| Almondvale Stadium | |
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| The Vale | |
Scotland U17 football team playing Liechtenstein in 2007. |
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| Location | Livingston, Scotland |
| Coordinates | |
| Opened | 1995 |
| Owner | West Lothian Council |
| Surface | Grass |
| Capacity | 10,122 |
| Tenants | |
| Livingston Football Club | |
Almondvale Stadium (known as Braidwood Motor Company Stadium until 2013) is the home ground of Scottish First Division team Livingston F.C. It has an all-seater capacity of 10,122.[1]
The stadium was constructed in 1995 as a joint venture between Meadowbank Thistle F.C. and the Livingston Development Corporation (LDC). Part of the deal involved the relocation of Meadowbank Thistle to the town and a name change to Livingston F.C. When the LDC was wound up, ownership of the Stadium was transferred to West Lothian Council.
The stadium has previously officially been titled the City Stadium due to a sponsorship deal with the City group; it had also previously been called the West Lothian Courier Stadium. However since The club were taken over by the Lionheart Consortium, it reverted back to its original name, Almondvale Stadium. It was renamed the Braidwood Motor Company Stadium in a three-year naming rights deal in May 2010.[2] However, supporters of the club will continue to call it Almondvale or the 'Vale.
It is hired by Livingston F.C. from West Lothian Council every year. As Livingston moved up the divisions into the top flight of Scottish Football, they expanded the stadium to meet Scottish Premier League standards.
In 2008, Gretna F.C. played one match in the stadium, a 3–0 loss against champions Celtic, when their temporary home (Fir Park) had problems with its pitch.[3]
Braidwood Motor Company (Almondvale) Stadium is located near the centre of the Town of Livingston, approx 10 miles to the west of Edinburgh and 30 miles east of Glasgow. It is named along with the Almondvale shopping centre over the road after the area of the town in which it is situated.
The record attendance for a Livingston match at Almondvale is 10,112 (against Rangers on 27 October 2001).
Over the years it has also been chosen to host Scotland U21s, U19s, U17s and Ladies matches.
On 7 April 2011, there were rumours that the stadium could be sold off to a supermarket development, and in turn finance a new stadium, of slightly smaller design, a mile away.[4]
On 1 April 2012, The stadium is scheduled to host the 2012 Scottish Challenge Cup Final.[5] This will be the first time the final has been held at the stadium.
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