Blog Archives

The 2019 Race for the Football League – Tradition vs. Entrepreneurship

Posted on April 19, 2019 by Hans Henrik Appel — 1 Comment

The race for winning promotion to the Football League is entering its final stage, and my son Thomas and I have the perfect opportunity to compare two of the leading contenders – Leyton Orient and Salford City – as they…

Tagged with: Brisbane Road, Clapton Orient, Class of 92, Football league, gable, Laurie Cunningham, Leyton Orient, Manchester United, Mitcham Stadium, Moor Lane, National League, Peninsula Stadium, Salford City, Standing terrace, wooden floor
Posted in Football grounds

Pittodrie – from gallow hill and dung yard to cemetery and football ground

Posted on March 7, 2019 by Hans Henrik Appel — Leave a comment

It is almost surreal. It is February, the sun is beaming down, it is hot – and I am sweating on my way up the sloping Park Road in Aberdeen. A green bus stop marks the summit. Standing out against…

Tagged with: Aberdeen, Archibald Leitch, cemetery, dunghill, football ground, Hamilton Academicals, Pittodrie, rifle range
Posted in Football grounds

Tannadice – what gives a football ground character?

Posted on March 5, 2019 by Hans Henrik Appel — Leave a comment

When I made my list of the top 24 English football grounds back in December, I was asked about the criteria. Well, they are not clear-cut. If I should nail it down to just one word, I would say “character”,…

Tagged with: allotments, Dens Park, Dundee F.C., Dundee Hibernian, Dundee United, Dundee Wanderers, floodlights, Ralph Milne, Sandeman Road, Simon Inglis, Tangerine, Tannadice
Posted in Football grounds

Top English Football Ground Advent Calendar 2018: 24th December

Posted on December 24, 2018 by Hans Henrik Appel — Leave a comment

Day 24 – Ground no. 1: Goodison Park, Everton. It is almost like an open-air museum. The Archibald Leitch stands at Bullen’s Road and Gwlady’s Street are top-drawer. The stairs, the concourse in the lower section, the wooden floor and…

Tagged with: Bullen's Road, Everton F.C., Goodison Park, Gwladys Street, Memorial garden, St. Luke's church
Posted in Football grounds, Uncategorized

Farewell to a football ground. Bootham Crescent in York

Posted on October 10, 2018 by Hans Henrik Appel — Leave a comment

After watching the Yorkshire derby between Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United on the Friday night, we head to York for another one derby – between York City and Guiseley in the Vanamara National League North. York City has been at…

Tagged with: Archibald Leitch, Bootham Crescent, chicken balti pie, Guiseley, Leigh Sports Village, Monks Cross, plastic seats, Sean Newton, Stadium of Light, Standing terrace, Sunderland AFC, The Minster Inn, The Minstermen, wooden seats, York City, York Minster
Posted in Football grounds

The Historical Layers of Hillsborough

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Hans Henrik Appel — Leave a comment

For a county with such proud football traditions as Yorkshire, it must be frustrating to be so poorly represented in the Premier League. A couple of seasons ago, Huddersfield Town took over from Hull as the only representative, and at…

Tagged with: Archibald Leitch, Hillsborough, Leeds United, Memorial, Memorial garden, scattering of ashes, Sheffield Wednesday, Stadium disaster, The Kop, World Cup 1966
Posted in Football grounds

Selhurst Park – searching for Crystal Palace’s memorial garden

Posted on May 14, 2018 by Hans Henrik Appel — 1 Comment

Selhurst Park was high on my football ground wish list this season. For three reasons. Firstly, with Palace about to get the final seal of approval of their plans for a new main stand, the days of the original…

Tagged with: Archibald Leitch, Arthur Wait Stand, Crystal Palace, Eagles, Harry Kane, Holmesdale Road, Karl Marx, Memorial garden, museum, Sainsbury's, Selhurst Park, Tottenham, Whitehorse Lane
Posted in Football grounds

“Not fit for modern-day football” – or “a magical monument for 119 years of footballing history”? – Blundell Park, Grimsby

Posted on April 23, 2018 by Hans Henrik Appel — 20 Comments

Within the same week in September 1899, five new football grounds staged their first match. Highfield Road in Coventry, Tottenham’s White Hart Lane, Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough, Fratton Park in Portsmouth, and Grimsby Town’s Blundell Park. Having attended matches at the…

Tagged with: Blundell Park, dressing room, floodlight pylons, Fratton Park, George Best, Grimsby Town, Highfield Road, Hillsborough, Molineux Stadium, Stevenage, Victorian pitch, White Hart Lane, Wolverhampton Wanderers
Posted in Football grounds

A women’s top game – but why not in a proper stadium?

Posted on April 5, 2018 by Hans Henrik Appel — Leave a comment

My first women’s game in the UK is a top match. Manchester City against Reading. If Manchester City win their game in hand, they are top of the league – and they have already qualified for the Champions League semi-final.…

Tagged with: Academy Stadium, Etihad, FA Women's Super League, Manchester City, Manchester City Women's Team, Nadia Nadim, Reading Women's team, Women's football
Posted in Football grounds

Not just another brick in the wall!

Posted on March 15, 2018 by Hans Henrik Appel — Leave a comment

My first football trip to the UK of 2018 has two main features. Football memorial gardens and Archibald Leitch – the great stadium architect. A year ago, there were still nine stadiums with Archibald Leitch stands remaining in the UK.…

Tagged with: Archibald Leitch, Brick, Cleghorn Terracotta, Craven Cottage, Fratton Park, Goodison Park, Ibrox, Raith Rovers, Selhurst Park, Starks Park, Tynecastle
Posted in Football grounds, Football museums, Uncategorized

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