Filbert Street or the King Power Stadium

[Corky]

The King Power had a poor first decade whilst Filbert St had an excellent last one. That shapes perceptions.

 

The fact it is the same look as about 5 others added to the modern football rubbish of goal music, clappers, light shows etc doesn't help.

[worth_the_wait]

I think the Club owned all the houses on Burnmoor Street, until we got into financial troubles in the mid 1980's and ended up selling them.

If we'd still owned them come 2000, I don't think we would have moved.   2 new stands on the East and North sides would've probably raised the capacity to near the current 32,000

Obviously that's all history now.

 

There have been a few great games with memorable atmospheres at the new ground.   Sevilla at home in 2016-17 was probably the best ever.   And obviously the last few games in the 2015-16 title season were brilliant.   But apart from that, I can't say I've ever found a great emotional attachment to it.

 

Filbo was where I fell in love with football.  Everything about it ... the character, the terraces, the smell of tobacco, cigars and burgers, the pitch invasions, the scary times.   It was rubbish at times, but so brilliant at others.

[Stuntman_Mike]

1 hour ago, emmo1987 said:

We should switch grounds with the Tigers

Welford Road would make a fantastic football ground. I'd love the novelty of football being played there one time 

[PhillippaT]

2 minutes ago, Stuntman_Mike said:

Welford Road would make a fantastic football ground. I'd love the novelty of football being played there one time 

Given the rugby matches already played at the KP, it's only fair, right?  

[Glasgow fox]

Filbert was magical with an atmosphere far beyond anything I have ever witnessed at the KP.   We are talking about true atmosphere not the alleged earthquake when Leonardo scored....the noise when Walshy made it 3 3 in injury time against arsenal was spine tingling and will be with me to the grave...

[SecretPro]

Filbert Street with the nets up in the away end (stopping all the coins Leeds fans were lobbing is a special memory.)

 

The KP is absolutely no comparison. 

[iancognito]

Filbert Street every time. Should have been redeveloped stand by stand. Could have built flats on the KP land and moved the residents from Filbo and Burnmoor down there. Tragic looking at the site now.

 

I've spent more years at King Power but it will never feel like a proper home.

[FrankieADZ]

51 minutes ago, worth_the_wait said:

I think the Club owned all the houses on Burnmoor Street, until we got into financial troubles in the mid 1980's and ended up selling them.

If we'd still owned them come 2000, I don't think we would have moved.   2 new stands on the East and North sides would've probably raised the capacity to near the current 32,000

Obviously that's all history now.

 

There have been a few great games with memorable atmospheres at the new ground.   Sevilla at home in 2016-17 was probably the best ever.   And obviously the last few games in the 2015-16 title season were brilliant.   But apart from that, I can't say I've ever found a great emotional attachment to it.

 

Filbo was where I fell in love with football.  Everything about it ... the character, the terraces, the smell of tobacco, cigars and burgers, the pitch invasions, the scary times.   It was rubbish at times, but so brilliant at others.

sadly there would have been no way to increase the capacity of the north end, cos it was so close to the road/footpath

I have to admit i do miss filbert street, just the old charm of the place

[Bluetintedspecs]

1 hour ago, worth_the_wait said:

I think the Club owned all the houses on Burnmoor Street, until we got into financial troubles in the mid 1980's and ended up selling them.

If we'd still owned them come 2000, I don't think we would have moved.   2 new stands on the East and North sides would've probably raised the capacity to near the current 32,000

Obviously that's all history now.

 

There have been a few great games with memorable atmospheres at the new ground.   Sevilla at home in 2016-17 was probably the best ever.   And obviously the last few games in the 2015-16 title season were brilliant.   But apart from that, I can't say I've ever found a great emotional attachment to it.

 

Filbo was where I fell in love with football.  Everything about it ... the character, the terraces, the smell of tobacco, cigars and burgers, the pitch invasions, the scary times.   It was rubbish at times, but so brilliant at others.

Don't we know it mate, no comparison,  far from always great yet it was home, raw and proper! 

[los dedos]

7 hours ago, FrankieADZ said:

sadly there would have been no way to increase the capacity of the north end, cos it was so close to the road/footpath

I have to admit i do miss filbert street, just the old charm of the place

Liverpool did it, simply buy the houses on Filbert Street and build right into to road,  infact could've easily bought the land right upto Walnut Street!

[worth_the_wait]

7 hours ago, FrankieADZ said:

sadly there would have been no way to increase the capacity of the north end, cos it was so close to the road/footpath

I have to admit i do miss filbert street, just the old charm of the place

It would've been possible if they had (compulsorary) purchased all the houses on Filbert Street.   It would've required a local planning order to move/remove the Filbert Street road, but that wouldn't have been unsurmountable.   

 

Anyway, it's a moot point.  It never happened, along with the move to Beaumont Leys in the 70's or Bede Island in the 90's.

 

### EDITED to say:  Just seen the above post, which answers my point!

Edited 3 February by worth_the_wait

[blueharmie]

I sometimes have dreams about being back at filbert street. Happy days.

 

First game was early 90s as a kid, ground was so authentic, none of this modern day rubbish.

 

Who remembers the voice of the east stand that used to shout ?

 

Also in the north stand behind them massive pillars 🤣

 

Miss them days 

[FrankieADZ]

27 minutes ago, los dedos said:

Liverpool did it, simply buy the houses on Filbert Street and build right into to road,  infact could've easily bought the land right upto Walnut Street!

could but i doubt they council would have let them have the road too

22 minutes ago, worth_the_wait said:

It would've been possible if they had (compulsorary) purchased all the houses on Filbert Street.   It would've required a local planning order to move/remove the Filbert Street road, but that wouldn't have been unsurmountable.   

 

Anyway, it's a moot point.  It never happened, along with the move to Beaumont Leys in the 70's or Bede Island in the 90's.

 

### EDITED to say:  Just seen the above post, which answers my point!

true but given the state of the club at the time i doubt theyd have done it, too much hassle 

 

[SpacedX]

14 hours ago, Izzy said:

Pen 3 at Filbo was a huge part of my youth and I'd give my right nad to stand there and watch a game just one more time.

 

Most definitely this. If you weren't there, you'll never know. 

 

It would have been one of the most intimidating grounds in the country if the East Stand and the North Stand had been redeveloped. Eventually the Double Decker would have had to have been replaced though. 

[CrazyKopCorner]

For anyone of a certain vintage that is one of the easiest ever questions ....... Filbert Street all day long

[CrazyKopCorner]

1 hour ago, blueharmie said:

I sometimes have dreams about being back at filbert street. Happy days.

 

First game was early 90s as a kid, ground was so authentic, none of this modern day rubbish.

 

Who remembers the voice of the east stand that used to shout ?

 

Also in the north stand behind them massive pillars 🤣

 

Miss them days 

That's really funny because when I have a dream about us it's always back at Filbert Street - my unconscious brain must be pining to go home 

Edited 3 February by CrazyKopCorner

[SemperEadem]

Travesty some of the old gates where not kept. 

[Sol thewall Bamba]

Could have done some cracking tifos on the double decker 

[worth_the_wait]

Spion Kop & Double Decker - last league home game (May 2002).    Was it really 20+ years ago?

[SemperEadem]

I remember asking a few years back if there was any anti feeling to moving to a bowl at the time and the response was there was not. Really surprised at that.

[Spudulike]

10 hours ago, iancognito said:

Filbert Street every time. Should have been redeveloped stand by stand. Could have built flats on the KP land and moved the residents from Filbo and Burnmoor down there. Tragic looking at the site now.

 

I've spent more years at King Power but it will never feel like a proper home.

If they did that we would've just ended up with a new stadium on the same patch of land. The Carling Stand diluted the character as would any replacement structures. It wouldn't have been the same place anymore.

[Fox92]

What I enjoyed about Goodison Park on Saturday was that it's surrounded by housing. I had to walk up a street of terraced houses to get to the ground. A ground in the community, that's what grounds should be like. 

 

We've lost so many in recent years. Filbert Street, Maine Road, Highfield Road.. Goodison Park will be added to that.

[Claridge]

All grounds had atmosphere back then and football was far more enjoyable but Filbo was a sxxthole. Two decent stands and then non league for the other two, pie in the sky to think we could of remained there

[worth_the_wait]

14 minutes ago, SemperEadem said:

I remember asking a few years back if there was any anti feeling to moving to a bowl at the time and the response was there was not. Really surprised at that.

I think it's always been a matter of preference.   Some people prefer all round/bowl type stadia, as they think it "holds the atmosphere" better.   

 

Personally, I've always preferred free-standing stands.  I just think the definition between the stands adds something, but I can't quantify it.    I think Ibrox was perfect before they filled in the corners some years ago.

 

[worth_the_wait]

10 minutes ago, Fox92 said:

What I enjoyed about Goodison Park on Saturday was that it's surrounded by housing. I had to walk up a street of terraced houses to get to the ground. A ground in the community, that's what grounds should be like. 

 

We've lost so many in recent years. Filbert Street, Maine Road, Highfield Road.. Goodison Park will be added to that.

The Baseball Ground in the mid 70's was as good as it got.   Walking down Columbo Street after a match ...