Cliftonhill
Encyclopedia
Cliftonhill Stadium is the home ground of the Scottish Football League
team Albion Rovers. The ground is situated in the town of Coatbridge
, North Lanarkshire
.
Final appearance. A roof extension over the paddock (a standing area in front of the stand) was added in 1994. The Main Stand and paddock are the only parts of the stadium normally used nowadays and the current capacity is listed as 1,238. In its heyday, Cliftonhill housed many thousand more people and its record attendance was set on 8 February 1936 when 27,381 watched the visit of Rangers
. Floodlighting was installed at the ground in October 1968 and since then, Cliftonhill has at various times staged speedway
, greyhound racing
and stock car racing
as well as football.
During the 1990s it looked likely that Albion Rovers would leave Cliftonhill to share a stadium with local rivals Airdrieonians. However opposition from Rovers fans, the local population and others, saw that move fall through and the club are currently working on plans to sell the ground and build a new stadium elsewhere in the town. The floodlighting system comes from Cardiff Arms Park
, when it was demolished to make way for the Millennium Stadium
. In 2006 the front entrance and main stand featured in a UK television advert for Flash
. Currently, it contains a club shop which opens one hour prior to home first team matches.
The dimensions of the pitch are 110 by 72 yd (100.6 by 65.8 ).
The club have recently contemplated moving away from Cliftonhill, as the stadium and pitch have been the subject of repeated vandalism. Also, the low crowds have also been a major factor.
speedway team in 1968. The re-named Coatbridge Monarchs raced in 1969 but closed when the track licence was sold to Wembley Lions
. The stadium hosted Glasgow Tigers
from 1973 to mid season 1977 when the promotion moved to Blantyre Greyhound Stadium. The move prompted by a desire to replace the speedway track with a greyhound track.
The original speedway track was unusual as the bends were laid out on the terracing at either end giving the track extremely banked bends.
It was the scene, in the late 60s, of the bizarre incident when a referee started a race while a pipe band were still marching on the track. Piper and drummers scattered as they realised what was happening, but no one was injured.
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
team Albion Rovers. The ground is situated in the town of Coatbridge
Coatbridge
Coatbridge is a town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, about east of Glasgow city centre, set in the central Lowlands. The town, with neighbouring Airdrie, is part of the Greater Glasgow urban area. The first settlement of the area stretches back to the Stone Age era...
, North Lanarkshire
North Lanarkshire
North Lanarkshire is one of 32 council areas in Scotland. It borders onto the northeast of the City of Glasgow and contains much of Glasgow's suburbs and commuter towns and villages. It also borders Stirling, Falkirk, East Dunbartonshire, West Lothian and South Lanarkshire...
.
History
Cliftonhill opened on 25 December 1919. The Main Stand sits high on a rise above Main Street and was built in the same season as their only Scottish CupScottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
Final appearance. A roof extension over the paddock (a standing area in front of the stand) was added in 1994. The Main Stand and paddock are the only parts of the stadium normally used nowadays and the current capacity is listed as 1,238. In its heyday, Cliftonhill housed many thousand more people and its record attendance was set on 8 February 1936 when 27,381 watched the visit of 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...
. Floodlighting was installed at the ground in October 1968 and since then, Cliftonhill has at various times staged speedway
Motorcycle speedway
Motorcycle speedway, usually referred to as speedway, is a motorcycle sport involving four and sometimes up to six riders competing over four anti-clockwise laps of an oval circuit. Speedway motorcycles use only one gear and have no brakes and racing takes place on a flat oval track usually...
, greyhound racing
Greyhound racing
Greyhound racing is the sport of racing greyhounds. The dogs chase a lure on a track until they arrive at the finish line. The one that arrives first is the winner....
and stock car racing
Stock car racing
Stock car racing is a form of automobile racing found mainly in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Great Britain, Brazil and Argentina. Traditionally, races are run on oval tracks measuring approximately in length...
as well as football.
Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park , also known as The Arms Park, is primarily known as a rugby union stadium, but it also has a bowling green, and is situated in the centre of Cardiff, Wales. The Arms Park was host to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1958, and hosted four games in the 1991 Rugby World...
, when it was demolished to make way for the Millennium Stadium
Millennium Stadium
The Millennium Stadium is the national stadium of Wales, located in the capital, Cardiff. It is the home of the Wales national rugby union team and also frequently stages games of the Wales national football team, but is also host to many other large scale events, such as the Super Special Stage...
. In 2006 the front entrance and main stand featured in a UK television advert for Flash
Mr. Clean
Mr. Clean is a brand name fully owned by Procter & Gamble. It is used for a cleaning solution and related products, and as "Mr. Clean Magic Eraser", for a melamine foam cleaner.-History:...
. Currently, it contains a club shop which opens one hour prior to home first team matches.
The dimensions of the pitch are 110 by 72 yd (100.6 by 65.8 ).
The club have recently contemplated moving away from Cliftonhill, as the stadium and pitch have been the subject of repeated vandalism. Also, the low crowds have also been a major factor.
Speedway use
The stadium, which had been identified as a potential venue in the 1950s, became the home of Edinburgh MonarchsEdinburgh Monarchs
The Edinburgh Monarchs are a Scottish Speedway team, currently based in Armadale. They compete in the Speedway Premier League, racing on Friday nights during the Speedway season. The club is run by a Board of Directors, chaired by Alex Harkess. The team manager is Alan "Doc" Bridgett...
speedway team in 1968. The re-named Coatbridge Monarchs raced in 1969 but closed when the track licence was sold to Wembley Lions
Wembley Lions
The Wembley Lions were an English ice hockey team.The team were founded in 1934 but showed a continuity with the London Lions team which had played at various venues since 1924. The Wembley team were based at the newly built Empire Pool which they shared with the Wembley Monarchs until 1950.The...
. The stadium hosted Glasgow Tigers
Glasgow Tigers (speedway)
The Glasgow Tigers are a motorcycle speedway team from Glasgow, Scotland. Formed in 1928, the club adopted the Tigers nickname in 1946 and compete in the British Premier League...
from 1973 to mid season 1977 when the promotion moved to Blantyre Greyhound Stadium. The move prompted by a desire to replace the speedway track with a greyhound track.
The original speedway track was unusual as the bends were laid out on the terracing at either end giving the track extremely banked bends.
It was the scene, in the late 60s, of the bizarre incident when a referee started a race while a pipe band were still marching on the track. Piper and drummers scattered as they realised what was happening, but no one was injured.