Sunday 2 August 2020

Issue No.55 August 2020

IN THIS ISSUE


Stade News

ClubCall 
Knaresborough 

Lost Grounds Leicester

Corner Bar Crewe



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STADE NEWS
NEW STADIUM PLANS FOR SKY BLUES
Coventry City have revealed plans for a new stadium in the city, in a partnership with the University of Warwick.
The site for the proposed new stadium is on agricultural land on the South-Western edge of the City. 
The Sky Blues, currently ground sharing with Birmingham City at St.Andrews, recently secured promotion to the Championship and will be hoping to return to the City in the near future, although no timescale for the new stadium has been revealed.
After leaving the Ricoh Arena, City played at the home of Northampton Town for eight seasons before the current arrangement with Birmingham.
There is a possibility Coventry could temporarily return to play at the Ricoh before the new stadium is built.

DULWICH SECURE NEW GROUND
South London club Dulwich Hamlet have secured a new stadium, on the site of their existing ground at Champion Hill.
After a long period of planning and consultation, Southwark Council have approved the plans for the new stadium and associated housing.
The projected capacity of the new stadium is 4,000.







NEW STAND FOR EFL BOUND HARROGATE
Newly promoted to the English Football League for the first time in their history, Harrogate Town are continuing the re-development of their Wetherby Road ground with a new family stand.
The existing 350-seat stand is being replaced with an 880-seater structure, which will take the capacity of the stadium to around 5,000 with over 1,000 seats.
The new stand will also incorporate a new food outlet and toilet facilities.





CONFUSION OVER NEW BRUGGE STADIUM
There are conflicting reports in Belgium regarding a new 40,000 capacity stadium for FC Brugge.
Currently playing at the Jan Breydel stadium, a 30,000 capacity venue owned by the City Council, FC have long aspired to have their own stadium in the city/Sint-Andries region.
FC have identified a site to the north of the City, and appear to have the support of the Council for the project.



ANFIELD EXPANSION ON HOLD
Newly crowned English Premier League Champions Liverpool have announced the expansion plans for their Anfield home are now on hold.
After completing the re-development of the main stand, the planned next stage of the expansion was the re-build of the Anfield Road stand, the smallest stand in the stadium.
Work on the expanded stand, with a new capacity of over 15,000 is now expected to start in 2022/23.


NEWS IN BRIEF
EXCELSIOR ROTTERDAM
With one of the smallest stadiums in the Netherlands, Rotterdam club Excelsior have announced expansion plans for their Woudestein ground.
The plans will increase capacity from 4,400 to 6,500, and feature four 50m high residential blocks in each corner of the stadium.

KENSINGTON & EALING BOROUGH
Combined Counties club Kensington & Ealing Borough will ground share at Isthmian League club Hanwell Town next season.
Only founded in 2012 as AFC Hillgate, the club have previously played in Leatherhead and at the Linford Christie stadium in White City.

SAN SIRO

The Authorities in Milan have ruled the iconic San Siro stadium can be demolished.
A new 60,000 capacity stadium to be shared by AC and Inter is planned on the site, with parts of the columns and roof of the old stadium preserved.

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CLUBCALL 
Knaresborough Town
Manse Lane, Knaresborough HG5 8LF.
Founded - 1902
League - Northern Counties East Premier Division
Capacity - 1,000
Record Attendance - not known
Nearest Railway Station - Knaresborough 
Club Website - www.knaresboroughtownafc.com






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LOST GROUNDS
Filbert Street Leicester
One of the grand old stadium names of English football, Filbert Street was the home of Leicester City from 1891 until 2002.
After a rather humble beginning the ground was gradually developed, with the famous Double Decker stand at the South End of the stadium opening in 1927.
Filbert Street saw its record attendance around this time, when 47,298 attended an FA Cup Fifth Round tie against Tottenham Hotspur on 18 February 1928.
The main stand was damaged by a bomb and further fire in 1940, but the stand was subsequently rebuilt with the capacity of the ground now 42,000.
Floodlights were installed in October 1957, being first used for a match against Borussia Dortmund.
The North and East stands were converted to seating in 1971, when the Air Dome, a plastic protective pitch cover was also installed at the stadium.
Twenty executive boxes were added to the North Stand in 1975, some of the first at an English ground.
Filbert Street site with the King Power in the background
A major redevelopment was undertaken at Filbert Street in 1993, with the opening of the new 9,500 seater Main Stand, the stadium finally being converted to an all-seater with a capacity of 21,500 a year later.
The last game at Filbert Street was played in May 2002, a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, the match being played just two months after the stadium was sold to a development company.
The stadium was finally demolished in 2003, with part of the site now in use as student accommodation, although much of the land remains undeveloped.

King Power stadium
Initially known as the Walkers Stadium, Leicester's new stadium opened in August 2002 with a Football League match against Watford, a season which saw the Foxes promoted to the Premier League.
The current capacity is 32,313, with the record attendance at the ground being 32,242.
The naming rights for the stadium were sold to King Power in 2011.


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FAMOUS FOOTBALL PUBS
The Corner Bar Crewe

Large pub on the junction of the A534 and Gresty Road, five minutes walk from the railway station and the Alexandra Stadium.
Part of the adjoining Royal Hotel, the bar is very modern in decor with lots of music memorabilia to view.
Cask ales on offer but no food served, all live TV football shown.




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STADE IMAGES
Selhurst Park Gates, Crystal Palace FC
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Next issue (No.56) published Sunday 3rd April 2022

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