Trivia: Football grounds next to railway lines.

[Wtloild]

Burscough FC (who also host Skelmersdale Utd) are right next to the Wigan-Southport line (both North West Counties League):


Atherton Laburnum Rovers (North West Counties) are right next to the Salford-Wigan line:


Bamber Bridge FC (Northern Premier League) are right next to the Preston-Blackburn line:


Crusaders (NI Premier League) are next to northbound lines out of Belfast - actually saw a ball hit a train when I visited here:

 

[Scotrail84]

Once Mansfield I think was the league ground furthest away from a railway, but not any more! Wonder if that accolade now goes to Fleetwood? Must be some further away, of course Fleetwood like Bury when they were in the EFL are close to tram lines!

The tram goes within about 100m of Fleetwood's ground, and the nearest stop around 200m. Bury's is considerably further!

All I know is it takes a long while to walk to Wycombe's ground from the station!

A year or two ago Forest Green Rovers would have been a contender.

Oxford United's Kassam Stadium is a fair old way from Oxford station. Maybe five miles, each way?

I believe Peterheads Balmoor stadium is the furthest league ground from a railway or station in the UK.

 

[BeijingDave]

Burscough FC (who also host Skelmersdale Utd) are right next to the Wigan-Southport line (both North West Counties League):
View attachment 172985

Atherton Laburnum Rovers (North West Counties) are right next to the Salford-Wigan line:
View attachment 172986

Bamber Bridge FC (Northern Premier League) are right next to the Preston-Blackburn line:
View attachment 172987

Crusaders (NI Premier League) are next to northbound lines out of Belfast - actually saw a ball hit a train when I visited here:
View attachment 172988

Good images!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I believe Peterheads Balmoor stadium is the furthest league ground from a railway or station in the UK.

Isn't there a non-league team based on one of the Channel Islands (The name Jersey FC rings a bell)? I know the CI are technically not part of the United Kingdom from a constitutional standpoint, but the team does play in the English pyramid.

Edit: you specifically said league ground. Oops!

 

[Topological]

Isn't there a non-league team based on one of the Channel Islands (The name Jersey FC rings a bell)? I know the CI are technically not part of the United Kingdom from a constitutional standpoint, but the team does play in the English pyramid.

Edit: you specifically said league ground. Oops!

All the talk of these non-league teams does provide distraction.

However, looks like one of the Jersey teams (Jersey Bulls) withdrew from the FA Cup this year.

Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cw0y4y5r2d5o

Jersey Bulls will not compete in next season's FA Cup because of the logistics of travelling to replays in England during the busy summer.

The island side played in the opening two rounds of qualifying last August and needed replays in both matches.

It meant the club travelling off the island on the Tuesday immediately after their Saturday games during the busy holiday season.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

All the talk of these non-league teams does provide distraction.

However, looks like one of the Jersey teams (Jersey Bulls) withdrew from the FA Cup this year.

Link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cw0y4y5r2d5o

The irony being that replays have been axed in the early non-qualifying stages of the competition this season!

 

[berwicksfinest]

You can see the E+G about a mile away from the main stand at Broadwood stadium near Croy.

Dunbar United's ground is about 5 yards from ECML just before Dunbar station coming from Edinburgh. Unobstructed views from all terraces.

Bewrick Rangers at a push if you turn away from the pitch.

Look behind you over the terracing wall at Cowdenbeath and you'll see trains on the fife circle.

Behind the 'railway end' terrace at Ayr Utd you can see whats left of Ayr sheds. (not much)

Definitely not at a push !!!
Many is the time I've stood in the Ducket and either HST/91 set, now azumas have gone by and I think "man they must be warmer than me about now"

 

[DarloRich]

I was at Leamington on Saturday and you could certainly hear the class 68 powering away from the town - i assume southbound.

 

[Cross City]

Isn't there a non-league team based on one of the Channel Islands (The name Jersey FC rings a bell)? I know the CI are technically not part of the United Kingdom from a constitutional standpoint, but the team does play in the English pyramid.

Edit: you specifically said league ground. Oops!

Guernsey FC play in one of the Southern leagues I think.

Isle of Man FC are in the Northwest Counties League too.

 

[Haywain]

Isle of Man FC are in the Northwest Counties League too.

And less than a mile from the IoM Railway station in Douglas.

 

[Mikey C]

I was at Leamington on Saturday and you could certainly hear the class 68 powering away from the town - i assume southbound.

Not a football ground, but Radlett cricket ground which Middlesex use as an out ground, is right next to the MML. You can't see the trains, as they're in a slight cutting, but the regular noise from EMR and Thameslink trains whooshing past at high speed is quite distracting in what is otherwise a peaceful ground!

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Guernsey FC play in one of the Southern leagues I think.

Try the Isthmian League South Central Division instead.

 

[75A]

Not a football ground, but Radlett cricket ground which Middlesex use as an out ground, is right next to the MML. You can't see the trains, as they're in a slight cutting, but the regular noise from EMR and Thameslink trains whooshing past at high speed is quite distracting in what is otherwise a peaceful ground!

I can think of a couple of cricket grounds where I've played which were overlooked by railway lines;
Southwick in West Sussex by the Coastway West line and Alton with the Mid Hants. in all its glory.

 

[Scotty]

All I know is it takes a long while to walk to Wycombe's ground from the station!

Good job they run a dedicated shuttle bus from the railway station, via the bus station - used it for their 3rd Round FA Cup game against Portmsouth.

 

[Prime586]

Glossop North End's ground at Surrey Street - you can see the trains traversing the line between Dinting and Glossop from certain positions on the south side of the pitch.

 

[Kingston Dan]

If we are allowing closed railways then the mighty Hibees had at least one line adjacent to Easter Road with its own halt (on the Leith Central branch northbound only):

 

[Mcr Warrior]

If we are allowing closed railways then the mighty Hibees had at least one line adjacent to Easter Road with its own halt (on the Leith Central branch northbound only):

Are we? Even if so, could any trains running past Easter Road Park halt (which looks to have been situated down in a cutting) have been observed by spectators congregated within the bowl of the Hibernian FC football stadium? Is being nearby/adjacent enough?

 

[Scotrail84]

Are we? Even if so, could any trains running past Easter Road Park halt (which looks to have been situated down in a cutting) have been observed by spectators congregated within the bowl of the Hibernian FC football stadium? Is being nearby/adjacent enough?

You'd have been able to see the train from the old east terrace as that was huge and was formed of 2 tiers, the old south terrace was massive as well.

 

[Ayrshire Roy]

Behind the 'railway end' terrace at Ayr Utd you can see whats left of Ayr sheds. (not much)

It was announced on the radio yesterday that DB Cargo have sold the land to Ayr United.

 

[Scotrail84]

It was announced on the radio yesterday that DB Cargo have sold the land to Ayr United.

Don't tell me they're going to get rid of the away end terrace. Thats part of the fun when visiting Somerset park. The ground should be preserved as it is.

 

[BAFRA77]

Anyone mentioned that you can see St Mirren Park quite easily when travelling through Paisley St James station?

 

[Ayrshire Roy]

Don't tell me they're going to get rid of the away end terrace. Thats part of the fun when visiting Somerset park. The ground should be preserved as it is.

It'll always be the railway end.
Back when my dad was a kid the loco crews used to watch from the coal loading dock. They would climb onto the cab roof.
I used to see 56s heading up the Mauchline line from the north terrace.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Don't tell me they're going to get rid of the away end terrace. Thats part of the fun when visiting Somerset park. The ground should be preserved as it is.

How can you actuslly see any trains from the Railway End terrace at Somerset Park? It's a covered terrace, isn't it, and has been for quite some time?

 

[Ayrshire Roy]

How can you actuslly see any trains from the Railway End terrace at Somerset Park? It's a covered terrace, isn't it, and has been for quite some time?

It has been covered for probably 50+ years but you could before.
You could see the Mauchline line from the north terrace up until last year

 

[Scotrail84]

How can you actuslly see any trains from the Railway End terrace at Somerset Park? It's a covered terrace, isn't it, and has been for quite some time?

The corner where the burger van sits, you can look over the wall and easily see whats left of the old shed.

 

[Cheshire Scot]

Don't think anyone has mentioned Arbroath FC's Gayfield Park, clearly visible from the railway approx 400 yards away. As to whether you can see trains from within, as it is well over 40 years since my only visit when Arborath were in Scotland's top division I don't recall, but I do suspect you probably can from the top of the terrace at the north east corner furthest from the railway.

If we are allowing closed railways then the mighty Hibees had at least one line adjacent to Easter Road with its own halt (on the Leith Central branch northbound only):

I do recall passing through the by then long closed Easter Road Halt on a railtour in the seventies - and recall the super high east terrace and fairly high south terrace.

In years gone by there was also a railway line ran very close round the back of Ibrox (Rangers) and it would have been visible from the top of the open west terracing. w

 

[30907]

That's some amateur club's ground in Slovakia, isn't it?

Indeed.

Sorry, late arrival!
Cierny Balog, in central Slovakia (East of Banska Bistrica) - the line past the stand has had a chequered recent history, I was lucky in June 2022!l

 

[james73]

Don't think anyone has mentioned Arbroath FC's Gayfield Park, clearly visible from the railway approx 400 yards away. As to whether you can see trains from within, as it is well over 40 years since my only visit when Arborath were in Scotland's top division I don't recall, but I do suspect you probably can from the top of the terrace at the north east corner furthest from the railway.


I do recall passing through the by then long closed Easter Road Halt on a railtour in the seventies - and recall the super high east terrace and fairly high south terrace.

In years gone by there was also a railway line ran very close round the back of Ibrox (Rangers) and it would have been visible from the top of the open west terracing. w

The Switchback Line went right past Celtic Park. Likely visible from the terracing on the opposite side of the ground.

 

[d9009alycidon]

OK if closed lines count, then Ibrox Park had the freight branch to Princes Dock immediately behind the ground.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

OK if closed lines count, then Ibrox Park had the freight branch to Princes Dock immediately behind the ground.

The original requirement back in post #1 was what other football grounds are there where the trains pass so close that you can indulge in a bit of trainspotting if the match is a bit dull? Not sure if Ibrox Park would count. Maybe back in the day, but not now?!