Mirror Football reporters have named the stadiums they consider the worst for away days, based on their first-hand experiences. The list includes Premier League grounds and lower-league venues, with complaints ranging from poor views and high prices to difficult access and weak atmospheres.
Kenilworth Road and the London Stadium criticised
James Whaling singled out Luton Town's Kenilworth Road, despite its cult status among fans. "What a dump," he wrote. He acknowledged the novelty of walking through a row of terraced houses to reach the away end but said the charm fades once inside. "There is no concourse to speak of, one small kiosk serving crap pies and the view from the away end is among the worst in the English game," he added. He stressed he is not a football snob, citing Oakwell and Turf Moor as grounds he likes, but called Luton "grim," including the walk from the train station.
Daniel Orme criticised the London Stadium, home of West Ham United. "It's just not a ground that's fit for football," he said. He noted the oddity of walking through a shopping centre to reach the stadium, the "huge gap" between the two tiers of the away end, and the "eye-watering" cost of everything inside. He said the only saving grace was seeing Leicester City win there.
Bloomfield Road and Madejski Stadium disappoint
Nathan Ridley described a Blackpool vs Carlisle United match on December 9, 2023, as one of the few away games he wished he had not bothered with. He and his grandfather queued for three hours at Brunton Park for a ticket because the online system was not working. On the day, they struggled with a parking payment app, then faced gale-force winds and rain at Bloomfield Road. "Standing at the top of the away section felt like being up the Big Dipper," he wrote. Carlisle lost 3-0 in a performance he called "so bad it ended careers at the club." After the match, manager Paul Simpson received criticism from the 1,977-strong away following and hit back on Radio Cumbria. "I don't need that in my life," Simpson said.
Sam Meade named Reading's Madejski Stadium, now known as the Select Car Leasing Stadium, calling it "soulless." He said stadiums built on industrial estates on the outskirts of town are "the antipathy of football passion." The ground is a three-mile, hour-long walk from the station, and the best option for a pre-match pint is a bar at a Holiday Inn 10 minutes away. "The atmosphere? Largely absent," he wrote, adding that the biggest compliment he could give is that it is convenient to leave and close to the M4.
The Hive offers a forgettable 0-0
Felix Keith recalled a trip to Barnet's The Hive in October 2017 to watch Coventry City in League Two. He expected a short journey on the Northern Line but ended up taking a bus from High Barnet Station. The high ticket price soured his mood, and the match itself was "an absolute dirge." The Press Association match report noted it was "an even affair" with "neither side able to test the goalkeepers." Keith said he has held a grudge against Barnet ever since.
