https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l3envGSjiE

I didn,t realise they were moving grounds. A club with ambition and money. Surprised Bournmouth haven,t invested in a new ground or rebuild with all their premier league money. We are worlds away in such a relativley short time. Football eh!

So thats what a "abutment" is!!!!

Their rise might just have something to do that those clubs are in the prosperous south. I'm struggling to remember the last time a lower league northern team combined a new ground with a sudden rise through the divisions - Wigan Athletic when Dave Whelan took over?

Hull?

I'd also count Cardiff and Swansea as they are in economic if not geographic terms 'northern'.

Fleetwood, Flyde, Salford, Burton are the modern day upstarts all Northern.

Brentford have generated an unbelievable amount of cash through being well ran and using the ‘moneyball’ model, I saw a thing the other day which was a full team they had bought for about £6 million and sold on for over £70 million. Incredible really but it shows what can be achieved if you get the structure of a club right and have a plan.

Hull, Swansea and Cardiff are all traditional 'Second Division' sides - more yo-yo clubs than a sudden rise through the divisions, though Swansea went on a good run to get back up with the bigger boys. Fleetwood, Fylde, Salford are on the rise but with a way to go. Burton definitely - non-league to the Championship - that was pretty impressive!

Depends how far back you go. The season Hereford went down I'm sure Hull, Cardiff, Swansea and Brighton were all scrabbling about at the bottom along with us.

Sunderland and the Boro both got new grounds, but who actually picked up the bill....?

I can't help taking the long view Mr PiN. I've been interested in football since the 1960s Seen Wolves, Leeds and Southampton in league games at the Vic, but they've spent most of their time in the top two divisions as well.

I guess the only way for Pools to rise through the leagues with a new ground is if a foreign billionaire who likes a challenge takes us over. Not holding my breath though!

Went to Brentford’s ground a few times, They have a pub on each corner off the ground so you can’t complain about finding a pub to have a cheeky pint in before the match, I didn’t know they where moving to a new ground either, Clearly a club with ambition as mentioned in this thread I’m surprised Bournemouth haven’t upgraded with them being in the premier league, I also remember going there to and there was no stand behind the goal just a car park.

Brentford was one of my favourite away days. Loads of good pubs in the town centre as well as round the ground. Traditional stadium as well, full of character.

No idea if we'll ever play them in the league/cup again, but I don't think their new place will be half as good.

Same with Yeovils one season in the championship from non league.

New ground, no thanks. Glorified tin shed, all seater, sanitised, soulless warehouse of football usually in the middle of nowhere.
Other views may differ, but turning up in a remote corner of town, crossing a windswept car park to what looks like a distribution warehouse with giant pictures of you star player plastered over it but fooling no one because he’s not that good, would be my idea of hell.

New grounds = Poor "matchday experience"

Every time I see a photo of some new lower league ground I’m looking sunbonciously for where the supermarket trolley’s are.

agreed there. brentford is the best london ground for me. now we have to make do with places like leamington and fylde. places in the middle of nowhere where one visit is more than enough.

If you like visiting London we’re in the right League now!!

And mine, lovely old ground in a decent part of London. First time I went there wasn't even a Pools game, it was Brentford v Bournemouth , first game of season early 90s, brilliant sunshine, lovely atmosphere, terracing down the side, Bournemouth on the open terrace behind the goal.