Football grounds picture quiz (2)

First of all a second go at number 2: Vetch Field, Swansea?

11: Manchester United 12: Burnley 13: Newcastle United 14: Sheffield Wednesday 15: Preston North End 16: Aston Villa 17: Glasgow Rangers 18: Airdrieonians 19: Watford 20: Leeds United 21: Bolton Wanderers (Burnden Park) 22: Albion Rovers

Game, Set and Match ?

That picture of Burnden Park is so evocative of football in the fifties......................who remembers an old black and white film starring Arthur Askey when that railway embankment was used for a comic incident when the old comedian and his mate stopped their train right there where you see it in the picture and discharged so much steam that the one end of the ground was shrouded to the effect that Bolton were able to get an equalising goal?

Also, the picture of Watford's Vicarage Road reveals how it once featured the only rectangular (with bends so tight they were almost 4 "corners") greyhound racing track I've ever seen. I also once sneaked in for a look at the Airdire and nearby Albion Rovers grounds, and Cliftonhill Park was every bit as dilapidated when I saw it c1970! Memories of that trip to stay in Scotland for New Year include catching the bus into Glasgow from Airdrie Bus Station and there being many more Celtic fans milling about than Airdrie ones going into Broomfield Park which was right next door. I was travelling the short distance into Glasgow with my Celtic supporting friends en route to Ibrox (which then looked exactly like the picture complete with running track too) for an "Auld Firm" match that although I'll never forget the unique experience; I can't for the like of me remember the score ~ although Celtic lost. I'll never forget the "grandad" of the family I was staying with telling me sagely that I had seen something I would never see again as Rangers had managed to beat the all conquering Celtic team of the time (Lisbon Lions and all that) for the first time in eleven attempts and it would be "a hundred and eleven before they ever did it again!"

As far as I recall the crowd "segregated itself" (Ibrox does indeed have one end known as the "Celtic End") and it was the first time I had seen a totally segregated crowd. Frightening bigotry and an alarming violent ambiance perpetrated by grown men and not a police helmet in sight...................they all wore caps, carried long batons and you argued with them at your peril!

Back in Airdrie later in that visit, I saw an Orange Order march that came to a halt where they all got onto coaches and were then driven through an area that didn't have an Orange Lodge, to a point where they would all get out again and carry on marching and swaggering.........................what a childish and ludicrous way to carry on ~ BOTH sides of the "religious" divide.

I've always said: "God's OK, but I can't stand his fan clubs!"

I'll be seeking legal advice as to whether I can limit the remaining two rounds to the under 55s.

Number 2 is Borough Park, Workington.

And, in just the same way, Parkhead had its Rangers End.

I've not much knowledge of the Airdrie-Coatbridge area but the PIRA graffiti I saw from the train heading to Drumgelloch would have been enough to provide a few clues. I seem to remember that, in the days of the Monklands council, there whole place was riven by sectarian politics (and that was just in the Labour Party). The late John Smith, the area's MP at the time, must have needed the patience of a saint to steer a course through it all.

The nearest I've got to watching football around there was down the road at Motherwell for a game against Celtic in 2003. The vitriolic abuse directed towards Celtic by the wee Motherwell neds was horrendous and - then back on the train to Glasgow Central - we were treated to the rebel song counter-culture. What to make of it all?

Fine observations about Burnden Park and the much-changed Vicarage Road earlier on this thread. It was at Bolton Wanderers one night I suffered my closest encounter with the 1970s hooligan culture. I really thought my number was up.

Deepdale has really changed since our list visit and, before that, the days of it being my local club. If you want a view inside you just need to pop into the National Football Museum which offers a panoramic view of the old place.

I hold my hand up, I was so "tired and emotional" at the time I confused "side" with "end" so much that I contemplated ending it all......................by deleting my account! ;D

How about this one, Aus? I believe a few games of soccer have been played there at odd times over the years....