Guardian/John Ashdown
What happens when clubs leave their old grounds?
The derelict site of the Baseball Ground, former home of Derby County. Photograph: Emma Hanley/Empics Sport/PA Photos
"I know that the old Highbury ground is now a luxury housing development, but what has happened to other old football grounds such as Maine Road, the Baseball Ground, Ayresome Park, The Dell and so on?" wondered Daryll Gigg last week. "Have they all suffered similar fates?"
Not all have the grandeur of Highbury Square but most have suffered the sort of fate to leave supporters thoroughly depressed:
Goldstone Ground "What stands in place of a once loved sporting arena? Toy 'r' Us, DFS and a Burger King Drive Through," reports Tom Funnell of the former Brighton ground.
Maine Road Man City's old stomping ground is also earmarked for housing. "The developer has just been given a big pile of money," writes Neil Tague, "from the Homes & Communities Agency to actually build houses there, given that it's been empty for six years or so."
Ayresome Park Another housing development. "The former centre spot (now somebody's front lawn) is adorned by a bronze football," writes Simon Atkinson, "and the spot from which the ground's most famous ever goal was scored (Pak Doo-ik's winner for North Korea against Italy in 1966) is marked by a pair of bronze Alf Tupper-style boots lying on somebody's front step." The ground's old gates were erected outside Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium.
The Baseball Ground Demolished to make way for housing in Derby, a project due to be completed next year.
Leeds Road "Now a retail estate with a B&Q, a Staples and a Carpet Right," writes Gareth Jackson. "The old centre spot of the ground is commemorated with a plaque (it's amongst the car park spaces) which was stolen quite often when it was first installed. More interestingly (but only slightly), the former entrance to Bradley Mills Road is still there, represented by a curly little dead end on Google Maps, and in real life it feels a bit like the doorway into the past that Gary uses in Goodnight Sweetheart." Some of Leeds Road's turnstiles are now in use at Huddersfield's Galpharm Stadium.
Manor Ground Oxford United's old home is now a private hospital, specialising in cosmetic surgery.
The Dell "Now a large set of apartment blocks and in keeping with the old ground, space in many of the flats is extremely limited," writes Oliver Gara. "Each block is named after a Southampton legend � Le Tissier Court, Channon Court, Stokes Court � apart from Crossley Place, which I'm certain is named after Mark Crossley, the former Nottingham Forest keeper who was the only goalie to have ever saved a Matt Le Tissier penalty."
Boothferry Park "Was a dilapidated Division Three ground/discount supermarket hybrid in Hull before closure," writes Adam Beaumont. "Now it is only part demolished and remains in a sad limbo between being there and not. Still, at least the Kwik Save and Iceland are still open."
Roker Park The site of a Wimpey housing estate, where Midfield Drive, Promotion Close, Turnstile Mews hint at the site's former Sunderland glory.
Muirton Park St Johnstone's former ground was the victim of its central location. "A famous, bottom slapping shopping company bought it out and relocated the club so that they could build a supermarket," writes Alec Cochrane. "McDiarmid Park was built by Asda for free and the land was donated to the club, for free, by Bruce McDiarmid to become the first purpose-built, all-seater stadium in the country."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/....s-the-knowledge
Proud to have attended the first 175 Consecutive "Home" Wellington Phoenix "A League" Games !!
The Ruf, The Ruf, The Ruf is on Fire!!
)
