Cliftonhill

Last updated

The Reigart Stadium
Cliftonhill Park Football Ground, Coatbridge.jpg
North Lanarkshire UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
The Reigart Stadium
Location in North Lanarkshire
Location Coatbridge, Scotland
Coordinates 55°51′37″N4°00′41″W / 55.86028°N 4.01139°W / 55.86028; -4.01139
Owner Albion Rovers F.C.
Capacity 1572 (489 seated)
Field size110 yd × 72 yd (101 m × 66 m)
Surface Grass
Opened1919
Tenants
Albion Rovers F.C. (1919 – Present)
Coatbridge Monarchs (1968 – 1969)
Coatbridge Tigers (1973 – 1977)
Hamilton Academical F.C. (1997 – 1999)
Dumbarton F.C. (2001)

Cliftonhill Stadium, commonly known as Cliftonhill and currently 'The Reigart Stadium' for sponsorship purposes, is a football stadium in Coatbridge, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is the home ground of former Scottish Professional Football League team Albion Rovers F.C., who have played at the ground since 1919.

Contents

History

Rovers moved from Meadow Park to Cliftonhill in 1919, with the new ground opening on 25 December. The Main Stand sits high on a rise above Main Street and was built in the same season as their only Scottish Cup Final appearance. A roof extension over the paddock (a standing area in front of the stand) was added in 1994. Cliftonhill's record attendance was set on 8 February 1936 when 27,381 watched the visit of Rangers. Floodlighting was installed at the ground in October 1968.

The outside of the stadium CliftonhillCoatbridge.JPG
The outside of the stadium

During the 1990s it looked likely that Albion Rovers would leave Cliftonhill to share a stadium with local rivals Airdrieonians. However opposition from Rovers fans, the local population and others, saw that move fall through. The club considered other options to sell the ground and build a new stadium elsewhere in the town, but these were not taken forward for a variety of reasons, including an unsympathetic local authority, and the club currently has no plans to leave Cliftonhill. The original floodlighting system came from Cardiff Arms Park, when it was demolished to make way for the Millennium Stadium. [1] In 2006 the front entrance and main stand featured in a UK television advert for Flash. Currently, it contains a club shop which opens one hour prior to home first team matches.

In 2007, Cliftonhill was subject to repeated vandalism. [2]

At the start of the 2016–17 season, Rovers announced a deal with local IT and communications firm Exsel Group that would see the stadium re-branded as the 'Exsel Group Stadium' for at least one season. [3]

Structure and facilities

The Main Stand and paddock, and a terracing behind the goal of the 'Airdrie End' of the ground (the latter installed in 2015), are the only parts of the stadium normally available for spectators. The sizeable, partly covered terrace on the opposite side of the main stand is currently closed to all fans. The capacity of the stadium rose to 1,572 when the Airdrie End terracing was installed. [4]

The dimensions of the pitch are 110 by 72 yards (101 m × 66 m).

Other uses

In addition to football, Cliftonhill has in the past staged speedway, greyhound racing and stock car racing.

Speedway

The stadium, which had been identified as a potential venue in the 1950s, became the home of Edinburgh Monarchs speedway team in 1968. The renamed Coatbridge Monarchs raced in 1969 but closed when the track licence was sold to Wembley Lions. The stadium hosted Glasgow Tigers from 1973 to mid season 1977 when the promotion moved to Blantyre Greyhound Stadium. The move was prompted by a desire to replace the speedway track with a greyhound track. [5]

The original speedway track was unusual as the bends were laid out on the terracing at either end giving the track extremely banked bends.

Greyhound racing

Cliftonhill was first used for greyhound racing on 11 December 1931. The racing was independent (unlicensed) and a greyhound called Song of Love was the first ever winner over 380 yards. The track closed in the mid-fifties before opening again twenty years later during September 1977. [6] The new circumference was 400 metres and race distances were 300, 500 and 700 yards, the main race was the Coatbridge Derby. Greyhound racing ceased for good during 1988. [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East End Park</span> Football stadium in Dunfermline, Scotland

East End Park, currently named KDM Group East End Park for sponsorship purposes, is a football stadium situated in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland with a seating capacity of 11,480.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastville Stadium</span> Former greyhound racing venue in England

Eastville Stadium, also known as Bristol Stadium and Bristol Stadium – Eastville, was a stadium in Eastville, a northern suburb of the English city of Bristol.

Brockville Park was a football stadium located on Hope Street in Falkirk, Scotland, 0.25 miles (0.4 km) north-west of the town centre. It was the home of Falkirk F.C. from 1885 until the end of 2002–03 Scottish football season. The record attendance at Brockville Park was 23,100 on 21 February 1953 in a match against Celtic. The stadium has since been replaced with a Morrisons supermarket. An old turnstile is on display next to the supermarket's car park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Street (stadium)</span> Former football stadium in Paisley, Scotland

St Mirren Park, more commonly known as Love Street, was a football stadium located on Love Street in Paisley, Scotland. At one time the stadium was capable of accommodating almost 50,000 spectators, however in its final years it had an all-seated capacity of 10,800. Until its closure in 2009, it was the home ground of St Mirren F.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Grosvenor Stadium</span> Multi-purpose stadium in Northern Ireland

New Grosvenor Stadium and Drumbo Park is a multi-purpose stadium in Ballyskeagh, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is currently used for football matches and greyhound racing, the latter is operating under the name Drumbo Park. The stadium currently has a total capacity of 1,500 which 790 can be seated, however this is split to a capacity for football matches of 1,500 and a capacity of 1,000 for greyhound racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shawfield Stadium</span> Stadium in Glasgow City, Scotland, UK

Shawfield Stadium is a venue in the Shawfield district of the town of Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, located close to the boundary with Glasgow.

The Athletic Grounds was a stadium in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. It was the home of Rochdale Hornets Rugby League Football Club for over 90 years until 1988. It has also been used for speedway, BriSCA F1 Stock Cars and greyhound racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Park, Cowdenbeath</span> Stadium in Cowdenbeath, Scotland

Central Park is a multi-use stadium in Cowdenbeath, Fife, Scotland, used for football and stock car racing. It is situated in the centre of the town, just off the High Street, and has a capacity of 4,309. The pitch size is 107 x 66 yards. Central Park has been the home ground of Lowland League team Cowdenbeath F.C. since it opened in 1917. Stock car racing has taken place at the ground since 1970, and takes place on a tarmac racetrack surrounding the football pitch. Central Park was also previously a venue for greyhound racing between 1928 and 1965.

Boghead Park was a football ground in the town of Dumbarton, Scotland. It was owned by Dumbarton F.C., who played there for 121 years between 1879 and 2000. By the time the ground closed in 2000, it was the oldest stadium in Scotland that had been in continuous use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glasgow Tigers (speedway)</span> Motorcycle speedway team

Glasgow Tigers are a motorcycle speedway team from Glasgow, Scotland. Formed in 1928, the club adopted the Tigers nickname in 1946 and compete in the British SGB Championship. The team race at Ashfield Stadium and celebrated their 75th anniversary in 2021.

Redheugh Park was a football stadium in Gateshead, England. The stadium was built in 1930 when South Shields F.C. moved to Gateshead from Horsley Hill and became Gateshead AFC. It was their home for more than 40 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenfield Stadium, Bradford</span>

Greenfield Stadium, also known as Greenfield Athletic Ground, Greenfield Autodrome and the Yorkshire Trotting and Athletic Grounds was a sports venue in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The venue was the first and former home ground of Bradford Northern Rugby league Football Club, before later becoming a greyhound stadium and speedway track. It was situated adjacent to School Street, off Cutler Heights Lane in Dudley Hill, Bradford and in 1907, consisted of a six acre field enclosed by a pear-shaped athletic and trotting track.

Bayview Park was a football stadium in the town of Methil, Fife, Scotland. It was the home ground of East Fife F.C. from their formation in 1903 until they moved to the new Bayview Stadium in 1998.

The Lanarkshire derby is a football rivalry based in Lanarkshire, Scotland, with matches contested between any two from Motherwell, Airdrieonians, Hamilton Academical and Albion Rovers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletic Ground (Cobridge)</span> Demolished stadium in Stoke-on-Trent, England

The Athletic Ground also known as Cobridge Stadium was a football stadium and greyhound racing stadium, located in Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent.

The Clapton Stadium, also known as Millfields Road, was a football ground and greyhound racing stadium in the Lower Clapton area of London.

Horsley Hill was a football and rugby league ground and greyhound racing track in South Shields.

Portland Park was a football ground in Ashington, England. It was the home ground of Ashington A.F.C. between 1909 and 2008. It also hosted greyhound racing from 1936 until 1993.

Meadow Park was a football ground in the Whifflet area of Coatbridge, Scotland. It was the home ground of Albion Rovers from 1882 until 1919.

Volunteer Park is a football ground in Armadale, West Lothian, Scotland. It is the home ground of Armadale Thistle, and was used by several of the town's previous clubs, including Armadale F.C., who played Scottish Football League matches there between 1921 and 1933. The ground also hosted greyhound racing during the 1930s.

References

  1. ↑ "Albion Rovers". Duncan Adams. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  2. ↑ Paisley, Jonathan (19 June 2007). "Vandals threat to Albion Rovers' future". Evening Times. Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 10 December 2011.
  3. ↑ "Cliftonhill ready to Exsel". Albion Rovers FC. 13 July 2016. Retrieved 13 July 2016.
  4. ↑ "Ticket Information | Albion Rovers Football Club". Archived from the original on 29 May 2015.
  5. ↑ "Greyhounds beat Tigers" . Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser. 10 February 1977. Retrieved 25 April 2024– via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. ↑ Furby, R (1968). Independent Greyhound Racing. New Dominion House. p. 88.
  7. ↑ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. p. 283. ISBN   0-948955-15-5.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.