Stadiums
Tour St. James’ Park at Newcastle United
Taking a tour of St. James' Park, home of Newcastle United FC, is like visiting the city's cathedral. I assume Newcastle, a wonderful and historic city, has a fine cathedral ... somewhere. But without a doubt the biggest house of worship in town, the one that inspires the most devotion and passion, the one you…
Tour Old Trafford Stadium at Manchester United
Taking the stadium tour of Old Trafford at Manchester United really brings home the fact that, in England, there is no stadium and no club like the one in the red half of Manchester. Any Liverpool and Manchester City fan reading this is no doubt howling, but as a neutral, I have to point out…
Tour the Etihad Stadium at Manchester City FC
This will really annoy Manchester City fans, but it has to be said: In the wider public view and despite recent results, the blue side of town is very much the "other" side. But the Etihad Stadium Tour kind of makes up for it. You go to Old Trafford, and it's surrounded by pubs, and…
Touring Wembley Stadium
I highly recommend taking a tour of Wembley Stadium. It's the national stadium of Great Britain, home of championship games ranging from amateur to the FA Cup Final, as well as many other games like the Champions League Final. This is why the phrase "going to Wembley" carries so much meaning in English football. It…
Tour Goodison Park at Everton FC
Some day they are going to tear down Goodison Park at Everton Football Club, and they will replace it with something bigger, more modern, more comfortable, and for me, undoubtedly less charming. The new one won't have the wooden seats, or the church in the corner, or be in the middle of a residential neighborhood,…
Going to a Game at Arsenal?
Go Check Out Their Old Stadium
If you’re going to a game at Arsenal, it’s quite easy and worthwhile to make a visit to their old ground at Highbury. Here’s how. First, if you didn’t know the old place is still there … well, it isn’t entirely. Arsenal Stadium, which everybody just called Highbury (and sometimes “Highbury Library” for being too…
Tour of Stamford Bridge, Chelsea FC in London
When I am in England researching The Groundhopper Guide to Soccer in England, I always try to tour the stadiums. It's cool to go into the locker rooms, stand on the touchline, meet supporters, and hear stories. Here, then, are images from a tour of Stamford Bridge at Chelsea FC in London. Quick note: I took this tour in…
Touring Craven Cottage at Fulham FC
Seeing a Premier League game at Fulham FC in London is, for Paul, the epitome of what Americans will love about watching soccer in England. Among the perks are small stadiums in the middle of big cities, local rivalries, and a chance to experience sport like we remember it as kids: without so much interference…
Stadium Tour at Birmingham City FC
Paul loves touring English soccer stadiums – as much to meet the tour guides as to see the actual stadiums. Here's his experience at Birmingham City. There is just no denying that, of the four big clubs around Birmingham (City, Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion, and Wolverhampton) the Blues are, shall we say, a second-tier…
Touring Villa Park
Paul has been to more than 100 games at 60+ English soccer stadiums and toured about a dozen of them, and Villa Park, home of Aston Villa Football Club, is definitely one of his favorites. That’s even more true now that I’ve toured it. It’s big, it’s old, and it’s classy. I like their colors.…