Broadhall Way
Encyclopedia
Broadhall Way, known as The Lamex Stadium for sponsorship purposes, is an association football stadium
in Stevenage
, Hertfordshire
. It has been the home ground of Stevenage (formerly Stevenage Borough) since 1980, and has a capacity of 7,100 people, including 3,142 seats.
and Stevenage Athletic
. Following the bankruptcy
of the former town club, the stadium was not used for three years. However, the newly-formed Stevenage Borough moved into Broadhall Way in 1980 as a result of the council
re-purchasing the stadium.
Following Stevenage's successful 1995–96
Football Conference
campaign, the Hertfordshire
side were denied promotion to the Football League because of insufficient ground capacity and facilities. Consequently, in the early 2000s the ground was upgraded, with a new £600,000 stand opening, providing a computer learning centre underneath and work on a new £5 million training facility was announced for nearby Shephalbury Park - which subsequently opened in Autumn 2002.
In January 2009, Stevenage announced that they had signed a 7-figure sponsorship deal with the Lamex Food Group, resulting in the renaming of the Broadhall Way to the Lamex Stadium. As a result of the club securing promotion as league champions during the club's 2009–10
campaign, Broadhall Way hosted League football for the first ever time during the 2010–11
season.
The ground's pitch includes four stands – the East Terrace, the North Terrace, the Main Stand, and Buildbase Stand. The Main Stand is all-seated and covered, and covers the length of the pitch, although it has open corners to either side of the stand. At the back of the stand there are a number of glass-fronted areas to various club offices and executive boxes. The club shop is situated next to the Main Stand, opposite to the club's official car-park. Opposite to the Main Stand is the East Terrace, which is a covered terrace for home supporters. The terrace has a gable
with a clock sitting on its roof above the half-way line, as well as holding a television gantry on its roof.
The North Terrace is situated behind the goal at the north end of the ground and is just seven steps deep. Three-quarters of the terrace is covered, whilst one-quarter is open and without cover. The stand can hold a capacity of 700 people, and also offers facilities for disabled fans. Opposite the North Terrace is the Buildbase Stand, which is a single tiered, all-seated covered stand. The stand was built in 2001, costing £600,000 and provides a computer learning centre underneath. The stand also has an electronic scoreboard in the centre of the roof, making it visible to home supporters. Behind the stand is the supporters' club. However, the stand is reserved for away supporters and can hold a capacity of 1,400. A new set of floodlights
were installed before the start of the club's 2007–08
campaign.
level, in January 2003, for a friendly against an Italy
XI outfit. Additionally, for five years, the ground played host to the Tottenham Hotspur reserve side, but the North London
club opted to use Leyton Orient
's Brisbane Road for the start of the 2007–08
season due to its more convenient geographical location.
At the end of the 2005–06
season, Broadhall Way also hosted the Conference South
play-off final
between St Albans City
and Histon
; a match that St Albans won 2–0 in front of 3,284 spectators. The following year, the stadium played host to the play-off final again, where 3,167 were in attendance to watch Salisbury City
beat Braintree Town
1–0 to gain promotion to the Conference National
. It hosted the final for the last time in May 2008 when Eastbourne Borough
beat Hampton & Richmond Borough
2–0. In addition to this, various charity
based matches have taken place at the ground in recent years.
The highest attendance recorded at the stadium was 8,040 for a match against Newcastle United
in the FA Cup
fourth-round on 25 January 1998. A temporary stand was erected behind the away end to increase the stadium capacity to 8,100, enough to satisfy the FA
. The highest attendance recorded for a competitive league match at Broadhall Way is 7,024, when Stevenage played Luton Town
in the Conference National
in April 2010, previously beating the 6,520 attendance when Stevenage played Hereford United
in the Conference National
play-offs in May 2005.
The club's lowest attendance whilst playing in the highest tier of non-league football is 879 for a match against Stalybridge Celtic
in March 1995. The lowest attendance recorded at the ground is 314 for a Conference League Cup
quarter-final match against Crawley Town
in March 2005.
The highest seasonal average for Stevenage at Broadhall Way since the club was promoted to the Football Conference
in 1994 is 2,748, during the club's 1996–97
campaign. The lowest overall average attendance was in the side's first year in the Conference, in 1994–95
, averaging 1,415.
The ground is located just over a mile away from Stevenage railway station
, which is adjacent to the town centre, the station lies on the East Coast Main Line
north of King's Cross station.
confirmed that the club were looking for investment to re-develop the North Stand, which can only currently hold a capacity of 700 people. The new plans involve a 2,000 all-seater stand that Wallace "wants to signify Boro's transition from a former non-league outfit to that of an ambitious, forward-thinking Football League club". The new build would look similar to the South Stand from within the stadium – except for being a few rows deeper. Wallace hopes construction will begin no later than 2012, but if investors get behind the project earlier then it would be a case of getting work underway as soon as possible.
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
in Stevenage
Stevenage
Stevenage is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England. It is situated to the east of junctions 7 and 8 of the A1, and is between Letchworth Garden City to the north, and Welwyn Garden City to the south....
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. It has been the home ground of Stevenage (formerly Stevenage Borough) since 1980, and has a capacity of 7,100 people, including 3,142 seats.
History
The club plays at Broadhall Way, previously home to Stevenage TownStevenage Town F.C.
Stevenage Town F.C. was an English football club based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The club existed from 1899 until 1968, after which Stevenage Athletic were established.-History:...
and Stevenage Athletic
Stevenage Athletic F.C.
Stevenage Athletic F.C. was an English football club based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire. The club existed from 1968 until being declared bankrupt in 1976, after which Stevenage Borough were established.-History:...
. Following the bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
of the former town club, the stadium was not used for three years. However, the newly-formed Stevenage Borough moved into Broadhall Way in 1980 as a result of the council
Stevenage Borough Council
Stevenage Borough Council is the local authority for the Stevenage non-metropolitan district of England, the United Kingdom. Stevenage is located in the north-east of Hertfordshire, in the East of England region....
re-purchasing the stadium.
Following Stevenage's successful 1995–96
1995-96 in English football
- Premiership :Newcastle United were 12 points clear at the top of Manchester United, but Alex Ferguson's relatively young and inexperienced side overhauled them during the second half of the season to win the title....
Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
campaign, the Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
side were denied promotion to the Football League because of insufficient ground capacity and facilities. Consequently, in the early 2000s the ground was upgraded, with a new £600,000 stand opening, providing a computer learning centre underneath and work on a new £5 million training facility was announced for nearby Shephalbury Park - which subsequently opened in Autumn 2002.
In January 2009, Stevenage announced that they had signed a 7-figure sponsorship deal with the Lamex Food Group, resulting in the renaming of the Broadhall Way to the Lamex Stadium. As a result of the club securing promotion as league champions during the club's 2009–10
2009–10 Football Conference
The 2009–10 Football Conference season was the sixth season with the Conference consisting of three divisions, and the thirty-first season overall. The Conference covers the top two levels of Non-League football in England. The Conference National is the fifth highest level of the overall pyramid,...
campaign, Broadhall Way hosted League football for the first ever time during the 2010–11
2010–11 in English football
The 2010–11 season was the 131st season of competitive football in England.The season began on 6 August 2010 for the Football Leagues, with the Premier League and Football Conference both starting eight days later on 14 August 2010. The Championship, League One, and League Two ended on 7 May...
season.
Structure and facilities
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
with a clock sitting on its roof above the half-way line, as well as holding a television gantry on its roof.
The North Terrace is situated behind the goal at the north end of the ground and is just seven steps deep. Three-quarters of the terrace is covered, whilst one-quarter is open and without cover. The stand can hold a capacity of 700 people, and also offers facilities for disabled fans. Opposite the North Terrace is the Buildbase Stand, which is a single tiered, all-seated covered stand. The stand was built in 2001, costing £600,000 and provides a computer learning centre underneath. The stand also has an electronic scoreboard in the centre of the roof, making it visible to home supporters. Behind the stand is the supporters' club. However, the stand is reserved for away supporters and can hold a capacity of 1,400. A new set of floodlights
Floodlights (sport)
Floodlights are broad-beamed, high-intensity artificial lights often used to illuminate outdoor playing fields while an outdoor sports event is being held during low-light conditions....
were installed before the start of the club's 2007–08
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
campaign.
Other uses
The stadium hosted the England C team, who represent England at non-LeagueNon-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
level, in January 2003, for a friendly against an Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
XI outfit. Additionally, for five years, the ground played host to the Tottenham Hotspur reserve side, but the North London
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...
club opted to use Leyton Orient
Leyton Orient F.C.
Leyton Orient F.C. are an English professional football club in East London. They currently play in Football League One and are known to their fans as the O's.Leyton Orient have spent one season in the top flight of English football, in 1962–63...
's Brisbane Road for the start of the 2007–08
2007-08 in English football
The 2007–08 season was the 128th season of competitive football in England.-European competitions:In October 2007 Arsenal equalled the UEFA Champions League record victory with a 7–0 win over Slavia Prague at the Emirates Stadium. The record was broken the following month when Liverpool...
season due to its more convenient geographical location.
At the end of the 2005–06
2005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
season, Broadhall Way also hosted the Conference South
Conference South
Conference South is one of the second divisions of the Football Conference in England, taking its place immediately below the Conference National...
play-off final
Final (competition)
The final of a competition is the match or round in which the winner of the entire event is decided.In sports competitions following a knockout system, where only two individuals or teams compete in each match, the final is usually played between the winners of two semi-finals...
between St Albans City
St Albans City F.C.
St Albans City Football Club is a football club based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. It was founded in 1908 and plays its home matches at Clarence Park, about 800 yards from the city centre. The club is in the Premier Division of the Southern League...
and Histon
Histon F.C.
Histon Football Club is an English football club based in the twin villages of Histon and Impington, approximately north of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire. From the 2007–08 season they competed in the Conference National, the highest level that the club has ever reached in the English football league...
; a match that St Albans won 2–0 in front of 3,284 spectators. The following year, the stadium played host to the play-off final again, where 3,167 were in attendance to watch Salisbury City
Salisbury City F.C.
Salisbury City Football Club is an English football club based in Salisbury, Wiltshire currently playing in the Conference South. They were formed in 1947 and play at The Raymond McEnhill Stadium...
beat Braintree Town
Braintree Town F.C.
Braintree Town F.C. is an English football club based in Braintree, Essex. The club are currently members of the Conference National and play their home matches at Cressing Road.-History:...
1–0 to gain promotion to the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
. It hosted the final for the last time in May 2008 when Eastbourne Borough
Eastbourne Borough F.C.
Eastbourne Borough are a semi-professional English football club, based in the town of Eastbourne, East Sussex, and are members of the Conference South. They are known as The Sports after their previous name as Langney Sports. Eastbourne Borough play their home matches at Priory Lane in Langney...
beat Hampton & Richmond Borough
Hampton & Richmond Borough F.C.
Hampton & Richmond Borough F.C. are an English football club based in the suburb of Hampton, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. They were founded in 1921 and formerly known as Hampton F.C. until 1999 when they changed their name in an attempt to draw a wider support base from around the...
2–0. In addition to this, various charity
Charity (practice)
The practice of charity means the voluntary giving of help to those in need who are not related to the giver.- Etymology :The word "charity" entered the English language through the Old French word "charité" which was derived from the Latin "caritas".Originally in Latin the word caritas meant...
based matches have taken place at the ground in recent years.
Records
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
in the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
fourth-round on 25 January 1998. A temporary stand was erected behind the away end to increase the stadium capacity to 8,100, enough to satisfy the FA
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
. The highest attendance recorded for a competitive league match at Broadhall Way is 7,024, when Stevenage played Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
in the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
in April 2010, previously beating the 6,520 attendance when Stevenage played Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
in the Conference National
Conference National
Conference National is the top division of the Football Conference in England. It is the highest level of the National League System and fifth highest of the overall English football league system...
play-offs in May 2005.
The club's lowest attendance whilst playing in the highest tier of non-league football is 879 for a match against Stalybridge Celtic
Stalybridge Celtic F.C.
Stalybridge Celtic are an English full time professional football club from Stalybridge, Greater Manchester in North West England. The club, which plays its home matches at Bower Fold, is currently in the Conference North in the sixth tier of the English football league system...
in March 1995. The lowest attendance recorded at the ground is 314 for a Conference League Cup
Conference League Cup
The Conference League Cup was an English football competition open to clubs playing in levels 5 or 6 of the English football league system , which covers the three Football Conference divisions.The Conference League Cup was formed...
quarter-final match against Crawley Town
Crawley Town F.C.
Crawley Town Football Club is an English football club based in Crawley, West Sussex. They won the title of the Football Conference, by a record 15 point margin on second place, and with it promotion to The Football League, in April 2011.-1896–2009:...
in March 2005.
The highest seasonal average for Stevenage at Broadhall Way since the club was promoted to the Football Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
in 1994 is 2,748, during the club's 1996–97
1996-97 in English football
The 1996–1997 season was the 117th season of competitive football in England.Arrival into the league and exit out of the league returns in the fourth tier for the first time after its 3 season absence with only 1 relegation spot.- Premier League :...
campaign. The lowest overall average attendance was in the side's first year in the Conference, in 1994–95
1994-95 in English football
-Premiership:Blackburn Rovers ended their 81-year wait for the league title thanks to the strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton which scored a total of more than 50 league goals. Manchester United would have made it three league titles in a row if they had been able to turn a 1-1 draw...
, averaging 1,415.
Transport
The ground is located just over a mile away from Stevenage railway station
Stevenage railway station
Stevenage railway station serves the town of Stevenage in Hertfordshire, England. The station is 27¼ miles north of London Kings Cross on the East Coast Main Line. Stevenage is managed and served by First Capital Connect...
, which is adjacent to the town centre, the station lies on the East Coast Main Line
East Coast Main Line
The East Coast Main Line is a long electrified high-speed railway link between London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield, Leeds, York, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh...
north of King's Cross station.
Future developments
In April 2011, Stevenage chairman Phil WallacePhil Wallace
Phil Wallace is a British businessman and chairman of Football League One association football club Stevenage F.C.-Business interests:Phil Wallace is the CEO of Lamex Food Group, a global food trading company with 15 offices in 12 countries. He joined in 1972 when the company, then known as L+M...
confirmed that the club were looking for investment to re-develop the North Stand, which can only currently hold a capacity of 700 people. The new plans involve a 2,000 all-seater stand that Wallace "wants to signify Boro's transition from a former non-league outfit to that of an ambitious, forward-thinking Football League club". The new build would look similar to the South Stand from within the stadium – except for being a few rows deeper. Wallace hopes construction will begin no later than 2012, but if investors get behind the project earlier then it would be a case of getting work underway as soon as possible.