England’s finest venues to watch the beautiful game

Widely regarded as the home of football, England’s football history is extremely rich. As a huge part of the country’s culture, no matter where you are, there is a football team to get behind. From major cities to tiny towns, football clubs are located up and down the country, and they’re followed by a huge population of football lovers.

English fans are extremely tribal

While fans tend to mix with each other in other football competitions around the world, segregation is vital in English football. Not only could trouble ensue, but supporters want to be surrounded by their fellow fans. English supporters are extremely tribal, they’ll rarely applaud the opposition, they only purchase their clubs’ merchandise, and a football bet will only be placed on their beloved teams, such as Arsenal fans backing the Gunners to win the league at 5/2.

Essentially, English football culture is totally unique. Alongside passionately chanting while following their teams up and down the country and assessing any football tips before having a flutter, the highly passionate fanbases in England are unrivalled. With team allegiances often passed down through generations, the strong sense of belonging and loyalty that comes from supporting a club makes watching the action in the flesh a must for football-loving visitors to the country. We aren’t just talking about the Premier League here, either.

Fratton Park is Portsmouth’s home

Widely regarded as one of the loudest supporters in the English Football League, Portsmouth’s Fratton Park stadium is well worth a visit. The current Championship strugglers have been playing there since 1899, with this traditional base having features like a mock Tudor main entrance. A club steeped in history and tradition, it’s a fantastic place to take in a game of English football.

AFG Wimbledon are a special fan-owned club

Although AFC Wimbledon are playing in a competition that doesn’t tend to hog the limelight, they’re a truly special club in their own right. Currently aiming to achieve promotion out of League Two, the Wombles’ Plough Lane home opened in 2021 after the fan-owned club managed to achieve their dream of returning to the Borough of Merton.
Wimbledon’s original club was relocated to Milton Keynes and rebranded as MK Dons, with fans being powerless to stop the move. The return back to their spiritual home is therefore a special chapter in their fascinating story, with fans at the forefront of everything the club does.

St James' Park is a top Premier League stadium

If Premier League football is your preference, then Newcastle United’s St James' Park home has one of the best atmospheres on offer in England’s top flight. With ardent supporters packing it out on a weekly basis, you’re guaranteed to have a good time watching Eddie Howe’s troops in action. Opened in 1982 and known as the Cathedral on the Hill, this iconic English stadium has a capacity of 52,305.

Craven Cottage is steeped in history

There aren’t many stadiums that boast a cottage on the corner of the pitch. Doubling up as a changing room, Fulham’s cottage is a delightful feature that no other modern-day stadium possesses. Called Craven Cottage, the Premier League team’s home opened in 1896 and is one of the oldest venues in the country.

Although modern features have been added, such as the redevelopment of the Riverside Stand which even includes a rooftop swimming pool, Craven Cottage’s history can be felt as soon as you enter the stadium. For Premier League fans, it’s a must.

04.11.2024