Oakwell Stadium
Encyclopedia
Oakwell is a multi-purpose sports development in Barnsley
, South Yorkshire
, England
used primarily by Barnsley Football Club
for playing their home fixtures, and those of their reserves.
While the name 'Oakwell' generally refers to the main stadium, it also includes several neighbouring venues which form the facilities of the Barnsley F.C. academy – an indoor training pitch, a smaller stadium with seating on the south and west sides for around 2,200 spectators, and several training pitches used by the different Barnsley FC squads.
Until 2003 the stadium and the vast amount of land that surrounds it was owned by Barnsley Football Club themselves, however after falling into administration in 2002 the council purchased the main Oakwell Stadium to allow the club to pay its creditors and remain participants in The Football League
.
The West Stand is the only original part of Oakwell Stadium left standing, however it was made 'all-seater' in 1995.
The stand is made up of two tiers, only the upper tier is covered but at the expense of several supporting columns for the roof structure, the seats are the originals from the early 1900s, from here you get a decent view with moderate legroom. In spite of the restricted views and modest facilities, the West Stand remains a popular vantage point for many fans. The lower tier of the West Stand is uncovered and offers a great view of the action.
The roof of the West Stand is corrugated iron this also houses the main television gantry which is accessed from the upper tier seating area by a temporary ladder.
At the end of the 1990s, the then stadium owners Barnsley Football Club were considering re-developing the West Stand after several seasons of high attendances, however with the rapid decline in fortunes of the football club, subsequent sale of the stadium and new club ownership these plans are unlikely to come to fruition in the near future.
The stand also incorporates a traditional players tunnel in the centre, while this is used for access to some of the facilities underneath the stand, the main players tunnel now feeds out from the north-west corner following the relocation of the changing rooms to the North Stand.
The West Stand has a total seating capacity
of 4,752.
to incorporate 'executive boxes' into their stadium. The East stand is very modern, and has plenty of legroom.
Due to the sloped land on which Oakwell Stadium is built, the rear of the East Stand is much taller than it is from the pitchside meaning a climb to the upper tier seating area requires many more steps than a spectator may anticipate, however several lifts are available.
With a capacity of 4,508, The CK Beckett Stand is a large covered single tier seating area behind the goal on the south side of the stadium.
This part of the stadium also houses the players gym, the club superstore, box office, and general administration offices.
It is understood, and quite apparent on closer inspection, that this stand had been designed specifically with future development in mind, therefore should the club ever have the need to increase the grounds capacity then it would be fundamentally possible to add a second tier without making any major alterations to the existing structure.
As this stand is generally reserved for away supporters its capacity is rarely utilized, although during the 2006/07 season, Sheffield Wednesday
, Derby
, Birmingham
and Sunderland
fans all filled the end, Sunderland
also took up half of the West Stand. In the 2009/10 season, Sheffield Wednesday
, and Newcastle United fans filled the stand.
At a cost of £4.5 million (including several academy facilities that it accommodates), it has been a cause for debate ever since its construction. However at the time it was built, Barnsley FC had only just been demoted from the FA Premier League
and were planning for a possible return.
Access to this area was also incorporated into the neighbouring East Stand on several levels, the spectator capacity of the structure is 202.
Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Rugby League Club used the stadium for their first game in the Super League
in 1998.
Non-league football club Wakefield and Emley
used the stadium for an FA Cup tie against Rotherham in 1998, choosing a larger neutral venue as opposed to the traditional option of 'switching' the tie to the home of the team which was drawn away.
Premier League side Manchester City
used the stadium for their first qualifying round UEFA Cup
game in July 2008, since the pitch at the City of Manchester Stadium
was unsuitable for footballing purposes after the summer's commercial activities, such as boxing and music concerts and was being re-turfed.
In November 2010, early plans for a redeveloped West Stand were on show at the central library. While the actual capacity was not revealed, the impression given is that the new stand is being built to upgrade facilities and media requirements rather than to increase overall capacity and may even result in a reduced number of seats.
, a full-back for the visiting Blackpool
, received a blow to the head during the league encounter. He died at home eleven days later as a result of the injury.
, with rail services to Sheffield, Leeds, Nottingham and Huddersfield, is around half a mile from Oakwell.
Barnsley
Barnsley is a town in South Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Dearne, north of the city of Sheffield, south of Leeds and west of Doncaster. Barnsley is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Barnsley, of which Barnsley is the largest and...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
, 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...
used primarily by Barnsley Football Club
Barnsley F.C.
Barnsley Football Club are a professional English football club based in the town of Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Nicknamed the Tykes, they were founded in 1887 under the name Barnsley St. Peter's...
for playing their home fixtures, and those of their reserves.
While the name 'Oakwell' generally refers to the main stadium, it also includes several neighbouring venues which form the facilities of the Barnsley F.C. academy – an indoor training pitch, a smaller stadium with seating on the south and west sides for around 2,200 spectators, and several training pitches used by the different Barnsley FC squads.
Until 2003 the stadium and the vast amount of land that surrounds it was owned by Barnsley Football Club themselves, however after falling into administration in 2002 the council purchased the main Oakwell Stadium to allow the club to pay its creditors and remain participants in The Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
.
West Stand
The stand is made up of two tiers, only the upper tier is covered but at the expense of several supporting columns for the roof structure, the seats are the originals from the early 1900s, from here you get a decent view with moderate legroom. In spite of the restricted views and modest facilities, the West Stand remains a popular vantage point for many fans. The lower tier of the West Stand is uncovered and offers a great view of the action.
The roof of the West Stand is corrugated iron this also houses the main television gantry which is accessed from the upper tier seating area by a temporary ladder.
At the end of the 1990s, the then stadium owners Barnsley Football Club were considering re-developing the West Stand after several seasons of high attendances, however with the rapid decline in fortunes of the football club, subsequent sale of the stadium and new club ownership these plans are unlikely to come to fruition in the near future.
The stand also incorporates a traditional players tunnel in the centre, while this is used for access to some of the facilities underneath the stand, the main players tunnel now feeds out from the north-west corner following the relocation of the changing rooms to the North Stand.
The West Stand has a total seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
of 4,752.
East Stand
The East Stand is a two tier development completed in 1993. Funded in part by the football trust, the stand has a capacity of 7,492 and replaced a large covered terrace known as the Brewery Stand. The East Stand was designed by NYP Architects,as was the North Stand and the Corner Stand. With the completion of the East Stand, Barnsley FC became the first football club in YorkshireYorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
to incorporate 'executive boxes' into their stadium. The East stand is very modern, and has plenty of legroom.
Due to the sloped land on which Oakwell Stadium is built, the rear of the East Stand is much taller than it is from the pitchside meaning a climb to the upper tier seating area requires many more steps than a spectator may anticipate, however several lifts are available.
The CK Beckett Stand
Built in 1995, CK Beckett is the current name for what is traditionally known as the 'Pontefract Road End' or 'Ponty End'. Some fans continue to call it the 'ORA Stand' – in reference to the original sponsors of it. Also, known as the Van Damme Stand.With a capacity of 4,508, The CK Beckett Stand is a large covered single tier seating area behind the goal on the south side of the stadium.
This part of the stadium also houses the players gym, the club superstore, box office, and general administration offices.
It is understood, and quite apparent on closer inspection, that this stand had been designed specifically with future development in mind, therefore should the club ever have the need to increase the grounds capacity then it would be fundamentally possible to add a second tier without making any major alterations to the existing structure.
The North Stand
The North Stand is the most recent addition to Oakwell Stadium and is a large covered singled tiered seating area with a capacity for 6,000 spectators.As this stand is generally reserved for away supporters its capacity is rarely utilized, although during the 2006/07 season, Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
, Derby
Derby County F.C.
Derby County Football Club is an English football based in Derby. the club play in the Football League Championship and is notable as being one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888 and is, therefore, one of only ten clubs to have competed in every season of the English...
, Birmingham
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
and Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
fans all filled the end, Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
also took up half of the West Stand. In the 2009/10 season, Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
, and Newcastle United fans filled the stand.
At a cost of £4.5 million (including several academy facilities that it accommodates), it has been a cause for debate ever since its construction. However at the time it was built, Barnsley FC had only just been demoted from the FA Premier League
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
and were planning for a possible return.
The Corner Stand
Built in the summer of 1998 and originally known as 'The Welcome Windows Stand', this unusual three level structure provides further executive areas and disabled facilities for viewing an event.Access to this area was also incorporated into the neighbouring East Stand on several levels, the spectator capacity of the structure is 202.
Other uses
In recent years Oakwell Stadium has rarely been used by anyone other than Barnsley FC, barring the occasional 'celebrity' charity football match.Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Rugby League Club used the stadium for their first game in the Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
in 1998.
Non-league football club Wakefield and Emley
Wakefield F.C.
Wakefield F.C. is an English football club based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. The club was previously known as Emley A.F.C. from 1903 to 2002.-History:...
used the stadium for an FA Cup tie against Rotherham in 1998, choosing a larger neutral venue as opposed to the traditional option of 'switching' the tie to the home of the team which was drawn away.
Premier League side Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
used the stadium for their first qualifying round UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
game in July 2008, since the pitch at the City of Manchester Stadium
City of Manchester Stadium
The City of Manchester Stadium in Manchester, England – also known as the Etihad Stadium for sponsorship purposes– is the home ground of...
was unsuitable for footballing purposes after the summer's commercial activities, such as boxing and music concerts and was being re-turfed.
Future developments
In March 2008, club secretary Don Rowing revealed that the West Stand would be demolished and rebuilt. Given that the average gate at Barnsley accounts for less than 50% of capacity this appeared to be a strange announcement, however there are a number of structural concerns with the roof and the wooden floor of the upper tier and it would seem that a new structure is more financially viable than maintaining the existing one.In November 2010, early plans for a redeveloped West Stand were on show at the central library. While the actual capacity was not revealed, the impression given is that the new stand is being built to upgrade facilities and media requirements rather than to increase overall capacity and may even result in a reduced number of seats.
Tragedy
On 27 December 1920, Horace FairhurstHorace Fairhurst
Horace Fairhurst was an English professional football player. He played as a defender.After playing for Darwen for a number of years, Fairhurst joined fellow Lancashire club Blackpool in May 1919 after previously playing for them during the 1916-17 and 1917-18 World War I wartime...
, a full-back for the visiting Blackpool
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
, received a blow to the head during the league encounter. He died at home eleven days later as a result of the injury.
Transport
Barnsley InterchangeBarnsley Interchange
Barnsley Interchange lies in the centre of the town of Barnsley, in South Yorkshire, England. The station was opened in 1850 and is north of Sheffield...
, with rail services to Sheffield, Leeds, Nottingham and Huddersfield, is around half a mile from Oakwell.