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    We live next to Prem ground… ‘haunting’ problem keeps us up but it’s NOT the fans & there’s an extra issue on Boxing Day

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    WHEN you imagine what it’s like to live next to a football ground, you’d expect the cheering (and jeering) crowds to get on neighbours’ nerves.But locals next to Boscombe’s Vitality Stadium, home to AFC Bournemouth, say it’s a different type of nuisance that’s getting under their skin. 
    AFC Bournemouth’s ground is the second-smallest stadium in the Premier LeagueCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Andrew Martin says locals are annoyed by a ‘whistling’ soundCredit: Chris Balcombe
    One resident told The Sun there is a “haunting whistling sound” – allegedly caused by one of the club’s lights – that is keeping them up at night, which he likened to “a jet taking off”.
    NHS worker Andrew Martin, 56, explained: “When Bournemouth was promoted they needed new lights for the HD broadcast on Sky, and since then it hasn’t stopped.
    “On a normal day the noise makes it sound like our house is haunted, and on a bad day it’s like a jet is taking off.
    “It used to keep us up at night but we’ve had to get used to it now.
    READ MORE LIFE’S A PITCH
    “I have a real beef with the stadium about the lights – I looked it up and I believe it’s an easy fix.”
    We visited Boscombe in Bournemouth as part of our Life’s A Pitch series, which documents struggles faced by those who live near sports stadiums.
    Other locals told us parking can be a nightmare, heavy traffic means two-minute trips can take nearly an hour, and nuisance seagulls and “jobsworth” parking wardens are a menace. 
    A stone’s throw from the stadium on Middleton Gardens, Clare Murgatroyd, 38, told us she hates the “whistling lights” too. 
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    Claire Murgatroyd says her partner struggles to sleep due to noise from the stadiumCredit: Chris Balcombe
    Middleton Gardens runs alongside the Bournemouth’s football clubCredit: Chris Balcombe
    The software sales worker said: “It drives my partner mental, but that’s because he’s OCD and a bad sleeper.
    “It’s not bad during the summer, but when it’s stormy weather you hear it a lot.
    “It’s a bit irritating and I don’t know why they can’t cap the ends of the light to stop the sound.
    “A lot of people moaned but they didn’t do anything about it.”
    It’s not the only noise issue that Clare’s noticed in her 12 years on the estate – which has private parking and is around 10 metres from the ground. 
    She said: “There are nesting seagulls that land on the stadium. They are not aggressive but they are really noisy and there are hundreds of them. It does my head in.”
    Gulls weren’t the only unexpected visitors. Clare recalled spotting football fans standing on a nearby wall to try to watch the game from outside the stadium in previous years.
    She said: “We called them ‘the wall dwellers’. They could see through a gap in the stadium if they stood on the wall.
    “There were a lot of them when Bournemouth played Real Madrid in a pre-season friendly, they all wanted to get a glimpse of Ronaldo.”
    Locals claim the ‘haunting’ sound comes from a lightCredit: Alamy
    Locals say parking on match days can be an issue with journeys taking much longer than they shouldCredit: PA:Press Association
    Aside from that, Clare likes living in the area and believes it’s “probably quieter than living next to a road… apart from on match days”.
    Andrew has lived on Thistlebarrow Road, which runs alongside Vitality Stadium, for 15 years and claimed some residents have taken extreme measures to deal with “thoughtless” football fans.
    He said: “We’ve had people phone the police when their driveways have been blocked and they will send someone to take the cars away. 
    “It can be a nightmare trying to get in and out, too.
    “Once we got stuck trying to get home from the pub and it took three-quarters of an hour to make a trip that takes two minutes to drive.”
    Andrew’s wife Laura, 45, said she now manages her life around the club’s matches, having battled “standstill gridlock traffic that can last over an hour”.
    Smashed glass
    Down the road Lucy Scott, 26, who works at a drugs and alcohol charity, admitted being apprehensive about the noise before moving there in June 2022.
    But she was “pleasantly surprised” by the lack of disturbance, which she jokingly attributes to “Bournemouth not scoring often”. 
    Her biggest gripe is with rubbish and broken bottles littering the floor around the stadium after matches.
    Lucy said: “It’s always in the same place.
    “It’s where the fans walk through the gate.
    “I think their bottles are smashed there because they can’t take them into the ground.
    “When I take my dog for a walk it’s annoying because there is a lot of smashed glass after the game. I wish the club would do more about that.”
    Lucy Scott is annoyed by broken glass around the stadiumCredit: Chris Balcombe
    Several other neighbours complained about littering, including Andrew, who said he’s started putting his bins on the street to encourage boozers to ditch cans and bottles there instead.
    He said: “You used to come out to find lots of beer bottles and cans on or over our wall, but they are getting better at putting them in the bin now.” 
    Landlord Lee Matthews, 64, believes more should be done to solve the littering problem, but said he has seen attempts by the club to reduce it.
    “You do get the odd carton, can and bottle in the hedgerows,” he added. “It’s not great. I shouldn’t have to put up with it, but you do.
    “There’s also broken glass, but it’s just something you accept.
    “After match days they should send a few more people around to get rid of the rubbish generated by the club.”
    Lin and Ray Allen, 73 and 75, who have lived on Thistlebarrow Road for 38 years, tell us living near the stadium is much better than it used to be.
    Lin tells us: “Going back years ago, we used to have beer cans and bottles left behind a lot but not as much since we’ve been in the Premier League.”
    Retiree Mark Elson, 55, said the stadium’s lights were “so bright” that he moved from his front bedroom to one at the back of his house to escape it.
    He said: “When I’m in the front two rooms it’s very bright.
    “The club’s sign is all lit up at night. I think they turn it off at about 1 o’clock some mornings. 
    “I sleep at the back of my house now so I’m far away from it, but whenever visitors stay with me they always complain.
    “I guess I need to get better blinds than I have at the moment.” 
    Mark Elson moved into his back bedroom to escape the stadium’s bright lightsCredit: Chris Balcombe
    Boxing Day blight
    On weekdays, Thistlebarrow Road and some of the nearby streets have strict parking conditions that state no one can park there from 11am until 12pm and 2pm until 3pm.
    Some residents said this causes problems for Boxing Day fixtures when they fall on a weekday and Bournemouth are playing at home.
    Andrew said parking wardens “have a field day” because people wrongly assume they can park on the street without consequence.
    He explained: “You will suddenly see 10 parking wardens out there. It’s just a cash cow for them because people forget they can still get a ticket. 
    “If Bournemouth are playing on Boxing Day, not only will people who go to the game and park on the street get a parking ticket, but also visiting family members if they park on the street, too. 
    “It does get a bit silly really. It was much better when they used to put cones at the top of the road to block it off.”
    Parking payday
    Alice Neale charges cars £10 to park on her driveway on match daysCredit: Chris Balcombe
    While some are annoyed by the parking restrictions, some entrepreneurial locals see it as an easy way to turn a quick profit.
    At least 10 rent out their driveways to fans and visitors online; we found the most someone charges is £22.50 for nearly six hours.
    Andrew said he lets his drive to “some rich guy” for the whole season for £200.
    There’s also retiree Alice Neale, 80, who proudly waves her makeshift wood and cardboard sign offering £10 parking on match days. 
    The resident of 47 years told us: “I can get four cars on my drive so I can make £40 on a Saturday just from people parking.
    “I’m slowly building up clientele from far and away.
    “On match days I normally put up the sign outside and stand around sweeping or do a bit of gardening and people approach me. 
    “When Manchester United came down I charged a minibus £40 to park.
    “It tends to happen more often in the summertime but it’s a little bit of extra cash.” 
    Unsurprisingly many residents in the area are die-hard “Cherries” fans, but for locals watching the games from their living rooms, there’s an annoying twist.
    Mark said: “You can normally hear if our opponents have scored before it comes on the TV. There’s a good 10 to 15 seconds lag.”
    Many of the gardens on Thistlebarrow Road face the stadiumCredit: Chris Balcombe
    Alice pointed out she doesn’t mind the stadium being an occasionally noisy neighbour because she doesn’t have anyone living behind her.
    “They only play 19 matches at home and within a few hours it’s quiet again, so it doesn’t really bother me,” she said.
    “It’s much better than having neighbours with barbeques who have summer parties and play music all the time.”
    Councillor Mike Cox, Portfolio Holder for Finance at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, said there was a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TRRO) to prevent on-street parking on specified roads close to the football stadium.
    He told us: “Irresponsible parking can create unsafe conditions on our roads and has an impact on our communities and residents.
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    “This matchday TTRO has been produced in conjunction with the Police and the football club. It seeks to keep these roads free from parked vehicles both for the safety of those accessing the stadium on foot and in case emergency access is needed.
    “Temporary signs are erected on the street to publicise this on match days, as well as ‘No Parking’ cones which are put out by the football club.”
    Lin and Ray Allen, who live in Thistlebarrow Road where their garden backs onto the groundCredit: Chris Balcombe More

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      We live INSIDE famous football stadium & it’s like having a private box…but when club got promoted it caused big problem

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      WHEN Ikram Patel rented his two-bedroom flat in East London, he was mainly attracted by its location in an upcoming area that would suit his young family.But a year later the property manager has become such a big fan of Leyton Orient Football Club that he often finds himself jeering away fans on a Saturday afternoon.
      Ikram Patel’s balcony overlooks the Leyton Orient football pitchCredit: Louis Wood News Group Newspapers Ltd
      There are blocks of flats on the corners of the historic, 9,271-capacity stadium which has been home to the O’s since 1937Credit: Louis Wood News Group Newspapers Ltd
      His flat boasts an unrivalled view of the O’s Brisbane Road pitch, a vantage point so good it’s like having his own private box.  
      His living room balcony is close enough to rival supporters in the East Stand that he can respond to their taunts while his sons, aged three and one-and-a-half, look on from their tiny chairs.
      When The Sun visited as part of our Life’s a Pitch series, Ikram, 30, told us: “I’m a cricket and tennis fan and I was never interested in football until I moved here.
      “But this is an upcoming area – it’s beautiful around here – and when I saw the view it encouraged me to rent the flat. I thought it would give my sons something to look at.
      READ MORE LIFE’S A PITCH
      “Now my cousin is always messaging me asking if he can pop round to watch the games and the boys are fascinated by the crowd and the noise.  
      “They really look forward to the games and will sit out on the balcony in their little chairs, while we stand most of the time.
      “It’s fantastic on match days especially when the stadium is full.
      “My friends follow football and, being from the area, they tend to come round to watch the match because it’s like having our own private box.
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      Ikram admits he wasn’t hugely into football until he moved to the flatCredit: Louis Wood News Group Newspapers Ltd
      He says his kids love watching the games from their balconyCredit: Louis Wood News Group Newspapers Ltd
      “We are very close to the away fans so we do hear a lot of colourful language.
      “They have a go at us sometimes, especially when we are all cheering on Leyton on the balcony – and I do give it back occasionally.”
      However, living in the corner of the historic, 9,271-capacity stadium which has been home to the O’s since 1937, does have its downsides for Ikram and his family.
      He added: “It does get a bit much for the kids, especially when they are trying to have their afternoon nap.
      “My wife sometimes complains. It can be annoying for her as she doesn’t follow sports.
      It does get a bit much for the kids, especially when they are trying to have their afternoon nap. My wife sometimes complainsIkram Patel
      “There are often big crowds outside that can make it difficult to get around on match days and the traffic can get really bad.
      “Also, the rent has shot up since Orient won promotion to League One last season.
      “It’s a bit pricey and has gone up to about £1,300 to £1,500 per month now, which is about £50 to £100 more than it was last season.
      “But there was a huge celebration when they got promoted and the atmosphere was lovely because we weren’t sure if they were going to make it.
      “I have to admit that I find myself checking the scores online all the time now when I’m not at home.”
      When Leyton Orient got promoted, Ikram says the rent shot upCredit: Louis Wood News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Some residents complain about the noise – especially from away fans – on match daysCredit: Louis Wood News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Supporters witnessed a sad tragedy last week when lifelong O’s fan Derek Reynolds, 74, collapsed and died while watching the match against Lincoln City.
      Leyton Orient were winning 1-0 at the time and Ikram’s wife Nosheen watched the aftermath of paramedics giving him CPR on the side of the pitch.
      Mum-of-two Nosheem, 30, said: “I was putting the kids to sleep when that guy died. 
      “One of the fans told my husband what happened and when I got to the living room I saw the police and the ambulance crew. It was really sad.
      “My husband loves football so you can see why he likes living here because the view is amazing. 
      “He’s always posting videos of the games on TikTok, but for me it’s a lot of noise.
      “All of our cousins and friends want to come round on match days. I think we had 10 people in here for one game. 
      “My husband’s first cousin comes here for every single game.
      Ali Barker is another resident who has had to get used to facing thousands of screaming football fansCredit: Louis Wood News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Some residents complained the noise from matches keeps their kids awakeCredit: Louis Wood News Group Newspapers Ltd
      “Sometimes there are fights in the stands and on the pitch, although that doesn’t happen often.
      “The away fans do swear a lot and they’re always putting their fingers up. 
      “It doesn’t bother me too much except when it keeps the kids awake.
      “Also, when the game is on it’s really hard to get out of the house because there are so many people milling around – you have to plan ahead.”
      Leyton, where the stadium is based, has been described as east London’s “hot new neighbourhood” by property experts.
      Despite its crime-blighted past and the fact it still holds significant pockets of deprivation, locals are bracing themselves for young professionals flocking here in the near future.
      Gentrification is expected to spill over from neighbouring Walthamstow, which the Sunday Times has described as one of London’s best places to live thanks to its “arty, crafty shops, street market and pretty houses”.
      The average house price there has already shot up to £500,000, forcing traders at Walthamstow market to move out.
      And a similar process seems to be taking place in Leyton, where the air around the O’s stadium vibrates with noise of trendy flats being built ready to welcome the new arrivals.
      Ali Barker is another resident who has had to get used to facing thousands of screaming football fans – despite not giving a hoot about the game.
      One year ago he moved into a one-bedroom apartment on the fourth floor of one of the modern block of flats built into the corners of the stadium by property developers.  
      The modern blocks of flats were built into the corners of the stadium by property developersCredit: Louis Wood News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Some of the apartments, which include service charges of around £2,400 a year, come with fake grass on the balconies to encourage football fans to snap them upCredit: Louis Wood News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Going for between £300,000 and £400,000 at the time, he considered this something of a deal given that the flats – which were constructed around 20 years ago – are within walking distance of Leyton Underground Station and the Central Line.
      Some of the apartments, which include service charges of around £2,400 a year, come with fake grass on the balconies to encourage football fans to snap them up.
      But unlike his downstairs neighbour, Ali has yet to be converted to become a fan of the O’s.
      The software engineer, 30, who hails from Hampshire, said: “This is one of the few places in London I could afford to buy. 
      “It was good value given its size and location. I don’t know if it’s more affordable or less because it’s attached to a football stadium.
      “I did spend a while thinking if I wanted a flat so close to a pitch before I bought it.
      It was good value given its size and location. I don’t know if it’s more affordable or less because it’s attached to a football stadiumAli Barker
      “But eventually I decided I wasn’t too worried about a bit of noise.
      “I do follow the team a little bit, but mainly out of curiosity. I’m not a huge fan.
      “You can see three quarters of the pitch from my balcony and only one of the goals so it’s not ideal for watching the game.
      “It can get really busy on match fans and some fans get really drunk. I’ve seen them urinating in the park.
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      “Overall I would say moving here has worked out well for me. Once in a while, I have thousands of people outside my flat.
      “But that’s OK and I imagine that the area is going to change a great deal when the new flats are built opposite the stadium.”
      Ali Barker on his pitch-side balconyCredit: Louis Wood News Group Newspapers Ltd
      There are more flats being built in the area surrounding Leyton Orient’s stadiumCredit: Louis Wood News Group Newspapers Ltd More

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      I live next to Premier League stadium – players like Roy Keane used to LIVE next door and cause chaos… I got one sacked

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      RESIDENTS who live a stone’s throw from one of the noisiest stadiums in the Premier League say they love it – but have had to scold future stars, including an international legend.The 30,000 capacity City Ground, where Nottingham Forest has played since 1898, is surrounded by tightly-packed Victorian housing, with one of its entrances as the end of a red-brick terraced street.
      Nottingham Forest have played at the City Ground since 1898Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Local resident Jane Benwell says she once told off legend Roy Keane, who was a ‘naughty boy’ when he played for Forest aged 19Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      But locals claim they enjoy the buzz of match days – especially since Forest were promoted back into English football’s top flight last year, for the first time since 1999.
      Many are also season ticket holders – meaning they can be in their seats in the stand just moments after leaving home.
      But living literally in the shadow of the ground – rated last season by experts as having one of the loudest atmospheres in the UK – does have its drawbacks.
      When The Sun visited as part of our Life’s A Pitch summer series, locals told us they have to deal with noisy TV vans and residential roads being completely closed by metal gates before and after kick-off.
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      Meanwhile neighbours described how teenage Forest apprentices were housed on their street in properties owned by the club – but would play loud music, kick footballs around the street and hold late night parties.
      Incredibly, resident Jane Benwell told how she once had to tick off former Republic of Ireland captain and Manchester United legend Roy Keane – now a respected broadcaster – when he lived in digs next door to her on Colwick Road.

      Then 19, he moved to Forest from Irish club Cobh Ramblers in 1990.
      The shop assistant said he was “a naughty boy”, adding: “He would answer back if you asked him to quiet down.
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      Roy Keane played for Nottingham Forest for 13 years before moving to Manchester UnitedCredit: Sports Photo Agency
      Local resident Jane says she once told off legend Roy Keane who was a ‘naughty boy’Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      “It’s really funny now when I see him on TV and think back to those days.
      “Another one who lived there as a youngster was Sean Dyche, who is now Everton manager – although I don’t recall any specific problems with him.”
      Jane, 69, also once marched into the office of then-Forest boss Paul Hart to complain when one young player who lived opposite her exposed his backside in the street.
      She said: “There were children about at the time – it was completely unacceptable. So I walked round to the ground and asked to see the manager.
      “I was shown into his room and said, ‘One of your young players has been dropping his trousers’. 
      Roy Keane would answer back if you asked him to quiet down. It’s really funny now when I see him on TV and think back to those daysJane Benwell
      “He sort of listened and nodded, and asked if I knew who it was. I didn’t, but asked if he could have a word anyway. 
      “Within 15 minutes of me arriving home, Paul turned up at the house. He went in and demanded to speak to the culprit.
      “Once he identified them, he ordered them to pack their bags – and told them they were out for good.
      “He then came over and apologised, and said to let him know if it happened again.”
      Jane says she once marched into Paul Hart’s office to complain about the behaviour of his playersCredit: Action Images – Reuters
      Jane told how on another occasion, one of the young lads was sitting on her car bonnet – and when he refused to get off, she “dragged him off by the scruff of his neck”.
      “They would also play loud music to deliberately wind my husband up, and we’d have girls knocking on our door looking for them,” she recalled.
      “There was a house next door, which is literally next to the ground, and a large property directly opposite.
      “But we don’t have any problems with that anymore because they haven’t been living in for about three or four years. They house them somewhere else now.”
      Jane, who has lived in her terraced home for 34 years, added: “Other than that, living here has been absolutely fine really. It isn’t as noisy as people think it would be.
      I asked to see the manager. I was shown into his room and said, ‘One of your young players has been dropping his trousers’… Once he identified them, he ordered them to pack their bagsJane Benwell
      “And the turnstiles at the end of our road are home fans only – so we don’t see any trouble with away supporters.”
      She said the only real drawback is when her road is shut off by a large metal barrier for around an hour before and after kick-off, which she claimed is an “anti-terror measure”.
      It means residents can’t drive in or out, but Jane said long-time locals have become used to planning their journeys around matches.
      She added: “When Forest games are on TV, the broadcast vans park right behind our house.
      “They can be very noisy with their generators and have spotlights on all night – we’ve had to get blackout blinds to sleep at the back.”
      ‘We love it’
      Residents say young players used to have kickabouts in the streetCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Fellow resident Mary Smith, 68, said: “We did have a few issues with some of the younger Forest players they put up in the street a few years ago – parties where we had to ask them to quiet down a bit, that sort of thing.
      “They would also have a kickabout in the road, and because they were obviously trained how to kick a ball well it would sometimes smack really hard into a car or window. 
      “But I suppose they were only young lads away from home for the first time having a bit of fun, as young lads do.
      “Some have gone on to have very good careers in the game.
      “Apart from that, which was a while ago, we really love living here.
      “My husband and son are big Forest fans and love only having to leave just before a game then getting back almost as soon as the final whistle has gone.”
      ‘Added bonus’
      Chris Soar is a Nottingham Forest supporter and says living by the stadium is an ‘added bonus’Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      The quiet street comes alive on matchdays with TV vans and thousands of football fansCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Supporter Chris Soar, 38, lives behind the Bridgford End, which has a lower roof at one end to allow light onto the street.
      He said: “I had a season ticket until last season, so it was ideal for me living here. 
      “We have lived here around seven years – we really like the house and having Forest literally on your doorstep was an added bonus. 
      “We don’t have any complaints – the ground has been here for 120 years and I don’t think you would move next to one without knowing what to expect, especially a big club like Forest.
      “If anything, it’s really interesting. When they played games behind closed doors during Covid you could hear the players shouting on the pitch.”
      Young players would also have a kickabout in the road, and because they were obviously trained how to kick a ball well it would sometimes smack really hard into a car or windowMary Smith, local resident
      Resident Helen Fitzsimmons, 52, added: “My husband, son and stepson are all season ticket holders, and my parents were.
      “We are a big Forest family so we enjoy living here.
      “The bustle and buzz of a matchday is great, especially when a really big club like Manchester United or Liverpool are in town.
      “The barrier doesn’t really bother us – you just plan around it accordingly. It’s not like we don’t have plenty of warning of kick-off times.
      “We moved in after the players moved out of their digs so didn’t experience that – but I gather from others in the street it could be a bit chaotic at times.
      “In fact, I think I may have been to a party in one of the houses once upon a time when I was younger. 
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      “Overall, it’s a fantastic place to live.
      “Now Forest are in the Premier League, there are only 19 games here a year, plus any home cup games, so any inconvenience or noise is really only for a very small percentage of the year.”
      Chris says people who move next to the stadium know what to expect as it’s been there for so longCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Nottingham Forest have played at the City Ground since 1898Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

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      I live next to crumbling football stadium ‘stuck in time’ – pitch view is amazing but awful noise at 5am is unbearable

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      EVERY time Southend United play at home, father-of-two Tyrone Buckingham has a near-perfect view of the game from his bedroom window.But rather than enjoying the action unfold at Essex’s biggest football stadium, most match days he can be found watching his beloved Arsenal play on television instead.
      Tyrone Buckingham’s home backs on to Southend United’s stadiumCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      The decaying Roots Hall needs a revampCredit: Google Earth
      Tyrone is such a dedicated Gunners fan that he has painted the walls of his flat red and white.
      He moved into a flat overlooking decaying Roots Halls stadium by coincidence seven years ago and says he has become increasingly enraged by his lower league neighbours.
      As part of our Life’s a Pitch summer series, we visited the seaside city to see what locals made of life living next to the troubled team, which faces existential problems on and off the pitch.
      Tyrone, 35, told The Sun: “They are an absolute nightmare. They keep leaving their alarms on and they go off at all hours.
      Read More Life’s A Pitch
      “The alarms are regularly keeping me and my children up at night and I am a lorry driver so I have to be up at 4.30am.
      “The alarms have been an ongoing problem for years. We complained and it stopped for a while but now it has started again.
      “They went off at 2am the other night and kept going for hours. They are totally taking the Mickey.”
      To prove his point, Tyrone played us a recording he made of the alarm ringing outside his bedroom window.
      Most read in Football
      The high-pitched sound filled the speaker of his mobile phone as he showed our reporter the video, which he says was taken at 5.30am on a recent morning.
      He added: “My kids are aged three and six and we all need our sleep. The club also test their speakers at 10pm some nights and they had their floodlights on at about the same time last night.
      “I guess this would be a great flat for a Southend fan but I’m Arsenal – my bedroom is red and white – so I’ve got no interest in following their team.
      “I never, ever watch the games from my window and if the club decides to move to a new stadium that will be absolutely fine with me.”
      Floodlights and noise wake residents up at nightCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      Local Paul Burton says the ground is ‘stuck in time’Credit: JOHN McLELLAN
      Tryone’s wish isn’t as fanciful at it might seem.
      In recent months, Southend United has been dragged back and forth from the courts over its financial difficulties, with fan group The Shrimpers Trust saying it remained under “existential threat” until owner Ron Martin sells up.
      This week, the National League granted the team a licence to start the season after it paid its staff for the first time in three months.
      A spokesman told The Sun: “Staff are fully up to date with their salaries.”
      The 117-year-old club lost its Football League status in 2021 following back-to-back relegations and Southend West MP Anna Firth recently raised its plight in Parliament.
      Martin has been trying to find a buyer for the club since March and earlier this month said he has done “everything in my power to close the deal quickly”.
      ‘Stuck in time’
      While all this goes on the stadium Roots Hall, which has been the Shrimpers’ home since 1955, is falling into a state of disrepair and fans have been gathering outside to protest.
      Policeman Paul Burton also lives next to the ground, although his upper-level flat does not boast a view of the pitch.
      Paul, 39, said: “The stadium is stuck in time. It’s like living next to a relic – nothing has changed over there for years.
      “The owner is not the most popular person in the world, but it’s a historic club and it will be a shame if they go under.
      “Last season they had the highest average attendance in the league. They can get 8,000 or 9,000 fans turning up if they are playing one of the big London teams in the cup.
      “It doesn’t bother me having them here at all. They only play once every two weeks and if I close my windows I can’t hear the crowd. Also, this is a nice area so I enjoy living here.”
      Flats overlook the stadium and can even see on to the pitchCredit: Getty
      Hazel Newbold says litter is a nightmare on match daysCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      Supermarket worker Hazel Newbold is less keen on the Shrimpers remaining next door to her home, however.
      Southend’s chairman bought the club in 1998 with the intention of relocating them to a new stadium at Fossetts Farm, north of the city.
      But numerous delays – one caused by the discovery of a Bronze Age burial site – have caused the proposed move to become a painful saga, dragging on for years.
      Hazel, 54, said: “We get a lot of litter on match days – that’s my main gripe. The fans put beer bottles on our wall and they fall off and smash, which is dangerous for the children.
      “The club doesn’t clear up our street, only the path that leads to the stand next to our house.
      “The floodlights are an issue as they fill our bedrooms with light and you get a lot of glare.
      “We’ve heard the alarms too but we don’t know where they came from.”
      Hazel’s son Brad Newbold, 28, lives next door to her with his partner Nikki Crockett, 36, but they are now planning to move.
      Lorry driver Brad said: “I used to go and watch games at Roots Hall when I was younger and it was a decent stadium back then, but they’ve totally let it go.
      “The parking situation is a nightmare and will only get worse if the new homes get built as there will be so many more people living here then.”
      Receptionist Nikki added: “We’re moving into town where they have parking permits because we’ve had enough. We have both agreed that wherever we go, it’s not going to be near a football stadium.”
      ‘They’re a great team’
      One person that has been happy living next to the 12,000-plus capacity stadium is police officer Mel, 35, who remembers going to watch Southend with her grandfather as a little girl.
      Almost three years ago, when they first opened, she didn’t hesitate snapping up a one bedroom flat in the new apartment complex on neighbouring Fairfax Drive.
      Mel has asked us not to use her real name because of the sensitive line of work she is involved in.
      She said: “I’ve always loved football and you can see almost the entire pitch from the terrace next to my flat.
      “I didn’t buy it for that reason. It was just that I could get a mortgage here as a first-time buyer.
      “But I’ve loved living here and the only reason I am moving is that I need a bigger place.
      “The view is definitely a selling point and I’ve had a few people come round to view it and say, ‘Wow, you can see the football stadium!’
      Read More on The Sun
      “I’m going to be sad to leave and I really hope the club has a future as they’re a great team and all the players and staff are fantastic.”
      The Sun contacted Southend United for comment, who only confirmed that salaries have been paid. More

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      My home overlooks my team’s football ground but I’ve shunned club after row with owner got me arrested & banned for LIFE

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      FORMER Gillingham FC fan Malcolm Scott thought he had found his dream home when he purchased a terraced house overlooking Priestfield Stadium.It allowed him to watch every match from the comfort of his loft conversion.
      Gillingham fan Malcolm Scott enjoyed watching games from his loft window when he first bought his house by the stadiumCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      The Medway Stand, which replaced the old Main Stand, is the largest and northernmost of the fourCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      But years later he was not only banned from attending games, he was also arrested following a bitter falling out with the club’s owner Paul Scally.
      At the centre of the dispute was the decision to erect the huge new Medway stand that blocked his view of the pitch, and led to a long-running battle over planning permission.
      For Malcolm, the conflict got so ugly that he stopped supporting his beloved Gills and has taken up gardening instead.
      Pensioner Malcolm, 90, told The Sun – who visited as part of our summer series, Life’s a Pitch, which looks at life next to Britain’s weirdest and most wonderful stadiums: “I moved here 54 years ago because I wanted to go to the games.
      READ MORE LIFE’S A PITCH
      “My wife was less keen and kept asking to move, but I refused because I fell in love with the area.
      “One of the best things was that we could see the pitch from the top room in the loft conversion.
      “My grandson would come round and sit on the roof to watch the games on the weekends.
      “The view was fantastic and you could see everything – until they built the new stand.
      Most read in Football
      Priestfield Stadium is surrounded by Victorian housingCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      Locals say the temporary stand is an eyesore as people dump rubbish next to it all the timeCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      “Residents including myself objected because we did not like the way they were doing it.
      “We raised a number of issues with the council and it was the way the club treated us that got us so upset.
      “There was no respect and Scally even put a new nightclub in there. He claimed it was a social club, but people were coming out of there at 1am.
      “One day there was a meeting about the new stand and Scally threw me out after I said a few things.
      I didn’t know anything about his car being scratched but someone accused me and about a year later the police arrested me. There was no evidence so they had to let me go, but it was horrendousMalcolm Scott
      “Later that night, someone scratched his car while it was parked on double yellow lines.
      “I didn’t know anything about it but someone accused me and about a year later the police arrested me.
      “There was no evidence so they had to let me go, but it was horrendous.
      “I was also given a lifetime ban by the club and I stopped supporting them after that.
      “My son-in-law still goes to games, but I’ve lost interest.”
      Malcolm’s wife Margaret raised their four children in the same house, which is a 10-minute walk from Gillingham train station in Kent.
      Local resident Ted Turner has also clashed with former Millwall fan ScallyCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      Fans walk past residential homes to access the stadium entranceCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      She has a different take on the decision to demolish the old main stand in 1999, which included a section housing away fans.
      She grimaces when she recalls how the previous low-rise structure would provide an unobstructed view of their garden.
      Margaret, 86, said: “The away fans used to call to me when I was outside, singing ‘We can see you!’
      “They would wolf-whistle at my daughters when they were in the garden.
      The away fans used to call to me when I was outside, singing ‘We can see you!’ They would wolf-whistle at my daughters when they were in the gardenMargaret Scott
      “We didn’t think anything of it as it was just banter and I don’t have any problems now.
      “I have double glazed windows, so I don’t hear all the noise during games.”
      Father-of-seven Scally, 66, has become a controversial figure since taking over the club in 1995.
      For some he is the saviour that rescued Gillingham FC from bankruptcy and kick-started an era of unprecedented success.
      For others he is a bully who threw his weight around and threatened the identity of the club.
      Paul Scally has become a controversial figure since taking over the club in 1995Credit: Rex
      The Brian Moore stand became an embarrassment for locals and a sore point for away fansCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      The London-born businessman, who made his fortune through the Metronote photocopier company, took on debts of up to £2million when he snapped up Gillingham FC for just £1.
      The club was about to be expelled from the Football League but he saved it from being liquidated and closed down.
      Scally’s shrewd managerial appointments – bringing in first Tony Pulis before he was sacked and then Peter Taylor, who went on to manage Leicester City – paved the way for glory on the pitch.
      His tenure has overseen three promotions, three Wembley play-off finals and four FA Cup victories over top division opponents.
      The Gills also achieved their highest league finish of 11th in the Championship during the 2002/03 season.
      Three stands including the Medway were demolished and rebuilt between 1995 and 2000, while a fourth called Town End was knocked down as part of a redevelopment in 2003.
      Malcolm says the social club turned into a night clubCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      Clay Bell, 61, also lives near the stadiumCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      A temporary stand named after legendary footie commentator Brian Moore was erected the same year.
      However, the scaffolding-like structure remains in place today despite the fact it has reportedly been damaged by years of exposure to the elements.
      Rebuilding was supposed to take place in 2004 but financial issues and Scally’s fiercely contested proposal to move the club to a different part of Kent put the plans on hold.
      Reporters with the Kent Messenger Group and Alan Liptrott, chairman of the Gills Independent Supporters Club, were all banned from attending games for a time after criticising the chairman.
      In the meantime, the Brian Moore stand became an embarrassment for locals and a sore point for away fans forced to stand out in the pouring rain.
      Retired BP refinery worker Ted Towner, 78, is another resident that has clashed with former Millwall fan Scally.
      He said: “No one likes him because he doesn’t listen.
      Gillingham FC was relegated from League One in 2022Credit: JOHN McLELLAN
      Gills fan Rick Turner is much more upbeat about the clubCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      “I fought him as part of the residents association and he doesn’t like people criticising him. 
      “I only met him at the meetings and I can tell you, he always has to get his own way.
      “The temporary stand is an embarrassment for us and it is also an eyesore as people dump rubbish next to it all the time. I don’t know how they’ve gotten away with it for so many years.”
      Gills fan Rick Turner is much more upbeat about the club, despite the fact they were relegated from League One in 2022.
      He has been a supporter since the 1960s and continued watching games even after a new £2m Gordon Road Stand was erected opposite his house in 1997.
      Father-of-three Rick, 69, said: “I’ve lived here for 30 years and at one point, for about two seasons, you could see the entire pitch from my top bedroom.
      I’ve lived here for 30 years and at one point, for about two seasons, you could see the entire pitch from my top bedroomRick Turner, local resident
      “It was fantastic and saved me about £150 a year on a season ticket.
      “The atmosphere wasn’t as good at home, but the kids would have their friends over and my eldest became a big Gills fan.
      “Supporting this club has its ups and downs but I absolutely love it.
      “I used to follow the Premier League. I lost interest as it’s all about money now, while players at my club actually care about the fans.”
      Gillingham FC is now owned by American property tycoon Brad Galinson and his wife Shannon.
      They are promising to revive the club just like Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have turned things around at Wrexham FC in Wales.
      Last year the couple purchased a majority share from Scally, who is now based in Dubai and retains a minority share.
      Liz Shearer welcomes the new investorsCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      Last year it was reported that Scally was subjected to intense harassment following the club’s relegation. He took an enforced break from club duty after some fans trespassed on his property, damaged his car and intimidated his family.
      He said the group of fans in question had “crossed a line” with their “relentless and personal” abuse.
      Scally told talkSPORT’s Jim White in an interview: “I’ve fallen out of love with Gillingham and I’ve fallen out of love with football and that’s why I’ve decided that I need to take this break and step away to try and get my life back a bit and try to get some normality back in my life for me and my family.”
      Liz Shearer’s home backs on to the Rainham End stand and she is excited by the prospect of the Gills playing Wrexham in League Two this season.
      Mum-of-one Liz, 50, said: “I think Scally did well for us until the money ran out – and the future is bright now we’ve got new investors.  
      “The Galinsons have worked wonders already and every match is going to be a sell-out next season, especially the one against Wrexham.
      Read More on The Sun
      “I want to say to Ryan Reynolds, if he is reading this, that he is very welcome to pop over for a cup of tea.”
      The Sun reached out to Paul Scally for comment.
      Gillingham FC is now owned by American property tycoon Brad Galinson and his wife ShannonCredit: JOHN McLELLAN
      The £2m Gordon Road Stand was erected in 1997Credit: JOHN McLELLAN More

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      I live next to world’s oldest football stadium – there are crazy benefits but I often get soaked when I sit in my garden

      by

      IT is thought to be the oldest professional football ground in the world.And residents living next to Mansfield Town’s One Call Stadium are having a ball – even if it means one occasionally lands in their garden.
      Mandy Colley, 49, whose house is next to the away supporters stand of Mansfield Town’s football groundCredit: Raymonds Press
      One Call Stadium – known by fans as the Field Mill – is thought to be the oldest professional football ground in the world
      In the heart of the Nottinghamshire town’s former mining community, the historic ground – formerly known as the Field Mill and dating back as far as 1850 – is slapped bang in the middle of tightly-packed Victorian housing.
      It means that on match days, locals can hear 6,000 fans celebrating a goal from their back yard – and face the double threat of rogue balls and water from the pitch sprinklers ruining sunbathing sessions.

      But there are also unique benefits, including free match tickets in seasons past and the annual spectacle of a dazzling fireworks display.
      As part of our summer series, Life’s a Pitch, which looks at life next to Britain’s weirdest and most wonderful stadiums, we took a trip down to the League Two side’s home turf.
      Read More in Sport
      Tracey Anne Pepper, 56, lives on Lord Street, where houses back on to one side of the One Call.
      The resident of 30 years says: “I absolutely love living here. We are quite lucky because although we are right next to the ground, we don’t get big crowds of people walking up here.
      “But on most match days you will get a handful of away fans wandering around looking a bit lost as they think they will be able to get in.
      “It’s also fun when balls come over during a match. They bounce down the road and people have been known to grab them before anyone comes around to collect them then pretend they didn’t see anything.
      Most read in Football
      Tracey Anne Pepper, 56, says you used to get a free match ticket if a ball landed in your gardenCredit: Raymonds Press
      The 6,000 seater ground overlooks Victorian terracesCredit: Raymonds Press
      “In the past you used to get a free match ticket if you handed back a match ball, but that ended a while ago.
      “But the best thing is probably the atmosphere. If you are a Mansfield fan like me it’s great when you hear a goal go in. The roar is so loud and it really lifts you. You don’t even need to check on your phone or the radio if there has been a goal.”
      Last season Mansfield Town finished eighth in League Two, narrowly missing the play-offs, which would have given them the chance of getting promoted.
      The Stags’ only cup win came when they lifted the English Football League trophy back in 1987, but their loyal fanbase has stuck with them through thick and thin, with a record 5,000 season tickets sold ahead of the upcoming season.
      ‘Like it’s raining’
      Mandy Connolly, 49, lives right next to the ground, and her back garden is just 30 yards from the away stand, with just a fence separating them.
      She’s so close that the pitch sprinklers reach her garden – ruining sunbathing sessions.
      Mandy said: “If you’re not into football, I can see that it might be a bit annoying. But I like it – although I am a Leicester City fan, not Mansfield – so I find living here really interesting.
      “There are loads of funny little things you get when your house is next to a football ground. I can sit in my garden and see the fans in the away end leaping up and down if they score.
      “I have been here six years and had four balls in my garden in that time. Any that aren’t collected I give to local kids, which absolutely delights them.
      “When they water the pitch with the sprinklers it comes into my garden – sometimes it’s like it’s raining, and I have to get my washing in off the line.
      “The pitch is also used as a helipad at times, which must be the owner flying in and out. It’s fascinating to watch the helicopters as they land and take off.
      “And we get a free firework display every bonfire night as the club always hosts a really spectacular one.”
      The cul-de-sac means fans don’t crowd the roads on match days, although you still see the floodlightsCredit: Raymonds Press
      An annual fireworks display divides residentsCredit: mansfieldtownfc/twitter
      While parking can be an issue for those living close to other stadiums on match days, Mansfield locals insist it’s not a problem.
      Lord Street is a cul-de-sac, meaning there is no entrance to the stadium, and since it is so close to the town centre, the council has imposed a residents-only permit system.
      Hotel worker Lesleigh Butler, 36, said: “I’ve been here seven years and have never had a problem.
      When they water the pitch with the sprinklers it comes into my garden – sometimes it’s like it’s raining, and I have to get my washing in off the lineMandy Connolly, local resident
      “The only thing I actually don’t like is the firework display, because the street is left covered in firework casings.
      “Other than that the atmosphere is good and if Mansfield are doing well in the league or cup there is a good feeling on the street because you all feel part of it, living so close.
      “So really we have a lot of the benefits of living next to a stadium, without the negatives like traffic, crowds or litter.
      “A few years ago they were talking about buying up all the houses at the top end of the street so they could redevelop the Bishop Street Stand – but that seems to have gone quiet.
      “A lot of them are owned by people who have been here for years though – which shows it is a nice place to live.”
      Mandy Tolley, 52, works in the Sandy Pate sports bar at the ground.
      Read More on The Sun
      She said: “It’s perfect for me because I can roll out of bed and get straight to work.
      “I’m not a Mansfield fan – you have supporters of all different teams living on this street. But everyone gets on, and overall it’s a pretty happy place.” More

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      We live at famous entrance to iconic football stadium – you can see pitch from our garden but there’s even crazier perks

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      ITS iconic mock Tudor facade is one of the most recognisable stadium entrances in British football.And for residents near Fratton Park, the home of Portsmouth F.C., living next to the historic ground has thrown up plenty of famous moments over the years.
      Wendy Waltho lives by Fratton Park Stadium, home of Portsmouth Football ClubCredit: Solent
      Local Diana Hill says she can watch the game from her daughter’s roomCredit: Solent
      Some homeowners say their home shakes when the team scores, or claim there’s no need to buy match tickets as they can hear – and even see – all the action from their garden.
      Our new summer series, Life’s a Pitch, celebrates the weird and wonderful stadiums across Britain… and the communities built around them.
      Kicking it off, die-hard Pompey fans who reside a stone’s throw from Fratton Park tell us of their joy at feeling the ‘electric’ atmosphere created by fans every week.
      They recall seeing the 1980s squad being put through their paces by manager Alan Ball in fitness runs to the old training ground – and even boast of being able to enjoy free music concerts from their back yard.
      READ MORE FEATURES
      Garden party
      Some claim Fratton Park is unique as it is the only professional English football ground not found on the mainland of Great Britain – due to its location on Portsea Island.
      Built in 1899, it has been Portsmouth’s home ever since and seen the highs and lows throughout the club’s 125-year history.
      During that time the club has won two first division titles and two FA Cups – most recently under Harry Redknapp in 2008 – but Pompey are currently enduring a more difficult period in League One.
      Kieran Hogan, a resident living by Fratton Park, says he loves it and can hear the cheers when a goal is scoredCredit: Solent
      Lifelong Pompey fan Kieran Hogan has lived for nine years on Frogmore Road, which leads up to the South Stand entrance.
      Most read in Football
      “We love living this close to the stadium,” the 40-year-old said.
      “I don’t have a season ticket but I like to go whenever I can, round some mates up, or sometimes go by myself.
      “If I don’t go, I can hear the stadium announcer say who scores the goal when I’m sat in my living room – no need to check BBC Sport.
      “You can hear the cheer sometimes seconds before the goal goes in on the telly.”
      I can hear the stadium announcer say who scores the goal when I’m sat in my living room – no need to check BBC SportKieran Hogan, lifelong Pompey fan
      Recounting his experience of the Covid-hit play-off semi final, Kieran says he was disturbed by controversial Portsmouth super-fan John Westwood trying to get as close to the action as he could.
      “I was sat in the garden watching it, as I’d taken the TV out,” the father-of-one said.
      “And I could hear this bell ringing and I looked down the gardens and John Westwood was there at the neighbours’.”
      Kieran’s next wish is to get his newborn eight-week-old son to a game “as soon as I can”.
      Training day
      Derek Stevens, 65, who has lived on a road that runs parallel to the south stand of the stadium for 39 years, said the ‘only issue’ is matchday parking – when parking is only permitted on one side of the street, meaning cars have to be moved.
      The civil servant recounts seeing England’s World Cup winner Alan Ball whipping the the Portsmouth squad into shape during his five-year tenure in the 1980s, which saw them earn promotion back to the First Division.
      Derek Stevens admits the parking can be an issue on match daysCredit: Solent
      “Alan Ball used to make them run to the training ground which was at Moneyfields then, about 1.5 miles,” he said.
      “He got them into shape – it was funny to see the players on our road being put through the paces, but he did well here.
      “They were out of shape when he got here but he made them fit.”
      Kenneth Clarke, who lives on the same road, loves being a part of the club he played for as a boy in the 1960s.
      The retired milkman, 78, said: “We’ve been here 35 years and love it.
      “I go to about half the games. The parking is fine, it’s for emergency vehicles to get through, don’t moan about the club. If you don’t like it – move.”
      Family affair
      For Wendy Waltho, attending the matches at Portsmouth is a family affair, with husband Paul, son Harvey and grandson Franklyn all season ticket holders.
      “It’s manic on a matchday,” the 56-year-old said. “Sometimes I do go if it’s an exciting game, but I can hear it from the garden where it’s free. Why would I go?
      “It’s great, my husband and son love going – they’d never stop.
      “The front wall of my garden is used as a meeting spot by fans every week. Every Saturday or Tuesday there are the usual suspects who lean up against the wall as they wait for their mates to come.”
      The front wall of my garden is used as a meeting spot by fans every week. Every Saturday or Tuesday there are the usual suspects who lean up against the wall as they wait for their mates to comeWendy Waltho, local resident
      Wendy, who has lived in her property just 50ft from the South Stand entrance for 19 years, added: “For a 3pm kick off, they leave at about midday.
      “It doesn’t take three hours to get there – I think the pub might be involved.
      “But, when it’s not matchday, it’s dead quiet.”
      The street’s quietness on days other than when Portsmouth play is the main reason David Young bought his home home 20 years ago.
      The 39-year-old said: “During matchday it can be a bit hectic, but on days off, kids play in the street.
      “You can’t get that anywhere else in Fratton, we love it here.”
      The restaurant manager admitted he ‘hated’ football, but used to enjoy going to games when tickets were reduced for residents in close proximity to the stadium – a perk which stopped about eight years ago.
      “In a derby game against Southampton, I had a brick thrown my front window during a riot – that made them separate the fans in the future,” he added.
      Pitch view
      Diana heard a Madness concert taking place at the stadium from her gardenCredit: Solent
      Diana Hill moved into the neighbouring road in 2015 and can even see a portion of the pitch from her son’s bedroom.
      The 41-year-old said: “The atmosphere is absolutely electric on game day.
      “You can feel the electricity amongst the fans and when Pompey score, the house literally shakes.
      “We love it, we can see a little section of goalpost, but they’re redeveloping it at the minute.”
      The mother-of-three admitted she and her family received the perfect welcome when Madness played a gig at the stadium in the summer of 2015.
      Read more on The Sun
      “We didn’t have to go, we just sat in the garden and got a free Madness concert,” she said.
      “The club have been great recently as well in providing equipment for street parties over the Jubilee and Coronation.” More