Stonebridge Road

Infobox Stadium
stadium_name = Stonebridge Road Stadium
nickname = San Stonebridge


location = Stonebridge Road,
Northfleet,
Kent
DA11 9GN
built = 1905
opened = 1905
owner = [http://www.lafargecement.co.uk/home_frame/main_content/the_company_works_locations_northfleet.asp LaFarge Cement] and leased back to club
operator = Ebbsfleet United
construction_cost =
architect =
tenants = Ebbsfleet United
Charlton Athletic Reserves
seating_capacity = 5,011 (500 seated)

Stonebridge Road is a multi-use stadium in Northfleet, Gravesend, Kent, England, which is primarily used for football matches. Stonebridge Road was constructed in 1905, and was initially the home of Northfleet F.C., which merged with Gravesend F.C. in 1946.cite web
last = Adams
first = Duncan
title = Ebbsfleet United
publisher = Blue Square Premier League Football Ground Guide
date = 2008-03-10
url = http://www.conferencegrounds.co.uk/ebbsfleet_united.htm
accessdate = 2008-05-24 ] It is currently the home ground of Ebbsfleet United F.C. (formerly Gravesend & Northfleet F.C.).cite web
last =
first =
title = Stonebridge Road
publisher = Ebbsfleet United F.C. Official Website
date =
url = http://www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk/eufc/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=75&Itemid=136
accessdate = 2008-05-23 ] Thus, Stonebridge Road has been the home of Ebbsfleet and its predecessor football clubs for over 100 years.

Although one of the Fleet's local rivals, from 2000 to 2006 Dartford F.C. had a groundsharing agreement with Ebbsfleet United to use Stonebridge Road as its home field.cite web
last = McCartney
first = Stephen
title = Stonebridge Showdown: Darts want to follow in the Fleet's footsteps
publisher = www.kentishfootball.co.uk
date = 2008-01-27
url = http://www.kentishfootball.co.uk/mambo/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2738&Itemid=38
accessdate = 2008-05-24 ] Gillingham F.C. used Stonebridge Road briefly for home matches in 1961.cite web
last =
first =
title = Stonebridge Road
publisher = Doing the 92
date = 2008-05-10
url = http://www.doingthe92.com/display_ground.asp?Step=24&ID=240
accessdate = 2008-05-23 ] Charlton Athletic Reserves also plays home matches at the ground.cite web
last =
first =
title = Charlton reserves change ground
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2006-06-12
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/5071664.stm
accessdate = 2008-05-25 ]

Ground details

The stadium has a capacity of 5,011 people.cite web
last = Oliver
first = Pete
title = Blue Square Premier form guide
publisher = BBC Sport
date = 2007-08-08
url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_conf/6935019.stm
accessdate = 2008-05-24 ] The average attendance for Ebbsfleet United home ties at Stonebridge Road was 1,165 in the 2006-2007 season.

When the Fleet plays at Stonebridge Road, the home supporters typically sit in the Main Stand or in the Plough End. Both those seating areas are covered, although seats were not installed in the Plough End, which is also called the Northfleet End, until 2006. Home fans also stand in the terraced Stonebridge Road Stand, which runs along the length of the pitch on the side of the stadium closest to the street and which is also covered. Away supporters typically stand in the Swanscombe End, which is an open terrace.

The pitch size at Stonebridge Road is 112 by 72 yards for football matches, and the pitch is presently maintained by groundsman Peter Norton.cite web
last =
first =
title = Beat the weather - myfootballclub.co.uk
publisher = YouTube
date = 2008-04-23
url = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8EKFUnacns
accessdate = 2008-05-28 ]

The postcode (for maps and directions) of Stonebridge Road is DA11 9GN.cite web
last =
first =
title = Ebbsfleet United Ground Guide
publisher = The Football Supporters Federation
date =
url = http://www.fsf.org.uk/ground-guide/stadiums/ebbsfleet-united/stonebridge-road/
accessdate = 2008-05-23 ]

History

Ebbsfleet United, then called Gravesend and Northfleet F.C., played its first ever match after the merger of the two Kent clubs at Stonebridge Road in August 1946 against Hereford United. The Fleet won that first match 3-0 and over 5,000 fans were in attendance.cite web
last =
first =
title = Concise history of the Fleet
publisher = Ebbsfleet United F.C. Official Website
date =
url = http://www.ebbsfleetunited.co.uk/eufc/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=79&Itemid=143
accessdate = 2008-05-28 ] The stadium's record attendance is 12,032, which was achieved against Sunderland F.C. in February 1963 in an FA Cup Fourth Round tie.

In April 2002, the Fleet gained promotion to the top level of non-league play, the Conference National, by defeating Canvey Island F.C. at Stonebridge Road in front of an official 4,068 spectators, although unofficial estimates put the number closer to 6,000 fans.

Following the club's victory in the FA Trophy in May 2008, the parade honouring Ebbsfleet United's victorious squad started at Stonebridge Road.cite web
last =
first =
title = Route update: Fleet's Trophy heroes take to the streets
publisher = Gravesham Borough Council Official Website
date = 2008-05-14
url = http://www.gravesham.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=4338
accessdate = 2008-05-28 ]

The future

Ebbsfleet United is actively investigating the possibility of moving to or constructing a new stadium in the next three years.cite web
last =
first =
title = Fleet eye new stadium for 2010
publisher = kentnews.co.uk
date = 2007-12-24
url = http://www.kentnews.co.uk/kent-news/Fleet-eye-new-stadium-for-2010-newsinkent8188.aspx?news=sport
accessdate = 2008-05-23 ]

References

External links

* [http://ebbsfleetunited.co.uk/eufc/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=75&Itemid=136 Ebbsfleet United F.C. Official Site] - 360-degree panorama and photos of Stonebridge Road
* [http://www.ebbsfleetunited.net/stonebridge-road/ EbbsfleetUnited.net] - Photos of the stadium