Prenton Park

Infobox Stadium
stadium_name = Prenton Park


fullname = Prenton Park Stadium
nickname = The Gaf, The 'Tranline', The Ravens' Field, The Depot
location = Prenton, Birkenhead, Wirral, England
built = before c.1887
opened = 9 March 1912 for Tranmere Rovers F.C.
seating_capacity = 16,789
tenants = Tranmere Rovers F.C.
dimensions = 112 x 72 yards
Prenton Park is a multi-use stadium in Birkenhead, England. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of Tranmere Rovers F.C.. The stadium holds 16,789 and was opened on 9 March 1912. [citeweb|url=http://www.tranmere-rovers.co.uk/tranmere-history.html|title=A Brief History of Tranmere Rovers|work=Tranmere Rovers FC|accessdate=22 June|accessyear=2008] It was previously owned by Tranmere Rugby Club and called Ravenshaws Field.

Record Attendances

A 4th round FA Cup match v Stoke City on 5 February 1972 saw a record Prenton Park attendance - 24,424. [citeweb|url=http://www.stadiumguide.com/prentonpark.htm|title=Prenton Park|work=The Stadium Guide|accessdate=22 June|accessyear=2008]

Against Wrexham on 30 April 1958, an attendance of 19,615 remains the highest ever attendance at a Prenton Park league match.

Lowest Attendances

Home - 937 v Halifax Town 1984

Away - 286 v Lecce - Anglo-Italian Cup 1994

tands

The Bebington Kop (capacity 5,696)

A large single tier (although separated by a fence at approximately halfway up) all seater stand, completed in 1995. The Kop replaced the earlier open terrace (also called the Kop) which had stood behind the goal at the Bebington End previously. Originally the Kop housed both home and away fans, split down the middle, and occasionally was handed entirely to the away fans. However following the 1999 League Cup Semi-Final against Bolton Wanderers when the Kop was given entirely to the home fans a campaign was begun to claim the Kop as a home end. From the 2000/01 season this became the case, with away fans housed in the Cowshed.

The Johnny King Stand (capacity 2,414)

Formerly The Borough Road Stand, now named after legendary, former Rovers manager John King. The stand runs along the Borough Road side of the pitch, and is a low rise seated stand.

The Cowshed (capacity 2,500)

Now for away supporters but was previously the much loved home end of the ground.

The Main Stand (capacity 3,598)

The Main Stand is the oldest stand currently at Prenton Park, having been built in the 1960s. A two tier stand, it is generally divided into 3 main sections. The lower tier consists of the Bebington End Paddock (capacity 1,122 + 28 disabled spaces) and the Town End Paddock (capacity 1,209), either side of the halfway line. The upper tier is simply referred to as the Main Stand.

Redevelopment

During 1994 and 1995, 3 sides of the ground were redeveloped with 3 entirely new all-seater stands created - the Borough Road stand, the Cowshed and the new Kop. This was the club's response to the Taylor Report which suggested that all stadiums in the top two divisions of English football should no longer permit standing.

This new ground had a capacity of just under 17,000 although this is currently rarely filled due to the teams relegation to League 1.

European Fixture

The only UEFA European Fixture to take place at Prenton Park was a UEFA Cup First Qualifying Round Tie First Leg between Shelbourne (Ireland) & Rangers (Scotland) on 22 July 1998. Due to fears of sectarian violence, and after discussions between the two clubs and UEFA, it was decided that Prenton Park would be the venue for the first leg with Shelbourne as the Home team. As a result Reds Independent was set up by Shelbourne fans who had been against the club to move the game outside of Ireland. The match finished 3-5 in favour of Rangers after Shelbourne (at the time an amateur side) had earlier taken a shock 3-0 lead. As a result of this game, Rangers were fined 25,000 Swiss Francs and warned by UEFA after some of their fans caused trouble at the game. UEFA also told Rangers that should they be drawn to play In Ireland in the future in UEFA Competition they would be required to fulfil the fixture.

Cultural references

Footage from Prenton Park was used in the Coca-Cola 'Real Fans' television commercial for the 2004/2005 football season.

References

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-!style="background-color:#bfd7ff;"|Tnavbar-header|Football League One venues, 2007–08|Football League One Venues
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Alexandra Stadium • Bescot Stadium • Boundary Park • Brisbane Road • Brunton Park
City Ground • County Ground • Dean Court • Elland Road • Galpharm Stadium • Huish Park
Keepmoat Stadium • Kenilworth Road • Liberty Stadium • Memorial Stadium • The New Den
Prenton Park • Priestfield Stadium • Roots Hall • Sixfields Stadium • Vale Park • Victoria Park
Whaddon Road • Withdean Stadiumfb inner end