Annfield Stadium

Infobox Stadium
stadium_name = Annfield
nickname =


location = Stirling, Scotland
coordinates =
broke_ground = 1945
opened = 1945
renovated =
expanded =
closed = 1993
demolished = 1993
owner = Stirling Albion F.C. (1945 - 1981)
Stirling Council (1981 - 1993)
operator = Stirling Albion F.C. (1945 - 1993)
Stirling Council (1981 - 1993)
surface = Natural Grass (1945 - 1986)
Synthetic Surface (1986 - 1993)
construction_cost =
architect =
project_manager =
main_contractors =
former_names =
tenants = Stirling Albion F.C. (1946-1993)
seating_capacity =
dimensions =

Annfield Stadium was a football stadium in Stirling, Scotland. The stadium was home to Stirling Albion until 1993 when the stadium was closed down due to Stirling Albion moving to Forthbank Stadium. The stadium was sold and demolished to make way for a new housing development.

History

Concept of Annfield

Annfield Stadium was constructed on the Annfield Estate close to Stirling's town centre by local coal merchant Thomas Ferguson. Ferguson had the stadium constructed to be the home of the town's new football team Stirling Albion and replace Forthbank Park after it was destroyed by the Luftwaffe during World War II.

Annfield was opened on 1 August, 1945 and the first game to be played at Annfield was Stirling Albion's tie with Edinburgh City on 18 August, 1945, Stirling Albion won the game 8-3.

ale of Annfield and introduction of synthetic pitch

Annfield was sold to Stirling Council in 1981 after Stirling Albion were on the verge of going bankrupt. The club had only one choice of selling the ground to the council and then renting it back from the council. Shortly after Stirling Albion set a 20th century's record in the Scottish Cup, defeating Selkirk F.C. 20-0, Stirling Council had decided that Annfield was not profitable with a traditional grass playing surface and in 1987 the grass pitch was replaced with a synthetic pitch. The introduction of the synthetic surface at Annfield was the first football ground in Scotland to have a synthetic pitch. In September 1987 Stirling Albion played Ayr United on the new surface for the first time in Scottish football history. Stirling Council also demolished the main stand as it was considered to be a dangerous and unsafe building.

Closure of Annfield

Stirling Council decided in the early 1990s that Annfield was needing to be replaced with a new stadium as the cost of upgrading the buildings and the pitch was considered too expensive. The council constructed Forthbank Stadium to replace Annfield. The council finally closed Annfield down on May 31, 1993 and demolished the stadium to make way for a new housing development.

External links

* [http://www.stirlingalbion.com/ Stirling Albion's Unofficial Website]
* [http://www.stirlingalbionfc.com/ Redweb Stirling Albion's Unofficial Website for photos and match reports]
* [http://www.stirlingalbionfc.co.uk/ Stirling Albion Football Club Official Website]
* [http://scottishfootballarchive.co.uk/grounds/annfield+stadium Annfield Stadium at the Scottish Football Archive]