Woodlands Memorial Ground
Encyclopedia
Woodlands Memorial Ground is a rugby stadium in Lytham St Annes
, Lancashire
, England
. It is the home of Fylde Rugby Club
and Blackpool Panthers
between 2006 and 2010.
The Northern Rail Nines
group matches, quarter and semi finals will be held at the ground in July 2009 with the finals taking place at Bloomfield Road
, Blackpool.
During the Second World War, the Army took over the ground. In 1946 the President, G.W. Parkes, welcomed back members from the forces and the ground was purchased for £7,000. It was named the Woodlands Memorial Ground in recognition of those members who gave their lives during World War II.
In the 1950s, the dressing rooms were erected.
It was in 1964 that the second England trial was held at Fylde and Sir Laurie Edwards opened the new pavilion extension.
In 1970 the North West Counties played the Fijian Tourists at the Woodlands and attracted a record gate of 7,600.
Fylde Rugby Club ran up significant debts in trying to compete in National One in the years 1997-9 and had to sell a small portion of the Woodlands grounds in order to re-establish financial health. With the receipts of the sale, a period of re-development of facilities of all kinds at the Woodlands began in January 2005. The new clubhouse opened in October 2005 and houses 500 people.
In June and July Blackpool Panthers
played three rugby league
games at Woodlands whilst Bloomfield Road
was being reseeded. The Panthers beat Keighley Cougars and Workington Town and lost to Gateshead Thunder.
In October 2006 a contract was signed between the Panthers and Fylde for an initial period of six years, covering the seasons 2007-2012. The administrative and commercial base of the Panthers, as well as the National League games moved to the Woodlands Memorial Ground.
Lytham St Annes
Lytham St Annes is a conurbation in the Fylde district of Lancashire, England. The neighbouring towns of Lytham and St-Anne's-on-the-Sea have grown together and now form a seaside resort...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, 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...
. It is the home of Fylde Rugby Club
Fylde Rugby Club
Fylde Rugby Union Club is a rugby union club based in Lytham St Annes, on the Fylde coast in Lancashire, England. Its home venue is the Woodlands Memorial Ground on Blackpool Road in Ansdell...
and Blackpool Panthers
Blackpool Panthers
Blackpool & The Fylde Panthers RLFC was an English professional rugby league club based in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire. They played at Woodlands Memorial Ground owned by Fylde rugby union club...
between 2006 and 2010.
The Northern Rail Nines
Northern Rail Nines
The Northern Rail Nines is a rugby league nines tournament held in Lytham St Annes and Blackpool Lancashire, England as part of a celebration weekend encompassing the Northern Rail Cup Final....
group matches, quarter and semi finals will be held at the ground in July 2009 with the finals taking place at Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
, Blackpool.
History
Fylde Rugby Club were founded in 1919 and first used the Woodlands for rugby union in May 1920.During the Second World War, the Army took over the ground. In 1946 the President, G.W. Parkes, welcomed back members from the forces and the ground was purchased for £7,000. It was named the Woodlands Memorial Ground in recognition of those members who gave their lives during World War II.
In the 1950s, the dressing rooms were erected.
It was in 1964 that the second England trial was held at Fylde and Sir Laurie Edwards opened the new pavilion extension.
In 1970 the North West Counties played the Fijian Tourists at the Woodlands and attracted a record gate of 7,600.
Fylde Rugby Club ran up significant debts in trying to compete in National One in the years 1997-9 and had to sell a small portion of the Woodlands grounds in order to re-establish financial health. With the receipts of the sale, a period of re-development of facilities of all kinds at the Woodlands began in January 2005. The new clubhouse opened in October 2005 and houses 500 people.
In June and July Blackpool Panthers
Blackpool Panthers
Blackpool & The Fylde Panthers RLFC was an English professional rugby league club based in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire. They played at Woodlands Memorial Ground owned by Fylde rugby union club...
played three rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
games at Woodlands whilst Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road
Bloomfield Road is an all-seater football stadium in the English town of Blackpool, Lancashire. It has been the permanent home of Blackpool F.C. since 1901 and is named after the road on which the stadium's main entrance used to stand. The stadium has been in a process of redevelopment since 2000...
was being reseeded. The Panthers beat Keighley Cougars and Workington Town and lost to Gateshead Thunder.
In October 2006 a contract was signed between the Panthers and Fylde for an initial period of six years, covering the seasons 2007-2012. The administrative and commercial base of the Panthers, as well as the National League games moved to the Woodlands Memorial Ground.