Your best 5 and worse 5 grounds in country

**Longfordian** · 27/07/2009, 8:18 PM

These best and worst threads are one of the most annoying things on here in my opinion. They always turn into petty bickering with some people unable to accept that others think they don't have the prettiest wife at home as Wenger would say. Over and out.

**Mr A** · 27/07/2009, 9:45 PM

That's one of the worst givey outy posts ever on this forum. Bottom five easily.

**chatterbox** · 27/07/2009, 10:05 PM

Best:

1. Tolka
2. Inchicore
3. Tallaght
4. Turner's Cross
5. Brandywell

Worst:

1. Kingspan century Monaghan
2. RSC Waterford
3. UCD bowl
4. Oriel Park (Used to be better but has been wrecked recently)
5. Showgrounds Sligo

Haven't been to Limerick, Wexford, Athlone or Kildare.

**Dunny** · 27/07/2009, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by chatterbox

Best:

1. Tolka
2. Inchicore
3. Tallaght
4. Turner's Cross
5. Brandywell

Worst:

1. Kingspan century Monaghan
2. RSC Waterford
3. UCD bowl
4. Oriel Park (Used to be better but has been wrecked recently)
5. Showgrounds Sligo

Haven't been to Limerick, Wexford, Athlone or Kildare.

Wrecked in what way?

**Nesta99** · 27/07/2009, 10:12 PM

I think chatterbox means that Oriel was a top ground but never kept pace with improvements and now is far from up to scratch and lags behind many other grounds. Although compared to 4-5 years ago its come on a bit

**Black and White** · 27/07/2009, 10:25 PM

It is lagging behind but its up to date all over, very stable surroundings and infrastructure although I do admit Im ashamed that we provide uncovered terracing for away support whereas the majority of other grounds provide covered seating! We badly need to put in a stand behind the Carrick Road end goals for away fans, it would be better in the long run, a Wexford Youths type of job!

**chatterbox** · 27/07/2009, 10:43 PM

Originally Posted by Nesta99

I think chatterbox means that Oriel was a top ground but never kept pace with improvements and now is far from up to scratch and lags behind many other grounds. Although compared to 4-5 years ago its come on a bit

Precisely. Uncovered away terrace is a big drawback. I think the ground is far too open now compared to what it used to be. A lot of the atmosphere is lost. The away fans entrance is very poorly maintained and not lit properly. There isn't even a proper entrance its just a laneway. The view from away terrace is pretty bad and its an expensive ground to get into. There are plenty of good things about it but its not been developed well enough. In terms of matchday experience, I can't see how its improved recently (last 5 years). Maybe from a home fan perspective it has????

**christo** · 27/07/2009, 11:07 PM

I choose mine based on nostalgia/sentimental value, facilities and practicality

Top 5

Station Road (obviously and it is nice when the bar is actually open)
Terryland (nice with the new stand and is always a good trip down to Galway)
Dalymount (home of our best win, which we probably won't emulate for a long time)
Oriel (they have a nice enough bar and we never bring a large enough crowd not to be put into the away terrace)
Monaghan (nice bar, stand is a bit far away and crooked but there's nowhere else really, actually maybe Ferrycarrig but is a toss up)

worst 5

Lissywollen (total waste of space IMO)
United Park (just didn't like it)
Morton (not great)
Finn Park
Jackman (although it's not the worse place Limerick has played in and I like the way it's beside the bus and train station so I don't have to find it)

On the subject of Turner's Cross, I've never been so I can't really comment and on the RSC it's not that nice really.
While Tallaght is nice it is uncomplete at the moment

**Snoop Drog** · 28/07/2009, 9:21 AM

Originally Posted by Dunny

Wrecked in what way?

Fakey rubber grass perhaps?

**Lionel Ritchie** · 28/07/2009, 9:49 AM

In a week when one of the countrys biggest clubs is going out of business it's great to see Irish football supporters sticking together and discuss the important things without resort to snotty pettiness and cheap point scoring.

**forza rovers** · 28/07/2009, 9:51 AM

Originally Posted by roinuj

i bet most clubs in the league would love it as their home instead of the kips they call home.

it mite be good when its not raining or windy which it always is their

**Ezeikial** · 28/07/2009, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by chatterbox

Precisely. Uncovered away terrace is a big drawback. I think the ground is far too open now compared to what it used to be. A lot of the atmosphere is lost. The away fans entrance is very poorly maintained and not lit properly. There isn't even a proper entrance its just a laneway. The view from away terrace is pretty bad and its an expensive ground to get into. There are plenty of good things about it but its not been developed well enough. In terms of matchday experience, I can't see how its improved recently (last 5 years). Maybe from a home fan perspective it has????

All you say is valid. While Oriel Park has undergone modest upgrades over the last few years (which have enhanced the matchday experience for home fans), the facilities for away fans in the terrace is poor. This has not been a particularly high priority while languishing in the graveyard division over the last 7 years - Shels only team who took any decent travelling support.

Hopefully the club will be able to improve this over the coming years.

**oriel** · 28/07/2009, 12:32 PM

I think if we covered the away terrace and installed some kind of seating behind even the town end goal, this would really clean up the ground.

Its still a cracking atmosphere for such a large ground when there is even 3,000 + at a game.

But I can totally understand comments from away fans, that area they are put in, is simply nowhere near the standard for a premier div club. This area (when there is a small away crowd) and the non town end goal, looks very poor on tv.

**roinuj** · 28/07/2009, 12:33 PM

Originally Posted by forza rovers

it mite be good when its not raining or windy which it always is their

not as much rain and wind as ye get up in sligo

everytime i went up around galway or sligo the place was flooded and 2 story houses looked like bungalows because the bottom halfs were under water.
waterford is like the costa del sol compaired to the weather ye lot get.

**Nesta99** · 28/07/2009, 1:11 PM

Originally Posted by chatterbox

Precisely. Uncovered away terrace is a big drawback. I think the ground is far too open now compared to what it used to be. A lot of the atmosphere is lost. The away fans entrance is very poorly maintained and not lit properly. There isn't even a proper entrance its just a laneway. The view from away terrace is pretty bad and its an expensive ground to get into. There are plenty of good things about it but its not been developed well enough. In terms of matchday experience, I can't see how its improved recently (last 5 years). Maybe from a home fan perspective it has????

Dundalk FC as an entire club is a work in progress. Work that is being done in a measured manner. Compared to a few years back....new roof on the stand, work on pitch and floodlights, new terracing and subsequent covering of the shed. New toilets and changing rooms at Town end, shop, offices and refurb of changing rooms under the stand, 'glass' in the side of the stand, new press facilities, Boundry wall and tarmacing behind Carrick end. All since 2007 or so. All criticism accepted but issues with away fan terrace/entrance will be addressed, the old adage of Rome wasnt built in a day fits!
On topic
Turners Cross
Richmond
Terryland
RSC
Dalymoint

worst
St Mels
Jackman
Finn Park
Belfield
Santry