Netherdale

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Netherdale, is an area of Galashiels, a town in the Scottish Borders. It is perhaps best known as being the home of Gala Rugby Club, Gala Fairydean Football Club and more recently the professional Border Reivers rugby union team. Gretna F.C. was mooted as groundsharing with the promotion to the SPL, however instead chose to play at Motherwell F.C.'s ground as it is bigger.

While both stadiums are referred to as ‘Netherdale’, the clubs actually play in two separate grounds, located beside each other.

The rugby stadium has a capacity of 6,000. A large grandstand over looks the pitch and the nearby Eildon Hills. Recently the success of the Border Reivers has meant that average crowds have increased and in the past year a second fully seated stand was installed, increasing the capacity to around 4,000 from the previous 2,000.

The stadium hosted the 1999 Rugby World Cup Group A match between Uruguay and Spain.^[1]

Gala Fairydean’s stadium has a capacity of around 2,000. The ground’s most striking feature is the main stand. With a capacity of 500 it is the largest stand in the Borders. Designed by the renowned British architect Peter Wormsley, the concrete structure is sometimes sarcastically dubbed as “the San Siro of the Borders.” In December 2006, it was controversially awarded a 'B listing' by Historic Scotland, which means the "character and setting" of the building must be preserved for "future generations".^{[2] [3]} Amateur club, Gala Rovers, who play in the Border Amateur Football League also play their home games at Netherdale.

[edit] References

1. ^ IRB World Cup 99 Stats
2. ^ Anger over listing for 'Soviet' football stand
3. ^ You lot must be away with the Fairydeans