Windsor Park
Encyclopedia
Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast
, Northern Ireland
and the home ground of Linfield F.C.
and the Northern Ireland national football team
. It is also where the Irish Cup
and Irish League Cup finals are played.
and Glentoran
. Most of the current stadium was designed and built in the 1930s, to a design made by the Scottish architect Archibald Leitch
. It had one main seated stand - the Grandstand, now known as the South Stand - with "reserved" terracing in front, and a large open terrace behind the goal to the west called the Spion Kop. To the north, there was a long covered terrace - the "unreserved" terracing - and behind the eastern goal at the Railway End another covered terrace. Windsor Park's peak capacity in this format was 60,000. In the early 1960s the Railway End terrace had seats put in the Railway Stand, and in the early 1970s a social club/viewing lounge was constructed in the corner between the Railway Stand and the Grandstand. In the 1980s, the 'unreserved terrace' was demolished and replaced by a two-tier, 7000-seat North Stand. In the late 1990s, the Kop terrace was demolished and replaced with the 5000-seater West Stand, but still referred to as the Kop Stand. The Kop Stand was known as the Alex Russell
Stand from 2004-2008 in honour of Linfield's former goalkeeper and coach and one-time Northern Ireland international.
The stadium holds 24,734, but is currently restricted to 12,342 under safety legislation, with an increase to 12,950 permitted for international matches utilising temporary seating. At present the ground has only three sides. For most Linfield home games only the South Stand and Kop stand are opened. The North Stand is usually given to away supporters, and will be re-roofed for the 2010–11 season.
and gaelic games
on the site of the Maze prison in Lisburn
, or a national stadium built as part of a major leisure development at Sydenham in East Belfast
. In September 2009 however, the Irish Football Association
(IFA) announced that their preferred option would be to remain at a redeveloped Windsor Park. In 2011, the Northern Ireland Executive
allocated £138m for a major programme of stadium redevelopment throughout Northern Ireland, with £28m allocated to the redevelopment of Windsor Park into a brand new, 20,000 all-seater stadium.
(IFA) in 1985 for Northern Ireland to play all home internationals at Windsor Park.
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...
and the home ground of Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
and the Northern Ireland national football team
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
. It is also where the Irish Cup
Irish Cup
For the equivalent tournament in the Republic of Ireland, see FAI Cup.The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world...
and Irish League Cup finals are played.
History
Named after an area of South Belfast, Windsor Park was first opened in 1905, with a match between LinfieldLinfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
and 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...
. Most of the current stadium was designed and built in the 1930s, to a design made by the Scottish architect Archibald Leitch
Archibald Leitch
Archibald "Offside Archie" Leitch was a Scottish architect, most famous for his work designing football stadia throughout the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.-Early work:...
. It had one main seated stand - the Grandstand, now known as the South Stand - with "reserved" terracing in front, and a large open terrace behind the goal to the west called the Spion Kop. To the north, there was a long covered terrace - the "unreserved" terracing - and behind the eastern goal at the Railway End another covered terrace. Windsor Park's peak capacity in this format was 60,000. In the early 1960s the Railway End terrace had seats put in the Railway Stand, and in the early 1970s a social club/viewing lounge was constructed in the corner between the Railway Stand and the Grandstand. In the 1980s, the 'unreserved terrace' was demolished and replaced by a two-tier, 7000-seat North Stand. In the late 1990s, the Kop terrace was demolished and replaced with the 5000-seater West Stand, but still referred to as the Kop Stand. The Kop Stand was known as the Alex Russell
Alex Russell
Alexander John Russell is an English professional footballer currently plays for Conference National side Bath City. He plays as a central midfielder...
Stand from 2004-2008 in honour of Linfield's former goalkeeper and coach and one-time Northern Ireland international.
The stadium holds 24,734, but is currently restricted to 12,342 under safety legislation, with an increase to 12,950 permitted for international matches utilising temporary seating. At present the ground has only three sides. For most Linfield home games only the South Stand and Kop stand are opened. The North Stand is usually given to away supporters, and will be re-roofed for the 2010–11 season.
Redevelopment
Owing to the increasingly poor condition of Windsor Park, various proposals for its replacement were mooted, including the idea of a multi-purpose stadium hosting football, rugby unionRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and gaelic games
Gaelic games
Gaelic games are sports played in Ireland under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The two main games are Gaelic football and hurling...
on the site of the Maze prison in Lisburn
Lisburn
DemographicsLisburn Urban Area is within Belfast Metropolitan Urban Area and is classified as a Large Town by the . On census day there were 71,465 people living in Lisburn...
, or a national stadium built as part of a major leisure development at Sydenham in 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...
. In September 2009 however, the Irish Football Association
Irish Football Association
The Irish Football Association is the organising body for association football in Northern Ireland, and was historically the governing body for Ireland...
(IFA) announced that their preferred option would be to remain at a redeveloped Windsor Park. In 2011, the Northern Ireland Executive
Northern Ireland Executive
The Northern Ireland Executive is the executive arm of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the devolved legislature for Northern Ireland. It is answerable to the Assembly and was established according to the terms of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, which followed the Good Friday Agreement...
allocated £138m for a major programme of stadium redevelopment throughout Northern Ireland, with £28m allocated to the redevelopment of Windsor Park into a brand new, 20,000 all-seater stadium.
International matches
The venue usually sees its biggest crowds for Northern Ireland internationals, from which Linfield receive 15% of the gate receipts. A 100-year agreement was signed by the Irish Football AssociationIrish Football Association
The Irish Football Association is the organising body for association football in Northern Ireland, and was historically the governing body for Ireland...
(IFA) in 1985 for Northern Ireland to play all home internationals at Windsor Park.
External links
- IFCP photos from Windsor Park
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtH0RWImdHc Ulster Groundhopper Video tour of the ground
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/irish/7527554.stm