THE BEST FOOTBALL GROUNDS YOU’VE NEVER BEEN TO

Every week, the debate about the best grounds to visit grows stronger. Footy YouTube teems with forthright assessment of matchday atmosphere, car park configuration, train connections and, most importantly, the price of pints and pies. There’s some eye-catching stats out there (are there really 174 pubs within one mile of Newcastle’s St James’ Park?), and some wild decisions – did TalkSport’s Adrian Durham seriously name Loftus Road as the best of all 92 league grounds?!

It’s a fun topic to debate, but let’s be honest: ranking stadiums is pretty pointless. Fans are never going to agree. Every experience at a football ground is a special, subjective thing shaped by how you feel about the teams on the pitch, the matches you watch there and whatever else is going on in your life at the time. That’s what we love about it. One fan’s cold rusty hellhole is another’s heaven on earth.

Having said all that, certain grounds should be on any self-respecting supporter’s bucket list. The famous English football pyramid is stacked with hidden gems and unique places that hold the power to elevate even a desperately drab 0-0 into a core memory, making 90 minutes of watching 22 players kick a ball around feel like the only thing that matters. As you journey down into the wonderful world of non-league venues, the quirks get quirkier, the pitches get slopier and the naming deals get even more ridiculous (St Albans City’s Mozzarella Fellas Stadium is a recent personal favourite).

Many of these sacred grounds never feature on lists of the best in the country, but we’ve all heard enough about Elland Road, Goodison Park and other usual suspects. Here, in no particular order, are the best football grounds you’ve (probably) never been to.

Sincil Bank, Lincoln City

You might have seen our Adam Taylor Clare’s recent trip to Sincil Bank, aka the LNER Stadium, for Marshall Artist’s 12th Man. Unsurprisingly, he had a ball. The vibes are immaculate at this 10,000-capacity League One ground, known as one of the friendliest places in the country for visiting fans. Bonus points for the stunning view of Lincoln Cathedral you can enjoy from certain points in the ground, and the home fans’ unique tradition of sounding an air raid siren every time their side get a corner. Up the Imps!

Holker Street, Barrow AFC

Football writer Oliver Holt loves Barrow’s ground so much he placed it at number six in his recent ranking of all 92 league grounds for the Daily Mail. He described the “magnificent” atmosphere during the Cumbrian club’s recent derby clash with Carlisle United as “raw and loud and industrial and real”. This is definitely a no-frills kind of ground – it actually started life as a rubbish tip, and there’s been no development since the main stand was upgraded in the mid-1990s. Go for a throwback to real football, and stay a few days to enjoy the stunning lakeland landscapes on the doorstep.

Park Lane, Canvey Island

Canvey Island in Essex is famously located entirely below sea level. The unusual geography of the place makes Park Lane, the home of Canvey Island FC (Isthmian League Premier Division), an unforgettable spot to watch a game. Here you can often see cargo ships passing by on their way to the London Gateway port above the goal at one end of the ground. There’s something special about grounds positioned so close to the water – see also Arbroath’s Gayfield Park, just a decent goal kick away from the North Sea. Canvey’s inimitable home might be the best of the lot.

Cadbury Recreation Ground, Cadbury Athletic

They play against the backdrop of the Cadbury factory in Bourneville, in a Cadbury purple kit, and their nickname is The Chocolate Men. But, incredibly, Cadbury Athletic were not invented for an advertising campaign or a feel-good family film. They’re a real club with a history of developing top-flight talent – players like Daniel Sturridge and Demarai Gray came through the junior ranks here. A visit to the club, currently competing in the Midland League Division Two, offers a day out like no other. With Cadbury World right next door, it’s surely one of the most family-friendly grounds in the country. And the wonderful Tudor-style pavilion, built in 1902, is a Grade II listed building. Just lovely stuff. Unless you don’t like chocolate.

Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, Enfield Town

Since we’re talking pavilions, it would be wrong to omit this little-known gem on the edge of north London. Enfield Town’s home is an athletics stadium refurbished to accommodate football in 2011. It boasts a magnificent Art Deco pavilion – you guessed it, Grade II listed – that houses the main stand, clubhouse and shop. Fine architecture and National League South football, what more could you want on a Saturday afternoon?