The 10 best home atmospheres in the EFL Championship | OneFootball

FLW has ranked the clubs with the strongest home support in the second tier

It is always a hot topic amongst supporters on social media as to which Championship fanbases and stadiums contribute towards some of the best atmospheres in the division, or indeed, English football as a whole.

There are several facets which make the second tier one of world football's most compelling leagues, and the largely unfabricated atmospheres generated by a whole host of clubs when they play on home turf is certainly one of those.

Throughout the 24 clubs featuring in the 2025/26 Championship, there is a strong blend of stadium sizes and history which can help add to the atmosphere, as well as the performances on the pitch.

As previously mentioned, this is a topic which always comes with some form of controversy and split opinions. But, with that being said, Football League World have ranked the clubs and stadiums with the 10 best atmospheres in this season's Championship.

10 ? ? Norwich City - Carrow Road

In 10th are the Norwich City supporters at Carrow Road.

Despite not exactly being known for generating the most 'hostile' of atmospheres, Canaries fans have continuously turned up in their numbers to back their team no matter the circumstances.

They have recently been rewarded for their loyalty in what has been a difficult season for the Norfolk club. Having failed to see former head coach, Liam Manning, emerge victorious on home turf during his short-lived tenure, Philippe Clement has reinstilled a feeling of positivity in the stands, which was particularly evident during Norwich's 2-1 success over promotion-chasing Coventry City on January 26th.

In ninth are the Coventry supporters at the Coventry Building Society Arena.

It has been well-documented that Sky Blues fans have been on an emotional rollercoaster since the turn of the century, which has included two spells of 'groundsharing' with Northampton Town and Birmingham City.

However, since their return to the CBS in 2021, the club's upwardly mobile trajectory has seen a major increase in attendances lead to a strong atmosphere, largely down to the 'Singers Corner' section of home supporters located in block 14-17.

City have now also taken full control of the stadium, with Doug King parting with an eight-figure sum after it was previously owned by Mike Ashley.

Ipswich Town supporters have generated a strong atmosphere at Portman Road in recent times, largely down to the club's achievements under the management of Kieran McKenna.

Despite being relegated from the Premier League after just one season last term, Town supporters were constantly seen getting behind their team in a number of ways, and that has continued into this campaign with a handful of fan-made displays on show in the Sir Bobby Robson Stand, particularly in the East Anglian derby against Norwich, which they won 3-1 in October 2025.

Portsmouth's Fratton Park is one of the most historic stadiums in the Championship, and has been able to consistently generate an intimidating atmosphere as a result, regardless of the club's fortunes.

The layout of the ground ensures that supporters either side of the touchline feel very much 'on top of the pitch', which can play into Pompey's advantage in crucial fixtures.

Furthermore, former legends such as Ronaldinho and Thierry Henry have placed their love for the atmosphere generated in this part of the world when facing off against Portsmouth in domestic and European encounters.

6 ? ? Sheffield Wednesday - Hillsborough

Although Sheffield Wednesday fans have had very few reasons to be cheerful this season due to takeover complications and points deductions, Hillsborough is still capable of generating one of the best atmospheres in the Championship.

It certainly helps that the stadium is the biggest by capacity in the division, meaning that there is scope for a 'cauldron of noise' to hit the players of Wednesday and their opponents during a crucial fixture.

Supporters in S6 will be hoping the good times and a pleasantly strong atmosphere can return next season once a new owner is in situ.

5 ? ? Derby County - Pride Park

Derby County fans are, again, some of the most loyal and passionate in the Championship, making Pride Park an extremely tough place for opponents to take points from down the years.

Even though the Rams have lost their local derby with Nottingham Forest for the time being, there is no denying that supporters in DE24 - particularly in the South Stand - are behind their team all the way throughout the 90 minutes, regardless of the significance of any stand-alone match.

However, some will question one specific element, which is the use of a drum.

4 ? ? Millwall - The Den

The Den is well-known for being one of the most hostile environments in world football, never mind the Championship.

Millwall's famous stadium, which bears four identical stands, is also known for having one of the best atmospheres in the division as a result, as Lions fans look to give their opponents a feeling of trepidation throughout the 90 minutes.

As such, there is plenty of 'back and forth' between the two sets of supporters as a result, even though those in the away end are often shepherded into a 'compound'-like area before the match for safety reasons, even though the South London club have worked tirelessly to lessen the stereotype which surrounds them due to hooliganism.

3 ? ? Sheffield United - Bramall Lane

Taking the 'bronze medal' in this particular ranking are the Sheffield United fans at Bramall Lane, which remains the second-oldest stadium in the world behind Wrexham AFC's Stok Cae Ras.

Within the past decade, Blades fans and their players have made the S2 stadium a fortress for the most part, with visiting sides knowing full well they have faced a tough battle on the pitch and against a hostile atmosphere in an attempt to prize away all three points.

Despite also being at the opposite side of the stadium to where the visiting supporters are situated, the 'Kop' stand is full of noise throughout the entire game, largely down to the sheer number of fans it can accommodate due to its steepness.

2 ? ? Birmingham City - St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park

In second place is Birmingham City's St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park, which has seen plenty of recent change under Blues' American investors.

The stadium was given a transformation in 2024 after previously being half-open for some time due to safety concerns, with Birmingham supporters barely leaving an empty seat on show as a result of the club's drastically-changed fortunes.

During Chris Davies' tenure, only a handful of sides have emerged victorious in B9 across all competitions, with one particular 'goosebumps' moment being when Keep Right On is chanted in a slow manner by the vast majority of the stadium prior to kick-off.

Another quirk amongst Blues fans which has been well-documented of late is the infamous "who" chant aimed at opposing players when a substitution is taking place - even Cristiano Ronaldo was once on the receiving end of this.

2030.

However, taking the crown in terms of the best atmosphere in the Championship are Middlesbrough's supporters at the Riverside Stadium.

The stadium is now over 30 years old, and whilst 'modern' grounds have often received criticism for a lack of character and atmosphere, the Teesside natives have certainly bucked such a trend for many years.

Even though Boro have endured contrasting fortunes in recent decades, the locals have continued to show up with the same levels of passion and loyalty, which could be rewarded by a return to the Premier League at the end of the season.

The 'Red Faction' ultras group are also a key reason behind such a strong atmosphere, helped by the usage of flags and banners during matches, as well as the fact they are directly behind the South Stand goal, which helps the Reds in terms of urgency if they are chasing a crucial equaliser or winner.