Liverpool and Manchester United are two of the biggest clubs on the planet and it's not just their exploits on the pitch that has earned them that status. There's a level of gravitas about them that sets them apart from a large majority of sides in the beautiful game. Their fanbases are responsible for some of that and many footballers have spoken highly about playing in front of their fanbases.
Old Trafford and Anfield are held in such high esteem for their historical significance and the atmosphere that radiates throughout them on a matchday. Despite this, one former footballer who took to the turf in both grounds on multiple occasions revealed that he actually thought there was a stadium in the Championship that had a better atmosphere. Troy Deeney made a name for himself in the Premier League with Watford. He played 165 games in the top flight, scored 47 goals and visited both Anfield and Old Trafford numerous times.
Despite playing within their iconic walls, though, he was recently tasked with naming the five football grounds that had the best atmosphere and he picked a Championship stadium as the very best.
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Deeney Named The Den As the Best Atmosphere
Millwall play there
the den millwall
Known for his bold opinions, Deeney, speaking to talkSPORT, was asked to name the five stadiums he'd played at that had the best atmospheres. While he's played at the very biggest venues in England, he named The Den as the best. The former striker visited Millwall's ground during his time with Watford in the Championship and was extremely fond of the experience. The Lions have a reputation for being one of the most passionate fanbases in England and the Den can often have a hostile vibe towards visitors, but he appreciated that. Speaking on the matter, the former Watford man said:
"Weirdly, I loved playing at Millwall. It's a bit of me, isn't it? It's a bit intense. They're going to give you s***, you give them s***."
Millwall moved into The Den in 1993 and have called the stadium home ever since. Below the ground, Deeney named some other beloved venues in his top five. Admitting he was a fan of the classics, he picked West Ham United's former home, Upton Park, a ground he played at twice. He also named Tottenham Hotspur's old White Hart Lane, Newcastle United's St. James' Park and then Wembley, home to the England national team.
Deeney never represented his nation throughout his career, but he visited Wembley with Watford on a pair of occasions. First, when the Hornets made it to the Championship play-off final in 2013, and faced off against Crystal Palace, and then, several years later in the FA Cup final against Manchester City. Unfortunately for the striker, he was on the losing end of both affairs. Still, that didn't hurt his experience visiting the stadium and he still holds it in high regards.
All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt and accurate as of 27/05/25