Villa Park v Britannia - Biggest Difference In PL Pitch Dimensions

[SoccerHQ]

Was reading a PL booklet someone randomly left on a table during a break today....turns out the PL dimensions limit is 105 x 68 I think which we have along with Arsenal, two Manchester clubs, Newcastle etc.

Quite a few clubs have lower pitch dimensions though, Stoke predictably have something like 100 x 64, Fulham and Everton's are pretty titchy aswell.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

I think we'll have to settle this once and for all - so of you see a very sprightly looking 60-something with a very long tape measure on the hallowed turf at about 2.45 on Saturday, you know who it'll be (before the eject me).

To get the length of the pitch is easy at VP, we know that the 18 yard line is set, and our groundsman does a great job of cutting the grass into what appears to be equal strips, I think that there are three strips inside the 18 yard line, so all you have to do is count the strips and multiply by 6 [or however many strips in the 18 yard box] and you can then work out the pitch lenght!

I watch from the lower Trinity about level with the Holte penalty area. With those clear 6 yard strips, at free kicks you can get a good idea of how accurately the referee gets the wall back the full 10 yards. Some are very lax with walls as little as just over 8 yards away, it is rare that they ever get them the full 10.
As regards pitch sizes around the country, every schoolboy in the 1960s who knew his football could tell you that Doncaster Rovers had the longest pitch.   

[Ad@m]

Was reading a PL booklet someone randomly left on a table during a break today....turns out the PL dimensions limit is 105 x 68 I think which we have along with Arsenal, two Manchester clubs, Newcastle etc.

Quite a few clubs have lower pitch dimensions though, Stoke predictably have something like 100 x 64, Fulham and Everton's are pretty titchy aswell.

It's not a limit, it's a mandatory size unless the stadium is constructed in such a way that the pitch can't be that size. I'd be very surprised if any modern stadium was too small to meet the regs. Stoke certainly isn't because they had to (and were able to) increase their pitch size (before the PL brought in the rule) for their European games.

[SoccerHQ]

Chelsea's is smaller than most for some reason.

[ez]

I expect Stoke made their pitch narrower so Delap could get his throw ins into the box easier.

[Ad@m]

I expect Stoke made their pitch narrower so Delap could get his throw ins into the box easier.

They did and also to restrict the space better teams could use to beat them. But that was before the PL introduced the rule.

[SoccerHQ]

As Ads has eloquently put it in the post match thread, Villa Park must be one of the least threatening away venues in the league, bit wide pitch, nice away dressing room, countering attacking team and a less hostile atmosphere than you'd get at say Stoke.

No wonder Man. United take the piss here year in year out.

5 home wins out of 21 against Lambert and it's not as if the previous three managers we've had can point to outstanding home records either.

[eamonn]

He probably lost about 5 and won 50 at Carrow R