Oliver Holt names the five worst grounds across England’s 92 — and why it’s ruffled feathers

Groundhoppers are a special breed — miles on the clock, pies sampled far and wide, and a mission to chalk off all 92. Stadiums give clubs their soul, a shared home where generations stand shoulder to shoulder. Oliver Holt has done the hard yards and, for better or worse, he’s stuck his neck out with a bottom five from England’s 92 league venues. You won’t agree with them all — that’s half the fun — but here’s the thinking and a bit of my two penn’orth.

5) Hillsborough, Sheffield Wednesday

There’s no getting around it: Hillsborough is one of English football’s historic stages, opened in 1899 and still a grand old bowl at 39,732 capacity. But its legacy is inescapably shaped by the tragedy of 1989 that claimed 97 Liverpool supporters. Holt argues the ground’s aura remains weighed down by that history, and that even subsequent upgrades can’t shift the sombre feel on a matchday. My take? It’s a complicated, deeply emotional place — a living memorial as much as a stadium — and that makes it unlike any other away day.

4) London Stadium, West Ham United

Upton Park was tight, raw and properly intimidating; the London Stadium, opened in 2012 and now holding 62,500, is slick and spacious but lacks the claustrophobic menace that made the old place a nightmare for visiting sides. Holt’s gripe is that the move delivered bigger gates but bled out character, with the running-track distances dulling the atmosphere. West Ham’s fanbase is as passionate as ever, but you can see why some feel they swapped a bear pit for a bowl.

3) Kassam Stadium, Oxford United

Oxford’s Kassam (opened 2001, 12,500 capacity) is Holt’s local, which makes the verdict sting more. The experience, he reckons, is hamstrung by the notorious missing stand and the flatness that comes with it. The supporters do their bit, but the ground itself never quite gets out of second gear. With plans to relocate gathering pace, few around the club will argue the change can’t happen soon enough.

2) Stadium MK, MK Dons

On paper, it’s impressive: a modern arena that seats 30,500, the biggest home of any League Two club. In practice, Holt calls it joyless — a neat but numbing bowl that mirrors a club still carrying the baggage of the 2003 relocation from Wimbledon to Milton Keynes. When you’re averaging 8,563 through the turnstiles in 2025/26, the empty grey seats tell their own story. It’s not that the football can’t be entertaining; it’s that the venue rarely feels alive.

1) The Den, Millwall

Millwall’s New Den (opened 1993; capacity 20,146) is tidy enough but, in Holt’s book, strangely sterile compared to the fearsome folklore. The approach for away fans — that long, fenced walk to the turnstiles — doesn’t help the mood, even if the bad old days are largely gone. He’s currently persona non grata there after a row sparked by his coverage of a cup flashpoint involving Liam Roberts and Jean-Philippe Mateta, but he insists the ranking is about the matchday feel, not grudges. For what it’s worth, when Millwall are roaring the place can still rattle your ribcage — it just doesn’t hit those heights often enough.

Lists like this are meant to start arguments in pubs and on buses home — and that’s the joy of football. Holt’s picked his villains; plenty will have different names on their dartboard. If nothing else, it’s a reminder that atmosphere and identity aren’t measured in seat counts and shiny concourses.

Planning a trip or a flutter while you’re on the road? Our best betting sites guide is worth a look — and remember: stadium rankings are subjective, and your away day might tell a very different story.