The Track

The Track
Full name The Track
Location Saint Sampson, Guernsey
Owner Guernsey Amalgamated Football Committee
Capacity 3,000
Record attendance 12,692
Surface Grass
Tenants
Belgrave Wanderers
Guernsey official football team

The Track is a multi-use stadium in Saint Sampson, Guernsey.[1] It is the home ground of association football team Belgrave Wanderers[2] and is also used to host Guernsey official football team's home Muratti games.[3] It also has Guernsey's only[4] kart racing track around the outside.[5]

Ownership

Entrance to The Track

The Track is owned by the Guernsey Amalgamated Football Committee. Belgrave Wanderers used to share The Track with Guernsey Rangers until 2007 when Guernsey Rangers sold their share in the Guernsey Amalgamated Football Committee after they moved their home games to St. Andrew's.[6] Northerners AC also used to play their games here until 1973 when they moved to their current home at Northfield.[7]

Capacity

The Track's capacity is 3,000.[8] Its record attendance was 12,692 in 1951[9] for the Muratti Final between Guernsey and Jersey.[10]

Usage

The Track was the main stadium that hosted Guernsey's Muratti tournament games until 2003, when Guernsey's Muratti games were moved to Footes Lane. Because of poor performances at Footes Lane and criticism from fans regarding the stadium's athletics track impairing views of games and affecting the atmosphere, Guernsey's Muratti games were moved back to The Track in 2009.[3] The Track has also been used as the home ground for the Guernsey Senior County League representative side in the English FA Inter-League Cup.[1]

In 2012, it was suggested that Guernsey F.C. would move from Footes Lane to The Track if they continued to rise through the English football league system as Footes Lane would require further development. This, however, was denied by Guernsey F.C. chairman, Steve Dewsnip.[11]

The Track has also been used to host boxing.[12]

Reception

The Track had originally been considered as the best place to watch team sport in Guernsey, but this idea is changing in favour of Footes Lane.[13] It had a history of being dusty and having an uneven surface.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 "NLS Final to make history". The Football Association. 2010-04-07. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  2. ↑ "Rihoy scores the winner on return". This Is Guernsey. 2011-11-16. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  3. 1 2 3 "Muratti heading back to The Track". BBC Sport. 2009-03-03. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  4. ↑ "Where are we?". Theislandbowl.com. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  5. ↑ "Plans threaten karts". This Is Guernsey. 2003-09-16. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  6. ↑ "Rangers sell Track to Wanderers". BBC News. 2007-03-10. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  7. ↑ "Club History". Northerners AC. Retrieved 2012-06-28.
  8. ↑ "Capacity of 3,000 for open-air show". This Is Guernsey. 2010-04-17. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  9. ↑ "The drain of ‘live’ followers is a worry". This Is Guernsey. 2011-06-18. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  10. ↑ "Muratti over the years". BBC. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  11. ↑ "Track is a ‘NO’ go". This Is Guernsey. 2012-03-31. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  12. ↑ "Bradley Watson wins final amateur fight". BBC Sport. 2010-07-19. Retrieved 2012-06-27.
  13. ↑ "Mr Foote: Your lane is A-OK". This Is Guernsey. 2012-01-14. Retrieved 2012-06-27.

Coordinates: 49°28′55″N 2°32′28″W / 49.4819°N 2.5411°W / 49.4819; -2.5411

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