A study to rank England’s 92 clubs – from Premier to League Two – puts both Cumbrians in the bottom 10.
The survey was based on the experience for away fans with Barrow ranked 86th and Carlisle only slightly better at 83rd.
The study was completed by BetVictor, which analysed 10 distinct match-day factors which were: season ticket price, price per game, stadium use, total mileage, number of votes, atmosphere, location, stadium view, infrastructure and food.
Among the elite Anfield (Liverpool), Stamford Bridge (Chelsea) and the Emirates Stadium (Arsenal) all failed to make the top 20.
League Two Gillingham had the unfortunate honour of being ranked last on this list as Priestfield Stadium fails to impress with a score of 51.20/100, leaving them as the worst experience for fans across England’s top four divisions.
This will probably come as no real surprise considering their ‘temporary’ unsheltered away stand has been there for years now.
Along with Barrow and Carlisle in the bottom 10 are Premier League teams Luton Town and Crystal Palace.
Luton have undergone £10m refurbishments at Kenilworth Road so any further survey might move them forward.
Interestingly Forest Green Rovers also rank poorly so presumably whoever had the final say on the food category clearly isn’t a fan of vegan burgers.
Talking of food, Carlisle’s bogey team Harrogate Town are as high as 52nd on the list, in part due to their very respectable food rating of 70/100.
Only AFC Wimbledon and Notts County (who come further down the list) can match this from that division.
Carlisle fans on the road tomorrow to watch United at Sincil Bank will be able to take in the pleasures of a club ranked 56th in the list.
Brighton & Hove Albion show that they can do more than recruit top class talent on the pitch because they have an 80/100 food ranking.
That is on par with Spurs’ as the best place to get your nosh across all 92 professional grounds.
So what about the top 10 – given that Premier League champions Manchester City come in at 11th?
Derby County’s Pride Park Stadium is ranked as the best League 1 venue, coming in at eighth, while Bradford City’s Valley Parade is best ranked League 2 ground, finishing even higher in fifth.
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – with unmatched stadium utilisation of 99.20% – is third ahead of Notts Forest’s City Ground.
So who is top? According to this particular survey the surprise, to many perhaps, is Bramhall Lane, home of Sheffield United.
The Blades have a median ticket cost average of just £22.89, which is the cheapest in the Premier League, while still boasting 80/100 atmosphere, location, and stadium view – making it a clear winner.
