Abandoned Football Grounds

A collection of lost football stadiums left derelict and overgrown a sad but chilling insite into the financial times of the football world today.

[@MrAlamo1957]

It's sad to see the old stadiums disappearing along with some great names the grounds had unlike now.

[@Byrie8343]

Wow! These stadiums should be turned into football areas for anyone to play!

[@araregoodguy]

+Byrie Beckford I am pretty sure the old Centurians ground is now a Goals venue.

[@buddyven]

I think they should clean them up and open them for the public

[@samplayz-minecraftsamplayz2205]

ikr

[@georgerubypoppy1063]

Nice idea, I agree, but ownership, maintenance and safety etc. are factors in play.

[@Fcutdlady]

Troopz I agree but some of these clubs would have gone out of business due to debts they would have to repay. Fastest way to do that is sell the ground to developers or in the case of bigger clubs like Bolton building a bigger ground would need financing too

[@jagman84]

Falkirk's old ground was Brockville. Firs Park was East Stirlingshire.

[@cnoc500]

Hate to see basic errors like that. Lazy production.

[@jokepy4230]

First Scottish ground I went to was Firs Park.

[@BestOfKillieFc]

Brings a tear to your eye just think a football player could have had has best moments at one of these

[@Morgimanstudios]

Yeah

[@jancollins319]

Wow. That's the nicest part of Hull I've ever seen. I'm surprised it's not more of an attraction.

[@robertroberts2666]

Hull was a hub of the fishing industry until the EU took control! All the more reason why proud indigenous Brits like myself are members of the British National Front! Now get your facts right Lady! Shape up or ship out!

[@spudefc1886]

Boothferry Park was shocking, it resembled an old shopping centre or run down leisure centre on the outside.

[@peterh1353]

Still there and I passed it the other day. Land is basically worthless so it just rots away each year.

[@thescottishcrusader2781]

They built some houses in the area. If you go on Google maps street view now there are a bunch of houses but if you put it on 2008 there is just a field with some floodlights and one of the stands

[@thescottishcrusader2781]

@@spudefc1886 in the 90s, they had to put some shops like Iceland and Kwik Fit near Boothferry because they were losing money and needed financial support due to multiple relegations (they nearly got promoted to the top flight in 1986 and almost became non-league in 1998)

[@cobblers02]

my god.what a really sad video.Visited loads of these grounds following Northampton town in 80s and 90s.Loved the vetch and feethams.

[@apathyintheuk265]

I mourn the passing of any clubs old ground. Even with the subsequent 'face lifts' that many have had over the last 20 - 30 yrs, once they've gone it's another nail in the coffin of how we remembered football. (50 this year!)

[@dabro2080]

And now Luton Town are in the Premier League watch the prawn sandwich brigade cry

[@keechy1551]

How about instead of letting these stadiums rot and be wasted, let the common people play on them. There's tons of kids that would love to play inside of a stadium. I sure would! And i'm 19! What a waster of resources... >_>

[@henrypayne9273]

Exactly, sadly it's not that easy!

[@mikebould5651]

Thats what the swnsea coumcil did to the vetch field

[@HALODESTROYER89]

Wayne Train sadly it takes money to keep these stadiums open

[@JoshDiFeterici]

They're not going to waste a ton of money keeping those things maintained for kids to play on.

[@sherrysheikh350]

just fix the field that's all

[@hutchbeast]

Nice video cheers Went to the old hull, Chesterfield and Doncaster grounds back in the day. Proper old grounds.

[@samjane71]

The Gents in the main stand at Saltergate was accessed by stepping over a trough full of liquid.

[@dr2stroke611]

My first ever Doncaster Rovers match was the last one they ever played at Belle Vue

[@merciansupremacy5113]

@@samjane71 at least the one in the main stand had a roof unlike the one behind the kop and I suspect Cross Street too.

[@rijhkelaars918]

This video is so sad, these were the grounds that epitomize the great and unique atmosphere of brittish football, most of new stadiums are souless with no passion inside, and now the Boleyn Ground joins this list

[@hoggy2much999]

You should do this video again and add Celtic Park to that list. Recently over the last couple of seasons there have been more SEATS at the game than fans.

[@user-sk7zt5dr4g]

hoggy2much999 he he he

[@billyleadbitter5661]

@Scott M not in the last 2 yis got fucked rotten by the Rangers funny they say Rangers are dead yet no obituary to ibrox here maybe they just got demoted 🇬🇧

[@Torbjorn_Main]

This video is a reason that I hate modern football so much. :'(

[@colindant3410]

A lot of grounds I visited in younger days have now gone. It feels like my memories have been trashed.

[@Torkild2007]

Ajax has one stadium that still standing. Olympish Stadion who was built in 1928

[@chinmaypednekar501]

@Rishab Ghoshal you look 30-40 years too young to remember anything at all about the 70s mate.

[@mrkipling2201]

Agreed. Modern football has so much to answer for.

[@remcocraane3862]

@@Torkild2007 it's not a Ajax-stadium ,it's a Olympic-stadium.

[@AttyCray]

Great stuff. Thanks for posting. Amazed at how many of these I've been to. Some real memories there.

[@BreegFIN]

It just makes me wonder who owns these places.. and why are they not used for something else than football nowadays? The stadiums are just left to rot, lose their value and destroy cityscape. What a waste... Most of these could be renovated and maintained with quite little money.

[@matt_pritchard_]

I agree. Think how much a Sunday league team would love a ground like one of these

[@MattJames1958]

+Matias Kautto Ninian Park was demolished straight away and turned into housing

[@horseracingstuff]

+Matias Kautto These aren't current photographs.

[@Fcutdlady]

most of these would long since have been demolished

[@BreegFIN]

Well, that explains at least some of it. :D

[@Mr1979flapjack]

Great compilation but sad to see all these old grounds that had character, stadiums these days look identical. East terrace at the Vetch Field had a great atmosphere.

[@jimmycburfield5997]

Wow. What a video. It really does seem like yesterday that I watched Carlisle United open the 1996/97 season at Belle view Doncaster. I can’t believe the ‘ghosts’ provoked by the video. I lived in Hull as a student. I recall at the Boothferry park away end watching two young Wrexham kids run around play fighting each other. They will be around 30 now! So many memories. I love the music. Many thanks

[@grip10]

Hopefully Wimbledon will have a home game at the New Plough Lane after 25 years of being away from home.

[@SuperRomadoma]

It has...7 years later 😁

[@alanmewse590]

They r back there

[@mrkipling2201]

What gets me the most about these abandoned grounds is the advertising hoardings left behind like time stood still. Fisher athletic’s ground was a sad one as well, I saw Barnet get promoted there in the 1990/91 season.

[@wigibob3829]

I'm surprised that Horton Park Avenue (Bradford Park Avenue) wasn't there, it was bigger than most of the ones mentioned in this video

[@joeabbott9868]

I'm from darlington and I think it's so stupid how teams leave there grounds we were a solid league 2 side that pushed for promotion every season and the we decided to build a 25,000 seated stadium what was the point we were in league 2 and would never have been able to afford it now we are playing in the 8th tier of English football with no stadium we don't even play I'm darlington anymore just a football club ruined by one stupid owner

[@sexyservalgaming3970]

wow some people are really stupid

[@nially85]

This is what scares me being a luton fan. We need to move to improve but im scared we're going to end up like Darlington. I hope we settle for a modest 15,000 nothing fancy.

[@Raffini]

+Nially G Luton stadium really looks like a relic from History. It's one of the last ones left with that classic British feel. You should preserve it.

[@andycoverdale8791]

Never forget where you watched your football, when it represented the community and we all hoped and dreamed together.

[@dangreen6321]

Niall Garner - I wouldnt worry about a stadium - if 15yrs Luton will be a complete utter Islamic shithole. It will take blood on the streets to change that

[@thomasmccullagh8282]

Went to quite a few of those grounds ,great memories never forgotten.

[@pflynn581]

I actually went to watch my local team kings Lynn at the opening of Aylesburys Buckingham road ground in 1987 I think.Sad to see it like that.

[@maxrav1831]

At least in those days stadiums had real character. Now they all look the same and are sterile.

[@XXXPaulJXXX]

Spot on mate. It's tragic when clubs leave their traditional homes to move to lifeless lego stadiums.

[@jsafc1327]

Like arsenal, miss highbury : ,(

[@mrkipling2201]

Identikit soulless boxes.

[@guitarreilly]

these stadiums probably still have a better atmosphere than Stamford bridge hehe

[@justaviation2537]

:P

[@jimmyjohnson-3358]

No the emirates stadium you mean :p I been to both emirates no atmosphere at all

[@lucasmhagama8166]

OMG 😂😂😂😂

[@oliverrason1283]

lol it's not Chelsea anymore it's city and arsenal

[@paulwilson8274]

That wouldn't be hard 😀

[@williamparker1085]

as a boy I used to go and watch my home town Chelmsford play in the Southern League in an older terraced stadium.......lots of fond memories

[@MrMillhouse72]

A Part of Football History - Thx for sharing.

[@christipping7094]

Love the soundtrack , shame about the abandoned grounds .

[@ianraffel8340]

Really atmospheric and in some cases, sad photos. One thing though-Firs Park is in Falkirk but was actually the ground of East Stirlingshire FC.

[@namemame7410]

mon the shire

[@Pablosammy1]

"a sad but chilling insite into the financial times of the football world today" Half of these stadiums are from teams that have moved into big, fancy new stadiums. Hardly a chilling insite [sic]

[@keepthefaith4865]

Maybe because these grounds had atmosphere, not like the big fancy stadiums do nowadays

[@bluglouk]

Foo Oof It's that "atmosphere of risk" he's talking about LOL

[@keepthefaith4865]

No he's talking about real atmosphere not like nowadays with people like the prawn sandwich brigade and people who take selfie sticks to a football game

[@2ndEndingVintage]

"half" ??? "Half" of these clubs are by new millenium standards completely unrecognizable names, mate....

[@jonlinin9682]

A couple of stands from Scarborough's McCain Stadium ended up at Featherstone Rovers Rugby League ground. Slough Town's ground was a real waste. It sat empty and unused for years while the club had to play at Windsor and at Beaconsfield, only to return to Slough a couple of years ago after a 14 year (prepared to be corrected) absence to Arbour Park. The Feltham arena looked like this before it was closed ! - the roof was removed around 1995, but the stadium stayed in use until about 2003 (the last time I played there). And just to mention from my house I can see the glow from the floodlights from the (old) Den. Millwall's old lights now gracing Ash United.

[@coniferclose]

That’s very true pal.

[@michaeldowling4074]

That's melancholy man ....wow all gone but always remembered

[@michaelzzzzzzzzzzzz]

Ninian Park - Cardiff City Last of the old style atmospheric stadiums RIP

[@robintunney9013]

I do not think that Ninian Park is "abandoned". Since during the time the picture was taken, they were in the middle of recycling all steel and aluminum. A task that is a major construction project for which companies bid on!

[@johnathanryan2117]

Burnden Park is the same. 12 months after Bolton left, its a shopping complex and has been added to up to this day. Not " abandoned" at all.

[@mrkipling2201]

Went to see Kingstonian play Colchester United at Layer road in the 1991/92 season. FA trophy 1st round game. Kingstonian drew 2-2, which was a bit of a shock at the time as Colchester were in the Vauxhall conference and K’s were in the Isthmian league, a league below.

[@stepheng8779]

Loved Boothferry Park. Been to a fair few of these grounds, while a lot were in need of repair I never thought the Victoria Ground was that bad, always seemed too decent to be knocked down. Maybe a Stokie knows different??

[@thomasmccullagh8282]

Yes went there in the early 90s,versus west brom,and it looked a fine stadium in good condition.sad to see it go.

[@1984aok]

Great video mate been to quite a few of them holds fond memories esp Aylesbury utd, I still go there from time to time such a waste of a lovely non league stadium.

[@MeTube3]

I played in the Enfield White Lion Ground, probably in the Vase or maybe FAC Q1. Lost that one. Also played on the Aylesbury stadium Berks and Bucks Senior Cup, lost that one too.

[@RedWolf-qx2xn]

As an AFCB fan I miss away day to vetch field but the Liberity stadium is a decent away day

[@andyj315]

Feethams was Wembley of the North style class atmosphere you couldn't beat it PURE SHEER CLASS

[@stephenfenwick4309]

I worked as a match day steward at Feethams (Darlington) 1998-2000. Then had a season ticket in the east stand (one with all the seats) 2002-2004 before Darlo moved to the horrendous "Reynolds Arena" in 2004

[@mrkipling2201]

I grew up playing on Feltham arena all the time, so sad what happened to it.

[@manuelaesih5873]

Wimbledon must be in Premiere League..this crazy football team is from space...salute from croatia ....Hajduk Split Fan💪💪

[@539Productions]

It's insane how many of them have gone defunct and forgotten like that!

[@MarcovanRoth1962]

Falkirk - 'Firs Park'? Thought they used to play at Brockville? And now my local team Kettering Town has gone. Rocking Road ground has been completely levelled. Now playing at Latimer Park, Burton Latimer, just South of Kettering.

[@nially85]

nice video. but sloughs old ground was Wexham Park not Wrexham Park ;)

[@jwo99odvideo]

Still more of an atmosphere than Old Trafford!

[@MrJynxx]

You know my brother is a man u fan and as a Southampton fan.......I..no words I can't really back them up

[@user-xz4gr8ru3p]

Jonathan Wood *Emptihad

[@cybertron50]

Tom Teh Cat *Emptirates :)

[@ronwaugh1980]

Just to point out Chris you’ve got it wrong about firs park , it is not the former Home of Falkirk FC , but was the home of East Stirlingshire FC , There are Two teams in Falkirk , East Stirlingshire currently ground share with nearby Stenhousemuir FC and play in the Lowland league of Scottish football

[@nickmullerITFC78]

Great video loved it

[@barbarian981]

Not so long ago, Colchester United were playing Norwich and Ipswich in the Championship at Layer Road but it quickly deteriorated into a theme park.

[@TOSILENCE77]

The worst move was Darlington. Feethams was perfect yet they moved to a 25,000 stadium in the middle of nowhere! So sad.

[@QuakerStarGaming1912and2004]

+TOSILENCE77 used to live near the stadium all i heard was yelling from the footy and rugby fans !

[@leopold7562]

Didn't they get relegated after moving there? Best ground in the fourth division, and enough seats that every fan could have fifteen each. Total madness!

[@leopold7562]

***** Yeah, I did that too. Does seem odd that Feethams wasn't brought back into service, doesn't it?

[@EMIN3Mlyrics02912]

leopold I swear Darlington RA play there now?

[@leopold7562]

EMIN3Mlyrics02912 Do they? I was not aware of that. Well, if they do then that's a good thing.

[@daveross3892]

Very sad that these truly iconic stadiums have been abandoned. One thing though; Firs Park ,although technically in Falkirk was actually the home of East Stirlingshire FC who are currently playing in the South of Scotland League.

[@snubby4624]

I think footy adventures done a video about them.

[@grahamnaylor6697]

Sad but a time long gone been to the old grounds Chesterfield, Darlington, Stoke et al. Now characterless a sign of the times, no atmosphere, although seating is safer mind you most stand anyway! Love the tune by the way what is it.

[@chittur101]

Wow !! So many abandoned football stadiums. The way the leagues are going more stadiums will join this list.

[@matrich1983]

Saltergate, chesterfield FC old home is now completely demolished and a new housing estate built on it. They moved to a new built stadium about 2 miles outside of town :)

[@chrismccartney8668]

As a non football follower I'm still stunned to see such large areas derelict and economically inactive which blights the area around them and this encourages vandalism car dumping burning of other buildings and generally . Perhaps out of millions of pounds in football the authorities should have a find to assist either reuse odvsradiums or a fund to help get grants to re build and repurpose unwanted facilities to something that benefits the community as football did...

[@monstermoonproductions6035]

I was surprised to see Buckingham Road (Aylesbury United) on this. The club still exists, but the 100 year lease ran out on the ground a few years ago, and the owners wouldn't renew it so the club was evicted. It's a shame really, I have lots of memories as a kid in that place, especially in the bar area. It had one seated stand, and three terraces, one which was open. They still are ground-less, and pretty crap. Funny though, how they are in the same league (albeit 12 places below) as Aylesbury FC.

[@Isleofskye]

Supported Millwall since my first match in 1962 and visited Boothferry/Burnden/Victoria Ground?Newport ( Somerton) and Slough and 78 other grounds and how I miss the individual character of Roker Park and The Victoria Ground , Upton Park and Bolton and even Highbury and my team moved in 1993 to a soulless,sanitised, silent Stadium and the atmosphere is a fraction of what it used to be. These fans have lost the choice to stand,The Working-Class who provided the atmosphere have , largely, been replaced and these grounds have a fraction of their old atmosphere. So sad but it's "progress" innit ! INNIT ??

[@someoneorother2222]

I still call Swansea's ground Vetch Field and in my mind Chesterfield still play at Saltergate. Back in junior all the lads knew the names of the 92 league grounds. That was nearly 40 years ago and I suspect that now they don't know that there is life outside the top division.

[@rjjcms1]

Those old grounds really had character and atmosphere,whatever they lacked in facilities and safety. Never went to the Vetch Field (been once to Swansea's new place) but that looked like a really quirky ground!

[@mrkipling2201]

Agreed. I knew all the names of the 92 league grounds when I was growing up during the 1980's.

[@matthew-thomasplant3542]

Stoke's old ground, the Victoria ground, was fully demolished a few months after its last game was hosted. Unfortunately though, the land the stadium was built on has been fenced off and derelict since 1998.

[@paulfaulkner6299]

Matthew-Thomas Plant

[@robmontier639]

Build flats etc. on the old terracing and stands BUT convert the pitch area into a wood, country park, ponds.

[@craigcraig4996]

Good video.but Firs Park was East Stirlingshires ground where Sir Alex Ferguson first managed before going to St Mirren.

[@araregoodguy]

Great video.. interesting

[@iandavidson7799]

Firs Park was in the town of Falkirk but was the home ground of East Stirlingshire, not Falkirk FC.

[@nicomadd22]

so so so sad to see grounds like this with new stadiums theyre all built the same. so many memories gone

[@jancollins319]

Plough lane. I used to go there with my grandad to watch vinnie Jones and Denny wise. Followed by pie, mash and liqueur then back for the dogs. Good times.

[@paulburns1333]

Did you do the Lambeth walk?

[@jancollins319]

Paul Burns haha. No. That was those scruffy cockney types.

[@golddd6996]

hasn't some of these teams been relegated relegated and demolished

[@HeeftGedaanHD]

This makes me sad.

[@jeffdonovan8639]

Somerton Park, Newport County. My first match as a Newport supporter saw County beat Portsmouth 4/3 at Somerton in 1979 / 80. Best memory for me at Somerton was County's Cup Winners Cup 1/4 final v German club Carl Zeis Jena in 1980 / 81. Lost 1-0 but the memory of a capacity 18,000 spectators present.

[@mrkipling2201]

Tommy Tynan was the striker back then I believe. Didn't Newport County get booted out of the 4th Division halfway through the 1988/89 season??

[@Chripswich]

Pictures of the ground when shut were extremely hard to come by.

[@jamesalexander4926]

Third Lanark cathkin park is still here 50 years later

[@09michael12]

McCain stadium was a really good small compact ground great atmosphere every game i miss the place

[@WDH59510]

If there's one abandoned stadium you missed it's Cathkin Park on the south side of Glasgow. There are parts of the terracing which are still maintained although next year it'll be 50 years since Third Lanark folded. As a teenager going to nearby Hampden in the mid-70s I passed by the ground and the stand and pavilion had still to be demolished although the vandals were already making their presence felt. Actually the ground hasn't been entirely abandoned as Third Lanark Amateurs still play games there I believe.

[@caveman385]

Thats one of the most important of the abandoned stadiums! I am really surprised at the omission!

[@carlitosz73]

Its so sad to see a football stadium abandoned:( D: these were the most important stadiums:( D:

[@caveman385]

When i look at these feel like going to them with a couple of industrial lawn mowers, a fitbaw, some dudes and having a glorious game 😎

[@waynebanks8197]

Saltergate was used for the Damed United film as 1970s BBG

[@jonathanwright6056]

As playing through derby county academy for 9 years and getting released at 16 i personally think any football stadium left to literally fall down, personally think should be kept in good knick and be used for the kids of today to progress in there football career or be used as football summer camps instead of using public park this would keep the ground good with a percent took of what the price is for a football camp..........

[@dazza0018]

Remember this folks this was uploaded a few years ago so some have probably been redoveloped by now?

[@thecg0748]

This is cool but sad

[@Smudger1888]

Derby's baseball ground was demolished,houses on the site now.Scarboro's ground as has firs park in falkirk have also been demolished.

[@MirageMusicUk]

Bolton's Burnden park wasn't abandoned though, it was made into a retail park after they moved into the Reebok.

[@caveman385]

The sheer fact that it was turned into something else is beside the point.

[@kevtheclaret6126]

Frenchfields is Penrith's new ground. Southend road was the name of the ground on here.

[@CapricornSixOne]

Like the soundtrack ,any chance of tellin' what it is . Ta.

[@Morgimanstudios]

Awesome video but also very sad Makes you sad that a football player might have had a great moment at one these Anyone know the song?

[@bigmanjeeb]

This video man… nostalgia

[@terrywhite7190]

Penrith's old ground was Southend Road. Frenchfields is the current stadium.

[@mkfloyd9131]

Some of the pitches I paid for and played on in Sunday league I would have gladly fixed and made playable one of these surfaces, quite sad really...

[@johngreenhorn8853]

firs park was in falkirk but wasnt the bairns ground,which was called brockville,firs park was east stirlingshires ground,who were also in falkirk,in a place called the bog, or china toon.

[@MikeS67007]

2:00 Firs Park was East Stirlingshire FC not Falkirk FC. Falkirk used to be Brockville Park which is now a Morrisons supermarket.

[@AldershotDave]

Slough Town's old ground was Wexham Park, not WRexham Park!

[@itjhi9654]

As a Chester FC fan I never got to see the old Chester city stadium

[@petersyme7083]

East Stirling, actually in Falkirk, one of their managers went to St Mirren then Aberdeen then Manchester United, guess who?

[@christipping7094]

Sad and haunting , great choice of music though .

[@SyTheMetalhead]

Kind of surprising when you think that Ninian Park and Victoria Park both housed crowds in excess of 50,000, you wouldn't think so seeing them in this video

[@hammerqos]

The site of the McCain Stadium Scarborough is now a very large Lidl store

[@MiniLemmy]

In fairness, Ninian Park became redundant when Cardiff got their new stadium just across the road from it - it wasn’t around for very long after and is now a housing estate

[@4YaPloNo1]

Firs Park was the ground of East Stirlingshire until end of 07/08 season it has never been the home of Falkirk FC who moved from Brockville Stadium to Falkirk Stadium

[@ultramation2332]

I live in Doncaster and never saw that I only saw the stadium in the lake side

[@deebo80sw6]

There's still quite a few missing from the video, Eastville Stadium - Bristol Rovers, Roker Park - Sunderland, Ayresome Park - Middlesbrough, The Den - Millwall, The Baseball Ground - Derby, Filbert Street - Leicester, Leeds Road - Huddersfield........The list goes on!

[@whouster]

+Danny Dong Eastville Stadium is now a giant IKEA and car park. You really wouldn't want to see it!

[@deebo80sw6]

I know it is, I'm a Bristol Rovers supporter.

[@andrewwatson4011]

+Danny Dong - I've been to all those 7 as well as the 16 on the video

[@evoedits9758]

Middlesbrough moved to better stadium

[@evoedits9758]

Just like the other teams did like Leeds United, Hull City even Manchester City

[@sassythesasquatch4752]

Firs Park was East Stirlingshire's old ground but it is in Falkirk

[@warrioral]

It was indeed the ground of 'The Shire'. It is demolished now and the club are currently sharing with Stenhousemuir. Falkirk FC's old Brockville is no more either and they play at the plush (how is this for originality) Falkirk Stadium.