Most football fans today take it for granted that their club has a stadium they can call home. But some of England’s most famous sides spent years moving from place to place before they finally found a permanent ground to settle in.
Whether you’re checking today’s football odds or diving into the history of the game, it’s easy to overlook just how nomadic many clubs once were. The clubs with the longest list of former homes are ones that date back to the 1800s, when football was still finding its feet and grounds were often nothing more than open fields or borrowed parks.
Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers hold one of the most remarkable records in this area. The London club played at more than 14 different locations before eventually settling at Loftus Road, where they remain today. Their early wandering years saw them use places including Wormwood Scrubs, Kensal Green, the White City Stadium, and a number of other sites across west London.
It was an unsettled existence that lasted for decades and is thought to be one of the longest runs of ground moves in the history of English football. This is a far cry from today’s world of football predictions and settled, modern stadiums.
Fulham
Fulham are not far behind. The club is believed to have used around 10 different locations before making Craven Cottage their permanent home. Their story began in 1879 at Hurlingham Park, then moved to Star Road in Hammersmith, Eel Brook Common, Lillie Rec, Putney Lower Common, and several other spots around south-west London.
Football historians have noted that the full list may actually be even longer, as some early records are incomplete.
Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday, one of the oldest clubs in world football, used eight different grounds before moving into Hillsborough. They started life at Highfield near London Road, then passed through Myrtle Road, Heeley, Hunter’s Bar, and Sheaf House over the years.
Notably, they also played a number of matches at Bramall Lane between 1880 and 1887, a ground now associated exclusively with their fierce rivals Sheffield United.
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest had six homes before settling at The City Ground in 1898, where they still play to this day. Their journey took them through a recreation ground simply known as The Forest, a cricket ground at Trent Bridge, and several fields around the city.
The City Ground has now been their home for well over a century, making their early wandering years feel like a distant memory, especially given the European glory that followed under Brian Clough.
Charlton Athletic and Sunderland
Charlton Athletic and Sunderland each used seven different grounds before finding a permanent base. Charlton’s story is particularly interesting because they actually returned to their home ground, The Valley, twice after leaving it. They first left in the 1920s and then again in 1985 when they shared Selhurst Park with Crystal Palace, before returning for good in December 1992.
Sunderland, meanwhile, moved through six different grounds in the Wearside area before Roker Park opened in 1898 and gave them a home that would last nearly 100 years.
What all of these clubs share is a history rooted in a time when football was raw, unorganised, and constantly growing. Land was hard to secure, money was limited, and clubs had little power to hold on to the grounds they used. It is a fascinating contrast to the modern game, where clubs invest hundreds of millions of pounds into their stadiums and where moving once is considered a major event in a club’s history. The next time a supporter complains about their club leaving a beloved ground, it is worth remembering that for many famous sides, moving was simply a way of life.
