Annfield Stadium
Encyclopedia
Annfield Stadium was a football stadium in Stirling
, Scotland. The stadium was home to Stirling Albion F.C.
until 1993 when the stadium was closed down due to Stirling Albion moving to Forthbank Stadium
. The stadium was sold and demolished to make way for a new housing development.
and replace Forthbank Park
after it was destroyed by the Luftwaffe
during World War II.
Annfield was opened on 1 August 1945 and the first game to be played at Annfield was Stirling Albion's tie with Edinburgh City
on 18 August 1945, Stirling Albion won the game 8–3.
, defeating Selkirk
20–0, Stirling Council had decided that Annfield was not profitable with a traditional grass playing surface and in 1987 the grass pitch was replaced with a synthetic pitch. The introduction of the synthetic surface at Annfield was the first football ground in Scotland to have a synthetic pitch. In September 1987 Stirling Albion played Ayr United
on the new surface for the first time in Scottish football history. Stirling Council also demolished the main stand as it was considered to be a dangerous and unsafe building.
to replace Annfield. The council finally closed Annfield down on 31 May 1993, at the end of the 1992-93 season
, after 48 years in use. The stadium was then demolished to make way for a new housing development.
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
, Scotland. The stadium was home to Stirling Albion F.C.
Stirling Albion F.C.
Stirling Albion F.C. are a Scottish football club currently playing in the Scottish Second Division. The club are nicknamed The Binos . They play at Doubletree Dunblane Stadium in Stirling, on the outskirts of the city near the River Forth...
until 1993 when the stadium was closed down due to Stirling Albion moving to Forthbank Stadium
Forthbank Stadium
Forthbank Stadium is a football stadium in Stirling, Scotland. It is the home ground of Stirling Albion. The stadium has a capacity of 3,808. The pitch size is 110 x 74 yards....
. The stadium was sold and demolished to make way for a new housing development.
Concept of Annfield
Annfield Stadium was constructed on the Annfield Estate close to Stirling's town centre by local coal merchant Thomas Fergusson. Fergusson had the stadium constructed to be the home of the town's new football team Stirling AlbionStirling Albion F.C.
Stirling Albion F.C. are a Scottish football club currently playing in the Scottish Second Division. The club are nicknamed The Binos . They play at Doubletree Dunblane Stadium in Stirling, on the outskirts of the city near the River Forth...
and replace Forthbank Park
Forthbank Park
Forthbank Park was a sports venue in Stirling, Scotland until 1940. Forthbank park was home to King's Park F.C. until the beginning of World War II. During the war Forthbank was destroyed by the Luftwaffe. The ground was victim to the only German bomb strike on the town during the conflict...
after it was destroyed by the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
during World War II.
Annfield was opened on 1 August 1945 and the first game to be played at Annfield was Stirling Albion's tie with Edinburgh City
Edinburgh City F.C.
Edinburgh City Football Club is a semi-professional senior Scottish football club, which plays in the East of Scotland Football League. The club is based at Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh. Edinburgh City was first formed in 1928 as an amateur club. It participated in the Scottish Football League...
on 18 August 1945, Stirling Albion won the game 8–3.
Sale of Annfield and introduction of synthetic pitch
Annfield was sold to Stirling Council in 1981 after Stirling Albion were on the verge of going bankrupt. The club had only one choice of selling the ground to the council and then renting it back from the council. Shortly after Stirling Albion set a 20th century's record in the Scottish CupScottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
, defeating Selkirk
Selkirk F.C.
Selkirk Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the town of Selkirk. They are members of the East of Scotland Football League and currently play in the Premier Division.Their ground is Yarrow Park, Selkirk TD7 5AZ- History :...
20–0, Stirling Council had decided that Annfield was not profitable with a traditional grass playing surface and in 1987 the grass pitch was replaced with a synthetic pitch. The introduction of the synthetic surface at Annfield was the first football ground in Scotland to have a synthetic pitch. In September 1987 Stirling Albion played Ayr United
Ayr United F.C.
Ayr United Football Club are a Scottish association football team based in Ayr, South Ayrshire, that plays in the First Division of the Scottish Football League. Formed in 1910 after the merger of former clubs Ayr Parkhouse F.C. and Ayr F.C...
on the new surface for the first time in Scottish football history. Stirling Council also demolished the main stand as it was considered to be a dangerous and unsafe building.
Closure of Annfield
Stirling Council decided in the early 1990s that Annfield was needing to be replaced with a new stadium as the cost of upgrading the buildings and the pitch was considered too expensive. The council constructed Forthbank StadiumForthbank Stadium
Forthbank Stadium is a football stadium in Stirling, Scotland. It is the home ground of Stirling Albion. The stadium has a capacity of 3,808. The pitch size is 110 x 74 yards....
to replace Annfield. The council finally closed Annfield down on 31 May 1993, at the end of the 1992-93 season
1992-93 in Scottish football
The 1992–93 season was the 96th season of competitive football in Scotland.- Notable events:* Rangers completing a domestic treble of the Premier Division title, FA Cup and League Cup....
, after 48 years in use. The stadium was then demolished to make way for a new housing development.