There are an impressive 92 football stadiums across the Premier League and the English Football League (EFL). I think it goes without saying, we as a nation are incredibly proud of this. Particularly when you consider the existence of an exclusive ‘92 Club’ reserved for loyal fans who have visited every single football ground in England (and Wales with a few clubs from Wales in the EFL) - quite the achievement!
However, for most supporters, it’s unlikely they’ve had a chance to get round to every single stadium just yet (although it’s on the to-do list I’m sure). And therefore may not be aware of some of the most interesting facts about football stadiums in the EFL.
So, to lend a hand and save you some time, we’ve pulled together our favourite facts about the biggest, oldest, weirdest and most wonderful stadiums in England.
Bramall Lane (Sheffield United FC)
It feels only right to start with the oldest league football ground in England, where it all began, and that of course is Bramall Lane. The stadium doesn’t just take the crown for being the oldest in the EFL but in fact the world too (not to brag!). Football was played for the first time at Bramall Lane back in 1862 and has continued to be played ever since - with Sheffield United calling the historical ground home since 1899.
Wetherby Road (Harrogate Town AFC)
When thinking about EFL football grounds naturally our minds tend to go to the biggest and more modern, so before we get into those we want to acknowledge the smallest (but no less important) stadium in England. Wetherby Road has a capacity of just 5,000 but what it lacks in size, it certainly makes up for in history. The proud home of Harrogate Town since 1920, the ground saw its largest attendance back in 1949-50 with 4,280 fans attending the Whitworth Cup Final.
Wembley (England official home ground)
It wouldn’t be a football stadium round-up without including the home of England’s national football team. Most will be well aware that Wembley is the largest stadium in the UK however, it’s also the second largest in all of Europe.
In fact it’s so big that when visiting fans can enjoy 34 bars, 8 restaurants, 688 food and drink service points, and 98 kitchens - so not short on choice that’s for sure. Not to mention, the striking 133-meter tall arch that sits above the north stand of the stadium is wide enough for a Channel tunnel train to fit through.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (Tottenham Hotspur FC)
There’s no denying the rich history amongst Premier League and EFL stadiums but England is also no stranger to later and more modern additions. Back in 2019, Tottenham Hotspur’s all-new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium opened its doors (replacing White Hart Lane), promising to be one of the best examples of a modern-day stadium throughout Europe. What makes this ground stand out is its unique design, which maximises the supporter experience by bringing fans closer to the pitch than at any comparable size stadium in the Premier League and the EFL.
Kenilworth Road (Luton Town FC)
Finally, we had to finish on something a little more weird and wonderful. Many consider Luton’s ground to be an interesting one due to it being an old and tightly packed stadium. But really what it’s most known for is its particularly unusual entrance to the Oak Road End, where the away fans enter through a gate cut directly through a row of terraced houses. There’s no doubt this stadium offers a more retro feel than the likes of Wembley - and hey there’s nothing wrong with that in our opinion! That said Luton will be going down the path that many before them have trod with approval for their brand new stadium being given in 2024.