Galabank

Galabank

Galabank's main stand

Location in Dumfries and Galloway

Location Annan, Dumfries and Galloway
Coordinates 54°59′37.56″N 3°15′42.26″W / 54.9937667°N 3.2617389°W
Capacity 2,514[1] (500 seated)
Record attendance 2,517
Tenants
Annan Athletic F.C. (1953–Present)
Mid-Annandale F.C. (2012–2014)

Galabank is a football stadium in the town of Annan, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. It is the home ground of Scottish Professional Football League club Annan Athletic, who have played there since 1953. Mid-Annandale of the South of Scotland League shared Galabank between 2012 and 2014.

History

Annan Athletic, who were then playing in the Carlisle and District League, moved to Galabank in 1953. They had previously been based at Mafeking Park since the 1946-47 season. The club rejoined Scottish football in 1977, playing in the South of Scotland League and later the East of Scotland League. This enabled the club to attempt to qualify for the Scottish Cup, and Galabank hosted its first match in the national competition against Stranraer on 15 December 1979.[2]

On 3 July 2008 Annan Athletic were accepted into the Scottish Football League for the first time, to replace defunct club Gretna.[3] Consequently Galabank began hosting Annan's games in the Scottish Football League Third Division in the 2008–09 season.

A party from the SFL inspected Galabank before Annan were accepted into the league. They deemed it to be of the required standard, with the provision that Annan install floodlights, which the club did before the start of their first season in the lowest tier of the Scottish Football League. Galabank has a capacity of 2,514.[1]

The grass pitch was removed and a new 3G artificial surface was installed for the 201213 season.[4] Between 2012 and 2014, Galabank was shared by South of Scotland League club Mid-Annandale, whose previous ground in Lockerbie had become unusable.[5]

Records

The highest ever official attendance to watch a match at Galabank was 2,517, set in a goalless draw against Rangers on 15 September 2012.[6]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Annan Athletic Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  2. "History". Annan Athletic FC. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  3. "Annan voted into Scottish league". BBC Sport. 3 July 2008.
  4. "Rangers: Life in Scottish Division Three beckons". BBC Sport. 14 July 2012.
  5. Andrew Burns (27 July 2012). "Annan set for historic day with Galabank 3G pitch bow". Dumfries & Galloway Standard. Retrieved 5 September 2013.
  6. "Annan Athletic 0-0 Rangers". BBC Sport (BBC). 15 September 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012. Annan sit eighth and their record attendance of 2,517 was enabled by the summer installation of terracing behind a second goal.

External links