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Stadiums to visit whilst you still can

Football Grounds To Visit While You Still Can

Unfortunately all good things have to come to an end, and the same is true with football grounds. Some become run-down and some are too small whilst others just aren't financially viable anymore. The world will lose some top class football stadiums soon - here's our guide to the ones you don't want to miss.

Bootham Crescent - home to York City

Bootham Crescent - Home to York City

York's Bootham Crescent is another of a dying breed. With an open air standing away end (similar in feel to Exeter's St James Park, before their redevelopment), it's clear to see why the club have decided to move to a new stadium.

Traditionalists will be disappointed to learn that the new 8,000 capacity stadium will be located some 2 and a half miles away from Bootham Crescent at Monks Cross to the north of the city. It's a pity as the current ground is within easy walking distance of a beautiful historic city centre with many great pubs between the train station and the stadium.

The new ground is a joint venture between York City FC, the council and York's rugby club, the York City Knights,

The new ground was originally supposed to be open for the start of the 2019/2020 season, but delays in construction mean that York will start the new season at Bootham Crescent.

More info can be found on the York Community Stadium website.

Bootham Crescent 9,196 capacity • 29,691 visits logged •


Griffin Park - home to Brentford

Griffin Park - Home to Brentford

There's just one year left if you want to visit Griffin Park. Construction work on Brentford's new stadium is well underway and the club intends to start the 2020/2021 season at the new stadium - having already announced season ticket prices for the new ground.

Griffin Park was originally opened in 1904 and whilst undoubtedly picturesque and historic, it is in need of some modernisation - as I'm sure fans who have been in recent seasons would agree.

The new stadium, currently dubbed Brentford Community Stadium is located just off the M4, less than 5 minutes walk away from Kew Bridge station. The new development will feature Brentford's new 17,250-seater ground and more than 900 new homes.It will also be used by the London Irish egg chasing team.

Griffin Park will sadly be bulldozed to the ground with seventy 3 and 4 bedroom family homes built in its place.

Personally, I am a massive fan of Griffin Park - it's one of my top 3 stadiums in London and I'll be very sad to see it go. If you've not been yet, I'd definitely recommend a visit.

More info can be found on the Brentford Community Stadium website.

Griffin Park 12,300 capacity • 47,763 visits logged •


York Street - Home to Boston United

York Street - home to Boston United

The 2019/2020 season will be Boston's last at York Street. The club have extended their lease for another year whilst their new ground is being built.

The new Boston Community Stadium will be built just off the A16 in neighbouring Wyberton, some 2 and a half miles away from the club's current ground.

If it's ready, the club plans to move in to the new stadium at the start of next season. If building is delayed, the club will not be able to renew the lease on York Street and will be forced to groundshare.. Whatever happens, this season will be Boston's last at York Street.

The new 5,000 capacity stadium is part of East Lincolnshire Quadrant development which also includes 500 news home as well as retail facilities including a supermarket.

More information can be found at the Quadrant Boston website/

York Street (The Jakemans Stadium) 6,643 capacity • 11,337 visits logged •


Pittodrie - home to Aberdeen

Pittodrie - home to Aberdeen

Aberdeen look likely to be moving away from Pittodrie after councillors rejected objections to their planned new stadium. The club are now pressing on with the new build which was originally scheduled to be completed in time for the start of the 2020/2021 season (although this now seems a little hopeful).

The new 20,000 stadium will cost around £50m and whilst the renderings look impressive, it is located almost 7 miles away from Pittodrie at a small village called Kingsford. With no train station nearby and only 1,700 parking spaces, the club plans to bus fans in from the town centre.

More information can be found on the Kingsford Stadium website.

Pittodrie 20,866 capacity • 6,177 visits logged •


Kingsmeadow - home to AFC Wimbledon

Kingsmeadow - home to AFC Wimbledon

AFC Wimbledon are close to returning to Plough Lane (their "spiritual" home).

After years climbing through the leagues sharing Kingstonian's ground, the born again Dons have secured land and planning permission to build a new 20,000 seater stadium on the site of the former Wimbledon dog racing track.

Work has already begun to clear the site in preparation for construction of the stadium and associated development of 602 residential units, car parking, retail and commercial space.

The actual stadium will be built in phases - first opening with a capacity of 10,000 with the ability to extend to 20,000 if required.

Whilst AFC Wimbledon may be moving out soon, it doesn't spell the end for Kingsmeadow. The ground has been sold to Chelsea who will make it home to the Women's and Youth teams. So whilst it won't be a League ground anymore, you will still be able to visit it.

Kingsmeadow (Cherry Red Records Stadium) 4,850 capacity • 16,992 visits logged •


Kenilworth Road - home to Luton Town

Kenilworth Road - home to Luton Town

Luton Town have been granted planning permission on a new stadium. No opening date has been set yet, but the club are wanting to get started as soon as possible - so you've probably only got a couple seasons left tick Kenilworth Road off, if you've not already been.

The new ground will be built at Power Court, around a mile east of the club's current home. At a planned capacity of 23,000, the new stadium is over twice the size of Kenilworth Road.

Kenilworth Road 10,356 capacity • 47,599 visits logged •


Goodison Park - home to Everton

Goodison Park - home to Everton

Everton have been looking to build a new stadium for a long time. The club have outgrown the 40,000 capacity Goodison Park and the ground isn't aging well, with the view from the lower tier of the away end being particularly poor.

After years of deliberation, the club seem to have decided on building at Bramley-Moore Dock on the banks of the river Mersey, roughly 2 miles west of Goodison.

The new stadium is likely to be significantly bigger than Goodison Park, with an expected capacity of 52,000. Rumours are that safe standing rail seats will be installed and the stadium built in a way that the club can easily expand - eventually taking the capacity to 62,000 which (at present) would make it even bigger than Anfield.

The project hasn't yet been given planning permission so a target date of the start of the 2023/2024 season is very tentative at the moment.

Goodison Park 39,572 capacity • 62,218 visits logged •


Loftus Road - home to Queens Park Rangers

Loftus Road - Home to Queens Park Rangers

With many recent seasons in the Premier League, few could argue that QPR need to increase the current 18,000 capacity of Loftus Road.

With redevelopment an expensive option, QPR were looking to relocate to a new 40,000 seater stadium in the Old Oak area of west London. The development would have included 24,000 new homes in high rise apartment blocks and a 350-bed luxury hotel. Estimated to create 50,000 new jobs, Old Oak would also have been London's hub for HS2.

However, plans to redevelop Old Oak were shelved and the club is now exploring other options with one being the redevelopment of the nearby Linford Christie Stadium into a new 30,000 seater stadium. No final plans have been drawn up yet, and the project is still a long way off being started.

If QPR do move, Loftus Road with its proximity to the pitch and compact seating is a ground that will be missed by many traditionalists.

Loftus Road 18,439 capacity • 67,314 visits logged •


Roots Hall - home to Southend United

Roots Hall - home to Southend United

Southend have made no secret of their desire to move away from Roots Hall and submitted a new stadium planning application back in 2017. Over 2 years later and the local council still haven't made a decision and the club is none the wiser as to when or if they will be able to relocate.

Southend's ambitious development plans include a new 21,000 seater stadium which is almost double the size of their current ground and three times the club's recent 7,000 average attendance.

Alongside the stadium, the development would also include 800 new homes as well as shops, restaurants, a cinema and 4 full size grass football pitches. The planned location on Fossetts Farm is just over a mile away from Roots Hall.

Roots Hall 12,392 capacity • 37,224 visits logged •


Dean Court - home to AFC Bournemouth

Dean Court - home to AFC Bournemouth

AFC Bournemouth have by far the smallest ground in the Premier League. At a capacity of just 11,450 it's easy to see what the club are looking at either extending Dean Court, or moving away entirely.

In March 2016, they announced plans to build a new South Stand which would have taken capacity up to 14,000 (which would still be the smallest in the Premier League).

Then, just 9 months later, they announced plans to build a brand new stadium at nearby Kings Park (almost next to Dean Court). However, the plans were sketchy with very little detail revealed - no images of how the stadium would look, no cost of the project or any estimation of cost.

Whilst the new stadium seems to be the club's preferred option, It looks for now as though those plans are firmly on hold with AFC Bournemouth preferring to invest in the team as opposed to the stadium.

Dean Court (The Vitality Stadium) 11,464 capacity • 37,563 visits logged •


Sincil Bank - home to Lincoln City

Sincil Bank - home to Lincoln City

Lincoln's recent resurgence from non-League to League 1 has seen a rise in attendances and appetite for both more seats and better facilities at their 125 year old stadium.

Lincolnshire Council may have the answer - they are planning a massive new development a mile to the west of the city centre which will include 3,200 homes, a new school, hotel, retail and office space and... a new football stadium.

Planning permission has been applied for, but the project is a long way off being started yet. If it does go ahead, the stadium would be the very last thing to be built and the club itself haven't committed to relocating - they aren't involved in the council plans and may choose to develop Sincil Bank than move to a new council-owned ground.

Sincil Bank 10,669 capacity • 30,965 visits logged •


The New Lawn - home to Forest Green Rovers

The New Lawn - home to Forest Green

Forest Green have submitted planning permission for a new stadium but it has been denied by Stroud council.

The club wanted to build a new 5,000 seater stadium just off junction 13 of the M5. In true Forest Green fashion, it would have been made out of wood and would have been the only wooden football stadium in the world.

However, the council denied the application citing concerns over the affect on the landscape. The club can appeal against the ruling, so the idea isn't dead in the water just yet.

The New Lawn 5,147 capacity • 11,112 visits logged •


Prenton Park - home to Tranmere Rovers

Prenton Park - home to Tranmere Rovers

Just before the start of the 2019/2020 season, Tranmere announced that they are exploring the possibility of moving away from Prenton Park.

The club have just secured back-to-back promotions from non-League football and are looking to a new stadium to generate more non match day and regenerate the local area.

There's not much more to report at this stage. No site has been identified and no designs have been released. Watch this space.

Prenton Park 16,789 capacity • 41,648 visits logged •


About the Author: Rob Clarkson

Rob is the owner of footballgroundmap.com. A Sheffield United fan and father of two, Rob loves nothing more than a good game of football whether that's watching the Blades or one his local non-League teams. He's somewhat of a traditionalist, preferring the older grounds to newer purpose-built ones.

Away from footballgroundmap.com, Rob works as an Ecommerce Development Project Manager for one of the UK's largest clothing retailers. He also owns and runs kick22.com, a system which allows junior and non-League clubs to create their own low cost website.

Sheffield United supporter • 107 grounds visited • 56/92



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