With the attainable exception of the painfully identikit trendy stadia, each soccer floor, it appears, has one facet or finish that’s extra noteworthy than the remainder.
And a few stands, whether or not for his or her structure or environment – or a mix of the 2 – stand out (see what we did there…?) as significantly particular.
We’ve picked out a number of probably the most iconic from grounds previous and current.
Major stand, Vicente Calderon (Atletico Madrid)
The highway passing beneath the primary stand on the Vicente Calderon, shortly earlier than its demolition (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Sadly not there, demolished after Atletico Madrid relocated to the Estadio Metropolitano in 2017, the primary stand of the Vicente Calderon was fairly a sight.
Why? Effectively, merely for the truth that it had a twin carriageway working beneath it (a characteristic not current at almost sufficient grounds, frankly).
Lisbon Lions Stand, Celtic Park (Celtic)
Followers within the protected standing part at Celtic Park (Picture credit score: Alamy)
The Lisbon Lions have been the enduring Celtic staff who gained the 1966/67 European Cup, and the stand named of their honour is probably the most vociferous part of Celtic Park.
Dwelling to Celtic’s Inexperienced Brigade group of hardcore followers, the Lisbon Lions Stand’s environment acquired even higher with the addition of protected standing for the 2016/17 season.
Milton Highway Finish, The Dell (Southampton)
The Milton Highway Finish on the Dell (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Dwelling to Southampton for greater than 100 years, the Dell was an atmospheric floor situated on a considerably awkwardly formed little bit of land for a soccer stadium.
The shut proximity of the road on the Milton Highway Finish known as for an modern answer – and it got here within the type of an virtually triangular stand.
Oak Highway Stand, Kenilworth Highway (Luton)
Away followers queue to enter the Oak Highway Stand at Kenilworth Highway (Picture credit score: Alamy)
When Luton have been promoted to the Premier League in 2023, their away finish grew to become a little bit of a meme – however there’s nothing fairly prefer it.
Accessed by a passageway between the terraced homes which again on to Kenilworth Highway, the Oak Highway Stand gives a singular expertise for travelling supporters.
Gallowgate Finish, St. James’ Park (Newcastle)
The Gallowgate Finish at St. James’ Park (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Housing probably the most ardent contingent of Newcastle’s famously passionate fan base, the Gallowgate Finish is so named because it stands close to the location of town’s final gallows.
Stuffed with flags on matchday, the Gallowgate has erupted in response to many a Magpies aim through the years – together with a good few by a sure Mr Shearer.
North stand, La Bombonera (Boca Juniors)
Followers within the north stand at La Bombonera (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Among the many world’s most distinctive and intimidating stadiums because of its steep-sided nature, La Bombonera has been Boca Juniors’ dwelling floor since 1940.
On matchday, the north stand has probably the most feverish environment of the lot, helped in no small half by the presence of the Argentine giants’ La 12 ultras group.
Johnny Haynes Stand, Craven Cottage (Fulham)
The Johhny Haynes stand at Craven Cottage (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Designed by Archibald Leitch, the granddaddy of soccer stadium architects, the Johnny Haynes Stand is what you’ll largely see when watching a Fulham dwelling recreation on the telly.
Named after the West London membership’s greatest-ever participant, who captained England 22 occasions, the wooden-seated stand options on its roof one of many few triangular gables (oooh) left in English soccer.
Holte Finish, Villa Park (Aston Villa)
The outside of the Holte Finish at Villa Park (Picture credit score: Alamy)
An unlimited, two-tiered construction, the Holte Finish is the place the Aston Villa die-hards sit (or stand) to roar their staff on.
Named after Sir Thomas Holte, who constructed close by stately dwelling Aston Corridor, the Holte Finish’s capability of over 13,000 makes it one of many largest stands within the English recreation – and its red-brick façade is the defining characteristic of Villa Park.
The Clock Finish, Highbury (Arsenal)
The Clock Finish at Highbury (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Arsenal’s iconic former dwelling, Highbury was an old-school floor with a number of aesthetically pleasing facets.
Amongst them was the Clock Finish, a sweeping financial institution behind one aim which was an open terrace earlier than the addition of government containers.
As for the well-known timepiece itself, launched by legendary supervisor Herbert Chapman within the Thirties, that made its means with the Gunners to the Emirates Stadium.
The Shelf, White Hart Lane (Tottenham)
Chris Hughton scores for Tottenham in opposition to Coventry Metropolis at White Hart Lane with the Shelf within the background, 1981 (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Operating alongside one facet of the White Hart Lane pitch, the Shelf was among the many loudest and most imposing stands in England throughout its heyday.
A double layer of terracing with room for nearly 20,000 Spurs supporters, the Shelf helped make for a critically hostile environment for visiting gamers and followers alike.
Curva Nord, San Siro (Inter)
Inter followers within the Curva Nord (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Inter have shared the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza (aka San Siro) with arch-rivals Milan since 1947.
The Nerazzurri’s ultras – who emerged as Inter loved nice success through the Nineteen Sixties – occupy the Curva Nord, bringing spectacular tifo shows and loads of pyro to one of the iconic venues in world soccer.
Curva Sud, San Siro (Milan)
Milan followers within the Curva Sud (Picture credit score: Alamy)
On the different finish of the 75,000-seater San Siro, the Milan ultras generate one heck of a noise from the Curva Sud.
One other tifo- and pyro-filled zone, the stand is famend for its explosive environment – but it surely remained silent for a number of video games in 2014 in protest at excessive ticket costs.
Invoice Struth Stand, Ibrox (Rangers)
The Invoice Struth Stand at Ibrox (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Maybe the best remaining instance of Archibald Leitch stadium design, the Invoice Struth Stand is the primary stand at Ibrox – named in honour of 18-time title-winning Rangers boss Invoice Struth.
Boasting a resplendent red-brick exterior, it additionally displays Leitch’s trademark criss-cross sample alongside the wall on the entrance of its second tier.
Stretford Finish, Outdated Trafford (Manchester United)
The Stretford Finish at Outdated Trafford (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Whether or not revelling in glory or lamenting their staff’s failings, the Manchester United devoted are able to conjuring up fairly an environment at Outdated Trafford.
And the large, two-tier Stretford Finish was integral to what made the most important membership stadium in Britain one of many hardest locations to go for a lot of the Premier League period.
The Yellow Wall, Westfalenstadion (Borussia Dortmund)
The Yellow Wall on the Westfalenstadion (Picture credit score: Alamy)
Few fan bases do tifo like that of Borussia Dortmund, whose Yellow Wall has been the scene of some really jaw-dropping visible shows through the years.
The most important terrace in European soccer, Die Gelbe Wand has room for nearly 25,000 scarf-holding, flag-waving Dortmund die-hards, accounting for greater than 1 / 4 of the Westfalenstadion’s complete capability.
The Kop, Anfield (Liverpool)
The Kop at Anfield (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Invoice Shankly as soon as remarked that Anfield’s Kop may ‘suck the ball into the web’ – and earlier than being transformed to seating, probably the most well-known stand on the earth resembled a always surging sea of individuals.
Giving rise to the time period kopite – these days used to any match-going Liverpool fan – the Kop is the focus because the Reds devoted increase the scarves for the standard pre-match rendition of You’ll By no means Stroll Alone .
