Old School English Football Grounds.

 I recently completed a set of 4 artworks showing Griffin Park former home ground of Brentford FC based on some drone pictures I took around the stadium. I enjoyed creating the artworks and wanted to see if I could create some more based on old style English Football stadiums, I searched for a selection of images that were public domain and created the following artworks.

Due to the rules on Clickasnap I can not share the un-watermarked versions there, so if clicking any image below it will open a link in another window to my sports grounds artworks album on Clickasnap, all the images there are my own creation based on original photo's by me.

Newcastle United, St James Park
Home stadium on the Magpies, St James Park has seen much development
since it last looked like this in the Late 1980's

Reading FC, Elm Park
Opened in 1896 Elm Park was the home stadium of Reading until they moved
to the Madejski Stadium in 1998. Housing now occupies the site
of the stadium.

Brighton and Hove Albion, Goldstone Ground
Sold off in controversial circumstances the Goldstone Ground was
home to Brighton and Hove Albion from 1902 until 1997. The site is now
a retail park.

Chelsea FC, Stamford Bridge
Another stadium that is much changed since it looked like this in
the late 1980's. Originally opened by the London Athletic Club in 1877,
Stamford Bridge did not play host to Chelsea until the club was formed
in 1905. It is the only stadium they have played home games in to date.

Millwall FC, The Den
Now often known as the Old Den, Cold Blow Lane was the home ground of Millwall
from 1910 until 1993. The site is now occupied by housing.

Coventry City, Highfield Road
Home ground of Coventry City, Highfield Road was opened in 1899
and hosted it's final game on the 30th April 2005. Housing now occupies
the site of the stadium.

Oxford United, Manor Ground
Home stadium of Oxford United from 1925 until 2001, when the final match
saw Oxford draw 1-1 with Port Vale. The site is now occupied by the
Manor Hospital.

Manchester City, Maine Road
Home to City from 1923 until 11th May 2003 when the final match saw
Southampton win 1-0. The site was redeveloped in to housing after the
stadiums closure.

Arsenal, Highbury
The Arsenal Stadium was more commonly known as Highbury during it's
use as the home ground of Arsenal FC. Occupied by the Gunners from 1913
when the club moved from South London until 2006 when the stadium was
redeveloped in to housing.

Leicester City, Filbert Street
Opened in 1891 as the home ground of Leicester Fosse, it became the home ground
of the Foxes in 1919 when the club changed their name to City. It continued to be
the home stadium until 2003 when the club relocated to the Walkers Stadium, renamed
the King Power Stadium in 2011. Part of the site in now occupied by
student accommodation.

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Griffin Park, Brentford.

Not a set of football pics but a set of art works created by me of the former Griffin Park Football Stadium, Home of Brentford Football Club until 2020. 

Griffin Park opened on the 1st September 1904 with a 1-1 draw between Brentford and Plymouth Argyle, and closed after the final game between Brentford "B" and Erith Town in the London Senior Cup. The record attendance for a Brentford FC match at the ground was 38678 fora FA Cup 6th round tie against Leicester City in the February 1949, Brentford lost 2-0.

The ground has featured athletics, tennis, Gaelic Football and baseball in the early part of it's history, and was the home ground of the London Broncos Rugby League team from 2002 until 2006.

Other notes of interest about Griffin Park is the stadium being underneath the flight path of Heathrow Airport and the roof of the stands being used as giant advertising boards, and a pub being situated on each corner of the ground.

The pictures are based on aerial shots of the ground from each corner in 2019, the artwork was created by me in 2020 for someone that had requested art style prints of the ground for their Brentford supporting daughter.

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Clicking any image should open a link in another window to the un-watermarked, higher resolution version on Clickasnap.

All the pictures remain the copyright of Colin Green.

UK Rugby League Grounds from Above

 One of my hobbies is the sport of Rugby League, I am a supporter of Halifax RLFC, who recently changed there name to Halifax Panthers. The club has had it's success throughout it's history being league champions 4 times and challenge cup winners 5 times. Since relegation from Super League in 2003 the club has been a mainstay of the championship. It was from the recent decision by Super League to refuse re-entry to the competition to Toronto Wolfpack and open up a bidding process to clubs from the championship to enter super league and league ones clubs to enter the championship that I started to have a look at the grounds of the League 1 clubs.

From this interest the idea of creating a short video of each clubs ground from the air was born, originally I had planned to only show the league 1 clubs grounds, but found I had enjoyed the process as it differed from what I normally put together so I then completed videos of all the Championships clubs and Super  League clubs home stadia.

League 1.

League 1 currently features 10 clubs, with future admissions possible from a reborn Toronto Wolfpack, Ottawa Aces, New York City, Belgrade, Valencia, Bristol and Liverpool, Ottawa the only confirmed one for 2022. For the 2021 season the league will be made up of Barrow Raiders, Coventry Bears, Doncaster RLFC, Hunslet Hawks, Keighley Cougars, London Skolars, North Wales Crusaders, Rochdale Hornets, West Wales Raiders and Workington Town.

Championship.

Probably the most competitive league in the British rugby system where a good start to the season could see any one of the 14 clubs either promoted or relegated. The 2021 season will see Batley Bulldogs, Bradford Bulls, Dewsbury Rams, Featherstone Rovers, Halifax Panthers, London Broncos, Newcastle Thunder, Oldham RLFC, Sheffield Eagles, Swinton Lions, Toulouse Olympique,  Whitehaven RLFC, Widnes Vikings and York City Knights do battle.

Super League.

The Super League is the highest level of rugby league competition in the UK and the 2nd highest worldwide. After the ejection of Toronto Wolfpack, Leigh Centurions were promoted to level the competition to 12 clubs for the 2021 season and the rest are, Castleford Tigers, Catalans Dragons, Huddersfield Giants, Hull FC, Hull Kingston Rovers, Leeds Rhinos, Salford Red Devils, St Helens RFC, Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Warrington Wolves, and Wigan Warriors.

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Venice: More Than Just Canals – Stadio Pierluigi Penzo

As a football aficionado, visiting a new city always sparks the same question: "Do they have a team?" So, when I found myself in the enchanting labyrinth of Venice in October 2018, surrounded by gondolas and historic architecture, my thoughts inevitably turned to the beautiful game. I knew nothing of Venetian football, not even if it existed, but the sheer passion Italians have for the sport suggested a local club was a strong possibility. What I uncovered was a tale far more compelling than I could have imagined, a story of resilience, history, and a stadium unlike any other.

From Bankruptcy to Battle-Hardened Survivors: The Arancioneroverdi Spirit

My initial inquiries quickly confirmed my suspicions: Venice does indeed have a football club, Venezia FC, affectionately known as the Arancioneroverdi (orange-black-green). My excitement, however, was quickly tempered by the sobering reality of their recent past. This wasn't a story of glorious victories and overflowing trophy cabinets. Instead, it was a narrative woven with threads of struggle and survival. I learned that Venezia FC had faced the ultimate footballing nightmare not once, not twice, but three times, going bankrupt in 2015. And in the very season of my visit, 2018-19, they were locked in a desperate fight to avoid relegation from Serie B, a battle they ultimately won through a nail-biting play-off. Their only major honour, the Coppa Italia, dates back to 1941 – a testament to a bygone era.

This underdog status, however, only deepened my intrigue. It spoke of a club and a fanbase with an indomitable spirit, one that had weathered financial storms and on-pitch battles, refusing to be extinguished. It's a reminder that football isn't always about silverware; sometimes, it's simply about existing, about fighting another day.

Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo: A Century of Stories on the Lagoon

My quest naturally led me to their home ground, the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo. As I made my way through the narrow Venetian streets, the idea of a football stadium amidst this watery cityscape felt almost surreal. And what a stadium it turned out to be! Opening its gates in 1913, it holds the remarkable distinction of being the second oldest continually used stadium in Italy. Imagine the echoes within those walls, the cheers and groans that have reverberated through a century of football.

The stadium itself is a tribute to a local hero, named after Pier Luigi Penzo, a fighter pilot who served during World War I. This dedication adds another layer of historical significance, connecting the club not just to the city's sporting heritage but also to its broader past.

While the stadium's current capacity of 7,450 pales in comparison to the record attendance of 26,000 set in 1966 for a clash against AC Milan, it still holds a unique charm. From the outside, I must admit, it looked a little sad and neglected, locked up tight with no one in sight. My hope of a quick peek inside for a small fee was unfortunately dashed. Yet, even without entering, the sheer uniqueness of its location resonated deeply.

Arriving by Boat: A Footballing Fairytale

What truly sets the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo apart, and perhaps epitomises the spirit of Venezia FC, is its extraordinary logistical quirk: visiting teams often arrive by boat. Picture this: rival players, usually accustomed to team buses and sprawling car parks, instead disembarking from a water taxi, their boots touching down on the Venetian lagoon before a crucial match. It's a truly unforgettable image, a slice of footballing fairytale that perfectly encapsulates the magic of Venice itself.

My visit to Venice was more than just a tourist's exploration of canals and ancient architecture. It was an unexpected delve into the heart of a resilient football club, a testament to the enduring power of the game even in the most improbable of settings. Venezia FC, with its tumultuous history and unique stadium, proved that sometimes the most interesting stories aren't found in the headlines, but in the quiet, persistent pulse of a community that refuses to let its dreams, and its football team, sink beneath the waves.

The images below were taken with a Nikon d3300, clicking anyone of them should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

The video below is taken from my YouTube channel.

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Fartown Rugby and Cricket Grounds, Huddersfield.

Fartown, originally known as St. John's Ground, has a rich sporting history that spans from cricket to rugby league. Its story begins in 1868, hosting cricket matches. In 1875, a pivotal merger took place, uniting Huddersfield St. John's Cricket Club with Huddersfield Athletic Club, which had already established a rugby club in 1866. This union laid the groundwork for Fartown's future as a rugby stronghold. By November 2nd, 1878, the ground had been sufficiently developed to host its first rugby match, a contest against the Manchester Rangers Rugby Club.

Fartown's significance in rugby history was further cemented in 1895 when the sport underwent a major split. Huddersfield joined the Northern Rugby Football Union, the breakaway faction that eventually evolved into the modern game of rugby league. Fartown became their home ground, a relationship that would last for nearly a century.

For almost a hundred years, Fartown echoed with the roar of the crowd and the clash of tackles. Its most glorious moment likely came in 1947 when it hosted a Challenge Cup Semi-Final, packing in over 35,000 spectators – a testament to the ground's capacity and the passion for rugby league in Huddersfield.

However, the stadium's fortunes began to decline in the 1980s. Despite its illustrious past, Fartown fell into disrepair. In 1992, Huddersfield Rugby League Football Club moved to the Leeds Road Stadium, marking the end of an era. Shortly after their departure, Fartown was demolished, erasing much of its physical presence. Today, only the floodlights, perimeter fencing, and the pitch itself remain as silent witnesses to the stadium's vibrant past, a reminder of the thousands of fans and the countless sporting memories forged within its boundaries. Fartown's story, though its stands may be gone, continues to resonate within the history of Huddersfield and the story of rugby league. 

These pictures were taken on June 18, 2015, with my Polaroid iS2132 digital camera. Clicking any image should open a link in another window to my Colin Green Photography store on Zazzle.

The Cricket Memorial, it used to feature a clock that has been removed.

The former cricket ground, now playing host to amateur Rugby League.

Taken from the Scoreboard terrace at the ground.

The very overgrown northern terrace.

The rather sad looking former cricket pavilion.

The scoreboard end, the stadiums metal fencing still in place.

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