Eastville Stadium

Infobox Historic building

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caption=The aftermath of the fire in the South Stand, August 1980
name=Eastville Stadium
location_town=Bristol
location_country=England
architect=
client=Bristol Rovers F.C.
engineer=
construction_start_date=
completion_date=1897
date_demolished=1998
cost=
structural_system=
style=
size=

Eastville Stadium was a stadium in Eastville, a northern suburb of the English city of Bristol.

Constructed in 1897, it was the home of Bristol Rovers F.C. and the Bristol Bulldogs speedway team and was also a greyhound racing venue. Rovers played their home games at Eastville (nicknamed 'The Ville') until forced to leave by financial difficulties in 1986. Rovers then spent a decade at Twerton Park in Bath before returning to the city to play at the Memorial Stadium where they remain to this day. The record attendance was 39,462.

Parts of stadium were still in existence a decade after the ground's closure, but these were demolished in 1998 to make way for an IKEA superstore.

Built near to a gas holder, the constant smell of town gas in the air gave rise to the derogatory name used for Bristol Rovers by Bristol City fans of 'The Gas'. [http://www.bristolrovers2.co.uk/eastvillestadium.html] The nickname 'The Gas' is only seen as a derogatory nickname by Bristol City fans though as Rovers fans do refer to themselves as Gasheads. Even the number 12 squad shirt has been labelled 'Gasheads' by the club in honour of the crowd being the 12th man.

Another unique feature of Eastville were the flower beds behind each goal.

The Tote End

The Tote End or simply The Tote was a large section of covered terracing behind one of the goals. Originally built in 1935, the Tote End terrace was built following the curve of the greyhound racing track. It had a small covered section in the South-West corner.

The totaliser clocks mounted first on the back of the terrace and then after a larger roof was added in 1961 to cover most of the terrace, on the roof facia, gave it its name.

With a boisterous and intimate atmosphere, largely due to it being a favoured spot for the more vociferous Rovers supporters, and given the nature of football in Britain in the 1970s, it became notoriously linked with bovver boys and hooliganism - a period documented by the book Bovver by Chris Brown.

Shortly after Rovers left Eastville in 1986 The Tote End was bulldozed.

Bristol mapbox
latitude=51.472415
longitude=-2.564031
label=Eastville Stadium
label_size =
position =left
marksize=
caption=Map showing the former location of Eastville Stadium

Important dates

*1897 - Bristol Rovers first appearance at Eastville
*1921 - Bristol Rovers purchase the stadium.
*1924 - The mostly wooden south stand was built.
*1935 - The Tote End was constructed.
*1940 - The stadium is sold to the Bristol Greyhound Company.
*1959 - The North Stand opened, and floodlights installed.
* 1960 - Highest recorded attendance for a Rovers match. 38,472 v Preston North End in the FA Cup 4th Round, January 30th.
*1961 - A roof and new terracing installed at the Tote End.
*1969 - M32 motorway opened.
*1977 - Motorcycle speedway introduced to the ground.
*1980 - South Stand fire in August.
*1986 - Bristol Rovers play their last ever game at Eastville.
*1998 - Eastville stadium demolished.

External links

* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/89492733@N00/301074684/] [http://www.flickr.com/photos/89492733@N00/301074684/] Pictures showing the Tote End with the large Hofmeister advert that replaced the totaliser clocks in 1982.

* [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bovver-Chris-Brown/dp/1903402859] Bovver - an account of life as A Bristol Rovers supporter in the 1970s by Chris Brown.