Cappielow

Infobox_Stadium
stadium_name = Cappielow Park
nickname =


caption =
location = Greenock, Scotland, UK
broke_ground =
opened = 1879
awards =
closed =
demolished =
owner = Greenock Morton Football Club
operator =
surface = Grass
construction_cost =
architect =
former_names =
tenants = Greenock Morton Football Club
capacity = 11,612

Cappielow is a district of Greenock in Inverclyde, west central Scotland. It is home to Scottish Football League side Greenock Morton F.C. The name Cappielow, taken alone, usually refers to the Cappielow Park stadium, but it can also refer to a small area of housing or the adjoining industrial estate.

Cappielow Park is found on banks of the River Clyde, across East Hamilton Street, to be found on the way out of Greenock towards Port Glasgow on the way to the motorway to get to Glasgow. The uncovered home terrace behind the goals on the turnstile side runs along Sinclair Street, which is mentioned in the Morton song "Do you know where Hell is - Hell is at Love Street, Heaven is at Cappielow, just off of Sinclair Street."

The ground can be reached easily by train from Glasgow, as most Gourock trains stop at Cartsdyke, located only 5 minutes walk from the ground. [cite news|url=http://www.gmfc.net/Club%20Info/Directions%20to%20Cappielow|title=Directions to Cappielow|publisher=gmfc.net|accessdate=2008-09-04]

Cappielow's etymology is allegedly of Scandinavian origin, although details of this are sketchy. It has been home to the club since the early part of the 20th century. Refurbishment has recently been completed, and presently the capacity is around 11,000, with 5,741 of these being seated. The area behind the western goal is known as the Wee Dublin end, which contains non-backed bench seating, converted from the old terracing that once stood there. The main stand contains plastic bucket seating to replace the old wooden benches that were a fixture of the ground until the late 1990s. The "Cowshed" lies to the north of the pitch; formerly a fully terraced arena for both home and away supporters (complete with segregation fence down the middle), it is now for home supporters only, with much of the frontal terracing removed, and plastic bucket seats occupying its place. Behind the eastern goal is the "Sinclair Street" end, with uncovered terracing.

References