Issue No. 67 December 2025

 IN THIS ISSUE 

Stade News

ClubCall Santa Ponsa

ClubCall Macclesfield

Angel Inn Berwick

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STADE NEWS

NEW STADIUM PLANS FOR ORIENT

Leyton Orient have appointed Populous, the company who designed the new Wembley and Tottenham Hotspur stadiums, to lead the O's new stadium project. Together with the stadium, the club plan a wider multi-sport campus for the club's men's and women's teams, along with an American football team. The project also includes a revitalised public hub including retail, hospitality, and leisure facilities. Orient are working with Waltham Forest Council to identify a suitable site for the project. The club has played at their current Brisbane Road ground since 1937.

EDGELEY PARK EXPANSION

Stockport County have announced a phased multi-million pound project to increase the capacity of Edgeley Park. The work will see an increase in capacity from the current 11,000, to around 18,000 - 20,000. The plans also include increased car parking facilities at the ground for players and staff.

IMPROVEMENTS FOR OAKWELL

A 650 capacity permanent fanpark is one of the improvements planned by Barnsley at Oakwell Stadium. The park will include units for the sale of food and drink, with outdoor seating areas. The club also plan new cladding panels on the East Stand, together with a new ticket office.

ANDERLECHT IN NEW STADIUM STUDY

Belgian giants Anderlecht, based in Brussels, have begun the process of a study into a new multi-use stadium. The current Constant Vanden Stock stadium, opened in 1917, has a current capacity of only 21,500, but demand for match tickets far outweighs the capacity,

HIGH RISE FOR TOTTENHAM

Spurs have submitted plans for four high rise residential towers and a hotel, next to the new Tottenham Stadium. The towers and the 30-storey hotel, will be constructed on the South side of the ground. The hotel is expected to be ready for Euro 28, when the stadium will be one of the host venues.

NEWS IN BRIEF

EXETER CITY

A major fire at St James Park caused the recent postponement of Exeter City's League One match v Burton Albion. The fire, in a temporary building believed to have been started by an electrical fault, may have caused around £100,000 worth of damage to club property.

VALENCIA

Construction work is continuing on the Nou Mestalla stadium, the new home of Valencia CF. After years of delays, the 70,000 capacity stadium with a retractable roof is expected to open in 2027.

WORKINGTON

A new Cumberland Sports Village is to be constructed, and will be the home of Workington AFC. The complex, on the site of the The Reds current Borough Park ground, will have a capacity of 3,700.

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CLUBCALL Santa Ponsa

Camp de Futbol, Santa Ponsa, Mallorca

Founded - 2022

League - Primera Regional de Mallorca

Capacity - 1,000

Record Attendance - 

Nearest Railway Station - Palma

Club Website - Facebook only

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CLUBCALL Macclesfield

Moss Rose, London Road, Macclesfield SK11 7SP.

Founded - 2020 (previously Macclesfield Town founded 1874)

Capacity - 5,300

Record Attendance - 10,041

Nearest Railway Station - Macclesfield

Club Website - www.macclesfieldfc.com

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FAMOUS FOOTBALL PUBS

Angel Inn Berwick upon Tweed

Small, friendly local situated on Brewery Bank, 5 minutes walk from Berwick Rangers Shielfield ground. 

Limited opening hours during the week but packed on matchday Saturday's when pub is open all day.

No food or real ale served.

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STADE IMAGES

Chris Turner statue - Peterborough United

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Many thanks for your interest in the blog.

All photographs and text copyright footballstadeblog2025.

Any comments/queries welcome at footballstadeblog@gmail.com

X@FootballStade

Next issue(No.68)published Sunday 5th April 2026.

footballstadeblog.blogspot.com

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Issue No.66 August 2025

 IN THIS ISSUE 

Stade News

ClubCall Man City

Lost Grounds Odsal

ClubCall Redcar Town

Trent House Newcastle

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STADE NEWS

BORO IN SEASON LONG GROUNDSHARE

Following a site survey which uncovered serious structural issues with the pitch, Scarborough Athletic will play home games this coming season 18 miles away at Bridlington Town. Boro's Sports Village requires extensive repairs, estimated at over £3million, due to a defective drainage system. Whilst North Yorkshire County Council who own the ground will pay for the repairs, Scarborough will take a major financial hit in lost matchday revenue streams including an expected drop in attendances, although the club are looking at improving bus and train services between the towns to ease matchday travel for supporters. Additional work is being undertaken at Bridlington to ensure the Mounting Systems Stadium is 'Step 2 compliant'. The reformed Scarborough Athletic previously played in Bridlington following its founding in 2007, until moving back to the town in 2017.

COUNCIL BLOW FOR BARNET

Plans for Barnet FC to return to the town in a new stadium have been refused by the local council. After leaving the old Underhill ground in 2013 and moving to the Hive which is in Harrow, the club have committed to returning to Barnet and applied to build a 7,000 capacity stadium on Barnet Playing Fields.

NEW STADIUM PLANS FOR USG

Brussels club Union Saint-Gilloise are planning a new stadium, and leaving the Art Deco listed Joseph Marien stadium which has been home since 1919. The current Belgian champions, now regularly playing in European competitions, have outgrown their iconic stadium which has a current capacity of only 9,400.

CITY GROUND EXPANSION PLANS

Nottingham Forest have received planning permission for the expansion of the City Ground, which will see the capacity increase to 35,000. The current main stand will be demolished, and replaced with a 10,000 seater stand. Forest will be required to contribute to local infrastructure improvements, including bus services and cycle lanes.

REPRIEVE FOR GOODISON PARK

Everton have announced they are retaing the iconic Goodison Park, as the permanent home of Everton Ladies. With the club about to move into the new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium, it was previously reported Goodison was to be demolished and replaced with housing. The capacity will be reduced with the upper tiers of stands being closed.

NEWS IN BRIEF

REAL MALLORCA

Estadi Son Moix is now home to a new fan bar and terrace at the South stand of the stadium. The Plaza Fondo Sur, open on non matchdays, offers deckchairs, tables and chairs, with a bar and food service.

HUDDERSFIELD

Previously known as Alfred McAlpine, John Smith's, and Galpharm, Huddersfield Town have renamed their ground the Accu Stadium for the upcoming 2025/26 season.

SV HAMBURG

Following promotion back to the Bundesliga, Hamburger SV are upgrading the Volksparkstadion with improved supporter amenities and catering services. HSV are also exploring the possibility of increasing the stadium capacity from 57,000 to 60,000.

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CLUBCALL Manchester City

Etihad Stadium, Manchester M11 3FF.

Founded - 1880

League - English Premier League

Capacity - 53,600

Record Attendance - 54,693

Nearest Railway Station - Etihad Campus (Metrolink)

Club Website - www.mancity.com

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LOST GROUNDS

Odsal Stadium Bradford

Originally opened in 1933 on the site of a former quarry, Odsal is a multipurpose stadium in the West Yorkshire city of Bradford. 

Although use for football has been quite minimal, the stadium still has historical interest.

Despite a Football Association ban on women's football, August 1939 saw the stadium host an international women's match between Preston Ladies and an all-star Belgian women's team. 

Following the tragic events at Valley Parade in 1985, and short tenure's at Huddersfield and Leeds, Odsal was refurbished and modernised to allow Bradford City to play their Football League matches at the stadium.

The ground hosted the Bantams until December 1986.

Current tenants at Odsal are promotions company Yorstox who organise professional stock cars events at the stadium, whilst previous sports hosted at Odsal include speedway, American football, showjumping, tennis, and baseball.

The record attendance at the stadium is 102,569 for a Warrington v Halifax rugby league match in 1954.

With a current capacity of 26,019, the stadium is now home to and owned by Bradford Bulls RLFC

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CLUBCALL Redcar Town

Mo Mowlam Memorial Park, Trunk Road, Redcar TS10 5BW.

Founded - 1997

League - Northern League Division Two

Capacity - 1,000

Record Attendance - 168

Nearest Railway Station - Redcar Central

Club Website - www.redcartownfc.co.uk

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FAMOUS FOOTBALL PUBS

Trent House Newcastle

Cracking pub on Leazes Lane, just behind the East stand at St James' Park. Ceiling covered in beer mats and a brilliant Newcastle mural upstairs. Fine selection of real ales and bar snacks served. 

Live TV football shown.

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STADE IMAGES

Central Park, Cowdenbeath

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Many thanks for your interest in the blog.

All photographs and text copyright footballstadeblog2025.

Any comments/queries welcome at footballstadeblog@gmail.com

X@FootballStade

Next issue(No.67)published Sunday 21st December 2025.

footballstadeblog.blogspot.com

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Issue No.65 April 2025

IN THIS ISSUE

Leeds Town Hall

Stade News

ClubCall Sunderland

Destination Leeds

ClubCall Chelsea

Five Bells Millwall

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STADE NEWS

TRAVEL CONCERNS AT BRAMLEY MOORE

Following the second test event at Bramley Moore, Everton fans have expressed concerns about the travel arrangements to and from the new stadium. A crowd of 25,000 attended the event, with analysis by the local council suggesting over half the spectators used public transport. Major delays and overcrowding on Merseyrail trains were reported, as well as crowd control problems at Sandhills station, the nearest to the stadium around a fifteen minute walk away. Supporters walking away from the stadium towards the city centre, also encountered delays crossing Bascule Bridge on Regents Road due to weight restrictions. As part of the event, an U21 match v Bolton Wanderers, Everton successfully conducted a full stadium evacuation procedure after 65 minutes. The Toffees will move from Goodison Park in to the new 52,888 capacity stadium in August, at the start of next season.

ARSENAL EXPLORE EMIRATES EXPANSION

Arsenal are exploring expansion of the Emirates Stadium, which could increase capacity to around 80,000. With the stadium being built in a crowded area of North London, any work to increase the number of seats will be complicted and costly. The Gunners have held talks with an architectural design firm, who have presented the club with a variety of expansion plans.

NEW TRAINING COMPLEX AT AYR

Scottish Championship club Ayr United have unveiled plans for a new training complex next to Somerset Park, after the purchase of derelict land behind the Railway End. A new traing pitch and gym facility will be the first phase of the development. The Honest Men currently sit second in the Championship table in the race for promotion to the Premiership.

SPORTS VILLAGE FOR BOUNDARY PARK

Oldham Council has announced plans for a £70m Sports Town, which includes new sports and health facilities at Oldham Athletic's Boundary Park. The plans include a sports campus, training facilities, and a cricket pitch. The Latics share the stadium with Oldham Rugby League club.

RED DRAGONS REVEAL KOP STAND DESIGN

Wrexham have revealed details of the new Kop Stand at the Racecourse Ground. The new 5,500 capacity stand will have a red brick facade, and will incorporate player and officials facilities, safe standing and hospitality areas. The design will also give the club the option to increase capacity of the stand at a later date.

NEWS IN BRIEF

MIDLANDS RAIL LINK

Coventry City and Nottingham Forest have backed plans for a new rail link planned to boost economic growth in the Midlands,which would connect Coventry, Leicester, and Nottingham. The potential link would reinstate direct rail services between the three cities for the first time in over twenty years.

WEXFORD

League of Ireland First Division club Wexford have announced plans for a new 6,000 capacity stadium and sports facility in the town. The club have applied for Government funding for the project, which would see the replacement of the club's current Ferrycarrig Park ground.

AFC BOURNEMOUTH

The Cherries have revealed plans to redevelop Dean Court and increase the capacity to between 19,000 and 23,000. A full refurbishment of the stands and hospitality areas is also planned, as the club reveal a long waiting list for match tickets at the current 11,500 capacity stadium.

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CLUBCALL Sunderland

Stadium of Light, Monkwearmouth, Sunderland SR5 1SU.

Founded - 1879

League - English Football League Championship

Capacity - 49,000

Record Attendance - 48,353

Nearest Railway Station - St.Peters(Metro)

Club Website - www.safc.com

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DESTINATION Leeds

Art Gallery

The cosmopolitan City of Leeds, renowned for its cultural attractions, shopping, and nightlife, is both a fine destination in its own right, and the ideal place to explore the wider area of West Yorkshire.

The Borough of Leeds, covering a small area around the River Aire, was created in 1207, with a Royal Charter granted in 1626. Gradual expansion of the surrounding area saw city status gained in 1893. The current city boundaries were established on 1st April 1974, and with a population of over 822,000 Leeds is now one of the largest cities in England.

Notable buildings in the city include the Town Hall on The Headrow, a fine 19th century municipal building, St.John's church on new Briggate which was consecrated in 1634, the Grade 1 listed Corn Exchange on Briggate, and the Civic Hall in Millenium Square.

Corn Exchange

Leeds is a fine shopping destination, particularly the Victoria Quarter with its beautifully ornate indoor arcades, which now link with the nearby modern Victoria Gate centre. Traditional street shopping is centred  around Briggate, Albion Street, and Boar Lane.

The arts are very well catered for in Leeds, with the famous City Varieties Music Hall, Grand Theatre and Opera House, First Direct Arena, and Brudenell Social Club providing a wide variety of musical entertainment.

The Art Gallery on The Headrow, and City Museum on Millenium Square are both well worth a visit with excellent displays and exhibitions.

The Royal Armouries Museum just south of the city centre is also a must see.

The city is also a brilliant base to discover the attractions of the wider Leeds area, including Kirkstall Abbey, Harewood House, the Industrial Museum at Armley, and Roundhay Park.

Victoria Arcade

Leeds Info

Travel - by road via A1/M1, rail via East Coast and Transpennine routes.

Accomodation - all major hotel chains in the city, The Queens on City Square particularly recommended.

Pubs - Templar on Templar Street, Head of Steam on Mill Hill, Duck and Drake on Kirkgate, Whitelock's off Briggate all fine hostelries.

Tourism Website - www.visitleeds.co.uk

Leeds United

Elland Road, Beeston, Leeds LS11 0ES.

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CLUBCALL Chelsea

Stamford Bridge, Fulham Road, London SW6 1HS.

Founded - 1905

League - English Premier League

Capacity - 40,173

Record Attendance - 82,905

Nearest Railway Station - Fulham Broadway(Tube)

Club Website - www.chelseafc.com

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FAMOUS FOOTBALL PUBS

Five Bells Millwall

Large, friendly community pub on New Cross Road, popular with Millwall fans going to the original and the new Den grounds. Now part of the Craft Union chain, all live TV football shown on the many screens. Not much memorabilia on show inside, but Millwall flag flying outside shows the pub's allegiance to the Lions. No food served.

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STADE IMAGES

The Warwick - Brunton Park, Carlisle

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Many thanks for your interest in the blog.

All photographs and text copyright footballstadeblog2025.

Any comments/queries welcome at footballstadeblog@gmail.com

X@FootballStade

Next issue(No.66)published Sunday 3rd August 2025.

footballstadeblog.blogspot.com

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Issue No.64 December 2024

IN THIS ISSUE

Stade News

ClubCall Chester

Lost Grounds West Ham

ClubCall Thornaby

The Park Middlesbrough 

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STADE NEWS

ELLAND ROAD EXPANSION PLANS

Leeds United have announced plans to expand and improve Elland Road. Home to the Whites since 1916, and with ownership of the ground recently transferred back to the club, Leeds plan to increase capacity at the stadium from the current 37,645 to around 53,000. The expansion will focus on increasing capacity to the North and West stands, with construction completed in phases to maintain as much seating as possible. An increase in capacity and general admission seating is required, as the club currently have over 26,000 supporters on the waiting list for season tickets. The plans also include greatly improved hospitality facilities at the stadium, which when completed will bring Elland Road into UEFA Category 4 status, the elite in European stadia.

DONS RETURN TO GROUND AFTER FLOODING

AFC Wimbledon have returned to Plough Lane, after matches were postponed due to severe flooding and pitch subsidence. Built on the site of the old Wimbledon greyhound stadium, over 100,000 litres of water were pumped from the site before the Dons could return.

NEW STADIUM FOR MAN UTD

It appears the new owners at Manchester United favour a new stadium for the club, rather than rebuilding Old Trafford. A new 100,000 capacity stadium could be built next to the current ground, on the site of an existing rail freight terminal. The  stadium plan is part of a wider Community scheme for the area.

POSH IN COUNCIL DISPUTE 

Peterborough City Council claims it is still owed £220,000 from the club, as part of the 2021 deal agreed to purchase the London road stadium. Meetings have taken place between Posh and the Council, but the dispute over the oustanding payment, part of which was paid in March this year, is still to be resolved.

TERRIERS INCREASE SHARE IN STADIUM

Huddersfield Town have increased their share of the ownership of the John Smith's stadium to 80%, following an agreement with the local Kirklees Council. The remaining 20% share will be held by Huddersfield Giants rugby league club, who share the stadium with the Terriers.

NEWS IN BRIEF

SEVILLA

Planning authorities in Sevilla have approved the expansion of the site for the clubs' proposed new stadium. The Nuevo Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, with a capacity of 55,000, will replace the current stadium of the same name home to the Los Nervionenses since 1958.

LUTON TOWN

The Hatters have released images of the planned new 25,000 capacity stadium at Power Court, plans which include a music venue and hotel. The club are unable to extend their current Kenilworth Road home, which has a capacity of only 12,000.

SAN SIRO 

A sports pub has been opened inside the San Siro in Milan, home to Inter and AC. The pub will open during both clubs home matches, and also during away games to broadcast live TV games. Meanwhile the future of the iconic stadium is still unclear, with both clubs exploring alternative venues.

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CLUBCALL Chester

Deva Stadium, Bumper's Lane, Chester CH1 4LT.

Founded - 2010

League - National League North

Capacity - 6,500

Record Attendance - 5,987

Nearest Railway Station - Chester

Club Website - www.chesterfc.com

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LOST GROUNDS

Boleyn Ground, West Ham

Almost universally known as Upton Park, the Boleyn Ground situated in East London was the home of West Ham United from 1904 until 2016.

The first match at the ground was a Southern League derby v Millwall which attracted around 11,000 spectators, and the stadium soon became hugely popular with Hammers fans. Following the clubs election to the Football League in 1919 and subsequent further increase in crowds, the Hammers were able to gradually increase capacity and facilities at ground, including a double decker main West stand which remained in place until being rebuilt in 2000. After WWII bomb damage at the ground was repaired, floodlights were installed in 1953 making the Boleyn only the second floodlit ground in England after Arsenal's Highbury. 

The ground was further rebuilt and redeveloped over the years with a new East Stand, and new all-seater structures at each end named the Bobby Moore and Centenary stands. The record attendance at the ground was 42,322 for a derby v Tottenham Hotspur in October 1970. Plans to further increase the stadium with a new East Stand never materialised, and the capacity at the Boleyn before West Ham moved was 35,016.

The final match played at the ground was in the Premier League v Manchester United on 10th May 2016, a 3-2 victory for the Hammers.

Following the hugely succesful London Olympic Games in 2012, West Ham won the bidding race to secure tenancy of the Olympic Stadium in Stratford, on a 99-year lease. The stadium has gradually been renovated and modified over the years, and has a capacity for football of 62,500. The record West Ham attendance at the now re-named London Stadium is 62,478, set for a match v Leeds United on 21st May 2023. 

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CLUBCALL Thornaby

Teesdale Park, Acklam Road, Thornaby TS17 7JU.

Founded - 2000

League - Northern League Division Two

Capacity - 5,000

Record Attendance - 3,000

Nearest Railway Station - Thornaby

Club Website - Currently Facebook only

  

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FAMOUS LOST FOOTBALL PUBS

The Park, Middlesbrough

Large, former Bass pub on Linthorpe Road, five minutes walk from Boro's former Ayresome Park home. Originally called the Albert Park Hotel, after the nearby park, the pub was hugely popular before and after matches at Ayresome. Following Boro's move to the Riverside in 1995, the pub finally closed in 2015.

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STADE IMAGES

Main stand at Palmerston Park, Queen of the South

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Many thanks for your interest in the blog.

All photographs and text copyright footballstadeblog2024.

Any comments/queries welcome at footballstadeblog@gmail.com

X@FootballStade

Next issue(No.65)published Sunday 6th April 2025.

footballstadeblog.blogspot.com

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