Cine films of football grounds 1979-1981

[Ark Royal]

Special mention to the Valley. I went there as a 16 year old one cold, wet Tuesday night in 1980 (the first time we'd played Charlton in nearly 50 years) and the impression of the east terrace still sticks in my mind. It was massive and reckoned to hold up to 50,000 people. I doubt there more than 50 souls dotted around that evening. Even then I remember thinking it was a death trap!

Just watched that and my reaction was sweet Jesus. When were they filling that up regularly? It just seems unusually large for the a club the size of Charlton (in todays standards).

Up until around the time that the East Bank capacity was reduced and eventually closed, the Valley was the biggest league ground in England with a capacity approaching 75,000 (record crowd was 75,031). Big crowds of 50/60K-plus there immediately post-war.

[handbags_harris]

It pains me to say this, but Fratton Park has triggered a nostalgic switch in me. The stand that is to the right of the Milton End looks absolutely brilliant. Plain old terrace alongside the pitch sweeping around from the Fratton and Milton ends. If I didn't hate them so much, I would happily go there to watch football being played every other week if the ground was like that.

[The whole year inn]

Agreed with HH. As much as we hate the oxf*rd, Fratton Park is a superb ground.

[Terminal Boardom]

Leeds Rd and Turf Moor were both grounds I enjoyed going to. Apart from the atmos, they both had huge side terraces. St. Andrews was another one but there was always the feeling that there was going to be some serious violence at any moment.

[Jerry St Clair]

I love this old picture of Hampden. An absolute Goliath. Held 150,000.

[bobbybottler]

Leeds Rd and Turf Moor were both grounds I enjoyed going to. Apart from the atmos, they both had huge side terraces. St. Andrews was another one but there was always the feeling that there was going to be some serious violence at any moment.

St Andrews always worried me, but more because of the gradient - I always content that it was the steepest I ever stood on. It just seemed to be on the wrong side of dangerous, especially for the inebriant supporter.

[under the tin]

Good spot, bobby.
I can remember being impressed with the Baseball ground as a youngster. Double decker stands, and all that.
I have to say that the shelf stand at spurs looks the ticket on there.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

This is an excellent post.

I remember Somerton Park was a dump, but i didnt think it was that bad!

Bowman's, i beleive i was at that Tuesday night game at the Valley as an 8 year old with the Young Royals. The only thing i remember is that terrace.

[Terminal Boardom]

Tis a shame Roots Hall is not listed. That had one of the biggest ends I ever stood on. And what is there now? a w@nky block of flats and a balsa twin tier stand. Interesting fact about Roots Hall is that when Southend Utd played there before returning in the 1950s, the pitch was some 40-50 feet higher than the current one.

[Ark Royal]

Not listed, but the South Bank at the old Molineux was an absolute monster that held close to 40,000.

[Ian Herring]

Leeds Rd and Turf Moor were both grounds I enjoyed going to. Apart from the atmos, they both had huge side terraces. St. Andrews was another one but there was always the feeling that there was going to be some serious violence at any moment.

I spent my pre-Reading schooldays and onwards at St. Andrews. When my Dad took me to my first game there I remember looking up at the Spionkop from the hill coming up from the Coventry Road and feeling exactly the same sensation.

I can concur that the feeling of imminent serious violence often manifested as the real thing. Quite a chilling place, St. Andrews, when it was roused.

[Archie's penalty]

Charlton's ground

And ex ground's I've been to include:

Maine Road,
Roker Park,
Burnden Park,
Springfield Park,
Ninian Park,
Highfield Road,
Ayresome Park,
Elm Park ('bviously),
Boothferry park,
The Baseball Ground.

From the memories of those places the ones that stand out are Roker Park which used to have immense terraces at either end of the ground.

Burnden Park which also had huge terraces, I remember feeling tiny (I was 15 at the time).

Springfield Park was a complete nightmare with a windy path up to the stadium, it was a bit like Wuthering Heights mixed with Hard Times.

The Baseball Ground which was in a very rough area of Derby, remember feeling a bit scared there.

Boothferry Park for the huge supermarket behind the away end.

Of old grounds that still exist now the obvious examples are Hillsborough, Anfield and Goodison. How those grounds haven't been replaced I'll never know...