Twerton Park

Last updated

Twerton Park
Twerton Park in 2017.png
Twerton Park
LocationDominion Road
Twerton
Bath
Somerset
England
Public transit National Rail logo.svg Oldfield Park (1 mi)
National Rail logo.svg Bath Spa (2 mi)
Owner Bath City
OperatorBath City
Capacity 8,840 (1,006 seated) [1]
Record attendance18,020 (Bath CityBrighton, 9 January 1960)
Field size101 x 69 meters
(110.4 yd x 75.5 yd) [2]
SurfaceGrass
Construction
Built1932
Opened26 June 1909
Renovated1932, 1934, 1935, 1946, 1949, 1967, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1990
Tenants
Bath City (1932–present)
Bath City women (2022–present)
Bristol Rovers (1986–1996)
Team Bath (1999–2009)
Bristol City Women (2020–2021)
Website
www.bathcityfc.com

Twerton Park is a football stadium in the Twerton suburb of Bath, England. It has a physical capacity of 8,840, containing 1,006 seats. It is currently the home of Bath City F.C., who have played there since 1932. From 1986 to 1996, Bristol Rovers F.C. played at the ground following their departure from Eastville in Bristol. In 2020 the ground also became the home stadium for Bristol City Women.

Contents

The stadium has four stands; the Bath End, the Grandstand, The Popular Side, and the Bristol End. The ground once had a capacity up to 20,000, with the record attendance of 18,020 was set between Bath City and Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup third round in 1960. Though the site opened in 1909, the stadium was not constructed until 1932, with The Grandstand being the first of the four stands to be constructed. The stadium is 2.5 km (1.6 miles) from the city centre.

The two bars within the stadium are named after former players: Charlies' (Charlie Fleming), and Randall's (Paul Randall). Twerton Park has undergone several expansions throughout its history, though the decades in which it saw the most development were the 1930s, 1940s, 1960s and the 1980s - including the addition of the family stand, west of The Grandstand.

History

Innox Park (1909–1932)

Opening of Innox Park, 1909. Innox Park opening 1909.jpg
Opening of Innox Park, 1909.

Before any sports ground was established, the Park was opened on 26 June 1909 as Innox Park on land that had been donated by Thomas Carr, merely a field as a source for recreational activity. The opening ceremony involved a parade of scholars, the singing of hymns and a speech by the chairman of the parish council. [3] [4] Innox Park was named the “Cities fourth recreation ground.” The declaration was declared by Mr Hope, who stated; it was not usual that such a duty fell on the shoulders of a working man, but it was fitting that he should be expected to do so on behalf of the working industrial community within the city. [5]

The opening of Twerton Park (1932)

Bath City F.C. moved to Twerton Park in 1932. The property was bought by Messers C Seargant at a sale held at the Full Moon pub in Twerton. [6] However there was still a "mountain of work to do on the site." [7] Twerton Park, at the time, was not a football stadium or even a football ground, there was no cover of any kind. It was a “flattish grassy area”, with a long steep slope leading up to Innox Park behind. Within a few weeks, Bath City took plunge with regard to the stand and placed a contract for a one thousand seater. It would cost in the region of £320. The local press called for a new name of the ground, Avondale Park, South Ewood, (a tribute to Ted Davis) Mortimer Park, Davis Park, West view park, and Avon Park were some of the suggested names. [8]

Chairman Reg Coles officially ordered the new steel structure with a galvanized roof and glazed ends. The club supporters decided to temporarily spruce up an outbuilding from an orchard nearby to be used as dressing rooms and the club room, with six weeks to go before the first official game at the stadium there was no stand, no dressing rooms and no entrances. [9] The stand became a reality when plans were drawn up and footings dug, with the foundations weighing fifty tons and costing the club £100 each. [9] But the cavalry was on hand, in the form of the Supporters Club. By the end of May, the supporters had laid a substantial area of turf. Apart from volunteer labour, they also produced the money to employ ten men on turf-laying. From 31 May – 2 “1932, the “Great Supporters Carnival” took place over three days on the newly laid turf. It was a triumph. The community put out the flags and bunting the length of the High Street to “celebrate the return of football”. There was the usual funfair; a boxing exhibition, games for children and adults – Fancy dress, skittles, guess the weight of the pig, and so on. In addition, a motor-cycle gymkhana. The first game was played against Bristol Rovers Reserves in the Southern League on the 27 August 1932, in front of a crowd of 2,936, in which Bath won 2–0. [10] [11]

A stadium worthy of the West (1932–1967)

Bath City players stepping out onto Twerton Park in the 1930s Bath City players in the 1930s.jpg
Bath City players stepping out onto Twerton Park in the 1930s

25 November 1934, Bath City would play Charlton Athletic, with 600 tickets being sold in two days as work continued to bring the ground up to scratch for the game. A new exit was made from the car park and crush barriers were put in place all along the bank in front of the turnstiles. Half an hour before kick off there were over 5000 in the ground. The official attendance was 9,750, the record attendance at the time. [12] Roofing was added to The Popular Side in 1935, with the chairman, Mortimer believing it was a necessity to provide supporters with shelter during bad weather. Aldershot had a "very fine stand" and the price of it was one which appealed to the club's management team, A stannd similar would be erected though about half the size. [13] The same year, the club carried on building dressings rooms under the stand, to replace the ones created during the building of the ground from outbuildings. [14]

On 23 April 1937 11,000 spectators watched the Coronation Cup final between Arsenal and Portsmouth, with Arsenal winning the match 2–0. 500 cars were said to be parked within the car park just outside of the ground. The mayor at the time stated that "there are no more welcome visitors to the city of Bath than the teams of Portsmouth and Arsenal." [15] In April 1941, the city was targeted with bombing raids. Twerton was badly hit, with half The Popular Side being destroyed, and much of the congregated fence blown away, as well as structural damage to the grandstand, the season was voided, with much of the city "razed to the ground." [16] In 1942, The Bath End, was still yet to have any sought of backdrop, with wingers reporting they had the illusion of "dropping of the ends of the earth" with the steep hill behind it when playing on that side, and so chairman Mr Mortimer said it would be the first to be terraced. [17]

A match at the stadium in the 1950s Match at Twerton Park in the 1950s.jpg
A match at the stadium in the 1950s

Work was frantic at Twerton Park to ready it for what was a predicted 20,000 gate versus Aston Villa. Extra terracing was cut on the banks. The gates were opened at 12:30 and over 50 police were present, as 17,000 made their way to the ground, Bath City's record league attendance. [18] In the summer of 1946 the stadium was in discussion to be converted to an arena for Greyhound racing, with the Bath Chronicle reporting that "they might be forced to sell unless greater support was shown." Chairman at the time, Arthur Mortimer, stated that he was “against dog racing, though there may be no alternative." [19] That year, the stadium was in plans for redevelopment. Mortimer stated that he desired to provide Bath with a stadium equal to, if not superior to any in the West of England.

With the stadium in heavy discussion for expansion, to a capacity of 40,000, in aim to become; "a stadium worthy of the city". [20] [21] It was planned first to move the playing field a few yards to the west to enable a bank at the Bath End, and to extend the Popular Side, with the addition of further concrete terracing. The dressing room and facilities within the stadium were also being discussed for improvement. [22] The greyhound racing proposal was later rejected in August 1946 as it had recently been decided that no dog racing was allowed for any league club, the management committee felt their efforts towards gaining entry into the English Football League would be vetoed. The chairman stated: "We feel that our geographical position alone entitles us to a higher place in the sun, with Bath and the surrounding districts, we can call upon 100,000 to support league football in the town. [22]

Twerton Park in 1962 Bath City 1962.jpg
Twerton Park in 1962

During the 1946–47 season, work went on to improve Twerton, and rubble from bombsites around the city was "dropped at the ground" ready as hardcore for the terraces and to build up the banking. A refreshment hut was also approved by the Bath surveying commission. [23] In 1948, work had continued on the stadium, the bank at the front of the Grandstand was finally concreted, a portion of the Popular Side closer to what is now the Bristol End, was to be cleared and moved to form a new bank, concurrently the pitch was moved westwards, to allow greater space for spectators at the Bath End and space for terracing to be built. [24]

At the end of May 1950, the government announced the end of petrol rationing, giving indirect access to greater amounts of timber and building materials. [25] The club consequently made plans to put right some parts of the stadium which had been damaged in the war, such as repairing some of the damaged stand on The Popular Side. [26] In 1956, the supporters club began work on fencing the south and west sides of the stadium, with concrete posts holding 500 yards of chain link, and an evergreen hedge to make it unclimbable. A pair of wide gates were erected with two ticket entrances for pedestrians, as the ground began to "take a tidier look. For the 1956–57 season crowds were averaging 3,500-4,000.

Twerton Park, a view of The Popular Side in 1966. Twerton Park, The Popular Side in 1966.jpg
Twerton Park, a view of The Popular Side in 1966.

In 1961, Bath City were to play Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup third round. Work began to remove 1,500 tons of earth from the Bristol End, for the construction of a temporary stand to hold an extra 2,000 people. It was a calculated gamble by chairman Arthur Mortimer who was aware that the cost would almost held the profit margins but he was adamant that as many Bathonian's as possible should see the game. More of The Popular Side terracing was concreted, the press had "boosted the game to such as degree" that many predicted 15,000, in fact 18,020 roared Bath City on. [27] Attendances on average during the 1940s and 1950s were some of the highest recorded in Bath City's history. Notable large home attendances during this period included; 17,000 in 1944 vs Aston Villa [28] 14,000 vs Southend United in the 1952–53 season and 11,700 at Twerton Park against rivals Yeovil Town in 1957. The record attendance of 18,020 was recorded in 1960 versus Brighton & Hove Albion.

Capacity reduction and The Rovers years (1967–2000)

In 1967 "Wembley style" goalposts were added the ground, the same year, the pitch was moved back towards the Bristol End by 20 feet. New Director, Reg Ironside, announced new significant changes would be made to the ground, with the provision of a new social club, replacing the building in the car park. On the Popular Side, Bath City had sold some of the land for housing and the cover was taken down and moved nearer the pitch, the terracing was partly removed, dropping the stand's capacity significantly, Ironside stated the reason was that a new social club would provide a large portion of the income needed to run Bath City, as gate money and various fund raising schemes were proving inefficient. [29] On 23 May 1970 the stadium hosted a pop concert, a crowd of 15,000 was predicted but the actual attendance ended being a third of that number.

An aerial shot of the ground in the 1980s Twerton Park in the 1980s.png
An aerial shot of the ground in the 1980s

It was expected that it would wipe a third of the debts from the book but in fact, it contributed to heavy losses as hundreds watched from Innox Park above, and more climbed over the fences, when well known band, Fleetwood Mac played. To add to the "farce" the lights and amplifies were all switches off as the band played. The festival would be known as the "Aqua Sulis incident." [30] In 1986, Bristol Rovers moved to Twerton. [31] Contractors moved in to start work on the terraces with repaired and new turnstiles and gates, plus a retaining wall and segregation fencing. The stadium went under heavy reconstruction, with the Bristol End's terracing being implemented, turnstiles at the west end of the stadium were also added to accommodate away fans, costing £80,000. [32] The ground braced itself for crowds approaching 7–8,000. Bristol Rovers' first game at Twerton Park attracted 4,000 against Reading. Before the start of the 1987–88 season Bath and Rovers had stumped up £8,000 for a new pitch.

In 1988 Twerton was getting used to big crowds for Bristol Rovers, with 8,400 crammed in versus Wolverhampton Wanderers. In 1989, Rovers announced the building of a new 230 seater stand, to the west of the main stand. Former Chairman; Gilbert Walshaw and Arthur Mortimer's long dream of League football appeared to have moved a step closer. [33] That season, Bristol Rovers won the Football League Third Division, clinching the title on 2 May 1990 with a 3–0 victory over fierce rivals Bristol City, beating the Robins to the title by 2 points. [34] Several hours after the game, at midnight, the Grandstand was heavily damaged by Bristol City Hooligans. It was a stunning blow for all at both clubs, the video monitoring box was destroyed along with the press box, seating and social rooms inside. [35] Nine Bristol City supporters were later convicted of arson. [36] [37] The cost to rebuild the Main Stand was £800,000 [38] A temporary stand was put up, though the grandstand was fully refurbished in June. [39] Rovers notably played Liverpool in the FA cup on 5 February 1992, in front of a crowd of over 9,000.

The modern era (2000–present)

View of Twerton Park from Innox Park Twerton Park -geograph-888372.jpg
View of Twerton Park from Innox Park

From 2000 onwards, the ground hosted Team Bath, who were a full-time professional team playing in the Conference South until their resignation at the end of the 2008–09 season. [40] At the end of the 2011–12 season the club offered the naming rights to Twerton Park for just £50. The offer drew 167 entries from as far afield as the US, Australia, Norway and Singapore which raised £8,350 for Bath City. Businesses made up 58 of the entries with only a handful of the remaining personalised entries being deemed unsuitable. [41] The winning entry drawn at random was The Mayday Trust, a charitable organisation that helps to re-home vulnerable people. [42]

In 2021, Bath City fan, gave an interview with The Athletic; stating: "I made my debut for Bath in the late 1970s period and the first thing that strikes me now is that the stadium looks barely any different.” Talks have been held in the past between Bath Rugby and Bath City about sharing a ground, as the former team wish to move away from their home ground Recreation Ground, although nothing has amounted from this. Following the resignation of Chairman Manda Rigby, she claimed that the club needed to move away from Twerton Park to "sustain their finances". [43]

Stands

Twerton Park plan. North towards the Grandstand, South towards the Popular Side 1280px Twerton Park plan.png
Twerton Park plan. North towards the Grandstand, South towards the Popular Side

Currently, Twerton Park has a recently reduced capacity of 4,070, [44] 1,006 of which are seated. However the physical capacity of the ground is 8,840. [45]

Physical Capacity (8,840) of each stand

StandForCapacity
The GrandstandHome Fans1,805 (seated & standing)
The Popular SideHome Fans3,500 (standing)
The Bath EndHome Fans800 (standing)
Family StandHome and away fans235 (seated)
The Bristol EndHome and away fans2,500 (standing)

Reduced Capacity (4,070) of each stand

StandForCapacity
The GrandstandHome Fans1,000 (seated & standing)
The Popular SideHome Fans1,035 (standing)
The Bath EndHome Fans300 (standing)
Family StandHome and away fans235 (seated)
The Bristol EndHome and away fans1,500 (standing)

The Grandstand

The Twerton Park Grandstand in 2022.png

The grandstand has a physical capacity of 771 seated and 1,034 standing spectators. It is located to the north of the stadium and encompasses the majority of the stadiums seating. The Grandstand is the oldest of the four stands, being constructed in 1932. It has a raised covered seating area, meaning spectators must climb a small set of stairs for entry. It has a steeply angled roof which points sharply downwards, with windshields to each side and a number of supporting pillars across the front. Below is a small uncovered terrace area which can house around 800 fans at full capacity.

Blue seats line the majority of the stand though premium black seats are located down the middle. It is single tiered. As the ground's main stand, it houses nearly all of the ground's more established facilities, including Randall's bar, club offices, the club shop, and the two sets of player dressing rooms, as well as other multi purpose rooms. [46] In 1990 the Grandstand was heavily damaged by Bristol City Hooligans, as a result the stand required refurbishment, which cost £800,000 [37] Entrance to all stands within the stadium is controlled by traditional turnstiles directly outside of the Grandstand on either end. The club's official bar is just outside of the grandstand next to the main car park. It was named "Charlies" in honour of Bath's record goal scorer Charlie Fleming. [47]

The Bath End

The Bath End at Twerton Park in 2017.png

Located to the east of the ground, the smallest of the four stands. The Bath End contains no roofing, and the terracing is shallow, stretching just 4-5 rows deep, the stand gets wider as it gets closer to the Popular Side. Wooden fencing lines the back of the stand. The Bath End is all standing, and can hold 800 fans at full physical capacity. The terrace contains netting behind it in an attempt to prevent loose balls from being kicked out of the ground.

The Popular Side 2022.png

Located opposite the Grandstand, with a physical capacity of 3,500 the terrace runs the length of the pitch and is covered by metal roofing and is all standing. The Popular Side is home to the club's most vocal and passionate support, [48] with flags and banners being put up at either end of which Bath City are attacking. [49] The stand has a drinks/snacks bar at the half way line. Originally the terrace was designed to hold around 6,000 fans, though the stand has been brought forward significantly and thus its overall capacity reduced. [50] On 2 August 2022 the club announced the opening of a bar on The Popular Side. [51]

The Bristol End

The Bristol End at Twerton Park in 2008.png

Located to the west, an open, all standing, terrace which is the designated away end when segregation is put in place, significantly larger than the Bath End at the opposing goal with a physical capacity of 2,500. The terracing goes deeper and higher than both the Bath End and The Popular Side, being 26 steps high. The Bristol End is lined with two sets of metal barriers running parallel to the stand, the lower barrier being placed on the 10th step from the pitch height, and the upper barrier placed on the 18th. The barriers are more commonly used for fans to lean on during matches, but when at maximum capacity, they act as protection against a ‘human push or crush.’

Attendances

Average Bath City attendance at Twerton Park, 1958-2022 Bath city average attendance chart.png
Average Bath City attendance at Twerton Park, 1958–2022
SeasonBath City [52]
AttendanceLeagueLevel
2021–221,204 National League South 6
2020–210 [lower-alpha 1]
2019–201,081
2018–191,142
2017–18702
2016–17612
2015–16727
2014–15500
2013–14599
2012–13583
2011–12848 National League 5
2010–111,053
2009–10965Conference South6
2008–09618
2007–08851
2006–07930Southern League7
2005–06732
2004–05616
2003–047146
2002–03866
2001–02850
2000–01812
1999–00993
1998–99793
1997–98735Bristol Rovers [53]
1996–97685Conference Premier5AttendanceLeagueLevel
1995–966635,279 Second Division 3
1994–958875,173
1993–941,3935,338
1992–937975,745 First Division 2
1991–928265,850Second Division
1990–918215,929
1989–90560 Southern League 66,202 Third Division 3
1988–896255,259
1987–88637Alliance Premier League53,653
1986–875903,246
1985–86688
1984–85635
1983–84738
1982–83888
1981–82898
1980–81970
1979–801,060
1978–791,611Southern League Premiern/a
1977–781,134
1976–77867
1975–76n/a
1974–75n/a
1973–741,309Southern League Division One
1972–731,229
1971–721,308Southern League Premier
1970–711,239
1969–701,831
1968–692,151Southern League Division One
1967–682,076
1966–672,191Southern League Premier
1965–662,030Southern League Division One
1964–651,910Southern League Premier
1963–642,993
1962–632,316
1961–623,095
1960–612,902
1959–604,940
  1. No fans permitted for the 2020–21 season on account of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic

Future

Twerton Park was recently prepared for redevelopment. [54] Bath City first announced plans on 10 October 2017. [55] Initially, Bath City were in discussions with private investment company; Greenacre Capital who wished to build purpose built student accommodation on the adjoining land. The agreement was for Bath City to give up part of their land to Greenacre, in exchange for the latter to build the club a new grandstand and facilities, which would include affordable housing, a sports bar, gym, offices and community space. [56] Bath City later announced plans to convert the playing surface to a third-generation 3G synthetic surface on the 15 March 2018. [57]

Nick Blofeld, Bath City's Chairman stated, “Following Bath City's change to community ownership earlier this year, we are delighted to confirm our intention to undertake a partial redevelopment of the ground and an upgrade of the facilities. We believe that Bath City should be an integral part of the community in Twerton, and it is the Board's desire to secure the long term, sustainable future of the football club at Twerton Park. We also aim to improve the existing club facilities and make them more appropriate for the wider community, so that the club can become more of a local hub.” [55]

On the evening of Tuesday 21 November 2017, approximately 70 people attended an event at Twerton Park to provide initial feedback on the subject of the redevelopment. Bath City stated that the attendees were generally positive on the idea and the impact it could have on the area. Most saw the redevelopment as an opportunity to invest in the area and "create a new community hub and give the club a new lease of life." [58] On the 4 March 2019, [59] Bath City released a CGI animation of the proposed future development. [60]

On 2 March 2020, sixteen Twerton-based businesses and community organisations joined in collaboration to write an open letter to The Bath Chronicle. In the letter, they expressed their support for the club's redevelopment plans and shared the hope that Bath City's application would receive approval from the Bath and North East Somerset council planners. [61] Albiet, although over 800 people backed the new proposals, councillors of BANES voiced concerns about living conditions - with some rooms compared to "prison cells" - and the potential negative impacts of such a high student influx in a residential area. [62]

Other council members shared concerns about the student accommodation raised by planning officers, stating the scale of the seven-storey block was “excessive, visually intrusive and over-dominant”. They further added; “due to the poor outlook, quantity and quality of amenity spaces, room sizes and layouts”, would create a poor quality and “oppressive living environment” for future occupiers of the accommodation. Twerton councillor Sarah Moore had objected to the plans, saying she considered them to be “overdevelopment with insufficient space to provide adequate housing facilities for the numbers and types of properties proposed”. [63] Thus, on 10 March 2020, [64] the plans were rejected. [65]

Records

The highest attendance recorded at Twerton Park is 18,020 for an FA Cup third round match between Bath City and Brighton & Hove Albion on 9 January January 1960. The record league attendance was 17,000 vs Aston Villa, in the Football League North on 14 April 1944. [28] The highest recorded average attendance at Twerton Park over a League season is 4,940, set in the 1959–60 season. The lowest average attendance at Twerton Park Park came in the 2014–15 when an average of just 500 spectators watched each match. [66]

Transport

Somerset UK location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Twerton Park
Location of Twerton Park in Somerset

The stadium is located just south of Twerton High Street, which links to the A36 or the (Lower Bristol Road), which has direct access to Bristol if one were ravelling west, and to the A46 in Bathwick, which eventually connects with the M4, just South East of Yate. One would exit the M4 at junction18 and follow the A46 signposted Bath. After 8 miles before a tunnel keep in left hand lane (Bath A4) to roundabout. Take the third exit and follow signs for A4 Bath.

Follow A4 signs around southern perimeter of the city for 3 miles. After passing Bathwick Tyres on the left, in 100 yards at traffic lights turn left, signposted Twerton, through a railway arch with an 11 ft 6in height restriction. Twerton Park is 200 yards on the left after a row of shops. [67] On foot, the stadium is approximately 1.9 miles (3.2 km) from Bath Spa railway station, roughly a 40 minute walk westwards. [68] The stadium is 3 km or 1.8 miles from the city centre. [69] [70]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pittodrie Stadium</span> Football stadium in Aberdeen, Scotland

Pittodrie Stadium, commonly referred to as Pittodrie, is an all-seater stadium in Aberdeen, Scotland. Used primarily for football, it has been the home ground of the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) club Aberdeen F.C. since they were formed in 1903. Prior to then, the ground hosted the original Aberdeen F.C. from 1899 until the merger that created the present club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kardinia Park (stadium)</span> Sporting venue in Victoria, Australia

Kardinia Park is a sporting and entertainment venue located within Kardinia Park, South Geelong, in the Australian state of Victoria. The stadium, which is owned and operated by the Kardinia Park Stadium Trust, is the home ground of the Geelong Football Club, an Australian rules football club who compete in the Australian Football League (AFL). Kardinia Park can accommodate 40,000 spectators, making it the largest-capacity Australian stadium in a regional city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rugby Park</span> Football stadium in Kilmarnock, Scotland

Rugby Park, also known as The BBSP Stadium Rugby Park for sponsorship reasons, is a football stadium which is the home of Scottish Premiership club Kilmarnock F.C. and is situated in the Scottish town of Kilmarnock. With a capacity of 15,003, it is the 7th–largest football stadium in Scotland, and was first used in 1899, also having been used for concerts, rugby union and international football fixtures. The stadium underwent a major redevelopment in 1994–1995, becoming an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 18,128. In 2002, the club constructed the Park Hotel, a 4-star hotel complex next to the ground.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St James Park (Exeter)</span> Football stadium in Exeter, England

St James Park is a football stadium in Exeter and is the home of Exeter City FC. The stadium is served by the St James Park railway station, which is right next to the ground. It has been adopted by the club who contribute to its upkeep, under the community rail scheme, and its railings have been painted in the red and white of Exeter's strip.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Home Park</span> Football stadium

Home Park is a football stadium in Plymouth, England. The ground has been the home of EFL Championship club Plymouth Argyle since 1901.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ewood Park</span> Football stadium

Ewood Park is a football stadium in Blackburn, Lancashire, England, and the home of Blackburn Rovers F.C., founding members of the Football League and Premier League, who have played there since 1890. It is an all seater multi-sports facility with a capacity of 31,367, and four sections: the Bryan Douglas Darwen End, The Ronnie Clayton Blackburn End, the Riverside Stand, and Jack Walker Stand, named after Blackburn industrialist and club supporter, Jack Walker. The football pitch within the stadium measures 115 by 76 yards

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bath City F.C.</span> Football club

Bath City Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Bath, Somerset, England. The club is affiliated to the Somerset FA and currently competes in the National League South, the sixth tier of English football. Nicknamed the "Romans", the club was founded in 1889 and have played their home matches at Twerton Park since 1932.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dalymount Park</span> Football stadium in Dublin, Ireland

Dalymount Park is a football stadium in Phibsborough on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stark's Park</span> Football stadium in Kirkcaldy, Scotland

Stark's Park is a football stadium in Kirkcaldy, Scotland. It is the home ground of Raith Rovers, who have played there since 1891. The ground has an all-seated capacity of 8,867.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turf Moor</span> Stadium in Burnley, Lancashire, England

Turf Moor is an association football stadium in Burnley, Lancashire, England, which has been the home of Burnley Football Club since 1883. This unbroken service makes Turf Moor the second-longest continuously used ground in English professional football. The stadium is situated on Harry Potts Way, named after the manager who won the 1959–60 First Division with the club, and has a capacity of 21,944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashton Gate (stadium)</span> Football stadium

Ashton Gate is a multi-use stadium in Ashton Gate, Bristol, England, and is the home of Bristol City football club and the Bristol Bears rugby union team. Located in the south-west of the city, just south of the River Avon, it currently has an all-seated capacity of 27,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Memorial Stadium (Bristol)</span> Stadium in Bristol, England

The Memorial Stadium, also commonly known by its previous name of the Memorial Ground, is a sports ground in Bristol, England, and is the home of Bristol Rovers F.C. It opened in 1921, dedicated to the memory of local rugby union players killed during the First World War, and was the home of Bristol Rugby Club until they moved to Ashton Gate in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prenton Park</span> Football stadium in Birkenhead, England

Prenton Park is a large outdoor seated association football stadium in Birkenhead, England. It is the home ground of Tranmere Rovers, as well as Liverpool's women and reserves teams. The ground has had several rebuilds, with the most recent occurring in 1995 in response to the requirement of the Taylor Report to become all-seater. Today's stadium holds 16,587 in four stands: the Kop, the Johnny King Stand, the Main Stand and the Cowshed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edgar Street</span> Football stadium in Hereford, England

Edgar Street is a football stadium in Hereford and was the home of Hereford United Football Club from the club's formation in 1924 until December 2014, when the club was wound up. It is now the home of Hereford FC, a phoenix club formed to replace the former club. It is the largest football stadium in the county of Herefordshire and is located on the edge of Hereford city centre, adjacent to the former cattle market. The name of the stadium directly derives from the name of the street where it is located, which is also the A49.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hartsdown Park</span> Sports venue in Kent, England

Hartsdown Park is a football stadium located in Margate, Kent, England. It has been the home of Margate F.C. since 1929, apart from between 2002 and 2005, when the club was forced to share the grounds of other Kent clubs while protracted redevelopment work occurred.

A large number of English football clubs have ongoing schemes to redevelop existing grounds, or to move to newly constructed stadiums. A trend towards all-seater stadiums was initially prescribed by the Taylor Report, and was originally a condition only of Premier League admission. It has now become a requirement that within three years of a club's first promotion to the Championship all paying spectators are seated, even if the club is subsequently relegated. This page provides an (incomplete) list and description of those clubs who have planned new stadiums or refurbishments, or who have already moved/refurbished since around the time of the Taylor Report.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bath City W.F.C.</span> Association football club in England

Bath City Women's Football Club is a football club based in Bath, Somerset, England. The club is affiliated to the Somerset FA and currently compete in the South West Regional Women's League Division One, the sixth tier of Women's English football. Though multiple Bath City women's teams have existed in the past, the current team was founded last year, in 2022. The team play their home games at Twerton Park. Like the men’s team, the women’s squad play in black and white shirts, and are nicknamed “The Romans” which stems from Bath's ancient Roman history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Bath City F.C.</span> Football club history

Bath City Football Club is a semi-professional football club based in Bath, Somerset, England. The club was founded in 1889 as Bath AFC, and changed its name to Bath City in 1905. The club has never played in the Football League, though Bath were heavily discussed as an entrant in the 1930s and 1940s, and came closest via election in 1978 and 1985. During the Second World War, the club won the Football League North.

References

  1. "Everything you need to know: Twerton Park". Bristol City F.C. 5 August 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  2. Bath City FC Information
  3. Byrne, Stephen & Jay, Mike (2003) Bristol Rovers Football Club, The Definitive History 1883-2003
  4. "Opening Of Innox Park, Twerton, Bath, 1909". Bath In Time. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  5. "Innox Park, Twerton" . Bath Chronicle . 27 June 1909. p. 3. Retrieved 5 November 2023 via British Newspaper Archive.
  6. Miller 2003, p. 63.
  7. Miller 2003, p. 68.
  8. Miller 2003, p. 69.
  9. 1 2 Miller 2003, p. 70.
  10. "Bath City's bad luck" . Bath Chronicle . 20 August 1932. p. 16. Retrieved 6 November 2023 via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. "Football results in brief" . Bath Chronicle . 10 September 1932. p. 17 via British Newspaper Archive.
  12. Miller 2003, p. 73.
  13. "New Stand at Twerton" . Bath Chronicle . 24 August 1935. p. 19. Retrieved 6 November 2023 via British Newspaper Archive.
  14. Miller 2003, p. 80.
  15. "Arsenal Win Coronation Cup at Twerton" . Bath Chronicle . p. 16. Retrieved 6 November 2023 via British Newspaper Archive.
  16. Miller 2003, p. 95.
  17. Miller 2003, p. 98.
  18. Miller 2003, p. 99.
  19. "Dog racing at Twerton Park?" . Bath Chronicle . 27 July 1946. p. 10. Retrieved 6 November 2023 via British Newspaper Archive.
  20. "Bath City maybe in League, Div 4" . Bath Chronicle . 2 December 1944. Retrieved 30 October 2023 via British Newspaper Archive.
  21. "Bath City's big plans at Twerton" . Bath Chronicle . 17 November 1945. p. 9. Retrieved 30 October 2023 via British Newspaper Archive.
  22. 1 2 "Twerton Park as a sports stadium" . Bath Chronicle . 31 August 1946. p. 3. Retrieved 6 November 2023 via British Newspaper Archive.
  23. Miller, Kerry (2003) p. 107.
  24. Miller 2003, p. 110.
  25. Miller 2003, p. 116.
  26. Miller 2003, p. 117.
  27. Miller, Kerry (2003) p. 141.
  28. 1 2 "Bath City's great fights against Aston Villa" . Bath Chronicle . 15 April 1944. Retrieved 6 November 2023 via British Newspaper Archive.
  29. Miller, Kerry (2003) p. 165.
  30. "Long-time City fan seeks programmes". Bath City FC. 19 December 2021. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  31. "Club History - Bristol Rovers". Bristol Rovers FC. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  32. "Twerton Park (10 years in exile) 630/659". The Bristol Rovers History Group. Retrieved 29 January 2023.
  33. Miller 2003, p. 213.
  34. "Bristol Rovers Grounds Guide - The Memorial Stadium". Two Blue Quarters. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
  35. Miller, Kerry (2003) p. 213.
  36. "Twerton Park (10 years in exile) 630/659". The Bristol Rovers History Group. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  37. 1 2 Byrom, David (24 May 2019). "This is why Rovers fans are angry over Bath City's choice of shirt". BristolLive. Retrieved 28 October 2022.
  38. "Twerton Park: Ground zero" . Retrieved 28 October 2022 via PressReader.
  39. Miller, Kerry (2003) p. 216.
  40. "Football Club History Database - Team Bath". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  41. Morris, Steven (9 February 2012). "Bath City football club offers right to rename Twerton Park stadium for £50". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  42. "Bath City's football ground to become Mayday Trust Park". BBC News. 9 April 2012. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  43. "Question mark over the future of Bath City FC's Twerton ground". Bath Chronicle. 23 December 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
  44. "Information". Bath City FC. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  45. "Twerton Park Bath City FC - Bath Chronicle". Bath Chronicle. 29 November 2017. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  46. "Parties". Bath City FC. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  47. "Bath City FC bar and venue hire". Bath City FC. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  48. "Meet the singers - and join them!". Bath City FC. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  49. Writer, Henry Winter, Chief Football. "We're not just a rugby town – Bath's 'other' team fight to avoid extinction" . The Times . Retrieved 17 January 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  50. James, Stuart. "The best places to watch football: Twerton Park, with its sloping pitch and where Ken Loach sells programmes". The Athletic. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  51. "In-ground bar opens". Bath City FC. 2 August 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  52. "Bath City FC Archives". Bath City FC archives. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  53. "England historical attendance and performance". European Football Statistics. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  54. Elgee, Emma (15 December 2021). "Bath City FC pressing on with Twerton Park redevelopment plans". SomersetLive. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  55. 1 2 "Bath City FC signs MoU with Greenacre Capital to revitalise Twerton Park". Bath City FC. 10 October 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  56. "Bath City Redevelopment Plans" (PDF). 19 February 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  57. "3G feasibility and discussion meeting". Bath City FC. 15 March 2018. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  58. "1st Community Listening Event (November 2017) - Summary". Bath City FC. 21 January 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  59. "Watch a CGI Animation of Twerton Park & High Street Redevelopment". Bath City FC. 4 March 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  60. Bingham, Eddie; Updated (20 February 2019). "New plans unveiled for Bath City FC and Twerton High Street". SomersetLive. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  61. "Why we love Twerton and why TP redevelopment is a huge opportunity". Bath City FC. 2 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  62. Elgee, Emma (15 December 2021). "Bath City FC pressing on with Twerton Park redevelopment plans". SomersetLive. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  63. Team, Bath Echo News (11 March 2020). "Plans to redevelop home of Bath City Football Club in Twerton are refused". Bath Echo. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  64. Sumner, Stephen (11 March 2020). "Bath City FC devastated after plans for grandstand and flats rejected". SomersetLive. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  65. "Bath City FC's 3G pitch and new homes plan rejected". BBC News. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  66. "Information". Bath City FC. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
  67. "How To Find Us". Bath City FC. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  68. "Bath Spa Train Station | Train Times | GWR". Great Western Railway. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  69. "Directions to Bath City". Slough Town FC. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
  70. "Visiting Twerton Park". Bristol Rovers FC. Retrieved 19 March 2023.

Further reading

51°22′44″N2°23′42″W / 51.3788°N 2.3950°W / 51.3788; -2.3950