da poker： Football has changed beyond recognition compared to what the game was in the 20th century.
da pixbet： Back then it was all working class fans in basic terraced stadiums but now the beautiful game no longer has a working class feel to it and stadiums, most of them anyway, are glamorous structures with world class facilities and which are no longer affordable to the working class man or woman.
Some will claim the game has gone and it’s no longer what it used to be, and they’d have a point, but it’s always nice looking back at what it used to be like, particularly the stadiums.
So much emphasis is placed on the importance of a good stadium with good atmosphere, and the following stadiums are Britains most sought after grounds – but most of them are are completely unrecognisable now.
These stadiums have so much history – which one is your favourite?
EWOOD PARK, BLACKBURN ROVERS
Blackburn’s Ewood Park opened in 1882 and recorded it’s highest ever attendance of 62,522 way back in March 1929.
That was when all-terraced stadiums allowed more in to stadiums than the original capacity. Now, Ewood Park has a maximum capacity of over 31,154.
IBROX, RANGERS
One of the most famous stadiums in British footballing history, Rangers’ Ibrox Stadium opened in 1899. It was initially oval shaped and was mostly made from wooden scaffold terraces – and its original capacity stood at around 75,000.
Now, Ibrox has a maximum capacity of 51.082.
ST ANDREW’S, BIRMINGHAM CITY
St. Andrew’s officially opened in 1906 and had an estimated capacity of 75,000.
Today, though, Birmingham City’s maximum home capacity stands at 30,009.
ELLAND ROAD, LEEDS UNITED
A truly historic stadium in British footballing history, Elland Road officially opened it’s turnstiles in 1897 but back then it was only used for rugby matches. Leeds United moved in permanently in 1904 and the rest is history.
It’s one of the biggest stadiums currently not hosting top-flight football, with a maximum capacity of 39,460.
VILLA PARK, ASTON VILLA
Another one 0f the biggest stadiums currently outside of the Premier League, Aston Villa’s historic Villa Park became the club’s official home in 1897.
Back then, when it was originally bowl shaped, it’s capacity was around 40,000 but today it holds a maximum of 42,785.
CRAVEN COTTAGE, FULHAM
Arguably one of the only stadiums left in the country that still has the classic look and feel of an old fashioned stadium, Fulham’s Craven Cottage opened way back in 1896.
Despite it’s record attendance standing at just under 50,000, Craven Cottage now offers a maximum capacity of 25,700.
CELTIC PARK, CELTIC
Scotland’s most famous stadiums and one of the most iconic in European football alone, Celtic’s home has been standing since 1892.
It was the first stadium in the world to have a two-tierd stand in 1898, which increased its capacity to 50,000. Now, Celtic has a maximum capacity of 60,500.
DEAN COURT, AFC BOURNEMOUTH
Dean Court is currently the smallest ground in the Premier League, but Bournemouth’s home originally opened its turnstiles in 1911.
The club’s maximum attendance stands at 28,799, which was recorded in 1957 when Manchester United came to the South Coast for an FA Cup clash.
Dean Court’s maximum capacity currently stands at 11,464.
SELHURST PARK, CRYSTAL PALACE
Selhurst Park opened in 1924 and has been Crystal Palace’s home ever since. It has also been the temporary home of Charlton Athletic and Wimbledon.
Now the ground holds 26,255 but in 2017 Palace revealed plans to build a new main stand which will increase the capacity to 34,000 seats.
MOLINEUX, WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Back in the Premier League this season, Molineux first opened in 1889 and was the site of the first ever league game played in English football history on 7 September 1889 when Wolves beat Notts County 2-0.
The ground now holds 31,700 but it could be a lot bigger – plans to increase the capacity to 38,000 were shelved in 2012 due to limited funds.