When Thierry Henry said his farewells to Arsenal, he heaped praise on their fans, their dedication to the cause and the support they had given him and his team-mates. Getting away from the fact that most new arrivals and indeed heart-wrenching departures tend to fall foul to this somewhat generic response to inane questions about what they feel about their new/old fans, it got me thinking which set of fans can claim to be the most vociferous, dedicated and fervent. Or indeed which stadium has the best atmosphere.

Over the years, I have visited a great many football grounds whilst following my team’s progress. There is no need for me to broadcast my affiliations; if you want to know, post a comment and depending on how you ask I might just tell you (oh, and I am including my club’s fans in this piece so don't think that because I don't name a team that by a process of elimination you will find out where my season-ticket funds go!).

During this time I have experienced some pretty fierce (but very rarely violent) atmospheres and have also encountered a deathly wall of silence (even when said side was 3-0 ahead). We all know the stereotypes attached to certain sets of fans, from the prawn-sandwich brigade at Old Trafford to the exceptionally loyal and loud Toon Army. I have to say that the stereotypes have very rarely fit the profile.

'I have found my recent visits to Stamford Bridge to be pretty unbearable - both on the ground and for the general air of entitlement that some of these newly-formed Chelsea fans exude'


Manchester United have the most fans - but are they most dedicated? I think not, but before anyone gets carried away with annoyance at any statement they read from here on, I would point out that my observations are merely based on my attendance at the grounds in question, so maybe I caught them on a bad day or conversely on a good one.

Liverpool’s ground is often lauded by media types as being the Mecca of football stadia, a place steeped in history where the fans display their love for their team more evidently than at any other ground. I have been to Anfield on three occasions and have to say I was impressed. They were even on the end of a drubbing on one of those occasions and still stuck it out until the final whistle (something I commend greatly and which United fans could learn from, although I guess winning week in, week out can get boring - so why not head for the car park and beat the traffic?).

Spurs fans tend to be a self-deprecating bunch who are very much a product of a rich history followed by relative mediocrity. Atmosphere-wise, though, White Hart Lane is hardly electric - but they do sell out most weekends. Is that more due to a smaller stadium within a densely populated area, I wonder?

I always found Arsenal’s Highbury stadium to lack something. Don’t ask me what but it never really did it for me. However, on my first visit to the Emirates I have to say I was impressed. Maybe the new structure did something for the support as it now feels like a cauldron.

Portsmouth fans have often been the subject of much admiration and Fratton Park does have an impressive buzz about the place - kind of like The Dell did when Southampton played there. Whether this is more down to the closeness of the fans to the pitch, or indeed the relatively compact nature of the stadium, I could only guess that the answer is yes.

Having visited Villa Park, I have to say I was not impressed by either Aston Villa’s support or their aging façade of a stadium. West Ham fans are very loud and do tend to stick with it through the bad patches and I respect them for that. I was always partial to Everton’s Goodison Park, but that might be more down to the positive results that my side has secured there on an alarmingly regular basis.

Then we come to Chelsea fans, who can't help suddenly being the subject of some relatively speedy historical changes that have taken them from also-rans to top-dogs in such a short time. I have no doubt there are some loyal supporters who have been there through the bad times and I also have no doubt that they far outweigh their annoying contingent of floating fans. However, that said, I have found my recent visits to Stamford Bridge to be pretty unbearable - both on the ground and for the general air of entitlement that some of these newly-formed Chelsea fans exude.

I am sure I have offended a great many people with these thoughts but I assure you that is not my aim. I am genuinely interested to know other people's opinions of their own fans and indeed their rivals’. I am doubtful if this debate can occur without a mass of expletives and barbaric vitriol - but it’s but worth asking the questions nonetheless.