1 month ago
It sometimes seems that those who position our shot from beyond these shores person nan top appreciation of nan cathedrals, erstwhile cardinal to nan game’s history, which person been bulldozed now.
When a starring documentary photographer, Stuart Roy Clarke, wanted to create a book he called ‘The Homes of Football’, capturing his 1990s travel astir our home crippled arsenic it stood connected nan cusp of a modernisation, nan only patient consenting to committee it was German – ‘Spielmacher’. The vanished product, published a fewer years ago, is beautiful, though nan matter is successful German, pinch English translator tucked distant astatine nan back.
Some of those awesome stadiums – packed pinch fans erstwhile Clarke depicted them – stay arsenic iconic arsenic ever to those who retrieve them, a constituent proved by nan consequence to Mail Sport journalist Ian Ladyman’s travel backmost to nan centre of nan aged Maine Road centre circle, successful southbound Manchester, past year.
The plaque laid astatine that spot is classy, though it is nan merest fragment, nonetheless. What akin remnants mightiness still beryllium astatine these places, which we mightiness telephone ‘ghost grounds?’
Mail Sport’s main sports photographer Andy Hooper has led our ain quest to find out, selecting stadiums wherever nan game’s top occasions played out, immoderate of which are now not moreover connected nan map. It was nan sheer situation of locating immoderate of these places which amazed Andy. There are nary brownish tourism signs, nary bluish plaques, yet still grounds of an abiding fascination for them. Where Andy travelled, I followed, uncovering that nan ghosts of ages past locomotion gangly successful some, though not all, of these places.
Arsenal's celebrated aged stadium Highbury has transformed since nan Gunners moved retired successful 2006
Now Highbury has been turned into flats while caller location nan Emirates is simply a stone's propulsion away
West Ham's Upton Park has received nan aforesaid curen pursuing its closure successful 2016
It has been 7 years since Upton Park made measurement for a modern lodging development
The tone of West Ham United, for example, is live and good connected Green Street, eastbound London, though you request to look doubly to beryllium sure. On nan white-washed exterior wall of a vaping shop, a alternatively unconvincing animation image of Bobby Moore is depicted crashing done nan bricks - and conscionable wrong nan establishment’s door, there’s an artwork of Moore’s and Trevor Brooking’s West Ham jerseys, hanging connected a apparel obstruction amid discarded socks and scarves.
The young men moving nan shop wouldn’t cognize Brooking if he walked into this spot and asked for a flavoured vape, but that’s not nan point.
This is nan spot wherever Upton Park stadium stood for 114 years and though it’s been 7 years since it made measurement for a modern lodging development, nan fans are still coming backmost here, to portion astatine nan legendary Boleyn Tavern and imbibe nan tone of a rich | footballing past.
‘We thought that nan images would make group look doubly astatine our place,’ says 1 of nan assistants astatine nan alternatively forgettably-named shop, ’Global First & Accessories,’ pointing retired nan Europa League trophy image connected nan shop’s backmost wall. ‘The stadium’s gone but group subordinate this thoroughfare pinch nan club. Yes. We deliberation it’s made america guidelines out.’
They’re not nan only ones. Green Street remains claret and bluish successful truthful galore ways, from nan fascia of nan Upton Park Builders’ Merchants to nan agleam paintwork of St Edwards Catholic Primary School. An aged 10ft by 8ft nine crest has been located successful a retention portion and restored by fans to a position connected nan wall of nan UK Fitness Club gym.
‘We get group done present each nan time, looking to spot wherever they erstwhile came,’ says a gym unit member, ‘JP.’ ‘I’ve tried to familiarise myself pinch nan history. I don’t really travel football.’
Up and down nan land, fans look to beryllium retracing their steps down football’s aged highways and byways, looking for nan psyche that has been mislaid erstwhile clubs near communities for all-purpose, all-seater stadiums.
‘You’re nan sixth personification this week to inquire maine astir nan Baseball Ground,’ says Ron Peters, who lives successful 1 of nan houses built astir nan grassy rectangle which was nan segment of specified glories nether Brian Clough and Dave Mackay.
None of nan aged crushed re-developments nods rather truthful stylishly to nan past arsenic nan Baseball Ground, pinch nan transportation nan homes are clustered astir and an accompanying statue. But a travel astir nan sites leaves nan unmistakable consciousness that those aged shot cathedrals could do acold much to constituent up and people this important portion of British societal history. It’s been a process of ‘hunt nan pitch’ successful galore places.
Southampton's erstwhile home, The Dell, was built successful 1898 and stood until 2001
Now Southampton's erstwhile location houses residents pinch nary motion of nan ground's framework
A unique redbrick stadium wall, pinch fading whitewash portion of its appeal, is nan sole remnant of Ayresome Park, Middlesbrough, besides housed complete now. This was nan 1 that Andy and I recovered astir elusive. Is nan information spot of writer successful an adjacent children’s play area nan centre spot wherever Wilf Manion and Billy Ashcroft kicked off? Impossible to tell.
The aforesaid must beryllium said for nan mini spot of writer connected nan Upton Park lodging development, too, though possibly nan saddest shape of corporate amnesia is astatine Brighton and Hove Albion’s aged Goldstone Ground.
It’s a bland, soulless supermarket, pinch nary evident motion to Peter Ward, Kit Napier and Saturday afternoons of derring-do. There’s not truthful overmuch intact of Sunderland’s hallowed ground, either. In keeping pinch galore different aged crushed sites, nan streets of nan houses wherever Roker Park stood person football-themed names: Roker Park Close, Turnstile Mews, Goalmouth Close. Nothing more.
Highbury is nan aged stadium astir intact. The sophisticated, costly Highbury Square neighbourhood improvement builds connected nan history of nan site. Arriving present astatine dusk connected nan evening of Arsenal’s lucifer pinch Atletico Madrid astatine nan Emirates reveals that surviving successful nan quadrate provides nan full, authentic Arsenal experience.
A 10-minute locomotion separates stadiums aged and caller and you tin moreover smell nan onions from nan burger vans group up astatine nan bottommost of Highbury Hill.
The improvement splits into 4 blocks – north, south, eastbound and westbound guidelines - and nan celebrated aged doorstep wherever managers would look to look nan property is still here.
Yet its residents-only entree to nan grassy rectangle, group wrong blase ray system, which seems to beryllium nan aged pitch. I inquire a resident will he unfastened nan locked gross into that sanctuary. He smiles, terribly politely, and walks consecutive on.
Ian’s travel backmost to nan aged Maine Road centre circle, and nan video he produced, suggested that nan spot wherever Colin Bell, Francis Lee and Mike Summerbee did not radiate its aged glories.
The bronze plaque of centre circle was group connected a alternatively barren spot of dusty onshore – muddy erstwhile I made my visit. But those who unrecorded astatine this spot are intelligibly accustomed to questions astir their neighbourhood’s rich | portion successful football’s societal and sporting history.
‘It’s bully they measurement they’ve marked it,’ says section resident Eileen Fisher, pushing her two-year-old. ‘My begetter and brothers are City fans and I really deliberation they envy me, surviving correct present successful this place. It’s a shrine.’
HIGHBURY
Arsenal (1913-2006)
Thierry Henry kissed nan writer aft securing his hat-trick against Wigan successful what was nan last extremity astatine Arsenal’s aged location that’s now a quad of swanky flats.
Highbury hosted nan World Heavyweight title conflict betwixt Muhammad Ali and Henry Cooper successful 1966 but was dropped arsenic a World Cup venue successful nan aforesaid year.
Arsenal's Highbury, pictured present successful 1995, is nan oldest stadium that is astir intact
Arsenal’s aged location is now a quad of swanky flats, pinch a greenish area wherever nan transportation was
The aged creation deco-styled East Stand is still opinionated coming aft it was officially opened successful 1936
The aged stands person kept their shape pinch nan North Bank and Clock End stands demolished
The Highbury Square neighbourhood improvement builds connected nan history of nan site
THE DELL
Southampton (1898-2001)
The first crushed successful England to person imperishable floodlights. The lodging blocks that now guidelines location are named aft erstwhile Saints players.
One of them, Matt Le Tissier, who played for Saints his full career, had nan fitting honour of scoring nan last extremity astatine nan Dell pinch his last-minute onslaught against Arsenal.
The Dell was location to Southampton from 1898 until 2001. It was nan first crushed successful England to person imperishable floodlights
The Dell is now unrecognisable pinch nan aged stadium making measurement for lodging development
A greenish and plot area surrounded by flats sits wherever nan transportation will person been
Matt Le Tissier, who played for Saints his full career, scored nan last extremity astatine nan Dell
MAINE ROAD
Manchester City (1923-2003)
The roadworthy utilized to beryllium called Dog Kennel Lane but was renamed successful nan 1870s aft nan US authorities complete its domiciled successful nan Temperance Movement that discouraged group from drinking alcohol.
Hosted England’s first-ever World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland successful 1949. It’s now a lodging estate.
Maine Road was location to Manchester City for 80 years earlier it was later demolished
Maine Road did not radiate its aged glories pinch lodging and flats sitting wherever it erstwhile stood
Manchester City's Maine Road stadium is now a caller building development
The bronze plaque of centre circle was group connected a alternatively barren spot of dusty land
BASEBALL GROUND
Derby (1895-1997)
As nan sanction suggests, nan stadium was primitively utilized for shot earlier Derby spent 102 years location up of their move to Pride Park.
Ian Wright scored nan last convention extremity connected its infamously atrocious transportation arsenic Arsenal hit Derby 3-1. The younker squad kept playing location for a spot earlier it became housing.
A birdseye position of nan Baseball Ground shows really narrowly it sits wrong terraced houses
As nan sanction suggests, nan stadium was primitively utilized for shot earlier Derby moved in
Old ceramic walls that utilized to beryllium a portion of nan crushed still guidelines today
A metallic sculpture pays homage to nan aged crushed which is now a park
The thoroughfare conscionable disconnected wherever nan aged stadium was is now called Baseball Drive aft nan aged ground
FILBERT STREET
Leicester City (1891-2002)
The Foxes' erstwhile location stands arsenic derelict onshore conscionable 300 yards distant from their existent stadium.
Matt Piper scored nan last extremity location successful a 2-1 comeback triumph against Spurs. Former leader Martin O’Neill joked he led prospective signings connected to nan transportation backwards truthful they couldn’t spot nan mini decrepit East Stand.
Leicester City utilized to play their location matches astatine Filbert Street until its closure successful 2002
Leicester City's King Power Stadium sits successful nan region wherever Filbert Street erstwhile stood
The Foxes' erstwhile location stands arsenic derelict onshore conscionable 300 yards distant from their existent stadium
It remained known almost exclusively by its address, for illustration galore English shot stadiums
Leicester now play each their location matches astatine nan King Power Stadium, conscionable 300 yards away
BOLEYN GROUND
West Ham (1904-2016)
More commonly known arsenic Upton Park, West Ham spent 112 years present earlier moving to nan London Stadium.
Winston Reid’s victor against Man United was nan last extremity astatine nan Boleyn Ground earlier it became 842 flats called Upton Gardens. Wayne Rooney made his England debut location against Australia.
Boleyn Ground, aliases more commonly known arsenic Upton Park, was West Ham's location for 112 years
It closed successful 2016 and was demolished, later becoming 842 flats called Upton Gardens
A statue of West Ham's celebrated sons, featuring Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters and Ray Wilson, lifting nan World Cup tin beryllium recovered adjacent nan tract of wherever Upton Park erstwhile stood
There's nary motion of nan aged stadium - but nan area is still a belief location for Hammers fans
Green Street remains claret and bluish successful truthful galore ways, from nan fascia of nan Upton Park Builders’ Merchants to nan agleam paintwork of St Edwards Catholic Primary School
AYRESOME PARK
Middlesbrough (1903-1995)
Middlesbrough’s location until they moved to nan Riverside successful 1995. They secured nan Division One title nether Bryan Robson successful nan last competitory crippled location against Luton Town.
Ayresome Park, now housing, besides hosted 3 World Cup games successful 1966, including North Korea’s daze triumph complete Italy.
Ayresome Park was nan location of Middlesbrough earlier their move to nan Riverside successful 1995
Ayresome Park is now lodging - a destiny met by galore shade grounds astir nan country
A aged poster gives a little history connected Ayresome Park earlier vandals had their measurement pinch it
The lodging property wherever nan aged crushed erstwhile sat pays homage to its erstwhile tenants
THE GOLDSTONE
Brighton (1902-1997)
Brighton’s triumph complete Doncaster successful nan past crippled astatine their aged crushed successful 1997 group nan shape for nan celebrated final-day Great Escape against Hereford that kept nan Seagulls successful nan Football League.
David Beckham made his pro debut present successful 1992, coming disconnected nan chair for United successful nan League Cup. It’s now a unit park.
Before Brighton moved to nan Amex Stadium, nan Goldstone was their location ground
There are nary remnants of nan aged ground, which is now a unit parkland successful Brighton
While location whitethorn beryllium nary signs of nan aged ground, location is simply a thoroughfare adjacent called Goldstone Lane
Brighton fans invade nan transportation aft past crippled ever to beryllium played astatine nan Goldstone successful 1997
ROKER PARK
Sunderland (1898-1997)
Sunderland called Roker Park their location for 99 years earlier making nan move down nan River Wear to nan Stadium of Light.
Now a lodging estate, nan streets astir nan area commemorate Roker Park, pinch names for illustration Promotion Close, Clockstand Close, Goalmouth Close, Midfield Drive, Turnstile Mews and Roker Park Close.
Sunderland called Roker Park location earlier making nan move to nan Stadium of Light
A motion counting down nan games until Roker Park closed is seen astatine nan aged stadium
Now a lodging estate, nan streets astir nan area commemorate Roker Park
VICTORIA GROUND
Stoke City (1878-1997)
The Victoria Ground was 1 of nan oldest shot stadiums successful cognition astatine nan clip of it's demolition successful 1997, having been nan location to Stoke City for complete 119 years.
The Potters won their last convention crippled astatine nan crushed against West Brom 2-1, pinch Graham Kavanagh scoring nan last extremity for nan hosts. The tract wherever nan Victoria erstwhile stood was quiet for complete 2 decades until a lodging improvement was built connected nan tract successful 2019.
