Opened: 1904 Capacity: 13,186

I remember the cold at Boundary Park. I think a lot of people do.

For a long time, I laboured under the misapprehension that it was the highest ground in the Football League when, in fact, that distinction belongs to the Hawthorns.

Boundary Park just feels like it should be the highest. It’s not the most beautiful of stadiums but it’s got some grand old character and it’s embedded at the heart of its community.

It just so happens some of my best friends are Oldham fans, too, so I was delighted when they came up from the National League.

It’s a treat to have the ground back in the 92.

39. Vale Park, Port Vale

Division: League One Opened: 1950 Capacity: 15,036 

I’ve got a soft spot for Vale Park.

It was the first away ground I ever went to and I still remember the excitement of planning the train journey from Stockport, making it to Burslem and getting a thrill out of the entirely different experience – the extra camaraderie – that being an away fan at another club’s ground brings.

I’ve got a soft spot for Vale Park… it was the first away ground I ever went to

Vale Park felt raw and real to me back then and it got even better on my next visit when, in Stockport’s final year in the Football League before relegation to the National League, Anthony Elding got the winner for County in the 87th minute in front of the away end.

It was beautiful mayhem. County were relegated a few weeks later but I’ll never forget those days at Vale Park.

38. Toughsheet Community Stadium, Bolton Wanderers

Division: League One Opened: 1997 Capacity: 28,018

When it was the Macron Stadium, one of its several previous incarnations, I interviewed Tyson Fury in a room at the hotel that was part of the Toughsheet Community Stadium in the build-up to his world title fight with Wladimir Klitschko. 

After he’d claimed the Klitschkos were part of a devil-worshipping ring, Fury made some rather unpleasant comments about his views on links between homosexuality and paedophilia.

This is one of the earliest, and best, of the new generation of stadiums, and even if it is on the outskirts of Bolton, its bold design makes it a local landmark

When it was the Macron Stadium, one of its several previous incarnations, I interviewed Tyson Fury in a room at the hotel that was part of the Toughsheet Community Stadium

When the interview was printed, he did not seem best pleased with the results.

He said his brother, Big Shane, was going to break my jaw ‘completely’ with a straight right hand.

‘See big Shane there?’ Fury said. ‘Have a look at big Shane. He’s 6ft 6in and 25 stone. He’s going to break (your) jaw completely with one straight right hand.

‘I ain’t going to do it, ‘cos I’ll get in trouble. But the big fella, there – he’ll annihilate (you), won’t he? So Oliver, take a good look at him, ‘cos that’s the face you’re going to see before you hit the deck.’

Fun times. I’ve never found quite the same level of excitement in watching Bolton Wanderers there, although it had some great days when it was called the Reebok and Sam Allardyce was the manager.

It is one of the earliest, and best, of the new generation of stadiums, and even if it is on the outskirts of the town, its bold design makes it a local landmark.

37. Fratton Park, Portsmouth

Division: Championship Opened: 1899 Capacity: 20,899

Since their brief sojourn in the Premier League, everyone has become aware of the entrances to Luton Town’s Kenilworth Road ground that are accessed on what appears to be the ground floor of a terraced house.

One of the old institutions of English football, Portsmouth’s stadium has been renovated

But Fratton Park has not lost the intensity and the raucousness that makes it such a hostile place to visit for opposing teams

But the old way in to Fratton Park, beneath a half-timbered gable, is even more charming.

One of the old institutions of English football, the stadium has been renovated but has not lost the intensity and the raucousness that makes it such a hostile place to visit for opposing teams.

36. Portman Road, Ipswich Town

Division: Championship Opened: 1884 Capacity: 29,813

The matchday hospitality of the Cobbolds, the former owners of Ipswich Town, was legendary amongst journalists. I missed out on those days but a visit to Portman Road is still a treat.

It is still a wonderful stadium, a ground at the centre of its community, where you can breathe in the legends of Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson

It is a joy to see that the current hierarchy value the importance of the stadium and have lavished care and money on it. It is one of the great outposts of the English game

It is still a wonderful ground, a ground at the centre of its community, a ground where you can breathe in the legends of Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson, great football men who did great things in their time in charge of the club.

A few years ago, I went to the the launch of Kieron Dyer’s autobiography in a suite at the stadium and it was a night that underlined how important the club is to the town.

It is a joy to see that the current hierarchy value the importance of the stadium and have lavished care and money on it. It is one of the great outposts of the English game.

35. Molineux, Wolverhampton Wanderers

Division: Premier League Opened: 1889 Capacity: 31,750

When I first started going to Molineux, it was dominated by a peculiarity.

One of the stands, the John Ireland Stand as it was then, was about 100ft from the touchline, a matter of much mirth for visiting fans.

Molineux is an arena to be proud of again for Wolves fans, who have enjoyed years of Premier League football there of late

It is a stadium whose four stands are named after club legends and previous owner and benefactor Sir Jack Hayward and which takes care to respect its glorious past

It has been renamed the Steve Bull Stand now and the pitch has been repositioned so that the modern Molineux is a stadium that makes sense.

It is an arena to be proud of again for Wolves fans, a stadium whose four stands are named after club legends and previous owner and benefactor Sir Jack Hayward and which takes care to respect its glorious past.

34. Turf Moor, Burnley

Division: Premier League Opened: 1883 Capacity: 21,744

Turf Moor is a wonderful place to watch football.

Sit in the North Stand, opposite the Bob Lord Stand, and you can gaze out over the town and its mills, which do not look quite as dark and satanic any more, and remember that you are in the traditional northern heartlands of our game here.

I have a friend from Burnley who insists that more people per head of population wear the jersey of their hometown club in Burnley than in any other football centre in England.

This is a club, after all, that may be in the Championship now but which won the league title in 1921 and 1960 and was once a giant of the game here.

Stoke seems to have been put on a pedestal for its ability to provide a hostile environment for visiting teams but Turf Moor can serve up the weather and the atmosphere to run it close.

Turf Moor is a wonderful place to watch football. Sit in the North Stand, opposite the Bob Lord Stand, and you can gaze out over the town and its mills

I have a friend from Burnley who insists that more people per head of population wear the jersey of their hometown club in Burnley than in any other football centre in England

The Hawthorns is the highest league ground in England, sitting on its perch above the M5, and it is also one of football’s great theatres

33. The Hawthorns, West Bromwich Albion

Division: Championship Opened: 1900 Capacity: 26,688

I have seen a few crackers at The Hawthorns.

The 5-5 draw between West Brom and Manchester United in May 2013 that was Sir Alex Ferguson’s last game as a manager is probably top of the list.

I was in the press room there in May 2017 when Chelsea sealed the title under Antonio Conte and the players invaded his press conference to shower him in champagne and generally rough him up. Conte did not look best pleased.

The highest league ground in England, sitting on its perch above the M5, it is also one of football’s great theatres, a ground where the support exudes a love for the game and a warmth that survives the vicissitudes of the club’s fortunes on the pitch.

32. Abbey Stadium, Cambridge United 

Division: League Two Opened: 1932 Capacity: 8,024

I made it to the Abbey Stadium for the first time on Boxing Day last year for the game against Reading.

Cambridge might be fighting relegation to League Two but the noise inside the Abbey Stadium would have put plenty of Premier League grounds to shame

I walked to the ground down Cut Throat Lane and stood on the terraces at the Newmarket Road End where the singing is at its loudest and where the names and shirts of the celebrated early 1990s team of John Beck that included Dion Dublin are painted on the wall at the back of the stand.

Cambridge might be fighting relegation to League Two but the noise inside would have put plenty of Premier League grounds to shame.

31. Deepdale, Preston North End   

Division: Championship Opened: 1878 Capacity: 23,404

I love going to Deepdale just for the history of the place.

Just to gaze down from the stands and know that this was the place where Tom Finney once played is enough to make it a memorable experience.

I love going to Deepdale just for the history. Just to gaze down from the stands and know this was the place where Tom Finney once played is enough to make it a memorable experience

And the sense of it being a pilgrimage is only enhanced by the fact that one of the best statues in football sits outside the ground

And the sense of it being a pilgrimage is only enhanced by the fact that one of the best statues in football sits outside the ground.

Taking its inspiration from the 1956 sports photo of the year, which showed Finney aquaplaning through a huge puddle at Stamford Bridge, the sculpture, known as The Splash, immortalises Finney outside his home town club.

It’s a wonderful tribute outside an arena redolent with memories of one of England’s greatest players.

30. Kenilworth Road, Luton Town

Division: League One Opened: 1905 Capacity: 10,265

The first time I went to Kenilworth Road was 42 years ago. I stood on the open terrace that hosted the away fans for an FA Cup fourth round tie that Manchester United won 2-0.

The most recent time I went was in November 2021, to see Neil Warnock break the record for the most games managed in English football but unable to stop his Middlesbrough team falling to a 3-1 defeat.

Luton will move to a new stadium at Power Court in the city centre in a few years but Kenilworth Road will be missed

It attained a kind of fame all over again when the club’s return to the top flight recently focused attention on the quirky Oak Road End entrance

The stadium entrance goes straight through the middle of a row of terraced houses

Across those decades, the atmosphere at the old stadium has endured. The Main Stand, which is more than a hundred years old, shook that night Luton took Boro down and the stadium became a bear pit.

It attained a kind of fame all over again when the club’s return to the top flight recently focused attention on the quirky Oak Road End entrance that goes straight through the middle of a row of terraced houses.

Luton will move to a new stadium at Power Court in the city centre in a few years but Kenilworth Road will be missed.

29. Etihad Stadium, Manchester City

Division: Premier League Opened: 2002 Capacity: 52,900

I’d probably have Maine Road in the top three in this list if Manchester City still played there. I loved that ground.

I loved the benches in the Platt Lane, I loved standing on the Kippax, I loved the cantilever Main Stand and the alleyways around the ground and walking across Platt Fields to the game.

Manchester City have done their best to breathe personality into the Etihad Stadium

 It’s this high on the list because it’s witnessed one of the best teams in English football history

But the Etihad isn’t Maine Road. It’s this high on the list because it’s in Manchester and it’s witnessed one of the best teams in English football history playing on its turf, marshalled by one of the game’s great managers.

City have done their best to breathe personality into it but it’s hard to disguise the fact it’s a characterless, identikit modern stadium.

The corporate denizens of the Tunnel Club, traipsing back to their seats well after the whistle has blown for the start of the second half, don’t help, either.

28. Rodney Parade, Newport County

Division: League Two Opened: 1877 Capacity: 8,722

A Cardiff taxi driver once told me that the best fights in Wales happen outside Newport railway station late on Saturday nights. He said he sometimes took a break just to go and watch the action.

Rodney Parade’s a fine place to watch sport, too. Not far from the banks of the River Usk, it’s a modern stadium with remnants of character that come into its own when the giants come to play for the FA Cup.

Like Newport’s railway station, Rodney Parade is not a place for the faint-hearted

Not far from the banks of the River Usk, it’s a modern stadium with remnants of character that come into its own when the giants come to play for the FA Cup

I was there a few years ago when Manchester City visited in the fifth round and after the game, the way out for fans took them past the open windows of the small changing rooms behind one of the goals where you could hear the celebrations of Pep Guardiola’s team booming out into the South Wales night.

Like the railway station, it’s not a place for the faint-hearted.

27. County Ground, Swindon Town

Division: League Two Opened: 1892 Capacity: 15,547

There were more than 20 years between my first visit to the County Ground and my most recent, a 0-0 draw with Accrington Stanley towards the end of March. It wasn’t the best game but I had the best time.

I’d had a week of being abused on social media by Newcastle fans (which is part of the job and, yes, I agree, I don’t have to read it) and going to Swindon felt like a wonderful breeze blowing on my face.

For a start, there were more than 7,000 supporters there, for a fourth-tier game which meant nothing to both teams in terms of promotion or relegation. The atmosphere was lively and passionate and the ground has character and warmth, even if one of the ends was closed.

At half-time, I watched a DS Active match between lads with Down Syndrome representing Swindon and Bristol City and it was a joy. It was a joy to see their uncomplicated joy in the beauty of football and the way they celebrated their goals and their skill and the way they looked for their parents in the stands when they scored and the way they supported their team-mates.

The match was a reminder of what it means for a football club to be at the heart of its community. A stadium is about more than just a game.

My most recent trip to the County Ground was a 0-0 draw with Accrington Stanley towards the end of March. It wasn’t the best game but I had the best time

The atmosphere was lively and passionate and the ground has character and warmth

Maybe it is the knowledge of where Brighton & Hove Albion came from to get here that makes a visit to the Amex Stadium such an uplifting thing

26. Amex Stadium, Brighton & Hove Albion

Division: Premier League Opened: 2011 Capacity: 31,876

Maybe it is the knowledge of where Brighton & Hove Albion came from to get here that makes a visit to the Amex Stadium such an uplifting thing.

I remember seeing them at the Goldstone Ground, which I loved, but also at the Withdean Stadium, which is a glorified parks pitch inside a small athletics stadium. 

When you have commuted to ‘home’ games at Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium for two years as well, it is little wonder the Amex still feels like the promised land.

Neat on the inside, bold on the outside, it is a fitting home for an exceptionally well-run club and a fanbase that never gave up on its team.

25. Gtech Community Stadium, Brentford

Division: Premier League Opened: 2020 Capacity: 17,250

It is not often one of the new-build generation of English football stadiums has more character than a club’s former ground but the Gtech Community Stadium is a happy exception.

Griffin Park was much beloved, of course, and its peculiar feature of boasting a pub at each of the four corners of the ground was part of the game’s folklore.

But Brentford pulled off an architectural wonder with the Gtech, squeezing it into a parcel of land in the shadow of the raised section of the M4 in west London.

Brentford pulled off an architectural wonder with the Gtech, squeezing it into a parcel of land in the shadow of the raised section of the M4 in west London

The club has one of the best home records in the Premier League this season, which is testimony not just to the excellence of the players and manager Thomas Frank but to the tight confines of the ground and the atmosphere it creates.

It is no surprise it is attracting supporters who previously considered themselves without an affiliation. It is the type of stadium, and club, that makes fans feel they belong.

24. Racecourse Ground, Wrexham

Division: Championship Opened: 1801 Capacity: 10,500

I went to a lot of games in Wrexham in the late 70s and early 80s. My best mate, Bryn, was from the town so when his mum and dad took him to visit family there, I went along and we headed for the Racecourse Ground.

I’m not one of those who regards the Ryan Reynolds/Rob McElhenney takeover of the club with distaste, although I am aware that my friend and colleague Ian Herbert, a Wrexham fan and a club scholar, is starting to have some misgivings about the direction things are taking.

Nothing in football is ever quite as wholesome as it seems but so far, it feels as if it has been good for the club and for the town.

I don’t know what their long-term motives are but they have poured a lot of money into the team and into the infrastructure, and the club is rising and rising through the leagues. It’s bringing more light into a community that has had its share of hard times. 

I’m not one of those who regards the Ryan Reynolds/Rob McElhenney takeover of Wrexham with distaste

Nothing in football is ever quite as wholesome as it seems but so far, it feels as if it has been good for the club and for the town

It’s bringing more light into a community that has had more than its fair share of hard times

I was at the Racecourse, by the way, when Mark Hughes scored his spectacular overhead kick against Spain in 1985. It’s still one of the top five goals I’ve ever seen live.

The others: Angel di Maria for Argentina at the Lusail Stadium at the 2022 World Cup final, Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Sweden against England at the Friends Arena in 2012, Dennis Bergkamp for the Netherlands against Argentina at the Stade Velodrome at France ’98 and Norman Whiteside for Manchester United against Everton at Wembley in the 1985 FA Cup final.

23. St Andrew’s, Birmingham City

Division: Championship Opened: 1906 Capacity: 29,409

Down the winding stairs from the press box, though the main reception area where staff are trying to sort ticket requests, through the foyer, down another set of steps and into a tunnel below the Main Stand where four garden forks hang on the wall outside the groundsman’s room – St Andrew’s is still a beautiful stadium that mixes old school elements and modern stands.

It’s a great place to watch a game. If it gets overshadowed by Aston Villa and West Brom, it still feels as if the soul of the Second City is alive in this place.

There are new owners now, of course, and big plans, but St Andrew’s is still at the heart of everything.

There are new owners at Birmingham now, of course, and big plans, but St Andrew’s is still at the heart of everything

The Stadium of Light sits proudly atop the bluffs of the River Wear and it’s wonderful to see Sunderland on the up again and dreaming of a return to the Premier League

These are some of the best supporters in the country and the noise the fans make when the biggest occasions present themselves is up there with anyone

22. Stadium of Light, Sunderland

Division: Premier League Opened: 1997 Capacity: 48,095

I loved Roker Park. Like Maine Road, I’d have it in my top 10 grounds if Sunderland were still playing there now and I feel lucky to have stood in the away end there and been treated to the full force of the Roker Roar.

I’ve never been quite sure what to make of its successor, the Stadium of Light. I’m not even sure about the name, which is dramatic, certainly, but is also an obvious copy of the original Benfica ground in Lisbon – which opened in 1954 and held 120,000 at its peak.

The design is rather uninspiring for such an evocative name, too. It’s uncomfortably close to identikit new-build, but I have friends who say it’s their favourite anywhere. 

The stadium does sit proudly atop the bluffs of the River Wear and it’s wonderful to see the team on the up again and dreaming of a return to the Premier League.

These are some of the best supporters in the country and the noise the fans make when the biggest occasions present themselves is up there with anyone.

21. Bramall Lane, Sheffield United

Division: Championship Opened: 1855 Capacity: 32,050

Bramall Lane is still the only ground where I’ve sat in the dugout during a league game.

Neil Warnock is a friend of mine and when he was in charge at Sheffield United, he let me sit next to him in an end-of-season Championship game against Ipswich Town.

I got a front row seat for Rob Kozluk, one of the game’s great sledgers, doing his best to wind up then-Ipswich boss Joe Royle.

Bramall Lane is a cauldron of noise, full of history and passion, in the heart of Sheffield

Bramall Lane’s Kop singing the Greasy Chip Butty song is one of the iconic experiences in English football

I can’t think of many better grounds to have had the privilege. Bramall Lane is a cauldron of noise, full of history and passion, in the heart of the city.

Its Kop singing the Greasy Chip Butty song is one of the iconic experiences in English football.

20. Stamford Bridge, Chelsea

Division: Premier League Opened: 1877 Capacity: 40,173

All stadiums change and modernise with the years but there are few stadiums which have changed as dramatically as Stamford Bridge.

It was once an intimidating place, dominated by the Shed, a sprawling, boisterous semi-circular terrace behind one of the goals that was synonymous with the crowd problems of the 1970s and early 80s.

Going to watch a Chelsea game now is an entirely different experience. The transformation was begun by Ken Bates, one of a group of visionary businessmen who changed the way we watch football, and then continued under Roman Abramovich.

You can still feel the history of the place when you visit Chelsea’s home, Stamford Bridge

All stadiums change and modernise with the years but there are few stadiums which have changed as dramatically as Stamford Bridge

And now, for many, going to Chelsea, with its towering West Stand and opulent corporate boxes, is a boutique experience not out of place with the hugely affluent area in which it stands.

You can still feel the history of the place when you visit, though. To its credit, the club preserved the original wall that stood at the back of the Shed and it remains in place, used to display pictures of Chelsea legends.

Maybe I should declare a certain bias here, too: the food in the press room at the Bridge is the best in the Premier League.

19. Exercise Stadium, Harrogate Town

Division: League Two Opened: 1920 Capacity: 5,021

Maybe there’s a bit of recency bias in putting Harrogate in the top 20.

Wetherby Road, now known as the Exercise Stadium, was the ground that completed my 92 when I went to watch them beat Tranmere Rovers there last Tuesday night and so I’m always going to feel nostalgic about being here.

It’s a charming, quirky ground, cobbled together in a way that might not satisfy an aesthete but I had a brilliant night here.

Wetherby Road, now known as the Exercise Stadium, was the ground that completed my 92 – alongside two old friends and colleagues who joined me for a special night in Harrogate

It’s a charming, quirky ground, cobbled together in a way that might not satisfy an aesthete but I had a brilliant night here

My friends and I stood on the raucous, seething Kop behind one of the goals. It was only six or seven rows deep but there were enough surges to make it feel like being back in the 80s

My friends and I stood on the raucous, seething Kop behind one of the goals in the first half. It was only six or seven rows deep but there were enough surges to make it feel like being back in the 80s.

We moved to a more sedate spot in seats behind the other goal after the interval. There were only just over 3,000 fans there but it felt like 10 times that.

Tranmere brought 500 of those supporters from Merseyside for a midweek bottom-of-the-table game in League Two, which was a tremendous effort.

And it was a fine match, a 3-2 win for the home side that almost certainly guaranteed their safety from the threat of relegation.

A couple of old friends came with me to make the occasion even better and even though there were no fish and chips, I had breakfast at Betty’s the next morning, and an eclair for dessert, to make the experience complete.

18. Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace

Division: Premier League Opened: 1924 Capacity: 25,194

I used to be put off by what I saw, pathetically, as the difficulty of getting to Selhurst Park in south London. Difficult to drive to, hard to find a parking space, not on the Tube. Et cetera, et cetera.

A trip to Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park is one of the best experiences in the English game

The atmosphere generated by the Holmesdale Road stand, in particular, makes Selhurst Park one of the best grounds in England to watch football

Other clubs have seen the volume of their support dim as the demographic of their fans has changed but that has not happened at Selhurst Park 

I got over that some time ago. A trip to Palace is one of the best experiences in the English game.

The atmosphere generated by the Holmesdale Road stand, in particular, makes Selhurst Park one of the best grounds in England to watch football.

Other clubs have seen the volume of their support dim as the demographic of their fans has changed but that has not happened at Selhurst Park. It is one of the few places left that has the power to intimidate and it is all the better for that.

One of the great surviving community grounds, a beautiful, steep-sided gem of a boutique stadium in Shepherd’s Bush, Loftus Road is a place to cherish

17. MATRADE Loftus Road, Queens Park Rangers

Division: Championship Opened: 1904 Capacity: 18,193

One of the great surviving community grounds, a beautiful, steep-sided gem of a boutique stadium in Shepherd’s Bush, Loftus Road is a place to cherish.

When Bernie Ecclestone was a part-owner of the club, I sat in the directors’ box with him a few times and got shushed by Flavio Briatore for talking too much when my neighbour kept asking me questions. That may have been the first time anybody has ever been accused of talking more than Flavio.

The football wasn’t the best during their time there but the hospitality was: they had Mayfair restaurant Cipriani doing the catering.

They are long gone now but the stadium still remains, a wonderful anachronism in a changing world.

The stadium still remains, with Loftus Road a wonderful anachronism in a changing world

Sometimes, just the walk to a stadium is part of what makes it special – take Nottingham Forest’s City Ground for example

16. City Ground, Nottingham Forest

Division: Premier League Opened: 1898 Capacity: 30,404

Sometimes, just the walk to a stadium is part of what makes it special.

My favourite was always the walk through Queens Gardens in Perth to the WACA. The stroll down from the city centre to the Adelaide Oval is beautiful, too, and the walk along the Thames to Craven Cottage is part of what makes that ground special. 

It’s the same with the City Ground. I always park in the same spot, near the River Trent, and walk along the river path until you can see the Forest fans streaming down towards the entrances at the Trent End.

When you get closer, you see the majesty of Trent Bridge next to the City Ground, too, and you feel you’re right at the heart of British sport.

There’s so much history at the City Ground, so much achievement, so much tradition and such a stunning location. It’s a wonderful place to watch a game.

There’s so much history at the City Ground, so much achievement, so much tradition and such a stunning location

The City Ground is a wonderful place to watch a game of football, and Forest fans have had plenty to celebrate this season

15. Home Park, Plymouth Argyle

Division: League One Opened: 1901 Capacity: 17,904

My affection for Home Park was well entrenched even before I took my seat in the lovely Mayflower Grandstand and watched one of the greatest FA Cup shocks of recent years unfold there at the beginning of February when the Pilgrims beat Liverpool.

That was a day to cherish everything about Home Park and the Green Army and the proud local identity enshrined there.

The Mayflower Grandstand, which was renovated recently, remains a beautiful piece of stadium architecture, the staff and stewards are uniformly friendly and welcoming, and the ground occupies a handsome spot in a park on a hill not too far from Plymouth Hoe. It’s one of the best football experiences in the league.

Home Park in Plymouth is one of the best football experiences in the league

Knocking out Liverpool in the Cup was a day to cherish everything about Home Park and the Green Army and the proud local identity enshrined there

14. Prenton Park, Tranmere Rovers

Division: League Two Opened: 1912 Capacity: 15,012

Prenton Park became a beloved second home for me for a while.

Like Stockport, they used to play their home games on a Friday night at one time and that offered a chance to go and watch them under the lights.

I loved Prenton Park and its sense of community and its noble old stands from the start and when I started work as a trainee on the Daily Post and the Liverpool Echo in the early 90s, I got to cover Tranmere in the glory days under Jonny King when John Aldridge, who had returned from Real Sociedad, was scoring for fun.

Tranmere Rovers’ Prenton Park became a beloved second home for me for a while

The atmosphere inside the ground on some of those nights on the Wirral was electric. When I was a news reporter at the Echo, I even had to go round to the house of Tranmere’s midfielder Kenny Irons in Norris Green to check out a story.

Kenny had been playing football in his front garden and kicked a ball over a hedge into next door’s garden. His neighbour was an old lady and she wouldn’t give Kenny his ball back.

When I pitched up on his doorstep, he saw the funny side.

13. Craven Cottage, Fulham

Division: Premier League Opened: 1896 Capacity: 24,500

Craven Cottage is one of the jewels of English football heritage, and Fulham’s stadium on the banks of the Thames has achieved the difficult task of modernising the ground without losing its character.

The presence of the Cottage, the most glorious eccentricity remaining in our 92 stadiums, in one corner of the ground, is central to that, of course, and helps to make watching a match there so special.

This is a club that has taken care to preserve its history and value a stadium that is different. Even the walk to the ground through Bishop’s Park and along the path by the river, adds to the pleasure of the experience. It is a joy to visit.

Craven Cottage, home of Fulham, is one of the jewels of English football heritage

This is a club that has taken care to preserve its history and value a stadium that is different

Fulham’s stadium on the banks of the Thames has achieved the difficult task of modernising the ground without losing its character

12. Wham Stadium, Accrington Stanley

Division: League Two Opened: 1968 Capacity: 5,278

For once, I can turn a blind eye to the renaming of the ground as the Wham Stadium. 

That’s because I know how much love and commitment and time and money the Stanley owner, Andy Holt, has put into the resurrection of his local team since he cleared its debts in 2015 when it was on the brink of folding.

For once, I can turn a blind eye to the renaming of the ground as the Wham Stadium

The ground has improved out of all recognition since Andy Holt became involved and any visit to it is a visit to the heart of the difference one man can make to a club and a community

Andy doesn’t get much thanks for it and is planning to leave the running of the club at the end of the season but he will bequeath a lasting legacy in this part of Lancashire. 

The ground has improved out of all recognition since he became involved and any visit to it is a visit to the heart of the difference one man can make to a football club and a community.

Visionaries like Andy are few and far between in football and the game will be poorer for his absence.

11. Villa Park, Aston Villa

Division: Premier League Opened: 1897 Capacity: 42,918

Once one of the great architectural jewels of the English game, Villa Park lost the beauty of Archibald Leitch’s magnificent original Trinity Road Stand in 2000 when it was demolished.

Its loss was a sign of how shabbily we treat the idea of protecting our football heritage in this country.

Villa Park remains one of the great arenas in the English game, a ground dripping with history

Villa Park is still a ground that feels like stadium aristocracy, and Villa have produced a team to match in recent seasons

Despite that, Villa Park remains one of the great arenas in the English game. I stood on the old Holte End in 1983 to see Villa, then European Cup holders, play the mighty Juventus and last year, I was there again when Unai Emery’s side beat Bayern Munich, the team they conquered in the 1982 European Cup final, in their home return to the Champions League.

The atmosphere that night last October, with the Holte End in full voice, was a wonderful reminder of the great occasions of the past at a ground that feels like stadium aristocracy.

Yes, the roof leaks and, yes, Old Trafford could do with a bit of love and attention but there is a magic about this stadium that can never fade

10. Old Trafford, Manchester United

Division: Premier League Opened: 1910 Capacity: 74,197

Yes, the roof leaks and, yes, Old Trafford could do with a bit of love and attention but there is a magic about this stadium that can never fade. (At least not until Sir Jim Ratcliffe knocks it down and builds the tourist attraction that is his vision of the football of the future).

Much of that comes from the glories it has witnessed. Sit in the Stretford End and gaze down at a pitch where Duncan Edwards once strode across the turf, George Best danced through the mud and where Bobby Charlton and Denis Law and Bryan Robson and Roy Keane and Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney have played.

It is still a magnificent stadium, redolent of so many triumphs. Outside, on the forecourt, the Holy Trinity statue, a tribute to Best, Charlton and Law, is a place of pilgrimage. As is the Munich Clock, a poignant reminder of the loss of so many of the Busby Babes in 1958.

I was standing on the terraces there when United beat Diego Maradona’s Barcelona 3-0 in the Cup Winners’ Cup in March 1984 and it was one of the best atmospheres I’ve ever felt at an English league ground.

It’s a wonderful place, one of the stadiums that can lay claim to nurturing a chunk of the heart of the English game. They just need a team to be worthy of it again.

The Munich Clock, a poignant reminder of the loss of so many of the Busby Babes in 1958

Old Trafford is still a magnificent stadium, redolent of so many triumphs and memorable nights

It’s a wonderful place, one of the stadiums that can lay claim to nurturing a chunk of the heart of the English game

9. Goodison Park, Everton

Division: Premier League Opened: 1892 Capacity: 39,414

I’ve always loved Goodison Park and its lovely Main Stand and its fierce, fierce intensity.

Some might say it has fallen into disrepair and, yes, it is not as shiny and bright as some of the new generation of stadia but it feels like just about the most authentic stadium and passionate crowd there is in the top flight.

I’ve always loved Goodison Park and its lovely Main Stand and its fierce, fierce intensity

It is not as shiny and bright as some of the new stadia but it feels like just about the most authentic stadium and passionate crowd there is in the top flight

There was something beautiful about Everton’s players and fans and their utter refusal to let the last Merseyside derby at Goodison end in a Liverpool win

I’ve been going to sit in its cramped press box amid the wooden seats of that Main Stand for more than 30 years. And I think of it as a blessing that what might have been my final visit came in February to see what turned out to be one of the most tumultuous endings to a match even in Goodison’s long, long history.

There was something beautiful about Everton’s players and fans that night and their utter refusal to let the last Merseyside derby at Goodison end in a Liverpool win.

Even before James Tarkowski’s last-gasp equaliser, deep into stoppage time, the atmosphere was so passionate, so filled with abandonment, that it was almost feral. And I definitely mean that as a compliment.

It was a throwback to the kind of atmosphere you used to get at English grounds before the introduction of all-seater stadia and the advance of corporate culture. 

Long after Everton have moved on to their magnificent new home at Bramley-Moore Dock, the memory of that match against Liverpool will live on as a tribute to one of English football’s greatest grounds.

I love Leeds United’s Elland Road. Even before I get into the ground, I love Elland Road

8. Elland Road, Leeds United

Division: Premier League Opened: 1897 Capacity: 37,608

I love Elland Road. Even before I get into the ground, I love Elland Road.

The statue of Billy Bremner, which is usually festooned with scarves and surrounded by tributes to Leeds fans who have passed away, should be a starting point for any visit.

At the other end of the emotional spectrum, fish and chip shops are a decent component of a matchday experience and Graveley’s, on Elland Road itself, which has a long queue snaking up to its door from two hours before kick-off, is one of the best football chippies in the country.

The statue of Billy Bremner, which is usually festooned with scarves and surrounded by tributes to Leeds fans who have passed away, should be a starting point for any visit

The stadium is a proper cathedral of our game. One-club cities sometimes generate that kind of passion and it’s evident at Elland Road

The stadium is a proper cathedral of our game, too. One-club cities sometimes generate that kind of passion and it’s evident at Elland Road.

I like the fact the stands are named after Don Revie, Norman Hunter, Jack Charlton and John Charles, not an IT company or an airline or a waste management service. 

And I love the singing of Marching On Together, a club anthem that dates back more than 50 years, not one of the manufactured club songs you hear at some stadiums these days that mark a cosmetic attempt at authenticity.

You feel the heat of English football at Elland Road, you feel the intensity of it and what it means. At a lot of big clubs, that feeling has been lost. But it’s alive here.

7. St James’ Park, Newcastle United

Division: Premier League Opened: 1892 Capacity: 52,258

Lots of stadiums are referred to as cathedrals but St James’ Park is the one that fits the description best.

Lots of stadiums are referred to as cathedrals but St James’ Park is the one that fits the description best

Its position is a symbol of its importance to the city. Inside, it generates one of the best atmospheres in the country

Newcastle are leaning towards building a new stadium adjacent to the current site and moving to that. Please don’t

Every time I arrive in the city and see St James’ Park staring down from its vantage point above it, it sends shivers down my spine.

Its position is a symbol of its importance to the city. Inside, it generates one of the best atmospheres in the country, its fans are amongst the most loyal and the Gallowgate End is one of the most revered sections in our football history.

Newcastle are leaning towards building a new stadium adjacent to the current site and moving to that. Please don’t.

6. Holker Street, Barrow

Division: League Two Opened: 1909 Capacity: 6,500

There’s a frontier feel about Barrow and about its Holker Street ground that makes it special to visit.

It’s not for everyone. I know away fans complain, with some justification, about restricted views but I’d rather take restricted views and a ground with character and love and passion than one of the identikit tin bowls that are closer to the norm in the lower leagues.

There’s a frontier feel about Barrow and its Holker Street ground that makes it special to visit

I’d rather take restricted views and a ground with character and love and passion than one of the identikit tin bowls that are closer to the norm in the lower leagues

A member of the Barrow ground staff fixes a light that had been hit by the match ball

It was raw and loud and industrial and real. It felt like a throwback to the way football used to be before the invasion of tourists and corporates and it was all the better for that

Holker Street was my 90th ground out of the 92 and I loved everything about it from the friendliness of the club staff and the fans and the steak pie I bought from the Farm Shop inside the ground.

I was there in late February for the Cumbrian derby against Carlisle United and the atmosphere was magnificent.

It was raw and loud and industrial and real. It felt like a throwback to the way football used to be before the invasion of tourists and corporates and it was all the better for that.

5. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Tottenham Hotspur

Division: Premier League Opened: 2019 Capacity: 62,850

The best of the new generation of English football stadiums.

Tottenham’s ground is the best of the new generation of English football stadiums

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy gets plenty of criticism for the failures of the club on the pitch but the new stadium is still a stunning legacy

There is an ambition about it that so many other new-builds lack, particularly the steepling end behind one of the goals that is said to be modelled on the Yellow Wall in Dortmund

My favourite new stadium anywhere is RB Leipzig’s Red Bull Stadion because of the way it was constructed inside the bowl of the old Zentralstadion but in England, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium stands out.

There is an ambition about it that so many other new-builds lack, particularly the steepling end behind one of the goals that is said to be modelled on the Yellow Wall at the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund.

I love the nods to the club’s history, particularly the replica of the cockerel that sits above the South Stand and the black and white photos that line the corridors outside the press room.

Spurs chairman Daniel Levy gets plenty of criticism for the failures of the club on the pitch but the new stadium is still a stunning legacy.

4. Cherry Red Records Stadium, AFC Wimbledon

Division: League One Opened: 2020 Capacity: 9,150

I never made it to the old ground at Plough Lane, which is a regret, but I had one of the best of football days when I finally made it to the Cherry Red Records Stadium, near to the site of the old ground, when they played the team that nearly drove them into oblivion, MK Dons, in September last year.

Just setting foot in this stadium is to feel what it is like to support a team that is at the heart of its community and to be among a fanbase whose team means more to it than just wins and losses.

Love for the game and the team and reverence for the history of the club, the club that was stolen from them and the club they rebuilt, is everywhere, from the kitsch statue of Dave Beasant at the front of the stadium to the illustration on the walls.

It feels like a stadium where everybody knows each other, like neighbours in a street, like a giant, loving, proud family that refuses to be torn apart.

The beauty of the architecture here is not in the stadium buildings. It is in the knowledge that this is something built by fans.

If I lived in London, and Stockport weren’t playing, this is where I’d watch my football.

If I lived in London, and Stockport weren’t playing, this is where I’d watch my football

The beauty of the architecture here is not in the stadium buildings. It is in the knowledge that this is something built by fans

Just setting foot in this stadium is to feel what it is like to support a team that is at the heart of its community and to be among fans whose team means more to them than wins and losses

3. St James Park, Exeter City

Division: League One Opened: 1904 Capacity: 8,714

It was the summer of 2010 when Exeter City forward Adam Stansfield died of cancer at the age of 31.

‘Stanno’, the father of current Birmingham striker Jay Stansfield, was a hero at the beautiful St James Park stadium, nestled in a nook at the foot of a steep hill and bordered by neat, densely packed terraced streets and a railway cutting.

I drove down there with my elder daughter to look at the tributes to Stansfield and we wandered among the bouquets of flowers and the keepsakes left by heartbroken young fans and the emotional messages that had been left in their thousands on the Big Bank.

St James Park has come to embody for me everything that a football ground should be: full of character and care and camaraderie and community and passion and pride in what it stands for

The club has been owned by its supporters for more than two decades and it is a model of how successful it can be

I was there again at the weekend to see Stockport County play and every away fan got a voucher offering a free cup of tea

It was impossible not to be moved by the profound emotional connection between a city and its club and as the years have passed, St James Park has come to embody for me everything that a football ground should be: full of character and care and camaraderie and community and passion and pride in what it stands for.

I was there again at the weekend to see Stockport County play and there was a note next to the away turnstile – a turnstile made in another age at the Albion Works in Patricroft – saying: ‘Hatters Fans: Thank you for travelling 474 miles to support your club today.’

Every away fan also got a voucher offering a free cup of tea. The club has been owned by its supporters for more than two decades and it is a model of how successful it can be.

The Big Bank has been extended and is now the biggest terrace in English football. So the locals tell me, anyway. There is a club museum, a stall selling farm produce and a supporters’ club bar with big screens.

They built a new stand a few years back, too. It’s called the Adam Stansfield Stand.

2. Anfield, Liverpool

Division: Premier League Opened: 1884 Capacity: 61,726

Growing up in Manchester, Anfield was a place I grew up fearing.

The tales of The Kop and what they would do to you if they heard your accent were fearsome and when I finally plucked up the courage to go and watch Manchester United play there, I bought a ticket among the home fans and did not speak a word for more than two hours.

Growing up in Manchester, Anfield was a place I grew up fearing thanks to fearsome tales about The Kop 

When I finally plucked up the courage to go and watch Manchester United play there, I bought a ticket among the home fans and did not speak a word for more than two hours

The 2005 Champions League semi-final second leg against Chelsea was probably the noisiest and the most spine-tingling I’ve ever witnessed Anfield

But that didn’t stop me being in awe of the place when I first visited. I have never been anywhere like it for the passion and the noise it has generated.

Yes, maybe its atmosphere has been slightly diluted by the owners’ attempts to attract a new, high-yield breed of casual fan but the ferocity of the emotion the place can still muster can be incredibly moving.

The 2005 Champions League semi-final second leg against Chelsea was probably the noisiest and the most spine-tingling I’ve ever witnessed it although the tie against Barcelona, at the same stage of the competition in 2019, is seared on my brain for similar reasons.

A love for a stadium is about memories, too. My first jobs in journalism were on the Daily Post and the Liverpool Echo and I spent many wide-eyed afternoons in the old press box at Anfield and in the press conferences afterwards, listening to Kenny Dalglish and, later, Graeme Souness, two of the best British footballers who have ever lived.

Once, on my first visit to the press box, I made the mistake of sitting in Tommy Smith’s seat and was suddenly aware of the hulking presence of the Anfield Iron looming silently above me and a colleague telling me to get up sharpish. I never sat in that seat again.

Some rival fans say the Anfield atmosphere is a myth. It wasn’t and it isn’t. Corporate incursions have altered it but it still has the power to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.

I have never been anywhere like Anfield for the passion and the noise it has generated

Some rival fans say the Anfield atmosphere is a myth. It wasn’t then and it isn’t now

Corporate incursions have altered it but it still has the power to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end

1. Edgeley Park, Stockport County

Division: League One Opened: 1891 Capacity: 10,800

My family didn’t have any history with Stockport County.

I can’t boast a grandfather or an uncle who once played for them. My dad was never much of a football fan and was more likely to ask me ‘how did United get on’.

But he was from Heaton Chapel and his grandfather made, and lost, a fortune in the hatting industry in the town in the late 19th century, and he was fiercely proud of Stockport Viaduct and its history and he took me to my first game at Edgeley Park on Monday, April 9, 1979.

I can’t boast a grandfather or an uncle who once played for Stockport. My dad was never much of a football fan and was more likely to ask me ‘how did United get on’

I am not a proper fan like the supporters who go week in and week out but I love that ground

I am not a member of any London clubs but Edgeley Park is my club and now, just like my dad, I know people when I go

I feel fortunate, too, that after the club kissed its fair share of frogs, it has one of the best owners across the whole 92

We sat in Block A of the Main Stand, now the Danny Bergara Stand, and I breathed in the smell of cigar smoke that drifted up from the man in the sheepskin jacket sitting a couple of rows in front of us and thrilled at the noise coming from the terraces opposite and gazed up to my left at the men working away on their typewriters in the press box, men whose faces I recognised because I had seen their photo bylines in the Manchester Evening News.

I have mentioned elsewhere the curious wonder I felt when people who were strangers to me greeted my dad by name as we walked up the steps to our seats.

I didn’t think my dad had ever been to Edgeley Park before but these people knew him anyway because they were from Stockport and he was from Stockport and those moments made me realise for the first time that football grounds are places that hold the soul of a community. Not for everyone, but for some of us.

And so even if he wasn’t a fan, I still feel connected to my dad every time I use one of my season tickets, that I bought in a row next to the press box, and gaze over at the place we sat that first time.

I am not a proper fan like the supporters who go week in and week out but I love that ground.

I am not a member of any London clubs but Edgeley Park is my club and now, just like my dad, I know people when I go.

I feel fortunate, too, that after the club kissed its fair share of frogs, it has one of the best owners across the whole 92.

Edgeley Park was where I realised for the first time that football grounds are places that hold the soul of a community 

The Danny Bergara Stand still oozes character, it is still similar to the way I remember it from that first game in 1979 and much of the rest of the stadium has been renovated and improved

I’m longing to get back. Every fan will know that feeling, the feeling of going home

Mark Stott has not just invested in the first team and dragged County back up into the Football League but he has bought a new training ground and lavished a lot of love on upgrading facilities for fans in the Cheadle End.

The Danny Bergara Stand still oozes character, it is still similar to the way I remember it from that first game in 1979 and much of the rest of the stadium has been renovated and improved.

I haven’t been yet this season because I spent my spare weekends trying to complete my 92.

I’m longing to get back. Every fan will know that feeling, the feeling of going home.

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