Football Ground Map
Football Ground Map
This century has seen a seismic change in the world of football with mega broadcast deals, VAR and new tournament formats altering how the game is played and viewed. Not only that, but clubs looking to increase revenue and ensure more fans can watch games live, have opted to leave their iconic homes for shiny new stadiums. From Arsenal and West Ham to Tottenham and Manchester City, a number of sides have switched grounds this century.
Everton are the next club on the move and the 2024/25 is the final season at Goodison Park after hosting Toffees matches since way back in 1892. This article will profile the Grand Old Lady and a host of other grounds which played a key part in English football history but are now nothing but a memory for supporters up and down the country.
The blue half of Merseyside have called Goodison home for more than 130 years but will soon relocate to Bramley Moore dock to play in a new state-of-the-art arena on the banks of the River Mersey. Everton's current stadium has played host to title triumphs, famous European nights and even Pele and Eusebio at the World Cup in 1966.
Goodison was the first purpose-build stadium for football and was designed by Scottish architect Archibald Leitch who was responsible for the iconic latticework which can still be seen around the Bullens Road and Gwladys Street stands today.
Everton will be holding a number of events throughout the season to mark the historic campaign and will be aiming for a successful season in the Premier League and FA Cup to give the famous ground a fitting send-off. Fans interested in sports betting can back the Toffees online as Sean Dyche's side pushes for a top half finish and a good cup run, enhancing their engagement with live matches.
Supporters who bet in soccer and search for odds in soccer who are pondering 'What is the best place to bet on soccer online?' can head to the wagering platform and assess a range of different options ahead of Everton's upcoming fixtures with Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool all still to come at Goodison Park.
West Ham United played at the famous Upton Park, also known as the Boleyn Ground, from 1904 until 2016 and this stadium was adored by Hammers fans and a particular favourite of visiting supporters also. With a capacity of 35,016 when it closed it's doors, the arena's record attendance was 42,322 for an all-London clash as Tottenham visited on October 17, 1970. The stands were close to the pitch at Upton Park which made for an intimidating 90 minutes if you were an opposition player.
However, West Ham's new home, the Olympic Stadium in Stratford which is now known as London Stadium after hosting the games in 2012, doesn't hold the same special feeling of authenticity or closeness with the stands seemingly feeling too far away from the pitch and a number of visitors sharing their disappointment at the difference between the two stadiums.
White Hart Lane was one of the most famous stadiums in England having hosted Tottenham matches for well over a century from 1899 to 2017. Sadly the ground was demolished that same year as Spurs' new home, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which can hold 62,850, up roughly 26,000 on White Hart Lane, was to be built on the same site.
Overall, Spurs' original arena witnessed more than 2,500 competitive Tottenham fixtures with regular attendances pushing 70,000 throughout the 1950s before Bill Nicholson guided the club to a memorable league and cup double at the start of the Sixties. The final game at the stadium saw Spurs earn a 2-1 win over Manchester United.
Highbury was one of the most storied ground in England and saw more success than most as the home of Arsenal from 1913 until 2006. The clock end was synonymous with the Gunners and so much so that the club ensured it was replicated when they moved to the new Emirates Stadium, a short walk from Highbury which was actually labelled 'the home of football' by fans.
Arsenal boast a giant list of legends from Cliff Bastin and Charlie George to Liam Brady and Tony Adams though it was perhaps the final years of the stadium that Highbury witnessed it's greatest team as Thierry Henry and Co went an entire Premier League season unbeaten to win the title and be crowned 'Invincibles' in 2004.
In a nice touch for football lovers all over the world, the old frontage of Highbury remains in place and acts as the entrance to apartments which were built within the former site.
Maine Road and the Etihad Stadium have hosted two different Manchester Citys over the last 30 years. While the former ground witnessed many amazing and successful moments, the nineties and 2000s featured three relegations and even third tier football in 1998/99. Meanwhile, the new and current home has seen City become a super power with the club winning six Premier League titles in the last seven seasons and boasting some of the best players on the planet.
However, despite the change in fortunes, there will be plenty of City fans who missed the Kippax stand and look back on it fondly. Leaving Maine Road in 2003, the club had called it home for 80 years and so holds a special place in the history of the club. With an average attendance of just over 34,500 in the final campaign more than 20 years ago, City's Etihad can hold 53,000 every week with supporters treated to some of the greatest football on the planet.
Similar to the City at the Etihad, it's Leicester's current ground, the King Power Stadium, which has witnessed the Foxes' greatest triumph as the club lifted the Premier League title despite being one of the favourites for the drop back in 2016. However, Filbert Street still hosted plenty of memorable moments throughout its 111 years as Leicester's home.
It was in February 1928 that the stadium recorded its best attendance, with 47.928 supporters packing in to watch Leicester's Fifth Round FA Cup tie with Spurs. Filbert Street endured a sad ending as the Foxes were relegated in 2002 but the club has enjoyed some stellar triumphs in the years since and so fans can look back and forward with grand recollections.
In recent years, the Premier League and English football system has lost a number of iconic and historic grounds as clubs look to keep up with the competition and move forward with the times. Despite this, the game is poorer without these traditional authentic grounds and they will all live long in the memory of the supporters who frequented them every Saturday.
All good things have to come to an end, and the same unfortunately has to be said for football stadiums too. This article looks at the grounds which are soon to host their last match, the stadiums whose days are numbered and where fans will be watching their football from next.
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