The Mount (stadium)

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The Mount was a football stadium in Catford, (not to be confused with Catford Stadium). The stadium was located in Mountfield Park where football was played as early as the 19th century. Catford South End F.C. (founded 1919) eventually developed the land into a proper stadium with terracing. The Mount was unusual as it was elevated above the surronding area and thus may be another possibiltiy for where it's name derives. The Mount was in stark contrast to The Valley, which was a sunken ground that originally was a chalk pit. Despite being the largest ground in the world at the time apart from the newly completed Wembley Stadium, Charlton Athletic F.C. (The Addicks) decided to move to The Mount for the 1923-4 season, as they failed to fill The Valley with supporters. The Addicks also changed their kit colour to dark and light blue (the same as Catford South End) sparking rumours of a merger. However, Charlton failed to attract attendances at The Mount too, as they were far from their fanbase in Charlton and so moved back the next season. The Mount was also a more modest stadium, holding only rougly 50,000 compared to The Valley's 75,000. The terracing was expensive to upkeep as their was plyons raised to support the terracing which was on sloping ground (down hill). Thus The Mount had an appearance like a fort. Catford South End remained a modest local team who eventually fell into obscurity. The stadium proved too big for them and so they decamped. The Mount was thus vacant and fell into disrepair and by the 1950's had been completely demolished. http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=51.447101,-0.007435&spn=0.1,0.1&q=51.447101,-0.007435

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