O/T:- Lost Football Grounds

[upthemaggies]

In a sense, Meadow Lane as we knew it is a lost ground and I do miss it, that was the real Meadow Lane experience for me, it's never been the same since. Every top flight home game I ever watched was at the old ML. For a few more seasons beyond - when we were still decent (beating Fword, Leicester, Derby), you could forget you were in a new stand looking across at the old main stand most of the game.

We had to rebuild the ground, no question. The two goalmouth ends only dated as far back as 1980, but a lot of the spirit of the club disappeared with the demolition of County Road and the main stand. It wouldn't have been such a difficult transition to make had the new stands included safe standing. Sitting down never felt right at all. Probably would have helped a lot had we not been relegated out of the top 2 tiers forever as well.

[Lullapie]

In a sense, Meadow Lane as we knew it is a lost ground and I do miss it, that was the real Meadow Lane experience for me, it's never been the same since. Every top flight home game I ever watched was at the old ML. For a few more seasons beyond - when we were still decent (beating Fword, Leicester, Derby), you could forget you were in a new stand looking across at the old main stand most of the game.

We had to rebuild the ground, no question. The two goalmouth ends only dated as far back as 1980, but a lot of the spirit of the club disappeared with the demolition of County Road and the main stand. It wouldn't have been such a difficult transition to make had the new stands included safe standing. Sitting down never felt right at all. Probably would have helped a lot had we not been relegated out of the top 2 tiers forever as well.

It's a much better experience now and I agree, for those that remember the 'old ground', the two are like chalk and cheese.

Looking back at old footage when the 'pens' were in place, it looked a lot more scary and I remember games against Yorkshire clubs during and after the miner's strike, they were pretty hairy too.

It's hard to say this, but it is more of a family atmosphere now inside the ground and is easier to sell the club to prospective supporters than it used to be. I think the gates reflect this also.