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The Oval (Belfast)
Encyclopedia
The Oval is a football
stadium in Belfast
, Northern Ireland
.
The stadium has been home to Glentoran
since 1892. Before that the team used Ormeau Park
from 1882 to 1886. Then the team shifted to King's Field in Ballymacarrett
for four years until 1890. The team's next destination was Musgrave Park. It was only used for two seasons until 1892 when the Glens moved to the Oval in Dee Street, east Belfast
. A new Oval was built in 1903 with the pitch being turned around ninety degrees.
In 1941 the Oval was bombed
and Grosvenor Park was used until August 1949, whilst the Oval was being rebuilt with the help of Cliftonville
and Distillery. In 1953 the current stands were built. The stadium holds 26,556, but is currently restricted to 5,056 under safety legislation. The main stand holds 2,720 and the Railway stand holds 2,070. The Oval has had 55,000 through the turnstiles for a European Cup
match versus Rangers
, but can only take 10,000 now due to modern laws. http://irishconnectionuk.blogspot.com/2009/12/make-taboo-sunday-history.html. This is set to decrease with other new laws soon to arrive.
Glentoran have plans to move to a new ground after the Oval was sold to developers in March 2003, although no definite site has been fixed.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
stadium in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
The stadium has been home to Glentoran
Glentoran F.C.
Glentoran F.C. is a semi-professional, football club in Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...
since 1892. Before that the team used Ormeau Park
Ormeau Park
Ormeau Park is the oldest municipal park in Belfast, Northern Ireland, having been officially opened to the public in 1871. It is owned and run by Belfast City Council and is one of the largest and busiest parks in the city and contains a variety of horticulture, woodland, wildlife and sporting...
from 1882 to 1886. Then the team shifted to King's Field in Ballymacarrett
Ballymacarrett
Ballymacarrett or Ballymacarret is the name of both a townland and electoral ward in Belfast. The townland is in County Down and the electoral ward is part of the Pottinger district electoral area of Belfast City Council....
for four years until 1890. The team's next destination was Musgrave Park. It was only used for two seasons until 1892 when the Glens moved to the Oval in Dee Street, east Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. A new Oval was built in 1903 with the pitch being turned around ninety degrees.
In 1941 the Oval was bombed
Belfast Blitz
The Belfast Blitz was an event that occurred on the night of Easter Tuesday, 15 April 1941 during World War II. Two hundred bombers of the German Air Force attacked the city of Belfast in Northern Ireland. Nearly one thousand people died as a result of the bombing and 1,500 were injured. In terms...
and Grosvenor Park was used until August 1949, whilst the Oval was being rebuilt with the help of Cliftonville
Cliftonville F.C.
Cliftonville Football & Athletic Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. Founded on 20 September 1879 by John McCredy McAlery in the suburb of Cliftonville in north Belfast, it is the oldest football club in Ireland and celebrated its 130th...
and Distillery. In 1953 the current stands were built. The stadium holds 26,556, but is currently restricted to 5,056 under safety legislation. The main stand holds 2,720 and the Railway stand holds 2,070. The Oval has had 55,000 through the turnstiles for a European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
match versus Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
, but can only take 10,000 now due to modern laws. http://irishconnectionuk.blogspot.com/2009/12/make-taboo-sunday-history.html. This is set to decrease with other new laws soon to arrive.
Glentoran have plans to move to a new ground after the Oval was sold to developers in March 2003, although no definite site has been fixed.