Trivia: Football grounds next to railway lines.

[kevconnor]

I know this is a football ground threat, but on the cricket ground side, I always like being at Southport when Lancashire play a game there, as you have the Merseyrail Southport line right beside the ground. I am sure some balls have ended up on the track, but I am yet to see one make it that far.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

I remember the first round of the FA cup in, I think, 1959 and seeing the away fans excursion train arrive hauled by a Royal Scot.
One of the papers was quoted as saying something like - “Crewe fans drawn on mystery trip”. Pretty sure it was the Express.

Saturday 14th November 1959. Crewe Alex winning 3-1 in front of a crowd of around 4,200. As @yorksrob has however noted, it would have been a different Burscough FC ground back then. Believe the return rail fare from Crewe to Burscough Bridge was something like 6s 0d.

 

[xotGD]

From Gateshead International Stadium you can see Metros running on the other side of the Tyne.

Gateshead's former ground at Redheugh Park used to have a railway line running right behind it. Ground and railway both gone.

 

[Oliver]

Exeter City's ground not only has it's own station but only has stands on three-and-a-half sides because the railways cuts across the corner of the ground. However, the railway is in a deep cutting so trains can't easily be seen from inside the ground.

On the other hand it's not unusual for the ball to end up on the track.

 

[Grumpy]

Crewe and Bradford City grounds clearly visible

 

[MrBickley]

I'm surprised that no-one in this thread seems to have mentioned Kidderminster, although I think that the only trains that can be seen from within the ground are on the preserved line. Mind you it must four decades since I was there so things may have changed, although I think that Kiddo still play at the same ground.

 

[Siemens Staines]

When it still existed, the line through Singer was visible from the east end of Kilbowie Park (Clydebank)

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Edgeley Park, Stockport County FC. The answer, also, to a favourite pub quiz question about which league club ground is nearest to the River Mersey. Will no longer be true when Everton's new stadium opens.

 

[Topological]

Edgeley Park, Stockport County FC. The answer, also, to a favourite pub quiz question about which league club ground is nearest to the River Mersey. Will no longer be true when Everton's new stadium opens.

I raised this one earlier in the thread. Can you actually see trains from the back of the taller stand? I could not remember about whether it was possible to look backwards from the away end.

 

[Rhinojerry]

Irongate,home of Bamber Bridge FC,next to Preston to Blackburn line,and you can see the trains passing by.

 

[thenorthern]

I suppose a lot of the newer grounds post Taylor Report won't fit the criteria as they tend to be a bowl shape consisting of stands of similar sizes with the corners filled in making it harder to see out of the stadium.

 

[weepingwillowb]

The Victoria Pleasure Ground, Goole, has the Hull-Doncaster line passing by it. I can remember seeing a shunter approaching Goole and stopping for a few minutes, with the driver watching the Goole Town game out of his open cab window, circa 1983-84.

​

 

[Bertie the bus]

It might have been redeveloped since but I remember going to Kenilworth Road and being more interested in watching the Peaks passing than the game, which shows just how long ago it was.

 

[david_g]

You can see a short stretch of the line between Aston and Witton from the Upper Holte End and from the top tier of the Trinity Road at Villa Park.

 

[Jakko542]

These days you'd have to go back in time to go to a match there, but South Liverpool's forner Holly Park takes some beating.

 

[W-on-Sea]

I'm surprised that no-one in this thread seems to have mentioned Kidderminster, although I think that the only trains that can be seen from within the ground are on the preserved line. Mind you it must four decades since I was there so things may have changed, although I think that Kiddo still play at the same ground.

I saw a match at Aggborough last season, and don't recall any views of trains or of the railway line. The stadium is not entirely enclosed at the corners, but not far off it.

 

[Barry169]

Used to have a great view of the lovely Wolverton ground from the train.

Allegedly had the oldest stand in the world. Demolished for housing.

 

[MontyP]

If you are up in the gods at the Emirates Stadium, you can see the ECML.

Likewise if you are up in the gods at Elland Road (Leeds) - upper east stand - then you can see the Leeds-Wakefield Westgate trains

In London-
The Den home of Millwall is next to the London Bridge to New Cross Gate line.
Stamford Bridge home of Chelsea is adjacent to the West London line.
Brentford's ground is surrounded on all four sides by railway lines.!

I don't think you can see trains from inside any of them though

 

[Mikey C]

I don't think you can see trains from inside any of them though

You can from The Den, as it's not a "bowl" stadium so you can see through the open corners.

 

[JRT]

Pontefract Collieries (local trains & Grand Central).
The others I thought of having been mentioned.

 

[MadMac]

In Scotland:

Ayr United’s Somerset Park, could see the Blackhouse Junction-Hawkhill Junction curve which no longer exists

Morton’s Cappielow, Gourock line

Possibly Ross County?

Cowdenbeath?

Line used to run right behind Dunfermline’s East End Park

Alloa?

 

[AJM580]

Couple of non-league clubs

Wroxham FC - adjacent to the Bittern line (Norwich - Sheringham)
Witham Town FC - adjacent to the GEML.

Used to be able to see the trains going in and out of Norwich from the back rows of the South Stand at Carrow Road, but not anymore after the hotel was built in the corner.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

In Scotland:

Alloa?

Does anything run on the line behind Recreation Park (Alloa Athletic) these days?

 

[allbarbarry]

The Den - Millwall FC

Falmer Stadium - Brighton and Hove Albion

Old Trafford - Manchester United FC

The Emirates Stadium - Arsenal FC

The London Stadium - West Ham FC

 

[MadMac]

Does anything run on the line behind Recreation Park (Alloa Athletic) these days?

One of those pieces of railway that “still technically exists“.

Another possibly in Scotland: Stranraer?

 

[Darandio]

Old Trafford - Manchester United FC

You can see trains passing from inside Old Trafford?

 

[Pnerick81]

Bamber bridge fc . Runs along side the east lancs line between bamber bridge and lostock hall stations. You can watch the game from the train . And the trains whilst watching the game

 

[norbitonflyer]

Until the Avoiding Line closed in the 1980s, it passed right by Lincoln City FC's stadium at Sincil Bank (now known as the LNER stadium). The railway was on an embankment and trains could be seen very clearly from within the ground.

The "Railway End" stand was rebuilt in the 1980s following the recommmendations of the Popplewell Inquiry into the Bradford City Fire of 1982, and the new stand was named the "Stacey West" stand, after the two Lincoln City away supporters (Bill Stacey and Jim West) who died in that fire.

This causes some mystification amongst visiting supporters unfamiliar with its history, as the name Stacey West is probably better known as half of the fictional TV couple "Gavin & Stacey"

 

[UNCLE ARTHUR]

Scottish non-league: Banks o’ Dee, Luncarty (spectacular view of a viaduct above the park), Auchinleck Talbot, Troon, Irvine Vics, Port Glasgow Juniors, Greenock Juniors, Edinburgh University.

 

[Class15]

You can see trains passing from inside Old Trafford?

The fans would probably be more interested by the trains than by the match against Bournemouth!