More and more sporting grounds, from baseball ballparks in San Diego to football stadiums in Philadelphia, are being branded with corporate names in exchange for suitcases full of money. While this is happening all over England too, there are still many football grounds with not only non-corporate names but really fun and interesting names unlike anything you see at a professional level here in the States. Here are the nine best English football ground names.
Deepdale, Preston North End (Championship)
The first of two English football grounds which could easily double as an area of Middle Earth in the Lord of the Rings triology, Deepdale is the home of the equally as terrifically named Preston North End football club.
Turf Moor, Burnley (Premier League)
Another Lord of the Rings/ Hobbit name, Turf Moor is doubly as outstanding as a J.R.R. Tolkien-approved football ground because it is defended like a fortress by Burnley.
Craven Cottage, Fulham (Championship)
The West London home of Fulham F.C. is surrounded by brick on the outside on one side and the Thames river on the other side. And yes, there’s actually an old cottage in one corner of this idyllic football ground.
White Hart Lane, Tottenham HotSpur
On the other side of London sits the stately home of Spurs, if only for just a handful of matches. Spurs will move into a fancy new stadium in the ’18-’19 season and will play the whole of next year away from home at the cavernous London Stadium (ask West Ham how that’s working out).
Old Trafford, Manchester United (Premier League)
The grand old lady, the theater of dreams, the home of Manchester United is of course one of the best named football grounds in all of England and the world.
The Crown Ground, Accrington Stanley (League 2)
Last season, the famous Crown Ground became, wait for it, the Wham Stadium. Yikes, that’s a 180 degree turn. The new name would’ve been rad if it was the late George Michael’s band that had become stadium sponsor but no, no it wasn’t. Also, to call this tiny ground a ‘stadium’ reeeeaaaaaallllly stretches the definition of that word to its limits.
The Hawthorns, West Bromwich Albion (Premier League)
My general rule is if your football ground starts with “The”, you’re on the list. Welcome to the party West Brom.
The Stadium of Light, Sunderland (Premier League)
See above. Cool name, pretty dreadful football club these days.
Molineux, Wolverhampton Wanderers (Championship)
Finally, just like the “The” rule above, if your football ground ends in “eux”, I want to love you. Wolves, you’re in.
Many football grounds in England offer tours, especially at the Premier League and Championship level of the Football League, so if you and your kids are visiting the U.K. do try to pop into one of these or any other football grounds, like legendary Anfield in Liverpool (below) or spectacular St. James Park in Newcastle, to see the pitches, changing rooms and so much more.
