Grandad Spends £5,000 to Build Private Football Box in Garden to Watch His Team Play
The true ‘Shed End’: Football enthusiast grandad builds private garden box for £5,000
A passionate football fan has transformed his back garden into a six-seat private viewing stand, investing around £5,000 to enjoy matches with his family from home.
The DIY ‘Shed End’ is positioned overlooking non-league Barnoldswick Town’s pitch. The idea stemmed after the 65-year-old noticed three of his grandsons leaning over his fence to watch the game, prompting him to create a safer, permanent spot to enjoy live football.
Situated just meters from the touchline, with a 15-foot drop beyond the garden boundary, the structure offers a secure vantage point. Owner Ian Nutter, an architectural metalworker, explained that the project evolved naturally from initial plans for a simple wooden platform. He consulted a structural engineer for the design and oversaw a team of four apprentices who helped assemble the stand.
The structure features a steel framework set into concrete, a wooden floor, and wooden panelled sides resembling a shed. The seats are salvaged from Burnley’s Cricket Field Stand at Turf Moor, adding a nostalgic touch. The roof is made of aluminium, with toughened glass at the front to prevent wide shots from hitting viewers.
Although tickets for Barnoldswick Town are about £7 each, and season passes cost approximately £120, many see the backyard box as a unique way to experience matches comfortably. For Nutter’s family, it provides a safe and intimate viewing spot where children frequently invite friends to watch the game from the small terrace.
Named the ‘Shed End’ as a nod to famous stadium sections and its timber cladding, the project also connects to Burnley’s historic Cricket Field Stand through the original seats used. Nutter enjoys watching games even in winter, often warming up inside his shed during half-time to stay cozy.
He plans to attend as many matches as possible from his backyard gallery throughout the season, blending his love for football with a personal project that brings joy to his family and friends.