Former footballer Kevin Gage has savaged the London Stadium after Sheffield United’s recent visit.
Gage played for Wimbledon, Aston Villa, Preston North End and Hull City as well as Sheffield United.
Writing his column in the Sheffield Star he said:
“We’ve all probably said or at least heard similar during our football travels. I’m sure the 3,000 loyal Sheffield United fans who took the time, made the effort and spent their hard-earned cash on a trip down into East London on Saturday afternoon will have some stage thought along similar lines as they planned their trip.
I’m equally sure that after witnessing the reality of West Ham’s ‘London Stadium’ first-hand, they will be now having second thoughts on ever making this particular away day again!
Social media was awash with negative comments about the absolute farce that greets spectators at the Hammers’ home ground. I didn’t go, never wanted to, and to be honest I never will want either as I had already heard from various friends in football what a terrible spectator experience it truly is.
Even a front row seat puts you about 30 to 40 yards from the touchline, and if you are unlucky enough to get a seat on the back row… well, you might as well watch it on your phone! Which I’ve no doubt many hundreds or possibly thousands of us stay-at-home Blades probably did on Saturday.
Me included, though to try to create a genuine West Ham away watching experience, I put the phone on my mantlepiece and squinted at it from the far side of the lounge!
Spare a thought too please for the 35,000-plus loyal West Ham fans who used to pack out their historic, atmospheric, fabulous Upton Park ground in the heart of their community and have been forced to give it up to frequent a soulless, mundane, corporate athletics stadium a few too many miles away.
To add insult to injury, us taxpayers of the UK paid for it as well! However, as an Olympic venue and after the showcase and huge success of the 2012 games it was money well spent.”
It’s just morally wrong that West Ham United FC were allowed take advantage and make huge financial gains at the expense of their supporters matchday experience. Please, PLEASE, current and future owners of Sheffield United – don’t EVER make that same mistake, whatever the financial rewards may be.
Right, rant over.”
Claret and Hugh say:
We thought we had moved on the London Stadium debate but it is interesting what a fresh three thousand pair of eyes brings to the conversation. Have we just all got used to it after three years or does Gage and the Blades supporters still have a point?
There is no point in looking back to the days of the Boleyn Ground as we are not going to return.
There are some who will never accept the new stadium and many of them have already abandoned their season tickets but thousands more new fans have replaced them at each season ticket renewal.
Next season we hope to see the north and south lower stands get squared off and move closer to the pitch but apart from that it difficult to imagine what other improvements could be made to the stadium structure in the next ten years.
It is no more soul less than the Emirates, Wembley, Spurs new stadium or Old Trafford so I think Gage is playing to Sheffield crowd in some of his comments.
Jesus, bit over the top ain’t it? Never understood why the stadium gets so much hate. Ive tried seats all over the stadium and never had any issues, the atmosphere might not be Upton park, but it’s been improving every season.
‘Spare a thought for the west ham fans’ – get to absolute f*** you condescending w*nknugget
Think he summed up what we all know.
Seems to have missed the appalling cost of food and drink, the 25 minute wait for security checks, apart from that pretty spot on.
Big yawn. Most clubs say it after their first visit. It’s definitely not Upton park but it’s no way as bad as some make out. I have sat near the back and its no different to Wembley Or Newcastle and few others .palace has to be the worst away end .your close but can’t see the other end very well
in general football grounds have lost the atmosphere of the “good old days ” loads of empty seats at arsenal on Sunday. Spurs and man city can’t sell out for championship league game’s.modern day football is no way as good as it used to be anywhere
He wasn’t there; so his comments are second hand at best BS at worst!
What would have become of the stadium if West Ham hadn’t taken the lease. This mug seems to think we own the stadium. It still belongs to the tax payer and if it wasn’t for us it would have been costing him a helluva lot more.
Just sounds like sour grapes from a fella with a huge chip on his shoulder who was a crap footballer in his day that no-one remembers…..
Spot on Sean. It’s a giant stadium, very similar experience to Wembley and the Emirates. That’s what you get with a huge stadium. 2X the size of Bramall Lane. Sour grapes from other fans because the club got an amazing deal.
My granddaughters love it, safe, spacious, great view, good toilets and nice park to explore. Looking around where we sit there are lots of young families enjoying the experience. Having been at Upton Park for many years I am amazed that our club now attracts 60,000 to every match. The team is more often than not now playing attractive football so the atmosphere is getting better.
It will never be a football ground it does not matter what they do I hate the place
A roof that does not cover the fans,to far away from pitch,no atmosphere cost of food a disgrace will never. Accept it like the board of directors
I agree. What did Gage do that any football fan other than SUFC fans could remember??? Just an opinion from a second rate player who is no doubt stll bitter from the Tevez days.
Why is anyone taking notice of someone who has never set foot in the place.
Who is Kevin Cage ; honestly don’t remember Him . But to avoid that rediculous arguement
I just want to say one thing : we never had any great success at Upton Park with 35,000 max
And nobody can tell me different . But this stadium that holds upwards of 60, 000 must obviously be a step upward and forward . We have never reached the level we would like and this season looks like being no different in the 60yrs I have supported West Ham . But at least we seem to have stopped the rot of teams like Man Utd buying all our best players .
Our Stadium Atmosphere will grow given time and support from the fans . We , as a club deserve it after always playing second fiddle to the money bags clubs . Now all we require is a squad and manager to make things happen .
Sorry but I agree with him!! New stadium is a piece of crap and we were all sold a lie,I will never go there again
Agreed, a truely awful match day experience from the moment you’re fighting your way through Stratford station to the ground, and then the horrendous return journey after the game. Hate to say this, but we’ll done to the Spuds for not bothering ( too much) to get the London Stadium themselves; and just look at what they now have. The two David’s ought to be ashamed
Spurs never wanted the LS it was a ruse by Levy to threaten to leave Tottenham, but they were never going to but wanted to ensure they didn’t pay for the service roads as Haringey Council wanted them to. Without their and Hearn’s interference, we would have purchased the stadium!
Obviously leaving any stadium after a match with a large crowd is going to be problematic but you can’t blame the Daves’ for logistics.
This comment is unreal. I wasn’t there… but if I was I wouldn’t have liked it and I know that because other people other people told me so!! He might as well just tell it as it is. ‘No one knows who I am but I’m desperately trying to get some media attention!!‘