If we are talking about historical grounds then along time ago (100 years or so) then my late father told me that he used to watch Crystal Palace play at their former ground called "The Nest" situated opposite Selhurst Station. Rather than pay the ground admission he used to pay one (old) penny for a platform ticket and watch the match from the station (down slow line) platform. For those unfamiliar with the layout the station is located on an embankment and gave a good view down onto the ground below.
The club subsequently moved to their present ground Selhurst Park and the site of the ground...... is now Selhurst Rolling Stock Depot and it is reported that part of the former stand is in use as a storeroom.
That ground Croydon Common Athletic Ground to give it's proper name, was referred to as The Nest because of the first tennants Croydon Common FC wore Red shirts & nicknamed The Robins, Palace moved to The Nest in 1918.
Crystal Palace
The club moved to The Nest in 1918, having spent four years at the
Herne Hill Athletics Stadium and gained promotion in the 1920–21 season by winning the
Division Three championship (later to become known as Division 3 (South)). There is no connection between the Crystal Palace nickname 'The Eagles' and the name of this former ground – the nickname only coming about in the 1970s via the flamboyant manager
Malcolm Allison.
In 1924, the club bought a new state-of-the-art ground,
Selhurst Park, which would be their home into the next century. Crystal Palace then sublet the ground to Tramways F.C., a railway workers football club.
During the time that Crystal Palace played League football at The Nest, it was common for many spectators to purchase a
platform ticket at the adjoining Selhurst Station, and watch matches from Platform 1, as this was cheaper than the match admission price and afforded an elevated clear view of all of the ground.
The site of The Nest is now a train depot for the rail company
Southern. The only confirmed remaining trace of the ground is the front boundary wall along Selhurst Road, opposite the railway station. There is some conjecture amongst historians regarding whether or not the shell of the grandstand remains (minus its original roof), as a brick building operating as stores for the railway depot exists in the same position (in which the number of rooms within this building matches exactly the number of rooms under the grandstand as described on the football club leases). This building also displays an interesting feature on its side walls, namely possible steps from what would have been the seating tier. This structure curiously also possesses a quite substantial chimney, which would have to have been subsequently added.
en.wikipedia.org
