A photographic journey around some of Scotland’s best known and lesser known league football grounds.
Vol. One focusses on grounds in the North East of Scotland. The photobook is available to purchase directly from @keithdsmithimages, and selection of prints are available though Lower Block. A donation from every sale going to football charities.
The images were all taken during lockdown when fans were not allowed near grounds.
Intrigued by the idea of grounds as buildings and structures, as opposed to somewhere full of people, Smith set out to try and photograph every ground in the Scottish football league.
The photographs capture the eerie beauty and rawness of the architecture of the historical grounds. Still and silent without a fan in sight.
A football fan and photographer since childhood, Smith found photography a lifeline during the COVID lockdowns. A Norwich City fan, Smith moved from Norwich to Aberdeenshire in 2001.
Pittodrie, built in 1899, has been the home of Aberdeen F.C since it was formed in 1903. It is the largest stadium in Scotland outside the central belt.
Despite a few trips to Pittodrie with his sons when they were younger, Smith has no emotional attachment to any Scottish team, but confesses to having a soft spot for Cove Rangers following their rise up the pyramid in recent years.
The Richard Donald Stand at Pittodrie. It’s the only two tier stand at the ground and is the newest, having being built in 1993. It’s the nearest part of the ground to the North Sea, approx 300 metres away.
Glebe Park opened in 1919. It is unusual in that the largest stand is situated behind one of the goals, as a result of the ‘famous’ hedge which runs most of the length of the pitch.
Gayfield Park, home of Arbroath F.C. is surrounded by brick walls on three sides and an amusement park on the fourth.
Gayfield was the scene of Arbroath’s 36-0 victory over Bon Accord in 1885, still the record winning margin in British football.
Gayfield Park it is nearer the sea than any other football stadium in Europe.
Smith’s bid to visit and photograph every league ground in Scotland has taught him much about the Scottish game and the clubs which make it so special.
Station Park was named after the nearby railway station, but this closed in 1968 and now ironically the stadium is one of the furthest in Scotland from the railway.
Ground rules: No alcohol. No Weapons… Station Park, Forfar Athletic F.C. Forfar are known as the Loons, after the Scottish term for lads.
About the book, Smith said, “I have found this project has taught me a lot about the Scottish game and I find myself looking at results that previously wouldn’t have interested me. Even walking round the perimeter of a ground and photographing it sometimes gives you a real feel for the club and it’s history.”
Borough Briggs is is the most northerly football league stadium in Great Britain. It’s been home to Elgin City since 1921.
Hearts have played at Tynecastle Park since 1886. In 1914 the ground was redeveloped and a new main stand designed by renowned architect Archibald Leitch.
The fifth-largest football stadium in Scotland, Easter Road in Leith, Edinburgh, has been home to Hibernian F.C. since 1893.
Smith used his Nikon D7200 DSLR camera, with a Sigma 10 – 20mm lens, or his Nikon 35mm to capture his images.
Dundee has two league football teams and two stadia, separated by approximately 200 metres, making them the closest neighbours in British league football.
Dens Park, known as the Kilmac Stadium for sponsorship purposes, has been home to Dundee F.C. since 1899. A record 43,000 squeezed in to watch a match in 1953, nowadays the capacity is just under 12, 000.
Dundee United F.C. have played at Tannadice since being formed in 1909 as Dundee Hibernian. They changed their name to United in 1923.
Keith Smith’s photobook Scottish Football Grounds – Vol. One is available to buy now. You can keep up with Keith and his project on Instagram by following @keithdsmithimages.