GETTING A BETTER VIEW

Typically it is the Germans who have produced a football (or any other activity) stadium that will not take up too much space around it (peoples' homes and businesses), has good sightlines and will allow over 95% spectators to be within 50 metres of the action.

The Suprastadio "folds back on itself" as the number of tiers increases. The German Interpol Studios' architectural division's design takes up one third less space than conventional stadia. The wave like shape traps sound, amplifies noise and is cheaper to run. It can be built as a enclosed arena or as individual grandstands at no extra cost. It will meet health and safety standards and complies with the UK Sports' Ground "green" guide. With new stadia in the pipeline contracts cannot be far away from Interpol Studios.

On the other hand the doyen of football stadia was Archibald "Archie" Leitch, a Scot, born in 1865, was trained as a consulting engineer and factory architect. He died in 1939 leaving behind a substantial legacy all over Britain, where his stadia stand out with typical style. In his obituary there was no mention of his buildings. In 1922, 16 out of the 22 First Division Stadia were his and in 1931 you would have a 1:3 chance of watching football in a Leitch stadium anyway in Britain. His company was quick and cheap, cornering the market in ground building at that time.


The list of his work stretches from Ibrox and Hampden in Scotland to Windsor Park and Dalymount in Ireland and Sunderland to Fulham (see below). The last remaining Leitch standing terrace was knocked down when Saltergate, Chesterfield's old ground was demolished in the 1950s.  His "company" built the Mayflower Stand at Home Park, Plymouth in his style.


One blotch on his reputation was the Ibrox disaster in 1902 when a terrace collapsed during the Auld Enemy match causing several deaths. Despite this he persuaded Rangers to re-employ him to put the matter right. He changed the structure of the terracing getting rid of wooden barriers and floors and replacing them with tubular steel fixed into concrete standing on raised banks.

When the Taylor Report emerged in 1989 after Hillsborough, things changed and as clubs modernised many of Leitch's stands were demolished. Fulham's Johnny Haynes' Stand and the fabulous Cottage remain, being Grade II listed buildings and having been lovingly restored.


With Everton and Tottenham looking to rebuild, they may not call on Leitch's ideas and might rely on the Germans.

You will find examples of Leitch's work in the National Football Museums in Manchester and at Hampden.