The best away day: The greatest ever football getaways

Football culture in the United Kingdom is richly characterised by the experience of away matches, where supporters travel to different venues to cheer for their team alongside friends.

These away days often foster camaraderie and create lasting memories that can be more significant than the match outcomes themselves. However, a thrilling victory or a dramatic last-minute goal can certainly enhance the experience and make it even more memorable for fans.

Conversations about away days and noteworthy experiences from past seasons frequently occur on social media platforms, engaging fans from across the nation. These discussions allow individuals to share their personal stories and insights, contributing to a collective memory and appreciation of these events.

We've collated some of the most common responses, unsurprisingly coming from the biggest teams in the country, whose larger fanbases mean they dominated the replies.

Manchester United's best away day

The 1999 Champions League final against Barcelona? Maybe. But that's a final. It's different. Several Manchester United fans picked out something different: Villa Park, 2002. The FA Cup Third Round.

“Best there ever was. Best there’ll ever be,” wrote one, while another said: “A stunning United end, sadly in modern football a rare thing now.”

Another common choice was Ewood Park, often a happy hunting ground for Man Utd. The most memorable trip to Blackburn for United fans came in 2011 when a Wayne Rooney penalty sealed United's 19th title. Nineteen was a crucial number at the time as it took Sir Alex Ferguson's side above rivals Liverpool, who then had 18. You can imagine why that day might stick in the memory.

Others chose Astana in 2019 when a few hundred Reds made the long journey to bitterly cold Kazakhstan for a dead-rubber UEFA Europa League match. It was some commitment, and one rewarded with a defeat, yes, but also the most unique experience.

Another popular selection from Man Utd fans was PSG away in 2019. It was the night Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men overturned a 2-0 home leg defeat to stun PSG, with Marcus Rashford scoring a last-minute penalty to send the away end into raptures.

#4: Blackburn 1-1 Man United (14.5.2011)

Away draws at Ewood Park might not seem a cause for celebration, but this was the day United finally edged past Liverpool with title 19. A coolly-taken Rooney pen was enough, and you can see how much my younger, thinner self enjoyed it. pic.twitter.com/SAEDOcVlWu

— Differently Dave (@GoldenVision90) March 17, 2020

Liverpool fans best away day

5-0 at Old Trafford? It's hard to beat that, and Liverpool fans gleefully remember their triumphant day over their bitter rivals in 2021. Clips of their supporters singing “Ole's at the Wheel” are still shared regularly today.

Others chose a different day at Old Trafford, a UEFA Europa League tie in 2015, a tense evening in M16, but another in which the visitors left with a famous victory. For many fans on both sides, this was the last time that there was real hatred and venom in the air off the pitch.

Others chose an away day down the road from Old Trafford at the Etihad Stadium in 2018. The Reds were 3-1 up on aggregate in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final but under the cosh when a Mo Salah dagger on the counterattack saw the away end explode with jubilation and relief.

‘Ole's at the wheel,' sing the Liverpool fans ?#LFC pic.twitter.com/mNGPppjXsR

— Neil Jones (@neiljonesgoal) October 24, 2021

Arsenal fans choose best away day

Anfield '89 is the obvious choice. Arsenal winning the league at Anfield by coming from behind in the dying moments against runners-up Liverpool. But, sad though it is to say, there aren't quite so many Gooners around who attended that match as there once was. And those that did, probably aren't on social media

Other matches that popped up regularly from an Arsenal perspective in the ‘best away day' discussion were Valencia, as recently as 2019. The Spanish city is an obvious choice. Easy to get to, sunshine, an iconic stadium in the Mestalla, stunning views of sunset over the city from the frighteningly steep away end.

Arsenal fans will be hoping that another big away day is on the horizon this season, similar to the one at Anfield in 1989.

FGG fans pick their best away days

We recently posed the question about the best away day in England to our followers on the FGG Facebook page. The most popular answers were as follows, with some fans referencing Premier League stadiums and others going for obscure grounds.

St James' Park

St James' Park was put forward by a couple of fans, and it's easy to understand why. It is situated in the middle of Newcastle city centre, making it a prime location for pre and post-match drinks. The stadium itself is also iconic, even if you do have to climb 140 stairs to get to the away end. With a move to a new stadium on the card, there might not be long left for away fans to sample St James' Park.

Craven Cottage

Craven Cottage was another popular suggestion in the comments. The stadium itself is full of character and is a classic old-fashioned football stadium. The beauty of Fulham away comes from the location of the ground, though, as it sits on the banks of the River Thames and is just a stone's throw away from the town of Putney – a haven for pub goers.

The Shay

Halifax Town's ‘The Shay' was a common shout for non-league football fans. Explaining why the stadium is so popular with away fans, one supporter explained, “It has a big terrace for away fans and is just a five-minute walk to all the pubs.” Can't argue with that.

Twerton Park

Twerton Park was another popular shout with non-league supporters. The stadium is the home of Bath City, and its inclusion on this list won't come as a surprise to anyone who has ever visited Bath. One fan said: “The stadium is abundant with character and characters. Give me the old-style grounds every day.”