League Two football grounds ranked: Adrian Durham’s definitive list after completing the 92 challenge
Adrian Durham has now visited every single ground in the English professional leagues – but what does he make of League Two? talkSPORT’s Game Day host got his full house when he took a Monday night trip to Fleetwood’s Highbury Stadium to see their 2-2 draw with local rivals Morecambe in September. Durham completed the 92 at FleetwoodX:@theadriandurham We already got Durham to give his top 10 football grounds in the whole of the 92. And many fans were left stunned by his huge range of favourite stadiums – particularly his no. 1. In fact, despite League Two being the lowest standard of football on offer in the 92 challenge, Durham did include two of its grounds in his definitive list. Not many fans can say they have been to every single ground in the top four leagues. So, we thought we’d pick Durham’s brains some more to give supporters more of an insight on each tier. For those who haven’t quite got to his level on the ground ticking, we’re sure you want to know which grounds in League Two are the best. And, perhaps more interestingly, which are the worst… Ranked from 24 all the way up to no. 1, Durham has given us his take on each ground and how they compare to their competitors. Of course, his opinion is subjective, so don’t send us hate mail if your team’s ground is lower than you think it should be! Over to you, Adrian. Read Adrian Durham’s complete Championship and League One rankings The EFL’s bottom tier has a huge variety of stadiums – here’s what Durham thinks of each oneRex 24. Stadium MK (MK Dons) This feels like a contradiction as it’s a good stadium, but it shouldn’t be there and the whole club and what the stadium stands for doesn’t sit well with me. There is no atmosphere unless the away fans create it and it’s not a football ground. MK Dons have an impressive stadium, but never fill itGETTY 23. Colchester Community Stadium (Colchester United) It’s a terrible stadium. The McDonald’s outside is probably the best bit about it! Other fast food outlets are available! It’s totally soulless and nothing going on there. It’s impossible to love that ground. If you’re a Colchester fan you wouldn’t look forward to going there. Their old ground was decent, way better than this. Durham isn’t keen on Colchester’s homeGETTY 22. Wham Stadium (Accrington Stanley) There’s an asterisk here. I’ve been once and it was freezing cold, raining heavily, so they shut the away end so we could go under cover. It was a nice thing to do but that meant I didn’t experience the terraced away end. It was night time too. I’ve been told in the day time you can see the rolling fields. I need to go back in the day but my experience was grim. The Wham Stadium is right in the middle of houses in AccringtonGetty 21. Priestfield (Gillingham) Nobody likes it, do they? It’s a messy ground and should be better the number of years they’ve been in the league. The temporary away end is still there. It’s not a good ground Gillingham. Gillingham’s scaffolding away end is a unique feature of PriestfieldGetty 20. Bescot Stadium (Walsall) I’ve never seen a good game there. I’ve been four times and three of them have been 0-0. That shapes your opinion of a place! It’s in a bit of a weird location with nothing around for miles. It doesn’t have a feel good aspect to it. Walsall’s home hosts Aston Villa Women tooGETTY 19. Gresty Road (Crewe Alexandra) I went to Crewe as an away fan fairly recently. We were along the side on the end and that felt a bit weird for an away fan. I didn’t warm to it. I went years and years before, it’s a tiny ground and it doesn’t seem like they’ve done much to it. Crewe’s home was first opened in 1906GETTY 18. Vale Park (Port Vale) That was one of the first grounds I went to as a boy. I was impressed, but when I’ve been back since I’ve not enjoyed it now I have other grounds to compare it to. It’s very dated. I think they switched the home and away end which is a bit weird. Behind the goal there was a vast terrace. There’s seats in there now but that did impress me as a kid. Port Vale were relegated to League Two last seasonGetty 17. County Ground (Swindon Town) It’s always felt a bit disjointed. It could be significantly improved, it’s just always felt like it’s not coherent. If the lay out was made better it could be really good. The County Ground is in the middle of Swindon’s streetsGETTY 16. Holker Street (Barrow AFC) It’s not a modern ground at all but there’s a very welcoming feel to it. I’ve only been there once. I can’t tell you that architecture is brilliant or the facilities are great, but there was something about it, the feel when I was there, I actually enjoyed it. Barrow is tucked away in the corner of CumbriaX:@BarrowAFC 15. Mazuma Mobile Stadium (Morecambe) I’ve been to both the old ground
Adrian Durham has now visited every single ground in the English professional leagues – but what does he make of League Two?
talkSPORT’s Game Day host got his full house when he took a Monday night trip to Fleetwood’s Highbury Stadium to see their 2-2 draw with local rivals Morecambe in September.
We already got Durham to give his top 10 football grounds in the whole of the 92.
And many fans were left stunned by his huge range of favourite stadiums – particularly his no. 1.
In fact, despite League Two being the lowest standard of football on offer in the 92 challenge, Durham did include two of its grounds in his definitive list.
Not many fans can say they have been to every single ground in the top four leagues.
So, we thought we’d pick Durham’s brains some more to give supporters more of an insight on each tier.
For those who haven’t quite got to his level on the ground ticking, we’re sure you want to know which grounds in League Two are the best.
And, perhaps more interestingly, which are the worst…
Ranked from 24 all the way up to no. 1, Durham has given us his take on each ground and how they compare to their competitors.
Of course, his opinion is subjective, so don’t send us hate mail if your team’s ground is lower than you think it should be!
Over to you, Adrian.
Read Adrian Durham’s complete Championship and League One rankings
24. Stadium MK (MK Dons)
This feels like a contradiction as it’s a good stadium, but it shouldn’t be there and the whole club and what the stadium stands for doesn’t sit well with me.
There is no atmosphere unless the away fans create it and it’s not a football ground.
23. Colchester Community Stadium (Colchester United)
It’s a terrible stadium. The McDonald’s outside is probably the best bit about it! Other fast food outlets are available!
It’s totally soulless and nothing going on there. It’s impossible to love that ground. If you’re a Colchester fan you wouldn’t look forward to going there. Their old ground was decent, way better than this.
22. Wham Stadium (Accrington Stanley)
There’s an asterisk here. I’ve been once and it was freezing cold, raining heavily, so they shut the away end so we could go under cover. It was a nice thing to do but that meant I didn’t experience the terraced away end.
It was night time too. I’ve been told in the day time you can see the rolling fields. I need to go back in the day but my experience was grim.
21. Priestfield (Gillingham)
Nobody likes it, do they? It’s a messy ground and should be better the number of years they’ve been in the league.
The temporary away end is still there. It’s not a good ground Gillingham.
20. Bescot Stadium (Walsall)
I’ve never seen a good game there. I’ve been four times and three of them have been 0-0. That shapes your opinion of a place!
It’s in a bit of a weird location with nothing around for miles. It doesn’t have a feel good aspect to it.
19. Gresty Road (Crewe Alexandra)
I went to Crewe as an away fan fairly recently. We were along the side on the end and that felt a bit weird for an away fan.
I didn’t warm to it. I went years and years before, it’s a tiny ground and it doesn’t seem like they’ve done much to it.
18. Vale Park (Port Vale)
That was one of the first grounds I went to as a boy. I was impressed, but when I’ve been back since I’ve not enjoyed it now I have other grounds to compare it to.
It’s very dated. I think they switched the home and away end which is a bit weird. Behind the goal there was a vast terrace. There’s seats in there now but that did impress me as a kid.
17. County Ground (Swindon Town)
It’s always felt a bit disjointed. It could be significantly improved, it’s just always felt like it’s not coherent.
If the lay out was made better it could be really good.
16. Holker Street (Barrow AFC)
It’s not a modern ground at all but there’s a very welcoming feel to it. I’ve only been there once.
I can’t tell you that architecture is brilliant or the facilities are great, but there was something about it, the feel when I was there, I actually enjoyed it.
15. Mazuma Mobile Stadium (Morecambe)
I’ve been to both the old ground and the new ground. The new ground is okay, but it’s just okay.
There’s nothing wrong with it! It just is what it is.
14. Brunton Park (Carlisle United)
I haven’t been there in years. The away section was a corner of terracing, the positioning of one of the stands is really weird, it feels like it goes out the football ground.
I’ve not been left with any memories that are particularly positive. It’s not one of the worst though.
13. Valley Parade (Bradford City)
It’s just too big for League Two! I know they have a lot of fans in there as well but it’s so cavernous! So huge that it doesn’t feel right.
Again, it’s not a bad ground, but it’s not got the right feel to it.
12. Prenton Park (Tranmere Rovers)
Tranmere is a bit of a messy, disjointed ground. It’s also been there a long time and there’s something of a special feel about the ground.
The history to it because they’ve not moved ground is good. But it feels like it could do with a massive upgrade to bring it into the modern world.
11. Keepmoat Stadium (Doncaster Rovers)
The Keepmoat is not as soulless as some of the new stadiums are. The old ground was terrific, really old school.
The new ground is no where near as bad as it could have been, they’ve done a good job with it.
10. Rodney Parade (Newport County)
There is a very good burger van at Newport. One of the talkSPORT team when we did the Manchester United game there last season, he appreciated the burger van so much he went twice!
The atmosphere was bound to be good but I thought it was a decent ground. It’s central and it’s easy to get to.
9. Whaddon Road (Cheltenham Town)
I really like Cheltenham. I’ve been once to see them face Sheffield Wednesday under the lights.
It was such a good game and the atmosphere was really good. If you get the right game it’s a special stadium.
8. SMH Group Stadium (Chesterfield)
Their old ground Saltergate was really good. All the football scenes in the Damned United were filmed there.
It was a terrific old ground. The new stadium I’ve been to twice, it has a good feel to it.
7. Peninsula Stadium (Salford City)
Salford City’s stadium is in a leafy part of Salford, it’s a nice place to visit.
It wasn’t the most welcoming but the stadium was decent, they’ve done okay with it.
6. Hayes Lane Stadium (Bromley)
I liked Bromley! It’s tidy. I went for the first time a few weeks ago and it was an enjoyable experience.
It looks good, it feels good. I was surprised! I’m very impressed by it.
5. Meadow Lane (Notts County)
Again there’s history with this. I like that it’s close to Nottingham Forest and it’s in the centre of town.
It should be no. 1 in this league, but they haven’t upgraded it as much as they should have done.
4. Blundell Park (Grimsby Town)
This is another one I spent a lot of time at in my early radio career. It’s a great ground, it’s a proper football ground.
It’s really cold! When you come out the ground, behind the stand there’s a railway line and then the North Sea, so it’s going to be cold! I just like it. There’s lots of quirkiness I like.
3. Highbury Stadium (Fleetwood Town)
That’s gone high up as that’s the one I was waiting for to complete the 92. It’s special to me. There’s a great history to it. They had a railing around it for non-league, but after so many promotions in quick successions they’ve improved it.
There’s a social club they don’t own and can’t move and I love that quirkiness. I really enjoyed visiting there.
2. Wetherby Road (Harrogate Town)
Harrogate made my top 10. It’s a very beautiful town and a very tidy ground. And the reason why it’s in there is because I spent the second half of that game on a terrace behind the goal, proper old-school.
I read part of a book that said ‘football’s pulse can only really be taken from this position’ the day before I stood on the terrace, and it kind of resonated with me.
1. Plough Lane (AFC Wimbledon)
I love what they’ve done with the small stadium in that little pocket that it’s slotted into. If you look at it geographically, it’s a bit like Brentford, which was close to being in my top ten.
I love the fact it’s respecting their history. It’s tidy and there’s a terrific atmosphere when they get going.
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