Colin Bell the King
25 Nov 2005, 06:51 AM
Here we go.
1. Arsenal - Highbury Stadium.
Every time I've been there we've not won, but the stadium itself is pretty nice. The Clock End which houses the away fans has a low roof which means a good atmosphere can be generated - although you are open to the elements if you're unlucky enough to be at the far back left or the front. Nice when its sunny, crap in winter with rain billowing about. A good away fans pub is situated near the Clock End away entrance and made the journey south worthwhile. I recommend this stadium if you want to see a very good team, but for atmosphere, unless you're near the away fans in the Clock End, stay away.
Best game. Arsenal 1:1 Man City (2004/2005) SWP
2. Aston Villa - Villa Park.
The concourse is a nightmare to get drinks from, but there is a nice programme kiosk that you can get old programmes from. The end right behind the goal is basically seats bolted onto old terracing, so sitting can be a squeeze and if you're below 5'5 you have a disadvantaged view when everyone stands. The section on the side of the pitch is better and you can see more of the game from there. There is a great selection of pubs to visit, the best being the Cap and Gown, just down the road from Witton Station.
Best game: Aston Villa 1:2 Man City (2004/2005) SWP, Musampa
3. Bolton Wanderers - Reebok Stadium
Nice little ground situated on the outskirts of Bolton, has great transport links and is easy to get away from. The pubs are home fans only, but if you arrive early you should be able to find a boozer to settle down in, either down one of the country lanes or in Horwich itsself. The away end is great, modern and has one of the best views in the Premiership. Its always a good atmosphere when we go and we usually win there so I like going. Its easy to get home too, as its a quick blat down the ring road to Wythenshawe, half an hour tops.
Best game: Bolton 0:1 Man City (2001/2002) Mark Kennedy
4. Blackburn Rovers.
Another nice little ground, close to my work, and has a great away end, if you're on the top tier you get a nice view. Boasts the best away fan pub in the Premeirship and isn't far from Manchester itself. Definately one to go to if you want a game not tinged with hostility. Although the kids in the stand to the right do run up to the away fans when they've scored. City always take 4000+, making a good atmopshere when we go.
Best game: Blackburn 1:4 Man City (2001/2002) Goater, Kennedy, Dailly (OG), Dickov
5. Birmingham City
Now one of those grounds. Not a patch on Villa, but if you like baiting home fans then Birmingham is a good one. One of the highest security in the Prem where you have to go through two ticket checks before getting in the ground, and the area around Birmingham only has one pub for away fans to safely drink and it was hard to find - prices are expensive too, but you do get a good atmosphere, better than most grounds. If you dont like intimidation, dont go.
Best game: Birmingham 1:2 Man City (2005/2006) Barton, Cole
6. Charlton Athletic
Crap to get to, you're housed in an old stand thats at least 30 years old, and the banter from home fans is lacking. We've never had good results there lately, so one of the worst in the prem. A few pubs around that you can drink in - you're not likely to get bother off the home fans, unless Millwall are about. I dont like going to Charlton though. (Got them next weekend. Groan)
Best game: Charlton 0:3 Man City (2003/2004) Anelka, Sibierski (2)
7. Chelsea
What can I say? The seats are too close to the pitch, right near the dugout (although I think they've changed this year - will find out next year) and it costs over £45 to get in. The atmosphere is flat, apart from the MHU stand, its a nightmare to get to, and the surrounding area is either posh as ********, or full of old Chelsea shed boys who are up for a fight. Pubs are overpriced but the stadium design is interesting, and definately worth seeing if you've never been before. Plus last time I went
Best game: Chelsea 0:0 Man City (2004/2005)
8. Everton
Hmm, tricky one this. The stadium looks like its about to fall down and is a fire risk, however its one of those traditional stadiums you have to like, and its full of scousers - scousers are friendly (the Manc vs Scouser thing is ****************) and if you go in one of thier pubs you're made to feel very welcome. The away end view is crap, with pillars blocking your view, but it IS a great end, with a roof, allowing a good atmosphere to be created. Everyone is packed together and its always a good laugh.
Best game: Everton 0:0 Man City (2003/2004)
9. Fulham
When it was standing this was a decent ground, now its a small quaint ground , sort of the family friendly ones that the premiership wants to promote. Never really enjoyed going here. A few boozers about, but its luck on the day as to which one has the best atmosphere.
Best game: Fulham 2:1 Man City (2000/2001)
10. Liverpool
The away end, if you're not at the back, is good, although you're packed in like sardines. A few selection of good pubs dotted about the place and the Kemelyn End generates a good atmosphere. The Kop itself is disappointing, they only make noise for the big games, but it is a good local game to go to.
Best game: Liverpool 1:2 Man City (2002/2003) Anelka (2)
11. Middlesbrough
I hate going here. Its in the middle of nowhere, on waste ground, you're in a meccano stadium, its never full, the amosphere is shite, no pubs nearby. But its gotta be done.
Best game: None - all have been boring.
Rest to come later. :)
1. Arsenal - Highbury Stadium.
Every time I've been there we've not won, but the stadium itself is pretty nice. The Clock End which houses the away fans has a low roof which means a good atmosphere can be generated - although you are open to the elements if you're unlucky enough to be at the far back left or the front. Nice when its sunny, crap in winter with rain billowing about. A good away fans pub is situated near the Clock End away entrance and made the journey south worthwhile. I recommend this stadium if you want to see a very good team, but for atmosphere, unless you're near the away fans in the Clock End, stay away.
Best game. Arsenal 1:1 Man City (2004/2005) SWP
2. Aston Villa - Villa Park.
The concourse is a nightmare to get drinks from, but there is a nice programme kiosk that you can get old programmes from. The end right behind the goal is basically seats bolted onto old terracing, so sitting can be a squeeze and if you're below 5'5 you have a disadvantaged view when everyone stands. The section on the side of the pitch is better and you can see more of the game from there. There is a great selection of pubs to visit, the best being the Cap and Gown, just down the road from Witton Station.
Best game: Aston Villa 1:2 Man City (2004/2005) SWP, Musampa
3. Bolton Wanderers - Reebok Stadium
Nice little ground situated on the outskirts of Bolton, has great transport links and is easy to get away from. The pubs are home fans only, but if you arrive early you should be able to find a boozer to settle down in, either down one of the country lanes or in Horwich itsself. The away end is great, modern and has one of the best views in the Premiership. Its always a good atmosphere when we go and we usually win there so I like going. Its easy to get home too, as its a quick blat down the ring road to Wythenshawe, half an hour tops.
Best game: Bolton 0:1 Man City (2001/2002) Mark Kennedy
4. Blackburn Rovers.
Another nice little ground, close to my work, and has a great away end, if you're on the top tier you get a nice view. Boasts the best away fan pub in the Premeirship and isn't far from Manchester itself. Definately one to go to if you want a game not tinged with hostility. Although the kids in the stand to the right do run up to the away fans when they've scored. City always take 4000+, making a good atmopshere when we go.
Best game: Blackburn 1:4 Man City (2001/2002) Goater, Kennedy, Dailly (OG), Dickov
5. Birmingham City
Now one of those grounds. Not a patch on Villa, but if you like baiting home fans then Birmingham is a good one. One of the highest security in the Prem where you have to go through two ticket checks before getting in the ground, and the area around Birmingham only has one pub for away fans to safely drink and it was hard to find - prices are expensive too, but you do get a good atmosphere, better than most grounds. If you dont like intimidation, dont go.
Best game: Birmingham 1:2 Man City (2005/2006) Barton, Cole
6. Charlton Athletic
Crap to get to, you're housed in an old stand thats at least 30 years old, and the banter from home fans is lacking. We've never had good results there lately, so one of the worst in the prem. A few pubs around that you can drink in - you're not likely to get bother off the home fans, unless Millwall are about. I dont like going to Charlton though. (Got them next weekend. Groan)
Best game: Charlton 0:3 Man City (2003/2004) Anelka, Sibierski (2)
7. Chelsea
What can I say? The seats are too close to the pitch, right near the dugout (although I think they've changed this year - will find out next year) and it costs over £45 to get in. The atmosphere is flat, apart from the MHU stand, its a nightmare to get to, and the surrounding area is either posh as ********, or full of old Chelsea shed boys who are up for a fight. Pubs are overpriced but the stadium design is interesting, and definately worth seeing if you've never been before. Plus last time I went
Best game: Chelsea 0:0 Man City (2004/2005)
8. Everton
Hmm, tricky one this. The stadium looks like its about to fall down and is a fire risk, however its one of those traditional stadiums you have to like, and its full of scousers - scousers are friendly (the Manc vs Scouser thing is ****************) and if you go in one of thier pubs you're made to feel very welcome. The away end view is crap, with pillars blocking your view, but it IS a great end, with a roof, allowing a good atmosphere to be created. Everyone is packed together and its always a good laugh.
Best game: Everton 0:0 Man City (2003/2004)
9. Fulham
When it was standing this was a decent ground, now its a small quaint ground , sort of the family friendly ones that the premiership wants to promote. Never really enjoyed going here. A few boozers about, but its luck on the day as to which one has the best atmosphere.
Best game: Fulham 2:1 Man City (2000/2001)
10. Liverpool
The away end, if you're not at the back, is good, although you're packed in like sardines. A few selection of good pubs dotted about the place and the Kemelyn End generates a good atmosphere. The Kop itself is disappointing, they only make noise for the big games, but it is a good local game to go to.
Best game: Liverpool 1:2 Man City (2002/2003) Anelka (2)
11. Middlesbrough
I hate going here. Its in the middle of nowhere, on waste ground, you're in a meccano stadium, its never full, the amosphere is shite, no pubs nearby. But its gotta be done.
Best game: None - all have been boring.
Rest to come later. :)