Boundary Park
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| Ice Station Zebra | |
 Rochdale Road stand |
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| Full name | Boundary Park Stadium |
|---|---|
| Location | Boundary Park, Oldham OL1 2PA |
| Coordinates | 53°33′19″N 2°7′43″W / 53.55528°N 2.12861°WCoordinates: 53°33′19″N 2°7′43″W / 53.55528°N 2.12861°W |
| Built | 1904 |
| Opened | 1 August 1904 |
| Renovated | 2008 |
| Capacity | 10,638 |
| Field dimensions | 110 yd × 74 yd (100 m × 68 m) |
| Tenants | |
| Oldham Athletic A.F.C. (1904–) Oldham Roughyeds (1997–2001, 2003–) |
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Boundary Park is the main sports stadium of Oldham, in Greater Manchester, England. Historically within Lancashire, it lies at the northwestern extremity of Oldham, with the towns of Royton and Chadderton lying immediately north and west respectively, giving rise to the name Boundary Park.[1]
Boundary Park was originally known as Athletic Ground when it was opened in 1896 for Oldham's first professional association football club, Oldham County F.C.. When County folded in 1899, Pine Villa F.C. took over the ground and changed their name to Oldham Athletic.[2] Oldham Athletic A.F.C. have played their home games here since the stadium was opened. Oldham RLFC left their traditional home, Watersheddings, in 1997 and moved to Boundary Park. Other than a hiatus during the 2002 season when they played at Hurst Cross in Ashton-under-Lyne, they have played there ever since.
The Rochdale Road stand, behind one of the goals, is the away end.
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[edit] Capacity
The stadium currently has an all-seated capacity of 10,638. It became an all-seater venue during the 1994-95 season - the season after Oldham Athletic's relegation from the top flight of English football. In the early days, the stadium could nearly hold 50,000 people. The highest crowd ever recorded at Boundary Park is 47,671, for an FA Cup tie between Oldham and Sheffield Wednesday.
[edit] Records
Boundary Park is anecdotally known as being the coldest ground in the Football League which earns it the nickname Ice Station Zebra.[3] It is also the second-highest stadium of any Premier League or Football League club, after The Hawthorns - home of West Bromwich Albion.
[edit] Redevelopment
There were plans in the late 1990s for a move to a new stadium on adjoining waste ground, but these were scrapped.
On 15 February, 2006, the club unveiled plans for the redevelopment of their current ground. The plans would see every stand other than the Rochdale Road end being redeveloped. When completed it would be a 16,000 seater stadium, estimated to cost £80 million, and with a working name of the "Oldham Arena".[4] However, by the time of the completion of the redevelopment the stadium is likely to bear a sponsor's name.
On the 14 November, 2007 Oldham Athletic received planning permission for the North Broadway stand, whilst the Oldham Borough Council rejected the further development of the stadium. On 12 December, 2007, this was overturned at another council meeting and the entire ground was given permission to be developed. Facilities would include conferencing and a hotel plus the option of a casino.[5]
Demolition of the Broadway Stand started on 8 May, 2008 with the work completed before the start of the new season. The building of the new 'Main Stand' was due to commence in December 2008 and was expected to take 16 months.[6]
On 5 September, 2008 Simon Blitz told podcast World Soccer Daily that although Oldham still plan to continue the development of Boundary Park and surrounding areas, the plans are on hold for now because of the financial crisis of 2007–2009 and the subsequent downturn in the UK property market. He also stated that even though the demolition of the Broadway Stand had been completed, they could not secure a loan to even build the Main Stand let alone the rest of the project. He stated that the work will continue as soon as the economic climate looks a little better.[citation needed]
[edit] References
- ^ Alan Godfrey Maps. North Chadderton & SW Royton [map], 1932 edition. Cartography by Ordnance Survey. (2008) ISBN 978-1-84784-157-5. Section Lancashire Sheet 97.01.
- ^ "Boundary Park". pastscape.org.uk. http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=890861. Retrieved on 2008-07-31.
- ^ "If you think it’s been cold in Oldham this week, then try visiting John at work!, Jamie Whitehouse, Oldham Advertiser, 3 March 2005
- ^ "Latics’ new £80m goal", Carl Marsden, Oldham Advertiser, 15 February 2006
- ^ "Oldham Arena", Oldham Athletic official site, 14 January, 2008
- ^ "Latics ready to make a stand in summer", Carl Marsden, Oldham Advertiser, 5 March 2008
[edit] External links
- Boundary Park info from OldhamAthletic.co.uk
