OnePoll (Ground)

21st November, 2009

UNITED WE STAND

Old Trafford was yesterday (Fri) voted the most welcoming football stadium in Britain.

The 'Theatre of Dreams' - which is home to current Premier League champions Manchester United - came top of a poll of 3,000 footy fans.

It was hailed for its friendly fans, staff, comfortable seats and good food.

Arsenal's Emirates Stadium was second and Liverpool's Anfield ground was third. Chelsea's Stamford Bridge was fourth and St. James's Park, Newcastle was fifth.

Newcastle's owner Mike Ashley sparked controversy recently when he renamed the famous old stadium SportsDirect.com@St.James's Park.

Other grounds to make the top ten included Aston Villa's Villa Park, Spurs' White Hart Lane and Craven Cottage in Fulham.

Meanwhile, Millwall was voted the least welcoming ground followed by Leeds United, West Ham United and Cardiff City.

A spokesman for www.OnePoll.com, which carried out the study, said: ''It looks like the big clubs are winners off the pitch with fans as well as the success they enjoy on the park.

''Being a football fan is an expensive business. When money is tight it is even more important for clubs to make the effort to be welcoming.

''It is not pandering to the 'prawn sandwich' brigade to expect to be well looked after when paying Premier League ticket prices but it looks like some clubs still have a way to go.''

Non-Premier League grounds which were also praised for their friendliness were Norwich, Ipswich, Bristol City, Reading and Yeovil.

Grounds which were labelled a 'nightmare' for football fans to visit were Millwall, Leeds United, West Ham United and Cardiff City.

Birmingham City, Stoke City and Manchester City also featured in the league of shame.

Among the problems encountered at these stadiums were being physically or verbally abused or even spat at.

FRIENDLIEST GROUNDS
1. Man Utd
2. Arsenal
3. Liverpool
4. Chelsea
5. Newcastle
6. Aston Villa
7. Tottenham
8. Fulham
9. Blackburn
10. Bolton

UNFRIENDLIEST GROUNDS
1. Millwall
2. Leeds United
3. West Ham
4. Cardiff
5. Birmingham
6. Stoke
7. Man City
8. Portsmouth
9. Sunderland
10. Everton

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