Oldest Football Ground?

[WalkelyFan]

I was looking at Mansfield for something else and came across the Wikipedia page saying that Field Mill Mansfield is the oldest football ground in the world. I thought that was Bramall Lane?

 

[Harry's Game]

Bramall Lane is the oldest venue but Field Mill hosted football before The Lane.

 

[JonnyRed(WCFC)]

Maidenhead I thought?!

 

[Dec]

Found this: https://www.mansfieldtown.net/news/2016/may/field-mill-history-now-known-as-one-call-stadium/

But then they would say that...

 

[Inter_blade83]

Field Mill is the oldest, not bdtbl.

We had that claim when they were relegated to the conference and for some reason the club continue to harp on about it despite Mansfield's return. Needs to stop tbh.

 

[FYT]

Field Mill is the oldest, not bdtbl.

We had that claim when they were relegated to the conference and for some reason the club continue to harp on about it despite Mansfield's return. Needs to stop tbh.

I may be wrong, but my understanding is that Bramall Lane is the oldest sports venue / stadium, not football ground, as football was played at the Lane much later.

 

[Inter_blade83]

I may be wrong, but my understanding is that Bramall Lane is the oldest sports venue / stadium, not football ground, as football was played at the Lane much later.

Even so, Molineux was used well before BL as a sports venue

 

[FYT]

Even so, Molineux was used well before BL as a sports venue

I'm not sure to be honest Kuwaiti, i have just quoted what my understanding was from what i have been told. It would be interesting to find out for sure from our historian at The Lane.

 

[Harry's Game]

Bramall Lane opened 1855 (cricket) hosted first football game 1862

Field Mill opened 1859 / 60 for football.

Molineux opens as an entertainment park (may have hosted sports) 1860

 

[Sheffsteel]

The stadium announcer always used to say “oldest major football stadium in the world”.

Then when Mansfield went into the non league the announcer starting saying “oldest professional football stadium in the world”. He still kept saying this even after Mansfield had returned to the league.

However I’m sure this season he’s reverted back to us being the oldest “major” stadium in the world.

 

[I'll tell me dad.]

Regarding Mansfield I think it is a spelling mistake, supposed to say "Coldest football ground in the world".

 

[Newbury Blade]

Regarding Mansfield I think it is a spelling mistake, supposed to say "Coldest football ground in the world".

Agreed. I recall a Cup game there in the snow. 1980s? We were in the uncovered away end, bloody freezing. Blades won 1-0.

 

[Hamburg Blade]

We need to drop the "oldest" claim of anything, it's so full of caveats and conditions it's a bit embarrassing. It's enough for it to be very old and historical.
Clubs claiming to be oldest are Field Mill and Molineaux but also I believe Preston claim it too, however I always thought it was Hallam's Sandygate Road.

 

[BigBed]

Thought Bramall Lane was the oldest Professional football ground?

 

[Greenwich Blade]

Don't forget, Gary Sinclair sometimes chucks in the odd "...in continuous use..." line.

 

[YES Blade]

The stadium announcer always used to say “oldest major football stadium in the world”.

Then when Mansfield went into the non league the announcer starting saying “oldest professional football stadium in the world”. He still kept saying this even after Mansfield had returned to the league.

However I’m sure this season he’s reverted back to us being the oldest “major” stadium in the world.

Even when Mansfield were in the conference it still wasn’t correct to say “oldest professional football stadium in the world”.

Mansfield were still a professional football club, they didn’t turn semi-professional while they were non league.

 

[Sheffsteel]

but also I believe Preston claim it too, however I always thought it was Hallam's Sandygate Road.

Preston have played at their ground longer than any other club in the world, so they are the worlds longest tenants.

Field Mill, Molineux and Bramall Lane were around well before Mansfield, Wolves and Sheff Utd were even formed.

I don’t think Field Mill had significant football played on it in the early days, whereas Bramall Lane held organised football matches played there before Field Mill.

 

[PokerBlade]

My understanding is that it's the oldest professional football stadium still in use.

It's one of those things that's too steeped in semantics to be that impressive.

Hallam don't count because they're not professional, but we do include the time before Bramall Lane was used for football.

 

[Inter_blade83]

My understanding is that it's the oldest professional football stadium still in use.

It's one of those things that's too steeped in semantics to be that impressive.

Hallam don't count because they're not professional, but we do include the time before Bramall Lane was used for football.

Field Mill

 

[PokerBlade]

Field Mill

We need to add some more disclaimers about never having left the league.

 

[PokerBlade]

In fact, we could say "The oldest professional football ground to still be home to Sheffield United". No ambiguity, no disputes, and entirely unique to the world.

 

[Yarrayering]

Guys..beautiful downtown bramall lane is the oldest professional sporting stadium in the world...."not football"....

 

[PokerBlade]

Guys..beautiful downtown bramall lane is the oldest professional sporting stadium in the world...."not football"....

Older than the Colloseum?

 

[Hamburg Blade]

In fact, we could say "The oldest professional football ground to still be home to Sheffield United". No ambiguity, no disputes, and entirely unique to the world.

Nooooo!!! There is a subtle implication that that could one day change. So absolutely not!

 

[Hamburg Blade]

My understanding is that it's the oldest professional football stadium still in use.

It's one of those things that's too steeped in semantics to be that impressive.

Hallam don't count because they're not professional, but we do include the time before Bramall Lane was used for football.

So Hallam must count, as you say, we count non-professional years. And anyway, how do you define a professional stadium, shouldn't it be a stadium (or ground, as I prefer) that is home to a professional club? Which is a bit of a mouthful, ooh er missus. How about we drop the word "oldest" and just use "best"? Or is that a bit too "massive"