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Looking Back

7 of the smallest stadiums in Premier League history

With Bournemourth set to enter the top flight, Dean Court is about to become one of the smallest grounds in the competition’s history.

Oldham, Boundary Park (10,638)

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YES, OLDHAM WERE once a Premier League club, but you need a decent memory to recall it. The team were a founding member of the league in 1992-93, but were promptly relegated after finishing 21st the following season, and they haven’t been back since.

Swindon, County Ground (15,728)

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Like Oldham, Swindon’s stay in the top flight was brief — promoted ahead of the 1993-94 season, they went straight back down after finishing rock bottom by a comfortable margin.

Blackpool, Bloomfield Road (16,750)

Soccer - Barclays Premier League - Blackpool v Fulham - Bloomfield Road PA Archive / Press Association Images PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

The club actually started their one and only season in the Premier League (2010-11) with a 12,000 capacity, before upgrading shortly thereafter. It still didn’t stop them being relegated in agonising fashion on the final day of the season, as results elsewhere meant their 4-2 loss to Man United sent them down.

Queens Park Rangers, Loftus Road (18,360)

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Despite regularly having one of the smallest stadiums in the league, QPR have still managed a respectable record of seven seasons in the Premier League to date.

Watford, Vicarage Road (17,400)

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About embark on their third season in the Premier League, they have never avoided relegation in the competition, following previous stints in 1999-00 and 2006-07.

Derby County, Baseball Ground (18,300)

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Derby had just one season playing Premier League football in the Baseball Ground, before it closed and they moved to Pride Park in 1997.

Southampton The Dell (15,200)

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One of the most fondly remembered old Premier League grounds, the pitch’s incredibly close proximity to the crowd resulted in one famously disallowed goal, when the ball ricocheted off the billboard and went back into play. In total, the club have been in the Premier League for 16 out of 23 seasons so far. The Dell featured in nine of those seasons, before the club moved to St Marys in 2001.

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