Turf Moor - recognised as 'proper stadium'

[IanMcL]

Article in praise of a matchday in Burnley.

Residence #60 | 'Turf Moor' Burnley FC

11 October 2019

Turf Moor is a proper British football stadium. To be honest we could just leave it at that and let you scroll through our photos, but we will elaborate on it because the home of Burnley FC deserves recognition as one of the most beautifully raw grounds in the Premier League. It's one we've been keen to tick off for a while, and with that it becomes the latest stop in our 'Residence' series.

It might be the third smallest stadium in the Premier League for the 2019/20 season but what Turf Moor lacks in size it more than makes up for in character, and when this place is rocking it can easily make more noise than grounds twice the size of it. The home of the Clarets since 1883, Turf Moor is one of the oldest football stadiums in the country and chapters of its long and rich history are scattered throughout as generations merge together to create an identity that could not be bought or replicated.

Half of the ground was re-developed in the mid-1990's as the two-tiered James Hargreaves Stand replaced a steep covered terrace in 1996, followed by the completion of the Jimmy McIlroy Stand, which is another two-tiered stand behind the goal. Since Burnley have begun to establish themselves in the top flight the club have been busy brushing up the stadium, none more so than earlier this year when a new three-storey structure was built to fill in the corners and in turn providing the stadium with more of an enclosed feel.

Turf Moor is renowned for being close to the action for any spectator, and everything about a trip to Burnley feels heart-warmingly like a proper matchday. A real working-class town with immense pride for their club, Burnley might come across as industrial but Turf Moor provides a leafy feel when you first spot the dominant roof structure on a rural backdrop upon arrival into the town. It's an incredibly picturesque scene that tingles the senses. None of this concrete out-of-town blocks that some newer stadiums disappoint with.

Wooden seats, residential neighbours, glimpses of floodlights through houses and trees, and a short walk to the town centre for a pre or post-match pint in a proper local pub. You can't beat it.
..........

Captions accompanying pictures:

Turf Moor is the third smallest Premier League ground in the 2019/20 season with a capacity of ‎21,944.
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The new corner, screen and viewing gallery between the two-tiered James Hargreaves and Jimmy McIlroy Stands.
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Turf Moor is a real blend of footballing generations. An atmospheric stadium drenched in character with plenty of battle scars and quirky features.
.... . .
Photography by Ross Cooke for SoccerBible.

[elwaclaret]

Nice to see someone seeing what we see.

Pity they didn’t realise “the Longside” when mentioning it, it’s like talking about old Highbury without mentioning the north bank etc. Otherwise very nice to read.

[Jimmymaccer]

Tuesday night in December........rain lashing down......full house.......Man City will know it’s a “proper stadium”!

[dougcollins]

Oh aye, it never rains in Manchester.

[Rick_Muller]

Which 2 clubs have smaller capacities then? Bournemouth and who else...?

[Quickenthetempo]

Oh aye, it never rains in Manchester.

A bit colder rain in Burnley.

[Quickenthetempo]

Which 2 clubs have smaller capacities then? Bournemouth and who else...?

Watford?

[NickBFC]

Which 2 clubs have smaller capacities then? Bournemouth and who else...?

Watford I would guess.

[TsarBomba]

Just googled what the capacity of Vicarage Road is, and I’ve seen three different figures, the highest being 22,220. Although Wikipedia does say they have plans to raise it to 30,000.

[IanMcL]

Just googled what the capacity of Vicarage Road is, and I’ve seen three different figures, the highest being 22,220. Although Wikipedia does say they have plans to raise it to 30,000.

There is already a parking problem, without adding another 8000 !

[AndrewJB]

It's also the second oldest continuously played on ground after Deepdale in the four divisions - so the oldest in the Premier League.

[Vegas Claret]

full article here
https://www.soccerbible.com/design/resi ... urnley-fc/

[AlargeClaret]

Tuesday night in December........rain lashing down......full house.......Man City will know it’s a “proper stadium”!

Just missing cold winds howling down from the Pennines over the terraced houses , cobbled streets and flat caps

[IanMcL]

No whippets though!

[houseboy]

full article here
https://www.soccerbible.com/design/resi ... urnley-fc/

This is my fourth attempt to reply but I keep getting told I must log in. I have and I am. Why do I keep getting logged out?

Anyway if this gets through thanks Vegas - some great pics there.

[Bosscat]

This is my fourth attempt to reply but I keep getting told I must log in. I have and I am. Why do I keep getting logged out?

Anyway if this gets through thanks Vegas - some great pics there.

I care Boss. All football clubs are created equal but Leeds are more equal than others (to paraphrase George Orwell). Fabulous team/great ground/friendly supporters - a great blueprint for any small club with aspirations to be 'massive'. I wish we could be more like them. If you lived any closer wouldn't you be one of them mate?

I wish Leeds and Brighton all the best for the season.

It was that crack about Leeds m8 the server objected to your love of all things Helland Road

[Quickenthetempo]

Turf Moor is football ground, not a stadium in my eyes.

[Bosscat]

Turf Moor is football ground, not a stadium in my eyes.

If Wikipedia say its a Stadium qtt m8 then its a Stadium

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turf_Moor" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[houseboy]

It was that crack about Leeds m8 the server objected to your love of all things Helland Road

That was the first reason that came to mind bud. I thought 'hell I've been kicked off for blasphemy'.

Blasphemy blasphemy they've all got it...oops, wrong quote.

[Quickenthetempo]

If Wikipedia say its a Stadium qtt m8 then its a Stadium

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turf_Moor" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Funnily enough I've never heard one Burnley fan ever call it a stadium before.

I think the old meaning of a stadium was a bowl shape or where all 4 stands connected together.