Your favourite non league ground...

[editor]

It's sadly since been tidied up but I loved Bromley FCs terracing fading into woodland and the makeshift fencing when I visited in 2013 (when it was hosting Cray Wanderers vs Dulwich Hamlet)

Dulwich Hamlet tear apart Cray Wanderers 6-0 in festive goal feast

Dulwich Hamlet destroyed a hapless Cray Wanderers yesterday, putting six goals past the bottom of the table team at their own ground.

www.brixtonbuzz.com

 

[Dodger]

Lewes /thread

 

[Roger D]

I arrived in London just as Champion Hill joined the list of old amateur grounds to be demolished. Tooting was a rare survivor and a bit special, like Bromley.

Honourable mentions for Enfield's old ground, before Saracens wrecked it and St Albans before they chopped down the tree. Back in the days you didn't need to extend the mortgage to watch a game there. Hitchin too.

Up north, Prescot Cables, Southport the old Bishop's Auckland and St Helens grounds and South Liverpool. That ground is now covered by a:-railway station

 

[EDC]

Whyteleafe, Bognor, Margate, Leatherhead, even Tonbridge Angels. There are loads and sometimes it's about the day out too.

 

[waxoyl]

Whitby Town fc, probably my favourite. the old club house was perfect.

 

[Cyclodunc]

Twerton Park

 

[marty21]

I'd just started going to see Enfield Town occasionally when lockdown stopped that . A mate is involved with the club , so will go a few times next season. It's a nice ground , good atmosphere.

 

[JimW]

Meadow Lane's pretty decent

 

[Ron Merlin]

I'd just started going to see Enfield Town occasionally when lockdown stopped that . A mate is involved with the club , so will go a few times next season. It's a nice ground , good atmosphere.

Let us know when you're going and I'll (finally) get back there and watch a game again. Beer tent currently being crowdfunded Chuck us a PM if you like.

 

[tonysingh]

I've a soft spot for Maidstone Utd. Yes, I know it's a bit soulless but there's something about our trips there that I relish. Aside from them, I like Hitchin and Chesham.

Ohhh and a special mention for two grounds in Medway. Firstly there's Lordswood. It's a small place, a bit of a mission to actually reach but when you get there...it really is a thing of ramshackle beauty. On a similar note there's Hollands and Blair too. Nice setting, bit higgildy piggildy like but I like it. (Chatham Town is a toilet now though. )

 

[Ron Merlin]

Southbury Road, Enfield FC's old ground. I basically lived there during the 80s. A miniature version of a football league ground, as some have said. ETFC's new place is an art deco thing of beauty (but I would say that as a fan) despite the sodding track. Also liked Hitchin with their vaguely worrying wooden terracing. The old Dulwich place of course, wow. Fond memories also of Telford's Buck's Head, Scarborough and Northwich Victoria.

 

[The39thStep]

Cheadle Town

 

[marty21]

Let us know when you're going and I'll (finally) get back there and watch a game again. Beer tent currently being crowdfunded Chuck us a PM if you like.

Will do !

 

[T Corcoran]

My favourite grounds that I've visited are Plainmoor Torquay, Twerton Park Bath and The Dripping Pan Lewes. All three of them were really nice grounds I think

 

[Voley]

Borlase Park, home of Pendeen Rovers. Sea views and the odd classic car.



Photo courtesy of the wonderful A Season In Helston

 

[Voley]

And this is Penlee Park, my home ground. A friendly welcome, lifts to away games on the team bus with A FREE PASTY.

Small crowds (60ish) but lively and a fair bit of interaction with players/supporters. Refs tend not to heed our helpful advice mind. We managed to get one of our own players sent off once.

 

[Ron Merlin]

That's one pretty turnstile block. Love the detail on the gate too

 

[StephenMac]

Whyteleafe, Bognor, Margate, Leatherhead, even Tonbridge Angels. There are loads and sometimes it's about the day out too.

This is a magnificently leftfield selection old bean.

Other than many already mentioned I'd chuck Carshalton into the mix.

 

[StephenMac]

Southbury Road, Enfield FC's old ground. I basically lived there during the 80s. A miniature version of a football league ground, as some have said. ETFC's new place is an art deco thing of beauty (but I would say that as a fan) despite the sodding track. Also liked Hitchin with their vaguely worrying wooden terracing. The old Dulwich place of course, wow. Fond memories also of Telford's Buck's Head, Scarborough and Northwich Victoria.

Southbury Road was a glorious ground and the 80s would have been a great time to be there i'd have thought. Still remember Andy Pape doing a spectacularly loud and perfectly timed fart in response to barracking from Aylesbury United supporters.

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Meadow Lane's pretty decent

Blundell Park unfortunately still a shithole.

 

[Cat Daisy]

Southbury Road, Enfield FC's old ground. I basically lived there during the 80s. A miniature version of a football league ground, as some have said. ETFC's new place is an art deco thing of beauty (but I would say that as a fan) despite the sodding track. Also liked Hitchin with their vaguely worrying wooden terracing. The old Dulwich place of course, wow. Fond memories also of Telford's Buck's Head, Scarborough and Northwich Victoria.

Agree about the beauty of the main stand at Enfield Town - and a nice bar inside it. Until the CONIFA Cup Final, I didn't realise how much space there was on the grass bank on the other side! If you want the wooden terracing at Top Field, get there soon. The roof of the Fishponds Road end collapsed and that whole stand is being replaced as part of a big makeover. Think there will still be some wooden terracing behind the dugouts.
I do like the scale and traditional style of the main stand at Kings Lynn (not so keen on the fans) and Gainsborough Trinity's set up impressed when I visited it a couple of years back.

 

[tonysingh]

Oh, I forgot to mention that Sheppey Utd have a nice, bright ground. It's about the only thing that is attractive on that island mind you.

 

[editor]

Leatherhead is a fine ground although it lost some of its charm when they put in the modern wire fencing after the notorious 'wallgate' incident with Dulwich fans.

Dulwich Hamlet lose to Leatherhead in rancour-filled dodgy replay -

This is a game that should never have had to have been played in the first place. In January this year, the original fixture saw Dulwich Hamlet go 2-0 up with just 12 minutes on the clock. During the Dulwich fans' celebrations a small chunk of Leatherhead's shoddy perimeter breeze block wall...

www.urban75.org

 

[EDC]

This is a magnificently leftfield selection old bean.

Other than many already mentioned I'd chuck Carshalton into the mix.

Kicking myself for leaving that one out, best of the bunch and a fine local pub too.

 

[EDC]

And this is Penlee Park, my home ground. A friendly welcome, lifts to away games on the team bus with A FREE PASTY.

Small crowds (60ish) but lively and a fair bit of interaction with players/supporters. Refs tend not to heed our helpful advice mind. We managed to get one of our own players sent off once.

View attachment 268090

What's St.Blazey like these days? Grass terracing when I went there in about '76 to a pre-season against Plymouh Argyle.

 

[blueheaven]

I really liked Needham Market's ground when we played there a few seasons ago. Big fan of Carshalton's ground too - really good terracing on the side opposite the main stand there.

At the other end of the scale I love what Dartford have done and would have liked to see a similar template for Hamlet's new ground.

 

[Voley]

What's St.Blazey like these days? Grass terracing when I went there in about '76 to a pre-season against Plymouh Argyle.

They've got a nice ground. Quite high end for our league. Right by the railway line so if the ball goes out that side it's a goner. Been there a couple of times, get a friendly welcome. Gave us a good cup game a couple of seasons back if memory serves.

 

[blueheaven]

Also, I really enjoyed watching us from that big stand behind the goal at Farnborough. You don't often get to watch non-league games from that sort of vantage point.

 

[Roger D]

Sadly I suspect Farnborough would love to be able to return to the small covered terrace that used to stand there. The cost of maintenance at the ground is a real issue for them, the ground is far too good for what they actually need.

On the bright side the Thatched Cottage, the only pub you pass walking from the station, is due to re-open later this year after being shut for 18 or so months.

 

[editor]

I really liked Needham Market's ground when we played there a few seasons ago. Big fan of Carshalton's ground too - really good terracing on the side opposite the main stand there.

Good choices! Allow me to illustrate!

Needham Market:

Dulwich Hamlet dominate but only come away with a single point at Needham Market

A vastly improved Dulwich Hamlet failed to take advantage of their superiority on the pitch at high-flying Needham Market on Saturday, returning with just a single point after a 1-1 draw.

www.brixtonbuzz.com

Carshalton

Dulwich Hamlet lose at Carshalton Athletic’s fantastic ground in pre-season warm-up

An experimental Dulwich Hamlet team lost 1-2 in a fast-moving and entertaining game in Carshalton Athletic’s lovely ground in the London Borough of Sutton last night.

www.brixtonbuzz.com