Raydale Park
|
Raydale Park in 2009 | |
  Location in Dumfries and Galloway | |
| Location | Gretna, Scotland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 54°59′35.57″N 3°04′18.91″W / 54.9932139°N 3.0719194°W |
| Owner | Raydale Community Partnership |
| Capacity | 2200 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Opened | 1946 |
| Tenants | |
|
Gretna (1946-2008) Gretna 2008 (2008-present) | |
Raydale Park is a football stadium in Gretna, Scotland, that served as the home ground of Gretna until the club resigned from the Scottish Football League in 2008. Gretna played most of their home games at Raydale during their existence in English non-league football and then during their period in the Scottish Football League.
Gretna played most of their games in the 2007-08 season at Fir Park, Motherwell because Raydale did not meet SPL requirements.[1] This meant a 150 mile round trip for fans from the Gretna area. Gretna also played a UEFA Cup match (a 1-5 defeat to Derry City) at Fir Park because Raydale was inadequate for that competition.[2]
Gretna had planned to leave Raydale Park and move to an eco-stadium in Gretna Green.[3][4] These plans never came to fruition as the club suffered severe financial problems during the 2007-08 season.
These financial problems are now expected to lead to the sale of the ground for a use other than football.[5] Supporters of Gretna FC formed Gretna 2008, a new club that started by playing their home games at the Everholm Stadium in Annan. Dumfries and Galloway Council ruled out bidding for the stadium, which they wanted to preserve for recreational use. It was reported by the BBC that it was likely that Raydale would be sold to developers "outside of football",[6] but the new buyers, Sawtry (IoM) allowed Gretna 2008 to move into Raydale in May 2009.[7]
In May 2011 Sawtry agreed to sell the ground, along with the social club and market on-site, to the Raydale Community Partnership, a group made up of members from a community council and from Gretna 2008. The £250,000 deal was finalised on 28 May 2011.
References
- ↑ SPL groundshare plans 'shelved', BBC Sport, 3 March 2008
- ↑ Gretna to face Derry in Uefa Cup, BBC Sport, 28 July 2006
- ↑ Gretna Look to Go Green, Daily Record, 24 October 2007.
- ↑ Gretna face eco-stadium dilemma, BBC Sport, 19 November 2007.
- ↑ Gretna 'no longer in existence', BBC News, 2 June 2008.
- ↑ BBC NEWS | Scotland | South of Scotland | Council rules out bid for stadium
- ↑ Gretna enjoys football homecoming, BBC News, 2 May 2009.
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