The Joy of Six: favourite football grounds – in pictures

Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro The stadium under construction ahead of the 1950 World Cup finals Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images

16 July 1950: World Cup final. Uruguay upset predictions of an easy victory for Brazil by winning the final 2-1 with goals from Juan Alberto Schiaffino and Alcides Edgardo Ghiggia. The official attendance of the game was 199,854, with the actual attendance estimated to be about 210,000 Photograph: Popperfoto

General view of the stadium in 2009 Photograph: Vanderlei Almeida/AFP/Getty Images

The redevelopment of the stadium ready for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics Photograph: Buda Mendes/LatinContent/Getty Images

Brittania Stadium, Stoke A general view of the ground from 1999 Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Children play football outside the ground Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

The Sir Stanley Matthews statue outside the Britannia Stadium. Matthews made 355 appearances for Stoke in two spells scoring 62 goals from 1932 to 1947 and 1961 to 1965 Photograph: Gary M. Prior/Getty Images

May 4 2008 The crowd invade the pitch in celebration after the final whistle as Stoke gain promotion to the Premier League Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Mahamasina Stadium, Antananarivo, Madagascar Supporters attend the installation of Andry Rajoelina as Madagascar's president on 21 March 2009 Photograph: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters

Madagascar v Ivory Coast in a World Cup qualifier back in 2001 Photograph: Pejman Faratin

Fans wait for kick-off Photograph: Pejman Faratin

The sky darkens during the first half. With Madagascar leading 1-0 the rain came down after an hour and it was torrential rain Photograph: Pejman Faratin

The game is rather unsurprisingly called off. The rain did the Ivory Coast a favour as the match was replayed the following day and they won 3-1 Photograph: Pejman Faratin

City Ground, Nottingham. The home of Nottingham Forest has stood next to the river Trent since 1898 Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

A mounted policeman amongst the crowd overflowing onto the pitch for Nottingham Forest's FA Cup tie replay against Chelsea in January 1934 Photograph: H. F. Davis/Getty Images

The main stand was largely rebuilt in 1965 but on 24 August 1968 fire broke out during a First Division game against Leeds United. The stand was subsequently burned to the ground but thankfully, despite a crowd of 31,126, there were no casualties Photograph: PA Archive

A general view of the ground in May 1979 Photograph: Bob Thomas/Getty Images

Forest's Martin O'Neill blasts wide during the first leg of their 1979 European Cup semi-Final against Cologne Photograph: PA Archive

Mist rolls in off the River Trent during the Championship match between Nottingham Forest and Derby County in December 2010 Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Craven Cottage, Fulham The stadium has been home to the Cottagers since 1894 Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

A number of advertisements tower above the supporters as they watch Fulham take on Millwall in 1933
Photograph: J. A. Hampton/Getty Images

Fulham's Simon Davies takes a corner during the Uefa Europa League qualifying match between Fulham and NSI Runavik in June 2011 Photograph: Warren Little/Getty Images

Outside the ground Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Between the Johnny Haynes Stand and Putney End you'll find the unique Pavilion building Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Wooden seats and photos of past glories Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Camp Nou, Barcelona The stadium hosted the 1982 World Cup opening ceremony along with a number of group matches Photograph: DI/AP

The stadium has played host to a multitude of star players, including Gary Lineker Photograph: Bob Thomas/Getty Images

The colours of Catalunya are displayed by fans ahead of El Clásico in October 2012 Photograph: Jose Jordan/AFP/Getty Images