Withdean Stadium

Last updated

Withdean Stadium
Withdean, Brighton
Withdean.jpg
Withdean Stadium
Full nameWithdean Stadium
Location Brighton, England
Capacity 1,350
Field size110 x 75 yards
Construction
Built1936
Opened1936
Tenants
Brighton & Hove Athletics Club

Brighton Phoenix
Arena 80

Withdean (1989–2000)
Brighton & Hove Albion (1999–2011)
Brighton Electricity (2014–)
AFC Varndeanians (2015–)

Withdean Stadium is an athletics stadium in Withdean, a suburb of Brighton. It was constructed in 1930. It was the home track of Olympic athlete Steve Ovett. Between 1999 and 2011 it was the home ground of football team Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.

Contents

History

The site was opened as a lawn tennis club venue in 1936, having been used as playing fields before this. The centre court had seating for 2,000 and was used for the Davis Cup match between Great Britain and New Zealand in the spring of 1939. [1] Later developments included a zoo [2] and miniature railway.

In 1955 the then mayor of Brighton, Walter Dudeney, opened Brighton Sports Arena as a new athletics arena hosting various sporting activities and events. The arena was upgraded over the years, with lighting added and additional squash courts. In 1980 Steve Ovett opened an all-weather running track, [3] which was resurfaced in 1997. [4] In 1999 the stadium became the temporary home of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.

Use by Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.

The club's original stadium, the Goldstone Ground, had been sold for commercial redevelopment in 1997. This resulted in the team playing their home matches for two seasons at Gillingham's Priestfield Stadium, over 70 miles (110 km) from Brighton, before moving to Withdean Stadium. The only other local option for Albion had been to play at Sussex CCC's County Cricket Ground, Hove.

North Stand in the distance, in the foreground a temporary stand that has since been removed Withdean Stadium - 2 - geograph-1993792.jpg
North Stand in the distance, in the foreground a temporary stand that has since been removed
South Stand which existed while it was used by Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Withdean Stadium - 1 - geograph-1993833.jpg
South Stand which existed while it was used by Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.

Withdean Stadium was voted the fourth worst football stadium in the UK by The Observer in 2004. [5] The temporary nature of the stadium was obvious - the stadium was primarily used for athletics; there was a single permanent stand along the north side, while the other stands were assembled from scaffolding, some of which also served as temporary seating at the Open Championship golf tournament. The largest was the South Stand, running the entire length of the pitch. The east end of the pitch contained two medium-sized and one small stand. One of the larger stands here was designated as the family stand. The West Stand was the designated away stand. Changing and hospitality facilities were provided with portable cabins placed haphazardly around the site, and there was very limited on-site car parking.

There was considerable opposition in the local neighbourhood to allowing the football club to use the stadium. After some unique concessions were made, the club was allowed to move into Withdean in 1999. Amplified music was banned during football matches (except for the traditional "Sussex by the Sea"), and matchday parking restrictions were imposed within a one-mile radius of the ground. After a year, the music restrictions were eased, but the parking limitations continued in force. The price of each match ticket also included a public transport voucher allowing free bus or rail travel throughout the Brighton and Hove area on match day.

For Albion's match against Sheffield United on 2 October 2004 the stadium was temporarily renamed Palookaville as it hosted the launch party for Fatboy Slim's album of the same name. [6] The album was released on Skint Records, then the club's shirt sponsor, and for that match the team wore shirts bearing the name Palookaville instead of Skint. The name Palookaville was also considered humorously appropriate by fans because it reflected the inadequacy of the club's temporary home.

Additional seating was added at the East and West Ends of the ground in November 2005. The club played their last game at Withdean on Saturday 30 April 2011 against Huddersfield Town. [7]

Since the club has moved out, the temporary seating and other structures have been removed with only the original North Stand remaining, with seating for around 1,300.

Withdean Sports Complex

Today the Stadium is part of the Withdean Sports Complex leisure centre owned by Brighton and Hove City Council and operated by Freedom Leisure. Facilities include squash and tennis courts, a gym and rock climbing wall. [8]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brighton</span> Seaside resort on the south coast of England

Brighton is a seaside resort in the city of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England, 47 miles (76 km) south of London. Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze Age, Roman and Anglo-Saxon periods. The ancient settlement of "Brighthelmstone" was documented in the Domesday Book (1086). The town's importance grew in the Middle Ages as the Old Town developed, but it languished in the early modern period, affected by foreign attacks, storms, a suffering economy and a declining population. Brighton began to attract more visitors following improved road transport to London and becoming a boarding point for boats travelling to France. The town also developed in popularity as a health resort for sea bathing as a purported cure for illnesses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.</span> Football club in East Sussex, England

Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Brighton, is a professional football club based in Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. The club's home ground is the Falmer Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City of Manchester Stadium</span> Football stadium in Manchester, England

The City of Manchester Stadium, currently known as Etihad Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is the home of Premier League club Manchester City, with a domestic football capacity of 53,600, making it the 7th-largest football stadium in England and 11th-largest in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melbourne Park</span> Sports complex in Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne Park is a sports venue in the Melbourne Sports and Entertainment Precinct in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Since 1988, Australia's bicentenary, Melbourne Park has been home of the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament played annually in January. The park has multiple venues where the Australian Open matches take place. Rod Laver Arena is the largest venue with a capacity of 15,000, while John Cain Arena seats 10,500 and Margaret Court Arena 7,500. The three venues feature retractable roofs, allowing events to be played indoors or outdoors. Other venues include Show Court 3 and 1573 Arena which both have a 3,000 seating capacity, and the new 5,000-seat Kia Arena, which opened in 2022. In total there are 35 outdoor Greenset tennis courts at Melbourne Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falmer Stadium</span> Association football stadium in Brighton & Hove

Falmer Stadium, currently known as the American Express Stadium for sponsorship reasons and more commonly referred to as the Amex, is a football stadium in Falmer, Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England. With a capacity of 31,876, it is the second largest stadium in South East England, after St Mary's Stadium (Southampton), and the 29th largest stadium in the United Kingdom.

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

Almondvale Stadium, also known as The Home of the Set Fare Arena for sponsorship purposes, but commonly referred to as 'The Spaghettihad', is a football stadium, located in the Almondvale area of Livingston, West Lothian, Scotland. It has been the home ground of Scottish Championship club Livingston since 1995, and has an all-seater capacity of 9,713.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre</span> Multi-purpose sports facility in Brisbane, Queensland

The Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre is a multi-purpose sports facility in Nathan, Queensland, located 10 kilometres south-east of the Brisbane CBD. Its main stadium – formerly known as QEII Stadium, and later ANZ Stadium under a naming rights agreement with ANZ – accommodates 48,500 spectators, while its smaller State Athletics Facility accommodates 2,100 spectators. Both stadiums feature Rekortan running tracks and natural grass fields. The Queensland Academy of Sport, Queensland State Netball Centre, and a complex of beach volleyball courts are also housed at the facility. QSAC is owned by the Queensland Government, and its main stadium and State Athletics Facility are operated through its agency, Stadiums Queensland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Withdean</span> Human settlement in England

Withdean is a former village, now part of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex.

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

Whitehawk F.C. is a semi-professional football club in Whitehawk, a suburb of the city of Brighton and Hove, England, which has played in the Isthmian League Premier Division since 2023, after winning the Isthmian League's South East Division playoffs. Whitehawk's home is the 3,126-capacity McLaren Enclosed Ground within East Brighton Park. Nicknamed The Hawks, the club's traditional playing colours are red and white. Before 2010, the club had never played above County League level, but after three promotions in four seasons reached Conference South in 2013, and the second round of the FA Cup in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Goldstone Ground</span> Former sporting ground in Hove, Sussex, England

The Goldstone Ground was a football stadium in Hove, East Sussex that was the home ground of Brighton & Hove Albion between 1902 and 1997.

The 2008–09 Football League Trophy, known as the 2008–09 Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is the 28th Football League Trophy, a knockout competition for English football clubs in Leagues One and Two, the third and fourth tiers of English football. Luton Town won the competition, beating Scunthorpe United 3–2 after extra time in the final. However, Luton were unable to defend their trophy as they were relegated from the Football League at the end of the season.

The history of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. began in 1901. It first played in the Southern League, and was elected to the Football League in 1920. They won promotion to the First Division in the 1978–79 season, but were relegated in the 1982–83 season. They returned to the top flight for the 2017–18 season playing in the Premier League.

Brighton and Hove Cricket Club, nicknamed The Mighty Bensons, is an amateur cricket club based in East Sussex, in southern England. Their top team secured the Sussex Cricket League championship in 2000 and in 2007. Based since 1991 at the Nevill Sports Ground in Hove, southern England, the club achieved success in 1979 when it won both the first and second eleven competitions in the Sussex League, while playing at Horsdean.

<i>Palookaville</i> (album) 2004 studio album by Fatboy Slim

Palookaville is the fourth studio album by English electronic music producer Fatboy Slim. It was first released on 4 October 2004 in the United Kingdom by Skint Records and a day later in the United States by Astralwerks. The album was nominated for the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Electronic/Dance Album.

The 2011–12 FA Women's Cup is the 41st season of the association football knockout competition. 276 clubs competed for the years trophy. The winners will not qualify for the UEFA Women's Champions League. The current holders are now Birmingham City LFC. They beat Chelsea 3–2 in a penalty shootout after a 2–2 draw in the final at Ashton Gate.

Sport in Sussex forms an important part of the culture of Sussex. With a centuries-long tradition of sport, Sussex has played a key role in the early development of both cricket and stoolball. Cricket is recognised as having been formed in the Weald and Sussex CCC is England's oldest county cricket club. Slindon Cricket Club dominated the sport for a while in the 18th century. The cricket ground at Arundel Castle traditionally plays host to a Duchess of Norfolk's XI which plays the national test sides touring England. The sport of stoolball is also associated with Sussex, which has a claim to be where the sport originated and certainly where its revival took place in the early 20th century. Sussex is represented in the Premier League by Brighton & Hove Albion and in the Football League by Crawley Town. Brighton has been in the Premier League since 2017 and has been a League member since 1920, whereas Crawley was promoted to the League in 2011. Brighton & Hove Albion W.F.C. play in the FA Women's Super League from 2017. Sussex has had its own football association, since 1882 and its own football league, which has since expanded into Surrey, since 1920. In horse racing, Sussex is home to Goodwood, Fontwell Park, Brighton and Plumpton. The All England Jumping Course show jumping facility at Hickstead is situated 8 miles (13 km) north of Brighton and Hove.

Brighton stadium may refer to several stadiums in or near Brighton, England:

References

  1. ↑ Newman, Anne. "Developed as a tennis centre in 1936". My Brighton and Hove. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  2. ↑ "A visit in the 1950s". My Brighton and Hove. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  3. ↑ Newman, Anne. "Developed as a tennis centre in 1936". My Brighton and Hove. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  4. ↑ "Withdean Stadium". www.runtrackdir.com. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  5. ↑ "Simply the worst" Archived 30 April 2007 at the Wayback Machine , Gemma Clarke, The Observer, 10 October 2004
  6. ↑ "Fatboy calls the tune". The Argus. Melbourne. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  7. ↑ "Police praise Albion fans after last game at Withdean". The Argus. Melbourne. 30 April 2011. Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2013.
  8. ↑ "Withdean Sports Complex | Brighton". Freedom Leisure. Retrieved 11 August 2021.

50°51′7″N0°9′32″W / 50.85194°N 0.15889°W / 50.85194; -0.15889

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.