The Worst Football Stand in England?

Villa’s North Stand must be high up the list.

I struggle to believe it’s passed all the safety certificates. If there was a fire in the lower levels yesterday I have no idea how they’d expect to get 4,000 fans out in a safe timely manner. And that’s with 5 rows at the front covered up. For a regular league game Villa must have an extra ~600 fans in the stand.

The crush in the concourse at HT was shocking, I’m a fairly fit young man and was still struggling to move. I can’t imagine how it was for any older fans or kids.

The upper tier at Loftus Road is also pretty tight but probably only holds about a quarter the number of fans. Honorable mention to Gillingham’s 20+ year old “temporary” open air stand too.

Personally it’s Newcastle for me. Not that the ground itself is shite, but as an away supporter you need oxygen to climb all the stairs to the top, and the players look as small as subuteo players once your up there.

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Originally Posted by William Treseder

Personally it’s Newcastle for me. Not that the ground itself is shite, but as an away supporter you need oxygen to climb all the stairs to the top, and the players look as small as subuteo players once your up there.

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There is a lift !

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Originally Posted by BLUETIT

There is a lift !

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Aye. But it’s full of old fogies like you 😁

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Originally Posted by William Treseder

Aye. But it’s full of old fogies like you 😁

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I have always thought that CCS is a risk as getting out of the stadium en masse quickly just isn't possible.

It’s the fault of the vomitaries. ..apparently

I hear that are rebuilding it to increase attendance to 55,000

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Originally Posted by Canton Kev

Villa’s North Stand must be high up the list.

I struggle to believe it’s passed all the safety certificates. If there was a fire in the lower levels yesterday I have no idea how they’d expect to get 4,000 fans out in a safe timely manner. And that’s with 5 rows at the front covered up. For a regular league game Villa must have an extra ~600 fans in the stand.

The crush in the concourse at HT was shocking, I’m a fairly fit young man and was still struggling to move. I can’t imagine how it was for any older fans or kids.

The upper tier at Loftus Road is also pretty tight but probably only holds about a quarter the number of fans. Honorable mention to Gillingham’s 20+ year old “temporary” open air stand too.

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I've had the pleasure of all three of these stands. Gillinghams is a joke for obvious reasons but it was spacious behind it from recollection.

I think Villas North Stand is normally the family stand, so maybe the demographic is slightly less umm chaotic than usual? I went to Villa away in 2018 or whenever it was and the lower tier concourse seemed very tight to me then too.

Sheffield Weds have had to close some blocks in their away end due to overcrowding and insufficient exits etc. Given what happened in that stand I guess they take no chances.

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Originally Posted by Taunton Blue Genie

I have always thought that CCS is a risk as getting out of the stadium en masse quickly just isn't possible.

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How so? It’s got a large concourse and huge gates they open up to let fans out post match. This season 15,000-20,000 fans are usually all out in 15 minutes and that’s including clapping the players off.

I’d imagine in an emergency situation fans at the front of the stands would also be directed to leave alongside the edges of the pitch and out of the 4 vehicle/equipment entrances in the corners.

It was noticeable last night that the entire stadium was empty whilst the North Stand was still half full and there was nearly no movement down the stairs.

Luton, with access over peoples' back gardens?

Elland Road isn't exactly Shangri lah

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Originally Posted by bobh

Luton, with access over peoples' back gardens?

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Crap but iconic

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Originally Posted by bobh

Luton, with access over peoples' back gardens?

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Pompey not to dissimilar

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Originally Posted by Canton Kev

How so? It’s got a large concourse and huge gates they open up to let fans out post match. This season 15,000-20,000 fans are usually all out in 15 minutes and that’s including clapping the players off.

I’d imagine in an emergency situation fans at the front of the stands would also be directed to leave alongside the edges of the pitch and out of the 4 vehicle/equipment entrances in the corners.

It was noticeable last night that the entire stadium was empty whilst the North Stand was still half full and there was nearly no movement down the stairs.

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The log jam is getting from the stands the concourse.

Gillingham.

Brentford’s old away end.

Used to love Southend, with the canteen in the corner.

Anfield. Not sure what it's like after redevelopment. At the back of the stand the view was appalling. You could only see half the pitch.
Burnley....pillars in the way and poor facilities for away fans on site.
Burton...too easily overcrowded behind the goal.
Luton and Pompey (even after redevelopment).
Luton has to be the winner though. Unique. But....

Anfield I was originally right up the back, the roof went so low I could barely see the goal in front of us, no matter the rest of the pitch. Truely appalling for a so called world famous stadium.

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Originally Posted by skunkatron

Anfield I was originally right up the back, the roof went so low I could barely see the goal in front of us, no matter the rest of the pitch. Truely appalling for a so called world famous stadium.

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So everyone squeezed down the front resulting in overcrowding. At least they have safe standing now. No idea how the rest of the redevelopment improves the pitch view. Hopefully, a lot.

Got to be QPR

There was a time at Underhill when they had a temporary set of seats bolted to a scaffolding arrangement.

I remember us scoring and I had to grab a seat - I felt like a sailor holding onto a ship's mast in a storm.

Not a bad ground per se but does anyone remember the whole stand shaking at Leicester when Whitts put that free kick in off the post in the playoffs?

Wasn't it Blackpools temporary stand that someone put a foot through a few years back?
Also some Carlisle fans posted about the view from Barrow's away end over the weekend. The stands seem a short term measure with pillars every 4 or 5 seats and every 4 or 5 rows.

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Originally Posted by bobh

Luton, with access over peoples' back gardens?

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Has anyone mastered the art of watching a game all the way through whilst putting allone's weight on one's heels? The terrace steps ensure that one's toes go unsupported in the Luton away end.

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Originally Posted by splott parker

Not a bad ground per se but does anyone remember the whole stand shaking at Leicester when Whitts put that free kick in off the post in the playoffs?

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it felt like it was going to give and we'd all be strewn across the concourse below.

i'll never forget that 'ping' from Whitts free kick hitting the post before going in, what an incredible feeling!!

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Originally Posted by BLUETIT

Got to be QPR

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still one of the consistently best away days on the TIT, always a memorable trip down to Loftus..

:thumbup:

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Originally Posted by Splott-light...

still one of the consistently best away days on the TIT, always a memorable trip down to Loftus..

:thumbup:

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The trip, as you say, is one of the best, unfortunately the ground is the pits

Peter and myself, always buy a pint of Guinness in memory of Alun, almost 12 years now :frown:

We don’t drink it either

At Loftus Road it was always an issue entering and exiting.

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Originally Posted by Majorblue

At Loftus Road it was always an issue entering and exiting.

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'Loftus' is the nickname I gave my wife, for that same reason..

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Originally Posted by BLUETIT

The trip, as you say, is one of the best, unfortunately the ground is the pits

Peter and myself, always buy a pint of Guinness in memory of Alun, almost 12 years now :frown:

We don’t drink it either

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great guy Alun, original TIT'er :frown:

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Originally Posted by Splott-light...

'Loftus' is the nickname I gave my wife, for that same reason..

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Up the R's!

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Originally Posted by JamesWales

Up the R's!

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Very good :hehe:

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Originally Posted by JamesWales

Up the R's!

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Just ‘round the corner from her shepherds bush:thumbup:

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Originally Posted by splott parker

Just ‘round the corner from her shepherds bush:thumbup:

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:hehe: I like it! :thumbup: