Football in the United Kingdom is a rite of passage. It is the game of the people and a football stadium is the venue in which they congregate on matchdays. Football stadiums in the U.K. come in all shapes and sizes. From small non-league venues with muddy pitches to large expensively assembled arenas in the Premier League. From Arsenal all the way down to the Plymouth Whalers, there is a lot that goes into making the best football stadiums in the U.K.
A lot of football experts will disagree, but Anfield has retained its great atmosphere over the decades despite modernisation. The Kop is still magical and Champions League midweek matches have a vibe that no other U.K. ground possesses. Anfield has been upgraded in recent seasons to increase the capacity. It hasn't taken away from its intimate feel. The stadium's sightlines could be improved, but as many old-school fans would say, they give Anfield character.
When they play at home, Liverpool's players are almost invincible those last years. It can be seen throughout the odds offered, for example, by Bet365 Australia, which are always really low for the Reds at Anfield.
Old Trafford has history oozing out of every nook and cranny. The venue has seen a record 20 top-flight titles during its time. Thirteen of which have come in the Premier League era. Old Trafford has also seen legendary Manchester United players and coaches grace its pitch. Walk around the stadium and supporters will also find history on display outside. Fans can explore the Munich Tunnel which remembers the worst tragedy in the club's history.
Opened in 2007, Wembley Stadium replaced the previous Wembley ground giving the England national team a modern home venue. It took five years for the stadium to be constructed. It holds 90,000 fans on a matchday, although attendances are typically capped well below that mark. Now over 10 years old, Wembley has made many football fans forget about the venue that it replaced. It is now officially England's national stadium and a generation of fans in the U.K. know it as the home of the FA Cup Final.
Bramall Lane is the oldest stadium in the world still hosting football matches. The stadium opened in 1855 and it has been home to Sheffield United since 1889. Bramall Lane has hosted a number of other sporting events besides football including cricket. It has been updated over the years to keep it open to Sheffield United fans. Bramall Lane's last renovation came in 2006 as the Bramall Lane Stand was redeveloped.
North of the English-Scottish border in Glasgow and football fans will find the best derby day ambiance inside Celtic Park. The green and white colours have been there for decades, and it gives a particular charm to this stadium. The stadium regularly hosts the Old Firm Derby between Celtic and Rangers. It is one of the great rivalries in football and it goes far behind the sport. Capable of holding over 60,400 green and white clad fans, Celtic Park is a fiery cauldron of angst on derby day. There isn't anything else like it, especially when Celtic grab a late winner against their eternal rivals.
My daughter's first ever football match - Orlando City v Atlanta United, August 2019. Written for Izzy to read when she gets old enough. Vamos Orlando
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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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