Issue No.44 August 2018

IN THIS ISSUE

Stade News

ClubCall Peterborough United

Anfield stadium tour

Imperial Grimsby






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STADE NEWS
BHOYS UPGRADE PARADISE

Glasgow Celtic have invested over £4m in a close season upgrade of Celtic Park.
New LED floodlighting has been installed to replace the old halogen lights, with a new PA/entertainment system also now in place.
Further roof and steel remedial works have been carried out on the main and west stands.
Work is due to start soon on a major new complex outside the stadium, comprising a new Club store, ticket office, and hotel.


PLANS FOR DEN EXPANSION 

Only just over a year after the threat of expulsion from the stadium, Millwall have appointed architects to look at the expansion of the Den.
Home since 1993 and with a current capacity of just over 20,000, the Lions have teamed up with AFL Architects, currently also working on the new Brentford stadium project, to work on the planned upgrade.
The club hope to have a detailed planning application submitted by the end of 2018.

NEW SEATS AT STADIUM OF LIGHT

League One Sunderland have enlisted the help of hundreds of supporters to install over 9,000 new seats at the Stadium of Light.
Many of the original seats, installed when the stadium opened in 1997, have faded badly to an unsightly pinkish colour.
The south-east corner was the first stage of the revamp, when fully completed over 30,000 seats will have been replaced in the 48,000 capacity stadium.

CAPACITY RESTORED AT THE EMIRATES

Arsenal have announced that the capacity at the Emirates Stadium will return to over 60,000, by the start of the 2019-20 season.
Having lost a significant number of seats due to safety improvements and requirements since the stadium opened in 2006, nearly 1,000 extra seats will be installed in the stadium's hospitality Club Level.
The additional seats will restore the ground capacity to around 60,600.

NEALE COOPER STAND AT THE VIC

Hartlepool United have renamed the Mill House stand at Victoria Park in memory of former manager Neale Cooper.
The naming ceremony took place before the recent pre-season friendly against Sunderland.
Cooper, who had two spells in the dug-out at Pools, will be best remembered as a pivotal member of the Aberdeen team which triumphed in the 1983 European Cup Winners cup final against Real Madrid.
Neale Cooper sadly passed away in May this year.

IN BRIEF
TORQUAY UNITED - National League South club Torquay have announced plans for a new 10,000 capacity stadium, and the scheme already has the backing of the local Mayor.
The Gulls, who will remain a full-time club in the sixth tier of English football next season, have played at their current 6,200 capacity Plainmoor stadium since 1910.

BALLYMENA UNITED - Following a major investment in a new pitch at the Ballymena Showgrounds, Irish League club Ballymena have expressed their anger over stock cars damaging the new playing surface following a recent race meeting.
The club shares the council owned venue with the Ballymena Raceway.

FREIBURG - Bundesliga club SC Freiburg have moved a step closer towards a new 35,000 stadium, following a vote of approval by the local council.
Freiburg hope to start work early in 2019 on the Wolfswinkel site close to the city's airport, which will see the club move from their current 24,000 capacity Schwardwald-Stadion home since 1954.

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STADE RETRO IMAGES

Old main stand at Feethams, Darlington

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CLUBCALL
Peterborough United

London Road, Peterborough PE2 8AL.
Founded - 1934
League - English Football League One
Capacity - 14,319
Record Attendance - 30,096
Nearest Railway Station - Peterborough
Club Website - www.theposh.com

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STADIUM TOURS
Anfield Liverpool

One of the last of the original top flight stadiums in England, Anfield - the home of Liverpool FC - still retains its aura, and with its recent redevelopment and more to come in the future with the expansion of the Anfield Road end,its position as one of the iconic stadiums in English and indeed European football is almost unrivalled.
The excellent stadium tour starts at the dedicated reception in the corner of the ground, between the new main stand and the Kop.
Up six escalators later, with lots of memorabilia to view on the way, and you are in the concourse of the newly redeveloped main stand in the stadium.
Unfortunately due to a Champions League match the day before, the tour was restricted due to UEFA regulations.
This meant the media facilities, dressing rooms, and the players tunnel including the famous 'This is Anfield' sign were all out of bounds.

The club transform the main concourse for the tours though, with a fascinating timeline and history of the Reds. Reproduced photographs and memorabilia from every era are displayed on large banners, and here you appreciate how much the club has developed from its very humble beginnings, through the Bill Shankly era, to the European dominance of the '80s - a history proudly recounted by the very friendly and informative tour guides.
The view from the upper section of the new main stand is incredible, with panoramic views of the city and the River Mersey.
The stadium tour concludes pitch side in the dug-outs, followed by a chance to sit in the famous Anfield Kop end.

The stadium tour ticket includes entry to the excellent club museum.
Not many clubs can display five European Cups in their museum, but this is the highlight of the displays and memorabilia on show, including the Steven Gerrard collection, that are a fascinating reminder of the highs and lows of the Reds history.
After your museum visit you can also enjoy some food and refreshments, in the adjacent Boot Room cafe.
The Anfield stadium tour and museum is certainly one of the more informal, but very informative and interesting club tours, and is highly recommended for all genuine football fans.


Anfield Tour Info
Times - Tours usually available 10am until 4pm 7 days a week.
Contact - www.liverpoolfc/stadiumtours.com  Tel: 0151 260 6677.
Prices - Adult £20, Student/Senior £15.00, Child(under 16) £12.00.
           includes entry to the Liverpool FC story.
Travel - Bus no.17 from the City Centre - Day Ticket costs £4.00.

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FAMOUS LOST FOOTBALL PUBS
The Imperial Grimsby

Situated on Grimsby Road and in the shadow of Blundell Park, The Imp was a large pub/hotel and the favourite pre-match venue for Mariners fans.
The former Bass pub, of which legend has it is haunted by the ghost of a former maid, closed in July 2015.
Work is now underway to convert the building and adjoining coach house into flats and apartments.

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STADE IMAGES

New main stand at the renamed Tynecastle Park, Heart of Midlothian

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Many thanks for your interest in the blog.

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Next issue (No.45) published Sunday 7th October 2018

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