Issue No.49 June 2019

IN THIS ISSUE

Stade News

ClubCall 
Edinburgh City

Lost Grounds
Billingham Synthonia

Three Pigeons pub Halifax

________________________________
STADE NEWS
ST ANDREWS GROUNDSHARE FOR SKY BLUES

Coventry City, currently in dispute with rugby union club Wasps the owners of their stadium the Ricoh Arena, have agreed a groundshare with Birmingham City for next season to play at St Andrews if they are unable to resolve the issues to remain at the Ricoh.
An EFL extraordinary general meeting to discuss the future of the Sky Blues scheduled for May 29th was cancelled, a meeting which could have seen Coventry voted out of the Football League.
The EFL had advised Coventry they did not want them based over 6 miles from their current home, Birmingham's St.Andrews is 18 miles away.
Coventry Rugby's Butts Park ground still remains a further groundshare option.

QPR RESPOND TO COUNCIL CONSULTATION

Queens Park Rangers have officially requested a new 30,000 seater stadium, as part of a consultation process with Hammersmith and Fulham council.
The club want to be anchor tenants at a possible new stadium to be built on the site of the Linford Christie athletics ground in the Borough.
In other Hoops news, the club are to gift the naming rights to Loftus Road next season to a charity nominated by supporters.


NEW DUNDEE STADIUM PLANS ON TRACK

Despite relegation to the Scottish Championship, Dundee have confirmed their commitment to building a new stadium.
The Dee have confirmed most of the planning work for the new stadium project has been completed, and the funding is in place.
Dundee plan to relocate from Dens Park, home since 1899, to a new 15,000 seater stadium in the Camperdown area of the city by 2021.

RAMS SELL PRIDE PARK

Derby County, still reeling from losing the Championship play-off Final to Midlands rivals Aston Villa, have announced the sale of Pride Park.
The stadium, home to the Rams since 1997, has been sold to a company owned by the Derby chairman for £80m, as revealed in the club's latest financial results.
The stadium sale will see a long term lease back to the club, and the opportunity to use the arena for other large scale entertainment events.


CHANGES TO LONDON STADIUM 

West Ham United have announced two changes to the layout of the London Stadium in Stratford, designed to make the venue feel more like home for the East End club and its supporters.
New, straight end seating zones will replace the current curved seating areas meaning fans are closer to the pitch and increasing the capacity by around 700, whilst a Hammers branded claret pitch surround has been installed at the stadium.


NEWS IN BRIEF
ATALANTA
Demolition work on the famous Curva Nord at the Stadio Atleti Azzuri d'Italia has begun, the first stage of the reconstruction of the stadium.
With the stands on the side of the stadium in Bergamo being listed buildings, 
the ends are being rebuilt to enable a new all seater capacity of around 24,000.
BOSTON UNITED
The Pilgrims are set to leave their York Street stadium after next season.
Work is now scheduled to begin on the new Community Stadium, due to be ready for the start of the 2020/21 season.
LUTON TOWN
Plans for the Newlands Park commercial development just off junction 10 of the M1 motorway, have not been called in by the Secretary of State for Housing and Communities.
The project is vital to fund Luton's new stadium plans at Power Court in the city centre.

_________________________________________________________________________________
CLUBCALL Edinburgh City

Founded - 1928
League - Scottish League Two
Capacity - 3,000
Record Attendance - 2,522 
(at Meadowbank Stadium)
Nearest Railway Station - Edinburgh Haymarket
Club Website - www.edinburghcityfc.com

_________________________________________________________________________________
LOST GROUNDS 
Central Park Billingham Synthonia

Founded in 1923 and members of the Northern League, Billingham Synthonia are named after an agricultural fertiliser (synthetic ammonia) manufactured by the industrial giants ICI in the town, and to which the club was formerly affiliated.
Initially playing in the local South Bank & District and Teesside League's, the club joined the Northern League in 1945.

The club's first home was on Belasis Avenue, part of the ICI sports complex.
The club then moved to Central Avenue in 1958, the ground being opened with a match against Bishop Auckland, a 2-2 draw witnessed by a crowd 
of 4,200 - still the club's record attendance.
The main focal point of the ground was the hugely impressive 2,000 capacity cantilever main stand, the longest in the country at the time.
A huge bowl of a stadium with an athletics track and grass banks at either end, the ground had enormous potential but it's highlights were being used for an England 'B' athletics international, and Middlesbrough FC reserve matches.
Central Avenue sadly now lies derelict, vandalised, and overgrown.

After leaving Central Avenue in 2017, due to the cost of renovation and upgrading works at the stadium,
Synners moved to the sports complex situated on Station Road in nearby Norton.
Formerly home to the now defunct Northern League club Norton and Stockton Ancients, the 1,970 capacity ground has a very rural feel quite different to the club's former home in the industrial heartland of Billingham.


_________________________________________________________________
FAMOUS FOOTBALL PUBS
Three Pigeons Halifax

Superb Ossett Brewery pub on Sun Fold, the road from Halifax railway station to the Shay stadium.
A grade II listed art-deco building, the pub has five distinctive rooms leading from a central bar area.
Ossett beers predominate on handpull, with five other nationally sourced beers also usually available.
Restricted opening hours during the week, open all day Saturday.
All live TV football shown.


_________________________________________________________________________________

STADE IMAGES

Goodison Park Everton - from the main stand concourse at Anfield

_________________________________________________________________________________

Many thanks for your interest in the blog.

All photographs and text copyright footballstadeblog2019

Any comments/queries welcome at footballstadeblog@gmail.com
Twitter@FootballStade

Next issue (No.50) published Sunday 4th August 2019

footballstadeblog.blogspot.com
_______________________________
_______________________________

Issue No.48 April 2019

IN THIS ISSUE

Hartlepool Royal Navy Museum

Stade News

ClubCall Wigan

Destination Hartlepool

Peacock pub Peterborough




_______________________________
STADE NEWS
MAJOR REDEVELOPMENT AT THE CITY GROUND

Nottingham Forest are planning a major redevelopment of the City Ground, with the main Peter Taylor stand being totally rebuilt.
In the first major development at the stadium for 25 years, the plans also include a new club museum and shop, hospitality lounges, enhanced concourse facilities around the ground,and improved disabled supporter facilities.
A formal planning application will be made following consultations with fans and local residents.
The improvements will take the capacity of the City Ground, where Forest have played since 1898 to 38,000, and make the stadium the largest in the East Midlands.


GROUNDSHARE TALKS FOR SKY BLUES

Coventry City are in talks with a number of clubs over a groundshare, after failing to finalise a deal to stay at the Ricoh Arena next season.
City's owners remain in dispute with the stadium owners Rugby Union club Wasps, and the City council.
The Sky Blues previously played their home games at Northampton Town in the 2003/04 season.




REVAMP FOR DORDRECHT STADIUM

Eerste Divisie club FC Dordrecht have announced plans for the redevelopment of the GN Bouw stadion, in conjunction with the local municipality.
With one of the smallest playing budgets in the Netherlands, and a stadium capacity of just 4,100, Dordrecht are planning a redevelopment including additional sports, leisure, and educational facilities which will bring the stadium into daily use rather than on match days only.



SPURS STADIUM OFFICIALLY OPENS

Tottenham Hotspur have officially opened their new stadium, with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace.
A crowd of 59,215 witnessed the match, with the South Korean Son Heung-Min having the honour of the first goalscorer at the stadium, built on the site of the old White Hart Lane.
A spectacular opening ceremony and firework display took place before the match.



NEW STAND FOR FLAMINGO LAND

Northern Premier League club Scarborough Athletic have received a funding boost from the Football Stadia Improvement Fund, to further develop the Flamingo Land stadium.
Opened in 2017, the plans will see a new stand with combined seating/terracing,improved disabled supporter facilities, and alterations to the floodlights.
The plans will increase the stadium capacity to 3,010.


NEWS IN BRIEF
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE
Construction work on the new main Mayflower Stand at Home Park continues to progress.
The 5,000 capacity stand, replacing the previous 1949 structure and the final part of the stadium redevelopment, is due to open later this year and will give the ground a new capacity of just under 18,000. 

STADE DE FRANCE
A major revamp is planned for the Stade de France in Paris ahead of the 2024 Olympics, when the stadium will be the main venue for the Games.
Increased capacity and additional commercial space is in the pipeline, together with the possibility of a retractable roof for the venue.

CANTERBURY CITY
Southern Counties East Premier club Canterbury City have been refused planning permission for a new home in the City.
The Kent club lost their previous Kingsmead Stadium in 1999 to a housing development, and have more recently played their home fixtures in the nearby towns of Deal and Faversham.

_______________________________
CLUBCALL Wigan Athletic

DW Stadium, Loire Drive, Wigan WN5 0UZ.
Founded - 1932
League - English Championship
Capacity - 25,138
Record Attendance - 25,133
Nearest Railway Station - 
Wigan North Western or Wallgate
Club Website - wiganlatics.co.uk

_________________________________________
DESTINATION Hartlepool

The Headland

Lying on the North East coast of England Hartlepool has a rich and varied history, and with a host of attractions both within the town itself and the wider Teesside and Durham areas, is a fine destination for any football supporter.
Formerly two towns, the Headland of Old Hartlepool and West Hartlepool were unified in 1967.
A heavily industrialised town in its heyday with steelworks, shipyards and docks, the town suffered a decline in the economic downturn of the 80's and 90's with the majority of the steelworks and the shipyards now long gone.
The main attraction in the town is the National Royal Navy Museum, a superb interactive museum on the town's marina with a host of fascinating exhibits.
The marina itself has an excellent array of bars and restaurants catering for all tastes.
Over on the Headland the Heugh Battery is a superb museum with a host of military exhibits, detailing the history of the 1914 bombardment of the town.
Hartlepool is also the home of Camerons brewery, founded in 1852 and with a rich heritage in the town and the wider North East area.
Its flagship beer Strongarm is legendary, and unashamedly the blog favourite.
Hartlepool is also a fine base for touring the Durham coast, superb walks are available to Castle Eden, Seaham and beyond.
The wider Teesside area is also close by, with attractions such as Hardwick Park in Sedgefield, Preston Park in Stockton, and shopping at Teesside Park all within easy reach.
Like the rest of the North East Hartlepool sometimes receives a bad press, but take time to discover the town and its environs and you will find a really warm, inviting area with a surprising amount of attractions and natural beauty.


Hartlepool Info

Travel - by road via A19/A689, by rail via Darlington or Middlesbrough.
Grand Central service direct from London Kings Cross.
Accommodation - Best Western Grand in centre, Premier Inn and Travelodge on the Marina.
Pubs - Camerons Brewery Tap on Stockton Street, also the nearby Causeway pub.
On the Headland, the Globe and the Fishermans Arms.
Tourism Website - 
www.thisishartlepool.co.uk

Hartlepool United FC

Victoria Park, Clarence Road, Hartlepool TS24 8BZ.
Founded - 1908
League - English National Leage
Capacity - 7,833
Record Attendance - 17,426
Nearest Railway Station - Hartlepool
Club Website - www.hartlepoolunited.co.uk


_______________________________
FAMOUS FOOTBALL PUBS
The Peacock Peterborough

Large and friendly open plan pub on London Road, directly opposite the home end of Peterborough's ground.
Good selection of beers and lagers available, and food served all day on a Saturday.
Huge beer garden gives the pub added capacity on matchdays, weather permitting of course!
All live TV football shown.




  _______________________________

STADE IMAGES

Site of centre spot at Leeds Road,former Huddersfield ground

_______________________________

Many thanks for your interest in the blog.

All photographs and text copyright footballstadeblog2019

Any comments/queries welcome at footballstadeblog@gmail.com
Twitter@FootballStade

Next issue (No.49) published Sunday 2nd June 2019

footballstadeblog.blogspot.com
________________________________
________________________________

Issue No.47 February 2019

IN THIS ISSUE

Stade News

Clubcall
Dagenham & 
Redbridge

Lost Grounds
West of Scotland CC

Spurs pubs




______________________________
STADE NEWS
NEW STADIUM APPROVED FOR HATTERS

Luton Town have received Council planning approval for their new 18,000 capacity Power Court stadium.
The site, less than a mile from the current Kenilworth Road ground, will also include 500 apartments, a 1,800 capacity concert hall, offices and retail space, and public leisure areas.
No timescale has yet been announced for groundworks to begin on the site, but the club are hopeful the stadium will open for the start of the 2020/21 season.
The Hatters are also currently awaiting planning approval for a major commercial development at Newlands Park just off the M1 motorway, a project which will go a long way to financing the new stadium in the city centre.
Kenilworth Road has been the home of Luton Town since 1905.

MAJOR REDEVELOPMENT AT CRAVEN COTTAGE

Fulham have revealed full details of the planning application for the redevelopment of Craven Cottage.
The club are looking to replace the Riverside stand with a new 8,650 two-tier structure, which will increase the capacity of the stadium to 29,600.
The plans also include nine new residential apartments, a new public riverside walkway past the stadium, work in the neighbouring Bishops Park, and the removal of four floodlight masts.

SPARTA ROTTERDAM EXPANSION PLANS

Het Kasteel (The Castle), home of Sparta Rotterdam since 1916 and The Netherlands oldest stadium still in use, is about to see an expansion in both capacity and spectator facilities.
Sparta plan to add an additional 1,100 seats and 12 corporate boxes, which will increase the stadium's capacity to 12,500.
The plans also include enhanced catering and media facilities, and a new external glass façade for the North stand.

STANLEY PURCHASE STADIUM LAND

Lancashire League One club Accrington Stanley have purchased their stadium land from the local Hyndburn Council.
Stanley have been leasing the Crown Ground, currently known as the Wham Stadium, from the council since 1968.
Owning the ground will make the club's future expansion and redevelopment plans for the stadium much easier to implement.

ROKER AT THE STADIUM OF LIGHT

Sunderland AFC have renamed the South stand at the Stadium of Light.
The renaming ceremony took place at the Boxing Day match v Bradford City, with the stand now known as the Roker End.
The club's former ground Roker Park, was home to the vast open Roker End terrace which at its peak had a capacity of 23,000.
Sunderland moved from Roker Park to the Stadium of Light in 1997.

NEWS IN BRIEF
ABERDEEN
The Dons have raised £8.5m of the £50m costs required, to enable phase one of their new stadium complex to proceed.
The site at Kingsford, eight miles to the west of the City, will comprise a new 20,000 capacity stadium, training complex, and community hub.

AZ ALKMAAR
Netherlands Eredivise club AZ Alkmaar have started a feasiblity study into the expansion of the Alkmaar stadium.
Opened in 2006 and with a current capacity of 17,023, the club are looking at adding new rows of seats between the pitch and the current front row, and installing additional seating in the corners of the ground.

SHAMROCK ROVERS
A new 2,000 capacity North Stand, and enhanced hospitality facilities have been proposed for the Tallaght Stadium.
The South Stand was completed last year, and if the North Stand proposals are approved the capacity of the stadium will rise to over 10,000.
______________________________
CLUBCALL Dagenham & Redbridge

Victoria Road, Dagenham, Essex RM10 7XL.
Founded - 1992
Capacity - 6,078
Record Attendance - 5,949
Nearest Railway Station - 
Dagenham East Underground
Club Website - www.daggers.co.uk

______________________________
LOST GROUNDS
West of Scotland Cricket Ground

Hamilton Crescent - a totally unique venue in the history of British football, and the ground where the Scotland v England International football rivalry would begin.
Situated in Partick to the west of Glasgow city centre, the venue hosted the first ever International between the two home countries on 30/11/1872.
A crowd of 4,000 witnessed a 0-0 draw, a match that the cricket club received £1.10s for the hire of the ground.
Two further Scotland v England matches were played at the ground in 1874 and 1876, with Scotland winning 2-1 and 3-0 respectively.
The ground also hosted the 1877 Scottish FA Cup Final, with Vale of Leven triumphing 3-2 over Glasgow Rangers.
The venue is still home to the West of Scotland cricket club, who play in the Western District Union Premier League, and regularly hosts Scotland Internationals and the end of season cricket finals.
Hamilton Crescent is situated on Peel Street, a five minute walk via the Dumbarton Road from the Partick rail and bus interchange.

___________________________________________
FAMOUS FOOTBALL PUBS 
Tottenham Hotspur

As Spurs prepare for life at their new stadium, and with the location slightly to the North of the old White Hart Lane, a look at the two pubs now nearest to the new stadium site.





The Coach and Horses

Warm, friendly and welcoming wood-panelled one room pub on the High Road just to the North of the new stadium.
Plenty of Spurs photographs and framed shirts/memorabilia on display, the pub also has a large covered outside bar and garden.
Good selection of beers and lagers but no cask ale on offer.
All live TV football shown.




The Bricklayers Arms

Great one room split level pub in the shadow of the new stadium on the High Road.
Amazing display of memorabilia and photographs adorn every space of the walls, with a fine array of framed Spurs programmes from over the years.
Lots of other clubs scarves and souvenirs on display too.
All live TV football shown but no cask ale available.

_______________________________________________________

      STADE IMAGES

Main stand at Valley Parade, Bradford

________________________________

Many thanks for your interest in the blog.

All photographs and text copyright footballstadeblog2019

Any comments/queries welcome at footballstadeblog@gmail.com
Twitter@FootballStade

Next issue (No.48) published Sunday 7th April 2019

footballstadeblog.blogspot.com
________________________________
________________________________

Issue No.46 December 2018

IN THIS ISSUE

Stade News

ClubCall 
Cambridge United

Destination Halifax

Hogans pub Darlington





________________________________
STADE NEWS

FURTHER DELAY TO SPURS STADIUM

Tottenham Hotspur are expected to make a further announcement early this month regarding the opening date for their new stadium.
The 62,000 capacity venue was due to open in September, but construction and safety system delays have led Spurs to continue playing at Wembley until at least the end of January 2019.
The internal work in the stadium is now almost completed, with the new club shop on the High Road also now in operation.


OFFER TO BUY WEMBLEY WITHDRAWN

The offer from Fulham FC chairman Shahid Khan to purchase Wembley Stadium from the FA has now been withdrawn.
Khan, also owner of the American football team Jacksonville Jaguars, had hoped to use the stadium to boost the NFL in London.
Proceeds from the sale had been planned to give a financial boost to grass roots football in England, with the FA also pledging to keep the Cup Final and England games at Wembley.

DULWICH TO RETURN TO CHAMPION HILL

South London club Dulwich Hamlet will return to their Champion Hill stadium for the Boxing Day visit of Eastbourne Borough.
Following a dispute between the stadium owners and Southwark Council over plans to redevelop land close to the stadium, Hamlet have been playing home games for the last seven months at the Imperial Fields home of Tooting & Mitcham.


CITY LOOK AT ETIHAD EXPANSION

Manchester City are consulting their supporters over the possible introduction of safe standing/rail seating at the Etihad Stadium, as part of the plans for the expansion of the North Stand.
City have planning permission to extend the stand, which would raise capacity from the current 55,000 to 63,000.
The Etihad has been the home of City since 2003.



CONSULTATION FOR BRAMLEY-MOORE DOCK

Everton are undertaking a public consultation on the plans for their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
A formal planning application is expected next year following the consultation, with the Blues revealing the stadium will not be ready until 2023/24.
Everton have a 200-year lease on the dock located in the city's World Heritage site, with the stadium development being part of the wider regeneration of the North Docks area of Liverpool.

NEWS IN BRIEF
REAL MADRID
Plans for the €525m upgrade of the Santiago Bernabeu have been approved.
The stadium will have a new roof and external cladding, with a host of new digital facilities including a 360-degree video scoreboard, and new retail outlets around the vicinity of the ground.
The club museum in Castellana will also be greatly expanded.
The current capacity of 81,000 will not be increased.

OSSETT UNITED
Newly formed Northern Premier League East club Ossett United have chosen the former Ossett Town stadium as their new home.
The 1,950 capacity Ingfield, has been upgraded with new seating, catering facilities and club shop.
The Dimple Wells former home of Ossett Albion, is now the newly merged club's training ground and base for the Women's and Youth development teams.

AFC BOURNEMOUTH
In a lengthy statement regarding the future of the South Coast club, the board of AFC Bournemouth have admitted an over ambitious timescale for the club's new stadium.
The Cherries had previously announced the new stadium at Kings Park, close to the current home Dean Court, would be completed by the summer of 2020.

________________________________________________________________

STADE RETRO IMAGES

Don Valley Stadium, Sheffield

________________________________

CLUBCALL Cambridge United

Abbey Stadium, Newmarket Road, 
Cambridge CB5 8LN.
Founded - 1913
League - English Football League Two
Capacity - 8,127
Record Attendance - 14,000
Nearest Railway Station - Cambridge
Club Website - www.cambridge-united.co.uk

________________________________________________________________
DESTINATION Halifax

The Piece Hall

Nestling in the Calderdale Valley of West Yorkshire, the historical mill town of Halifax is an interesting destination for visitors.
With some iconic old buildings, first class museums, and a host of leisure facilities the town makes a fine alternative to the nearby sprawl of Leeds and Bradford.
The first port of call for any visitor to Halifax has to be the incredible Piece Hall.
The UK's last remaining cloth hall, the Grade 1 listed building and courtyard has been extensively refurbished and is now home to an eclectic mix of independent shops, cafes, bars, and galleries.
Younger visitors to the town will be amazed by Eureka - the National museum for children. This educational and interactive museum holds a huge range of exhibits in different learning zones, and also runs a programme of special events throughout the year.
Other attractions include the superb 12th Century Minster, the Bankfield museum, and the quirky Calderdale Industrial museum.
Leisure facilities include the thriving Victoria Theatre which hosts a varied programme of events, a new library incorporating the tourist information centre, whilst shoppers are catered for at the historical Borough Indoor market and the more modern Westgate and Woolshops centres.
Just outside of the town the historical Shibden Hall is certainly worth a visit, and the whole Calderdale valley is a haven for outdoor pursuits with some superb walks and cycle rides available.

Halifax Minster

Halifax Info
Travel - by road via M62 and A629, by rail via Leeds and Bradford.
Accommodation - selection of national and independent hotels in the town.
Pubs - good selection of pubs and bars, the Three Pigeons and Royal Oak particulary recommended.
Tourism Website - visitcalderdale.com

                              

FC Halifax Town
Shay Stadium, Halifax, 
West Yorkshire HX1 2YT.
Founded - 1911
League - English National League
Capacity - 10,401
Record Attendance - 36,885
Nearest Railway Station - Halifax
Club Website - fchalifaxtown.com





________________________________
FAMOUS FOOTBALL PUBS
Hogans Darlington

Cavernous one room pub directly outside Darlington Bank Top railway station.
Five minute walk from the Quakers former home of Feethams, the pub is probably best known for fans changing trains at Darlington, particularly supporters of all the North East clubs.
Owned by the Hartlepool brewers Camerons, huge range of draught beers and lagers available but currently no cask ales on offer.
All live TV football shown.

________________________________

STADE IMAGES

Main entrance at Prenton Park

________________________________

Many thanks for your interest in the blog.

All photographs and text copyright footballstadeblog2018

Any comments/queries welcome at footballstadeblog@gmail.com
Twitter@FootballStade

Next issue (No.47) published Sunday 3rd February 2019

footballstadeblog.blogspot.com
________________________________
________________________________