Glanford Park

Infobox Stadium
stadium_name = Glanford Park


fullname = Glanford Park
nickname = Glanford Park
built = 1988
opened = 1988
seating_capacity = 9,088
tenants = Scunthorpe United F.C.
dimensions = 112 x 72 yards [citeweb
url=http://www.sportscunthorpe.co.uk/football/scunthorpe_united/glanford_park/
title=Glanford Park
work=Scunthorpe Telegraph
date=
accessdate=2007-09-23] |

Glanford Park is a association football stadium in Scunthorpe, UK and the current home of Football League One team Scunthorpe United F.C..

It was the first time that an English football team had moved to a new purpose-built stadium since the end of World War II. Glanford Park opened in 1988 at a construction cost of £2.5 million, housing a total of 9,088 supporters. It is the 83rd largest stadium in English football.

History

Scunthorpe originally played at the Old Showground, which was located towards the centre of the town on the Doncaster Road. After the club relocated, the Old Showground was demolished and replaced by a Safeway supermarket (subsequently sold to Sainsbury's in 2004) [citeweb
url=http://www.scunthorpe-united.premiumtv.co.uk/page/History/0,,10442~875636,00.html
title=OLD SHOW GROUND
work=Scunthorpe United
date=2007-06-12
accessdate=2007-09-23] .

Glanford Park is located on the outskirts of the North Lincolnshire town, close to a motorway junction with the M181 motorway. The name "Glanford Park" was derived from its funding by the then Glanford Borough Council, before North Lincolnshire became a unitary local authority.

On its completion, it was the first new football league ground in England for 43 years [citeweb
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/doncaster/5230958.stm
title=Grounds for Concern
work=BBC News
date=2006-12-31
accessdate=2007-09-23] . The record attendance is 8,906 for the 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest on 10 March 2007

Layout

cunthorpe Telegraph Stand

The Scunthorpe Telegraph (formerly Evening Telegraph) stand is the West side stand, and houses the executive boxes, players' tunnel, team dugouts and home seating. The stand, sometimes referred to as the "ETS" is marketed as being a family stand.

tudy United FC Stand

Although officially named the "Study United FC Stand", it is rarely referred to as such by home supporters. It is much more commonly known as the "Doncaster Road End", or even simpler, the "Donny Road End." This stand is the only terraced stand at Glanford Park, and typically houses the more vocal supporters.

Grove Wharf Stand

The Grove Wharf Stand is the East stand of the ground, and holds seated home supporters. This stand now also features a can bar and a food outlet.

AMS Stand

This stand houses away supporters, with a maximum capacity of 1,678, however extra away seating is often made available for games such as local derbies, by sectioning off an area of the Evening Telegraph Stand. The seats in the away end of the ground were originally sourced from Aston Villa F.C., a football club sharing the same claret and blue colours as Scunthorpe United F.C. but were replaced prior to the 2007-08 season.

Future Development

In the Scunthorpe Telegraph on the 14th December 2006 it was announced that the club were looking to expand the Doncaster Road End of the stadium. Potential improvements mentioned included a second tier and expansion of the club's restaurant. In announcing the plan for expansion, the club's chairman Steven Wharton acknowledged that Scunthorpe United were not currently filling the stadium to capacity on a regular basis, but added that he was preparing for a future situation where a larger capacity could be required. This redevelopment option is currently being assessed, alongside the option of moving to a new stadium. [http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,1786_2674743,00.html]

This would be the first major redevelopment of any stand at Glanford Park since its opening, though earlier in 2006 further catering and toilet facilities were provided beneath the Grove Wharf Stand at a cost of £100,000.

References

ee also

*List of English football stadia by capacity
*Scunthorpe United F.C.