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UK’s Closest Football Stadiums: 2023 Edition

closest football stadiums

You could boil a kettle in the time that it takes to get between the closest football stadiums in the United Kingdom. It’s almost beyond belief how close these stadiums are.

Closest Football Stadiums

The closeness of these stadiums have caused ferocious geographical rivalries as a result of being so close to each other. Let’s take a look at the closest football stadiums in the United Kingdom.

7. Bramall Lane – Hillsborough Stadium (3.0mi)

The South Yorkshire derby between Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday is nicknamed the Steel City derby and is one of the biggest derbies in English Football.

Wednesday’s Hillsborough Stadium and United’s Bramall Lane are amongst the closest football stadiums in the United Kingdom and are only 3 miles apart.

Opening in 1855 Bramall Lane is one of the oldest football grounds in the world. Hillsborough Stadium opened 44 years later in 1899. Although the relationship between the clubs is amicable, the derby has suffered from crowd violence over the years.

6. Easter Road Stadium – Tynecastle Stadium (3.0mi)

Edinburgh clubs Hibernian and Heart of Midlothian have one of the longest standing rivalries in the world. Historically there have been sectarian divides between the clubs similar to the Old Firm derby.

Like Rangers, Hearts is traditionally Protestant, and like Celtic, Hibs are historically a Catholic supported club. The 3-mile distance between Easter Road Stadium and Tynecastle Stadium makes the two one of the closest football stadiums in the world.

5. Villa Park – St Andrew’s (2.4mi)

The Birmingham derby is filled with hatred and is a rivalry fuelled by Birmingham City being one of the biggest hooligan clubs in English football. Hooligan firms the Zulu Warriors and Aston Villa Hardcore are sworn enemies and violent skirmishes between the two are common.

Aston Villa’s Villa Park and Birmingham’s St Andrew’s are among the closest football stadiums in the United Kingdom with only 2.4 miles separating them.

The divided fan loyalties between the two clubs has been handed down from generation to generation, with origins beginning from street turf wars in the city.

4. Stamford Bridge – Craven Cottage (1.4mi)

West London rivals Chelsea and Fulham are a short walk apart with only 1.4 miles separating them. Stamford Bridge and Craven Cottage are among the closest football stadiums in the United Kingdom but their differences make them worlds apart.

Built on an old hunting lodge, Fulham’s Craven Cottage looks and feels historical. The Johnny Haynes stand is the oldest football stand in the Football League.

Stamford Bridge, despite the fact it is getting old, has a much more modernized look and feel no doubt thanks to the money that’s been invested into the team.

3. Goodison Park – Anfield (0.59mi)

The Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton is one of the biggest rivalries in world football no doubt thanks to their geographical closeness.

Everton’s Goodison Park and Liverpool’s Anfield are among the closest football stadiums in the United Kingdom. Sitting on opposite ends of Stanley Park, the two stadiums and separated by only 0.59 miles.

Interestingly, Everton had originally played at Anfield in 1879 before moving to Goodison Park in 1892, the same year rivals Liverpool were founded.

Goodison Park became the first major football stadium in England but they’re set to move to a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock in 2024.

2. City Ground – Meadow Lane (0.17mi)

The second closest football stadiums in the United Kingdom is Nottingham Forests’ City Ground and Notts County’s Meadow Lane. Separated only by the River Trent, the two are only 299 yards apart and are the closest grounds in England to each other.

Parts of the City Ground can even be seen from Meadow Lane’s Spion Kop and Jimmy Sirrel stand.

Traditionally there have been physical altercations between both sets of supporters but the two clubs have rarely met in the league which has diminished the significance of the rivalry.

1. Tannadice Park – Dens Park (0.11mi)

Dundee FC and Dundee United have the closest football stadiums in the UK. Dundee United’s Tannadice Park and Dundee FC’s Dens Park are only 200 yards apart and both stadiums sit along Tannadice Street.

Despite how close the clubs are the rivalry between the Dundee teams is a rather friendly one. Many families are divided on their loyalties and supporters from both sides are united against the big clubs from Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Matt Ieriko

Matt Ieriko is a freelance writer who’s evolved his lifelong passion for sport into the creation of WolfgangSport.com in 2020 – an American sports blog covering the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, MLS and more. As an Australian, he’s always been fascinated with the cultural differences and global significance of sports in America.

One response to “UK’s Closest Football Stadiums: 2023 Edition”

  1. Philip Davies Avatar
    Philip Davies

    West Ham United to Leyton Orient is only 1.5 miles so should be on the list. QPR to Chelsea is 2.6 miles, QPR to Fulham 2.4 miles and QPR to Brentford is 2.75 miles.

    Reply

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