Football stadiums are often a lively place for supporters to visit and feel a part of a community, enjoying live action football games with facilities that can satisfy gameday needs. They become a place some people call a second home, with a connection like no other out of pure love and pride for their team. However, some stadiums can differ significantly in terms of capacity, structure, atmosphere, facilities, and even age, with some grounds dating back over 100 years. But in some cases, reports are made of grounds potentially being haunted.
So with that being said, Boyle Casino will be taking a look at the most haunted football stadiums in England.
Stadium of Light, Sunderland
The Stadium of Light was officially opened in 1997, after Sunderland chose to move from their home of Roker Park. The ground was built on the former site of the Wearmouth Colliery mine, but that doesn’t appear to be the reason the stadium is haunted. Many reports link to a ghost-like figure wandering the stadium as a dark silhouette, living in the more dim areas of the ironically named Stadium of Light. The first report of the ghost named ‘Spottee’ was reported in 2005 by two of the club’s back room staff, claiming to have seen a ghostly figure walking the corridors.
Many other people had claimed to have spotted the figure, but it was finally taken seriously once striker Stephen Elliot reported a similar sighting. Reports continued for many years from staff, and the figure was even caught by some fans on a television broadcast in 2016. The ghost, said to be an 18th century shipwrecker, is one of the biggest mysteries in football, but has awarded the Stadium of Light the title of being the most haunted ground in England.
St Mary’s, Southampton
A stadium that was erected at roughly the same time, St Mary’s is the home of Southampton FC, the current Championship side, who have a strong history of performing in the Premier League. What was not made aware to the people in charge of building the ground was the burial site that the stadium was built on, with archaeological finds digging up bodies and headstones. This has led people to believe some of the ghosts roam the ground, with some staff members reporting strange noises, unexplained figures, and even lights flickering.
While there have been no fully credible reports like with the Stadium of Light, there have been rumours spread by members of staff at the ground. One of the main reasons that this haunting could be true is that it required a spiritual ritual on the pitch to lift a curse, before Southampton were able to win their first home match at the new ground.
Highbury Stadium, Arsenal
Destroyed in 2006, Highbury was the home of Arsenal FC, and was made an iconic ground thanks to the old fashioned terrace, immense atmosphere, and the well-recognised clock that was at the centre of the ground’s image. A couple of ghost stories have come from the famed Highbury Stadium. The main sighting and reports of a ghost on the ground have been told for many years, with security guards and staff claiming to have seen a figure at the centre of the pitch, as well as hearing footsteps in the corridor.
The ghostly figure is said to be the former manager Herbert Chapman, an incredibly successful pre-war manager who played a big part in the stadium’s development. Chapman died in 1934, but is said to have been seen in the ground in a long coat and fedora. While many of the stories have been reported second hand with no named witnesses, the legend of Herbert Chapman will live on despite the destruction of the stadium in the early 2000s.
Valley Parade, Bradford City
Unfortunately, in 1985, one of the most tragic events in football unfolded during a match at Valley Parade featuring Bradford City taking on Lincoln City. During the course of the game, a fire broke out in the main stand, killing 56 people and injuring 100s more, making it one of the biggest disasters to occur in sport. After the tragic event, supporters and staff alike have reported an eerie atmosphere, especially when it comes to the main stand.
Even visitors of the ground have made claims of an uneasy feeling, as well as experiencing sudden drops in temperature. The reports have come from staff members, home fans, and even away fans about being able to hear phantom crowd noises, even when a game is not being played. The mass amounts of reports provide credibility, with fans even to this day stating their concerns for the potentially haunted ground. The disaster was undoubtedly one of the most tragic events in sports history, and it is one that will never be forgotten.
