Haig Avenue
Encyclopedia
Haig Avenue is a football stadium
in Southport
, England
and is the home ground of Southport F.C.
, the main road to Ormskirk
. It is sited at the edge of a residential area, adjoining school
playing field
s.
in the fourth round of the FA Cup
in 1932. These days the ground seldom operates at more than a quarter full, although nearly full houses have been registered for key matches such as the F.A. Trophy semi-final against Slough Town
which Southport won to reach their first ever Wembley final.
The ground has a covered main stand, called the Grandstand, opposite an uncovered terrace, known as the Popular Side. Behind the goals, the south (Scarisbrick
) end is covered; this is where the majority of the home fans congregate. The north (Blowick
) away end is open to the elements. The south stand is called the Jack Carr Stand, after a popular director at the club, and was named shortly after his death.
The stadium does not carry a sponsor's name. There are limited car parking
facilities, however these are reserved for home, away and match officials.
Southport FC moved to what is now called Haig Avenue in 1905 (then called Ash Lane). The ground was officially called Haig Avenue after Earl Haig in 1921.
The Grandstand that now stands at Haig Avenue was opened in 1968, 2 years after the original main stand had burnt down. The wooden structure, which had been purchased from the Southport Flower Show burnt down the day after a game against Wrexham on Boxing Day in 1966 (A game which Southport won 1-0). Most of the clubs possessions including kits, went up in flames with only the club safe surviving. A temporary main stand was put up instead during the season Billy Bingham's side won promotion to the third division. Eric Morecambe presented the club with a trophy to commemorate their achievement.
and Everton F.C.
reserves. It has also numerous hosted FA Women's Cup
ties.
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 Southport
Southport
Southport is a seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. During the 2001 census Southport was recorded as having a population of 90,336, making it the eleventh most populous settlement in North West England...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and is the home ground of Southport F.C.
Southport F.C.
Southport Football Club are an English football club, based in Southport, Merseyside. They are currently in the Conference National, and play their home matches at Haig Avenue, which has a capacity of 6,008...
Location
The ground is situated to the east of Southport just off the A570A570 road
The A570 is a primary route in northern England, that runs from St Helens to Southport. The road begins at junction 7 of the M62 motorway in Merseyside, and runs in a northerly direction as a dual carriageway through the centre of St Helens, meeting the A58 road, then the A580 road to the north of...
, the main road to Ormskirk
Ormskirk
Ormskirk is a market town in West Lancashire, England. It is situated north of Liverpool city centre, northwest of St Helens, southeast of Southport and southwest of Preston.-Geography and administration:...
. It is sited at the edge of a residential area, adjoining school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
playing field
Playing field
A playing field is a field used for playing sports or games. They are generally outdoors, but many large structures exist to enclose playing fields from bad weather. Generally, playing fields are wide expanses of grass, dirt or sand without many obstructions...
s.
The stadium
Haig Avenue now has a capacity of 6,008 people (1,884 seated, 4,124 standing) though the record attendance is 20,010 against Newcastle UnitedNewcastle 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 fourth round of 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...
in 1932. These days the ground seldom operates at more than a quarter full, although nearly full houses have been registered for key matches such as the F.A. Trophy semi-final against Slough Town
Slough Town F.C.
Slough Town F.C. is an English semi-professional football club. The club was officially founded in 1890 after the amalgamation of three local clubs, Swifts, Slough Albion and Young Men's Friendly Society, who between them forged a new club, Slough F.C....
which Southport won to reach their first ever Wembley final.
The ground has a covered main stand, called the Grandstand, opposite an uncovered terrace, known as the Popular Side. Behind the goals, the south (Scarisbrick
Scarisbrick
Scarisbrick is a village and civil parish in West Lancashire, England. It is spread out along the A570 so there is no real village centre, though the junction with the A5147 is close to the geographic centre...
) end is covered; this is where the majority of the home fans congregate. The north (Blowick
Blowick
-History and etymology:Blowick is part of the ancient parish of North Meols and was formerly a detached settlement, on the northern fringe of what is now Southport....
) away end is open to the elements. The south stand is called the Jack Carr Stand, after a popular director at the club, and was named shortly after his death.
The stadium does not carry a sponsor's name. There are limited car parking
Parking lot
A parking lot , also known as car lot, is a cleared area that is intended for parking vehicles. Usually, the term refers to a dedicated area that has been provided with a durable or semi-durable surface....
facilities, however these are reserved for home, away and match officials.
History
The Grandstand that now stands at Haig Avenue was opened in 1968, 2 years after the original main stand had burnt down. The wooden structure, which had been purchased from the Southport Flower Show burnt down the day after a game against Wrexham on Boxing Day in 1966 (A game which Southport won 1-0). Most of the clubs possessions including kits, went up in flames with only the club safe surviving. A temporary main stand was put up instead during the season Billy Bingham's side won promotion to the third division. Eric Morecambe presented the club with a trophy to commemorate their achievement.
Events
The ground has played host to Youth Internationals in the past, and has also been home to both Liverpool F.C.Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
and Everton F.C.
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
reserves. It has also numerous hosted FA Women's Cup
FA Women's Cup
The Football Association Women’s Challenge Cup Competition, commonly referred to as the FA Women's Cup, is the top cup competition for women's football clubs in England – designed as an exact equivalent to the FA Cup created 99 years earlier...
ties.