Haig Avenue
| Haig Avenue | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Former names | Ash Lane |
| Location |
Southport, Merseyside, PR8 6JZ |
| Coordinates | 53°38′17.12″N 2°58′43.88″W / 53.6380889°N 2.9788556°WCoordinates: 53°38′17.12″N 2°58′43.88″W / 53.6380889°N 2.9788556°W |
| Opened | 1905 |
| Owner | Sefton Council |
| Operator | Southport F.C. |
| Surface | Grass |
| Capacity | 6,008 (1,660 seated, 4400 standing) [1] |
| Field dimensions | 115 x 78 yards |
| Tenants | |
|
Southport F.C. Everton Reserves | |
Haig Avenue, known as the The Merseyrail Community Stadium for sponsorship reasons,[2] is a football stadium in Southport, England that holds 6,008 spectators, with 1,660 seated and 4,440 standing. Since being opened in 1905 it has been the home ground of Conference National side Southport.[2][3]
Location
The ground is situated to the east of Southport just off the A570,[4] the main road to Ormskirk. It is sited at the edge of a residential area, adjoining school playing fields.
The stadium
Haig Avenue now has a capacity of 6,008 people (1,660 seated, 4,124 standing) [1] though the record attendance is 20,010 against Newcastle United in the fourth round of the FA Cup in 1932. These days the ground seldom operates at more than a quarter full, although nearly full houses have been registered for key matches such as the F.A. Trophy semi-final against Slough Town which Southport won to reach their first ever Wembley final.
The ground has a covered main stand, called the Grandstand, opposite an uncovered terrace, known as the Popular Side. Behind the goals, the south (Scarisbrick) end is covered; this is where the majority of the home fans congregate. The south stand is called the Jack Carr Stand, after a popular director at the club, and was named shortly after his death. The north (Blowick) away end is open to the elements.[5]
There are limited car parking facilities, however these are reserved for home, away and match officials.[4]
History
Southport FC moved to what is now called Haig Avenue in 1905 (then called Ash Lane). The road the ground is situated on and the ground itself were officially renamed Haig Avenue after Earl Haig in 1921.[5]
The grandstand that now stands at Haig Avenue was opened in August 1968, 2 years after the original main stand had burnt down.[5] The wooden structure, which had been purchased from the Southport Flower Show burnt down the day after a game against Wrexham on Boxing Day in 1966 (A game which Southport won 1-0).[5] Most of the clubs possessions including kits, went up in flames with only the club safe surviving. A temporary main stand was put up instead during the season Billy Bingham's side won promotion to the third division. Eric Morecambe presented the club with a trophy to commemorate their achievement.[5]
On 10 September 2012, it was announced that Merseyrail had agreed a sponsorship deal that would see Haig Avenue renamed "The Merseyrail Community Stadium".[2]
Events
The ground has played host to Youth Internationals in the past, and has also been home to both Liverpool F.C. and Everton F.C. [6] reserves. It has also numerous hosted FA Women's Cup ties.
For the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937, an estimated attendance 15,000 packed in to the ground for the celebrations.[5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Ticket Information". southportfc.net. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "PORT PROUD TO ANNOUNCE MERSEYRAIL COMMUNITY STADIUM SPONSORSHIP". www.southportfc.net. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
- ↑ "Haig Avenue". Soccerway. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Directions to Haig Avenue". Port Online. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 "History of Haig Avenue". Port Online. Retrieved 16 September 2012.
- ↑ "Everton Reserves 3, Man Utd Reserves 2". Retrieved 16 September 2012. "Everton Reserves beat Manchester United Reserves at Haig Avenue."
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