It has been three years since my last football trip. So much has happened since then. Brexit, Covid, war in Europe. On top of that, my osteoarthritis now makes it hard for me to get around. So, I am a…

“The cultural and material history of the English football league ground 1888-2020”. That is the working title of my new project. As you may know from my blogposts, I am fascinated by the way football grounds encapsulate the history of…

Day 23 – Ground no. 2: Hillsborough, Sheffield Wednesday So much football ground history packed into this. The impressive Kop Stand, one of the very few stands that have kept the original embankment underneath. The first full-pitch-length cantilever stand looking very 1960’ish. The…

  Day 22 . Ground 3: Craven Cottage, Fulham There is a reason, it is listed. THAT stand by Archibald Leitch. Well, many more ought to be so. But this is just wonderful. The Dutch renaissance-like facade with red bricks,…

Day 21 – Ground number 4: Fratton Park, Portsmouth As you walk down the Frogmore Road and see the mock-Tudor club office and the remains of the pre-Archibald Leitch stand, you know that you are in for something special. And,…

Day 20 . Ground no. 5: Kenilworth Road, Luton A rarity now. Entrance to the Oak Stand through the terraced housing. The ground litterately in the backyard. The laundry hanging between the stand and the houses. The toilets are inside…

Day 19 – Ground no. 6: Brunton Park, Carlisle United Perilously close to a river. In a residential area, close to the city centre. Brunton Park has it all. A fabulous standing terrace with an iconic triple, triangle roof. A…