Matt Stanger's love affair with football stadia is a continent-spanning effort that takes in stops across the globe.
Craven Cottage
There is something wonderfully charming about Craven Cottage as it nestles on the bank of the Thames, away from the hustle and bustle of central London. There are bigger stadiums with better facilities and superfluously sized television screens, but there is much to be said for the understated beauty and tradition of Fulham's home since 1896.
On one side, the red brick facade welcomes supporters with narrow, old-fashioned turnstiles leading into the ground. The Thames peacefully flows behind the opposing stand and fans often enjoy a stroll along the river on their way to the game. It sounds so ridiculously twee, yet even football ruffians can't help but become misty-eyed at their first sight of the Cottage Pavilion and the...quaint statue of Michael Jackson.
Estadio Malvinas Argentinas
If you're from Britain, it's best to keep a low profile around the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas - or the Falkland Islands stadium as it would be known on these shores. The ground was originally called The City of Mendoza stadium, but following the Falklands War it was re-named to reflect Argentina's claim to the islands. It's quite a surreal experience to visit the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, with the 45,000-capacity stadium sunk into the ground in the middle of a huge forest. At night it almost looks like a meteor crater with the floodlights lighting up the pitch black sky all the way to the edge of the city. There was a real carnival atmosphere when I went to watch Chile take on Uruguay during the Copa America, with fans tightrope-walking between the trees and sizzling choripans on huge barbecues. When it isn't being used for international matches, the stadium is home to Primera Division club Godoy Cruz, managed by former Boca Juniors striker and infamous penalty misser Martin Palermo.
San Mamés
There are plenty of stadiums I regret not visiting. My dad has told me of the joys of Roker Park and the Baseball Ground when I've been sitting in Sunderland and Derby's modern new-builds, which are both enjoyable places to watch football but yet to gain their own history and sepia-tinted memories. In Europe, the stadium I wish I had been to the most is Athletic Bilbao's San Mamés, which closes its doors for the final time at the end of the season. Known as La Catedral to supporters, attendance to watch the latest products of the club's cantera is a ritual, with the tight concrete stands crammed with families on match days.
When I've tried to imagine the incredible atmosphere that the TV cameras fail to fully grasp, this paragraph from journalist John Sinnott often springs to mind: 'There is nothing disturbing about San Mames' atmosphere, though it is no less powerful, exuding friendliness but above all pride in a club that is the property of its fans and a symbol of the Basque region. That warmth was much in evidence when the young star of this Athletic side Iker Muniain was substituted after a show-stopping performance. The crowd rose as one to give him a standing ovation, the warmth of applause rippling down the stands in acknowledgment of a hugely energetic and skilful player who was developed by the club's cantera (youth development scheme) as if to say this is a player that symbolises everything which Athletic represents.'
Celtic Park
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