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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want to live next to a football stadium?

445 replies

Nataliaa · 25/05/2025 22:40

We’ve found a house that in all ways is perfect for us. In terms of price, close to work, size, minimal work needed - we could happily live with the interior, as it is- so no rush to put our stamp on it. No renovations needed. However, it is very close to a football stadium. My DH is saying if I let that one negative sway my decision, we would be turning down our dream family home and as we have been house hunting for 6 months and have not come close to finding any house that ticks so many of our wants, we would regret not going for this one.
My DH says that whilst there may be some disruption on match days, it’s not going to be every single weekend, and therefore minimal.
Am I really being picky, or would this be an issue for others?? Would you happily live near a football stadium?

OP posts:
LlynTegid · 26/05/2025 07:54

The football ground wouldn't be the reason why I would not live in that part of south London. Well most of south London I'd avoid, given limited evening/Sunday train services, traffic congestion from the south Circular, and lack of many cultural facilities.

AlorsTimeForWine · 26/05/2025 07:54

Honestly based on my.own experience it would put me off and i do think milwall fans are more aggressive than your average london team.

I have been to several games at various stadiums in London.

At Millwall every game I've been to the away fans were essentially held in the stadium post match then held "kettling style" in various alleys / footpaths and herded onto trains to keep them separate from milwall fans. there is generally heavy police presence which honestly, is often needed.

Barbiewhirl · 26/05/2025 07:58

I mean there is a reason the price is appealing! It depends really, i used to live near Fratton and it was hell on match days for many reasons. It would have to be a once in a lifetime super house for me to be tempted, but everyone is different! Id see what its used for (if anything) besides games too, we used to be subject to the noise and floodlights out of season regularly too.

DisforDarkChocolate · 26/05/2025 07:59

Not in a million years.

If this is what it takes to find what you want on your budget you need to rethink either or what's or your budget.

Noise
Drunks
Evening games
Events
Parking
Rubbish

Pipsquiggle · 26/05/2025 08:02

Just on Millwall, there are still gangs that cause trouble.

I support another Championship team, used to have a season ticket in my youth, virtually never any trouble. When Millwall came to play, there were lots more police presence and the atmosphere seemed 'edgier'

Having said all that, the police are probably well aware of the above and put mitigations in place.

EsmeSusanOgg · 26/05/2025 08:05

Nataliaa · 25/05/2025 22:48

It’s a championship team, I think that could equate to 20,000 fans maybe! It’s on a long road that leads to the stadium. Can’t see it from the house, because the stadium is on a road off the main one, but it’s like less than 5 mins to walk

Parking will be a nightmare on match days. Friend lives about 10 mins walk from a championship club and people block their cul de sac with cars on match days.

But, her house is lovely and the rest of the time there are no issues.

So, it is a downside - but is it big enough of a downside?

BettyEagleton · 26/05/2025 08:06

If the house is near Millwall is it also near that massive waste processing/recycling place? I think it’s called South East London Power or something similar? That might be a consideration too.

Chasingsquirrels · 26/05/2025 08:07

Many years ago we didn't buy a house on Carrow Road (Norwich) for this reason.
That was a terrace fronting the pavement (no front garden separation).
We brought another about a mile away, and on match days could still hear the noise when a goal was scored.

HarryVanderspeigle · 26/05/2025 08:09

I would not want to live there no. I am fine with neighbourhood noise and being overlooked by other properties. But all the people walking past would be too much l9ss of privacy. Plus the potential for them weeing and dropping litter and not being able to get your car out. I don't think Millwall is known for concerts either, so not like you get the perk of hearing them for free.

CiaoMeow · 26/05/2025 08:10

If its the Bet365 stadium, I wouldn't worry - used to live around that area for years, though quite a bit further way than your new house is. I have spoke to/known several people who lived closer and nothing negative has ever been mentioned about it.

If another stadium, unless you've heard really bad things, if it was my dream house, it wouldn't put me off. I understand you being concerned though.

crankycurmudgeon · 26/05/2025 08:15

Nataliaa · 25/05/2025 22:55

It is also a team that has a bit of a bad reputation for their fans 🙈 although some
colleagues that support this team, say the reputation is from the 70’s/80’s and very much outdated. It is, according to them, a family club these days with relatively few problems. But I do acknowledge that it’s probably this reputation that is adding to my apprehension!

It's Millwall isn't it 😂

Fooshufflewickjbannanapants · 26/05/2025 08:16

one of my sons works at the hospitality away end of a same league club and said that Leeds fans were way more difficult than those, he also expected the worst because of an old reputation……. And they were losing……

LlynTegid · 26/05/2025 08:20

Chasingsquirrels · 26/05/2025 08:07

Many years ago we didn't buy a house on Carrow Road (Norwich) for this reason.
That was a terrace fronting the pavement (no front garden separation).
We brought another about a mile away, and on match days could still hear the noise when a goal was scored.

Did you hear Delia Smith's half time talk?

Squiggles23 · 26/05/2025 08:21

I have got the train when a load of Millwall supporters were on it (due to a match ending). It was utterly foul - all singing about the Man U plane crash and all those poor young players that died. I genuinely couldn’t believe it - wanted to shout at them but the train was full of supporters so I didn’t.

Ultimately OP the only reason you can afford it is because of the stadium. No one wants to live there so it’s cheap. You won’t make much money on it because you’ll have the same issues selling. However, you’ve been looking for 6 months and it is a compromise. Any other football team I would be tempted but I do really hate Millwall because of above 🤣

MiseryIn · 26/05/2025 08:23

I lived a similar distance from a very major premier league stadium and I kind of loved it.
match days were buzzing and it was cool hearing the crowd (much more distant than you’d think).
no trouble at all outside of match days. Wouldn’t have known it was there.

Chasingsquirrels · 26/05/2025 08:23

LlynTegid · 26/05/2025 08:20

Did you hear Delia Smith's half time talk?

Show quote history

It was before then!

Fupoffyagrasshole · 26/05/2025 08:25

I live 10 from Tottenham !

dont find it a hassle at all tbh! Match days a little annoying but a plan around it ! Try make sure I’m working at home that day for example mid week.

only disruption is just before and just after really. I don’t mind about it at all.

lemoncheesecakemaker · 26/05/2025 08:26

Nataliaa · 25/05/2025 22:48

It’s a championship team, I think that could equate to 20,000 fans maybe! It’s on a long road that leads to the stadium. Can’t see it from the house, because the stadium is on a road off the main one, but it’s like less than 5 mins to walk

We live near a similar stadium by the sounds of it. On match days it gets busy with hundreds of people walking passed but I enjoy watching them all go by if I’m honest.
We don’t have our own parking so it can be a pain sometimes but we’ve lived here for 13 years and it’s probably only really annoyed me twice in that time.
If we listen carefully we can hear the cheer of the crowd when the home team scores and I like listening to that - even though I don’t follow football.
It’s also great if they ever hold a concert there. Walking distance!
Overall I would say that it’s had minimal
impact on our day to day life.

IdiottoGoa · 26/05/2025 08:27

I do think you’d struggle to sell it on.

Plump82 · 26/05/2025 08:27

I lived next to one of the 2 biggest teams stadium in Scotland. 60k capacity and honestly it was absolutely fine. In the 11 years I lived there I never had one bit of hassle. I could see the stadium from my flat.

CatsWhiskerz · 26/05/2025 08:33

In all honesty you need to go there on match day and see what it's like! We've lived 10 mins walk from a premier ship football ground which is also opposite a large cricket ground that has international matches / test matches etc live on tv so really busy. The only thing we hear is the cheering from our home. At close the traffic can be a nightmare but that's why you need to see if it's something g you can cope with. Parking can be awkward around the streets but we have a driveway and live in a town ce tre so not much room for extra parking, they usually park on local parks the council own for a fee
Good luck ! I quite like living around all the sports, cricket is the best IMO

user1471464167 · 26/05/2025 08:36

How far away is the house you are interested in ?

QuartzIlikeit · 26/05/2025 08:38

I wouldn't be keen. My family support another championship team & have season tickets. When Milwall came to play us at home this season, I wouldn't let DH take our 7 year old due to worrying about his safety getting to & from the ground due to their fans (he completely agreed & didn't want to take him either). A significant amount of their fans aren't nice people. There was actually a bit of trouble from their fans too so he was pleased he didn't take him.

Also, you have to find out what the parking restrictions are like on match days. At our local club, no one is allowed to park on the roads leading to thr club - including those who live on the road so they have to find somewhere else to park for every day & evening match - it's a comple pita & I wouldn't live there.

Traffic is a nightmare from 1pm - 6pm every home game in the surrounding 5/6 miles & it can take ages to drive anywhere near it.

But every team & council manage it differently & you really need to speak to people who live locally to find out what it's like.

Good luck

Teateaandmoretea · 26/05/2025 08:39

I think there are always compromises and the perfect house doesn’t exist. This one is probably in budget because it’s where it is. So yabu if you’ve been looking for 6 months.

WimpoleHat · 26/05/2025 08:41

viques · 25/05/2025 23:37

I used to live literally around the corner from the old Arsenal stadium at Highbury and it was hell. Until you have seen and heard tens of thousands walking past your front door, and back again, every other weekend, have had to wade through the urine the incontinent have released into the gutter and against every wall, have had to keep to a strict timetable on a match day to be able to move in or out of your home, have smelt the onions from the burger vans, until you have seen the police presence if they are at home to an enemy team and worried about things kicking off, have listened to the roar of thousands of voices even with the windows shut, then you have no idea what effect it can have.

The little tube station at Highbury had a wire mesh fenced off corridor going down to the platform , even walking down inside the fenced off bit was frightening, fans banging on the wore,some spitting, shouting, rude remarks, that was a particular nightmare.

There will be other houses.

You must have been a neighbour of one of my best friends. He also lives close to Arsenal. He’s totally au fait with the drill now (walk to other tube station on these days, don’t have visitors with cars then etc) and loves the location at all other times, so just gets on with it. I definitely couldn’t cope with it all, though. I think it’s quite a personal decision. Ultimately, as a pp has said, you have to accept that the location is why it is the house that it is at the price that it is and make a conscious decision that basis. It’s a tough one, though - especially if you and DH have different views about whether or not it’s a dealbreaker.

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