Gateshead F.C. new stadium
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| Location | Prince Consort Road, Gateshead |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 54°57′30.54″N 1°36′21.15″W / 54.9584833°N 1.6058750°W |
| Owner | Gateshead F.C. |
| Capacity | 7,856 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Built | Never |
| Tenants | |
| Gateshead F.C. | |
Gateshead F.C. are a football team based in Gateshead, England, who are developing their yet to be named new stadium on Prince Consort Road. The club hope to move to this stadium in the next few years.
Location
The new stadium will be in the town centre, on Prince Consort Road opposite the Gateshead Civic Centre. The derelict land was formerly used by the North Durham Cricket & Rugby Club.
The second-ever football club to be set up on Tyneside, Rangers AFC played their first season there (then known as the Drill Field) in 1879–80 before relocating across the river Tyne to found Newcastle United's St. James' Park. They later returned to Gateshead, where they became Gateshead Casuals and then Gateshead Association, playing back at the Drill Field before going out of existence.
The 1890s and early part of the 20th century saw the North Durham ground be used for athletics and cycling events, with the running events taking place on a grass track and the cycling on a banked ash oval. The advent of the Second World War saw the location return to military hands to once again become the Drill Field.
North Durham Rugby and Cricket Club made it their home for the second half of the 20th century. The pavilion was burnt down in late 2000 after North Durham Rugby Club merged with Gateshead Fell to become Gateshead RFC, subsequently moving out in 1998. Since then North Durham has mainly been used for youth football as a covenant decrees the land can only be used for sporting purposes, blocking attempts to sell the land for property development.
New stadium
The club had been making plans to move out of the Council-owned stadium, Gateshead International Stadium, since 2008. Chairman Graham Wood had noted in December 2008 that they were close to purchasing the land for the new stadium.
On 28 October 2009 Gateshead unveiled plans for a new football stadium to be built in the town centre. Just under 8,000 capacity, the stadium will be covered on all four sides. The Main East Stand will consist of 2,000 seats, the West Stand will be seated whilst the two end stands behind the goals will be covered terraces with the ability to be converted to seating. Should the stadium be converted to all-seater the capacity would be 6,000.
Other uses
The Football Association noted that they were impressed with the proposed new stadium, which formed part of the failed 2018/22 Newcastle/Gateshead World Cup bid.
The stadium will include reception and club offices, dressing rooms, a medical room, press and spectator facilities. There will also be executive suites and boxes and multi-functional space for match day hospitality and lettable business space.[1]
Pitch
The pitch will measure 105 metres x 68 metres (114.82 yards x 74.36 yards) and will be to FIFA standard.
References
- ↑ "Gateshead FC unveil new stadium site". Gateshead FC. 28 October 2009. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
External links
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