In League Two and the other parts of the EFL there is a large number of stadiums up and down the country that hold unique and great qualities that go unnoticed by many fans of the EFL. So I hope you can join me today in focusing on the top 5 most underrated League Two stadiums in no particular order where I am going to be considering the teams matchday experience and what they have on offer at the stadium in order to create memories that will stay with fans in League Two for life.
The Poundland Bescot stadium – Walsall
In our first example we land at the home of the Saddlers which was built in 1989 and has been their home for 36 years. Walsall’s main stand was built in 2003 it still helps create a great atmosphere on a matchday as well as this one of the most underrated in league two. Also with home and away supporters positioned behind each goal it gives both sets of supporters a full view of the pitch and it makes them feel close to the match action and I believe that it creates a fantastic rivalry between both sets of fans. Walsall also provide an excellent fan zone for home supporters to enjoy.
The fan zone is one of the contenders of best out of the League Two stadiums in my opinion as this provides great pre match food and refreshments for the fans to access and enjoy before the match. They also have a number of activities that supporters can take part in before the match to win prizes such as an Inflatable goal, spin the wheel game and a score prediction game.
It can be argued that this will create a lively atmosphere and give fans enjoyable activities to do before the match and to communicate with other fans to share opinions and contrasting views. As well as this in the area surrounding the Bescot Stadium, Walsall’s ‘The Locker’ acts as the pre-match centre for all Saddlers where supporters can swap their old shirts and alike , play darts and table tennis amongst other games and also listen to live music helping to lift fans’ moods and excitement around the ground ahead of the fixtures at the stadium.
Brunton Park – Carlisle United
For our second example of the most underrated League Two Stadiums, we are going to be talking about the home of Carlisle which is located in Cumbria, England and it is one of the biggest grounds within league two with an impressive capacity of 17,949. Brunton park was built in 1909 and has been their current home for 116 years but over the years it has received important renovations as in 1953 Carlisle’s ‘Grandstand’ burned down. As well as this the stadium flooded in both 2005 and 2015. Brunton Park still has large impressive stands which incorporate both seated and standing sections creating a hostile atmosphere for visiting teams. Carlisle’s Brunton Park is both one of the biggest in the league and one of the most underrated within League two. It can be argued that the prominent stands that they hold provide both sets of supporters with excellent views of the pitch so that they can see what action is on offer throughout the match (although Carlisle fans might argue they haven’t enjoyed too many highlights at home this season).
As well as this, within League Two, Carlisle have a great fan zone as they offer a friendly environment for their fans and it is not only open before the match but is also available during the match and after the final whistle. As well as this the fan zone provides food and refreshments to fans and the main thing of the fan zone is the ‘Big screen’ where fans can gather and enjoy other football matches being aired whilst enjoying a pint or two or some excellent food options which include some traditional food such as pies etc and have also had barbeques during the better weather.
This was prominent last year as England were taking part in the 2024 Euros and Carlisle showed the England matches on the ‘Big screen’ within the fan zone which allowed 3,000 Carlisle fans and locals gather to support. For fans to gain access to this they only had to pay £2 for entry and Carlisle carried out a kind gesture by donating £1 of every £2 to charity.
Prenton Park – Tranmere Rovers
Next, I am going to be offering my thoughts on why Prenton Park the home of Tranmere is one of the most underrated in league two. The current home of Tranmere is located in Birkenhead and was built in 1912 and been their home for 113 years but they carried out a rebuild in 1995 in order to make Prenton park an all seater stadium. With Prenton Park being one of the largest grounds within League two it has the ability to hold 16,587 fans and it can generate an amazing atmosphere which will provide fans with a raucous atmosphere in most of their matches at Prenton park. As well as this it is an intimidating venue for away fans and players because the stands are very close to the pitch means there can be a more intense environment with fans feeling more engaged in the action.
However, The Cowshed stand which is designed for away fans holds 2.500 and provides the supporters travelling to watch their team with a great view of the match without obstacles restricting their view and adds great acoustics. Finally Rovers also have a great fan park on offer where all supporters including away supporters can access enjoyable food and refreshments prior and post-game. They do this by utilising partnerships within the club, local businesses and charities which brings people together and creates a tight bond with all fans attending.
Vale Park – Port Vale
The penultimate one of League Two stadiums I am going to be writing about is Vale Park, the home of Port Vale. Port Vale’s current stadium holds an impressive 15,036 fans. The stadium was built in 1950 which means it has been their stadium for 75 years. The home of the Valiants was to be ‘dubbed’ as “Wembley of the North” as when this was planned back in 1950 to replicate the famous Twin Towers but this held a much larger capacity of over 80,000 .These plans that were put in place did not go ahead. It shows football fans that are not familiar with Vale Park how large the terraces are and how wide the pitch is like Wembley. So this shows how large Vale Park is even though the plans did not happen. With Vale Park holding terraces that are described as spacious it has the ability to house a lot of fans all around the stadium which will generate an atmosphere which is described as vibrant and passionate. As well as this the Valiant’s have worked with the University of Staffordshire in order to create a fan zone which creates a buzzing atmosphere prior to their home fixtures they did this by including a DJ which blasts out music, a large variety of stalls that sell food and refreshments and the foundation staff providing enjoyable activities for the younger ones.
Blundell Park – Grimsby
Lastly, I am going to be producing my thoughts on Blundell Park which is one of the unique League Two stadiums, home of Grimsby Town which is located in Cleethorpes. Blundell park is named after Peter Blundell because he bought the land where the current stadium is located. The ground was built in 1899 which has been their current home for 126 years and one of the longest serving professional football grounds. Even though Blundell Park is not on the same size scale as other grounds it still holds 9,052 supporters as well as this it has the ability to create a passionate and nostalgic atmosphere by still holding traditional football aesthetics like wooden seats within the main stand. The atmosphere at Blundell Park can generate a loud volume around the stadium occasionally with fans staying loyal even within the lowest moments. Around the areas of Blundell park they have a fan zone which is family friendly and a great place to meet fellow supporters. Inside the fan zone supporters can gather with other fans and enjoy food and refreshments.
Summary
Although these stadiums I have listed will provoke debate. It can be agreed that these clubs play an integral role within communities, supporters lives and creates a bond through many generations.
