Size matters: How pitch dimensions vary in the Premier League

The game of football is a unique one, where the outcome of every match is never certain, and where players of all shapes and sizes can make their mark.

And strangely enough, the same can be said for the very pitches those players step onto every week.

Have you ever watched a Premier League match on TV and thought to yourself, “This field looks tiny,”  just to watch the second match of the weekend and say, “And this one looks massive”. 

First of all you’re not alone, and secondly, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you.

By law, every pitch must have dimensions that abide by the official rules set by the Football Association - 90m – 120m in length and 45m – 90m in width, with every team using that to their advantage at home.

We have compiled a list of all the current stadiums in England’s top division to see which clubs have been using that guideline the most, and have taken a closer look at some of the more interesting cases.

From largest to smallest:

1. Nottingham Forest - City Ground - 105m x 71m

The largest current pitch in the Premier League is that of Nottingham Forest. The City Ground, which has a capacity of 30,445, has been the home of The Garibaldis since 1898. While it might not have the most fans in its seats every weekend, players still have plenty of space to work with!

2. - 16.  A fifteen-way tie - 105m x 68m

In second place, and just slightly smaller than the City Ground, are 15 other Premier League clubs.

Arsenal (Emirates Stadium)

Aston Villa (Villa Park)

Bournemouth (Vitality Stadium)

Brentford (Gtech Community Stadium)

Brighton (Amex Stadium)

Burnley (Turf Moor)

Everton (Goodison Park)

Leeds (Elland Road)

Man City (Etihad Stadium)

Man Utd (Old Trafford)

Newcastle (St. James’ Park)

Sunderland (Stadium of Light)

Tottenham Hotspur (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium)

West Ham (London Stadium)

Wolves (Molineux)

As you can see, the majority of teams in England share the same pitch size, which can be surprising when considering Bournemouth or Burnley’s ground, which might seem significantly smaller than that of Arsenal or Man United upon first glance.

17. Chelsea - Stamford Bridge - 103m x 67m

The Blues come in with one of the smaller stadiums in the Premier League, with both a shortened length and width. While only by a metre or two on both sides, the smaller area of 6,901 square meters can weirdly be felt when watching a match at Stamford Bridge from the comfort of your couch.

18. - 19. A two-way tie - 101m x 68m

Liverpool - Anfield

It’s no surprise that Liverpool is found towards the bottom of this list. Whereas Stamford Bridge’s area is only slightly shortened compared to those previously discussed, Anfield is much tighter. With the stands practically on the pitch and the roaring of the Kop end, an away trip to the red side of Merseyside is already daunting. Add in one of the smallest-sized pitches in Europe, and you’ve got yourself some home-field advantage.

Crystal Palace - Selhurst Park

Selhurst Park is another one of those grounds where you feel like you could breathe instructions into players' ears. A compact field with small stands, it is truly a classic English stadium. With an area of 6,868m and a capacity of 25,486, a trip to Selhurst can ruin any players’ weekend.

20. Fulham - Craven Cottage - 100m x 65m

And coming in with the smallest pitch in the Premier League is Craven Cottage. Sitting along the Thames River, it has been Fulham’s home since 1896. While it has had renovations over the years, the feeling of the old school ground still remains. And with an area of only 6,500m, the claustrophobia can set in very quickly.