Old Showground
Encyclopedia
The Old Showground was the original stadium
of the English football club Scunthorpe United
and had been built in c.1867.
Scunthorpe United played at the Old Showground until 1988, when they moved to Glanford Park
- the first newly-constructed Football League stadium since Southend United's
Roots Hall
33 years earlier.
The ground was the first in England to have a cantilever
stand, which was built in 1958. The ground was situated in the centre of Scunthorpe
, at the junction of Doncaster Road and Henderson Avenue. As part of the relocation deal the site was sold to the supermarket chain Safeway
who constructed a store on the site. After Safeway were taken over in 2004 by Morrisons the store was subsequently sold to Sainsbury's. The site of the centre-spot was highlighted by a plaque in front of the delicatessen counter; however this was later removed and all that remains of the site's former use is a plaque by the entrance to the store.
Attempts to move the cantilever stand to Glanford Park proved impractical, and it was demolished along with the rest of the old stadium.
Scunthorpe's record attendance of 23,935 was set at the Old Showground on 30 January 1954 for an FA Cup
4th round tie against Portsmouth
.
Stadium
A modern stadium is a place or venue for outdoor sports, concerts, or other events and consists of a field or stage either partly or completely surrounded by a structure designed to allow spectators to stand or sit and view the event.)Pausanias noted that for about half a century the only event...
of the English football club Scunthorpe United
Scunthorpe United F.C.
Scunthorpe United Football Club is an English association football team based in the town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, who play in the Football League One....
and had been built in c.1867.
Scunthorpe United played at the Old Showground until 1988, when they moved to Glanford Park
Glanford Park
Glanford Park is a football stadium in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, England, and the current home of Scunthorpe United. It is the smallest stadium by capacity in the Championship ....
- the first newly-constructed Football League stadium since Southend United's
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
Roots Hall
Roots Hall
Roots Hall is a multi-use sports stadium in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England, primarily used for football games and is the home of the Football League Two club Southend United. With a capacity of 12,392 Roots Hall is the largest football stadium in Essex, and is the current venue for the final of...
33 years earlier.
The ground was the first in England to have a cantilever
Cantilever
A cantilever is a beam anchored at only one end. The beam carries the load to the support where it is resisted by moment and shear stress. Cantilever construction allows for overhanging structures without external bracing. Cantilevers can also be constructed with trusses or slabs.This is in...
stand, which was built in 1958. The ground was situated in the centre of Scunthorpe
Scunthorpe
Scunthorpe is a town within North Lincolnshire, England. It is the administrative centre of the North Lincolnshire unitary authority, and had an estimated total resident population of 72,514 in 2010. A predominantly industrial town, Scunthorpe, the United Kingdom's largest steel processing centre,...
, at the junction of Doncaster Road and Henderson Avenue. As part of the relocation deal the site was sold to the supermarket chain Safeway
Safeway (UK)
Safeway was a chain of supermarkets and convenience stores in the United Kingdom. It started as a subsidiary of the American Safeway Inc., before being sold off in 1987....
who constructed a store on the site. After Safeway were taken over in 2004 by Morrisons the store was subsequently sold to Sainsbury's. The site of the centre-spot was highlighted by a plaque in front of the delicatessen counter; however this was later removed and all that remains of the site's former use is a plaque by the entrance to the store.
Attempts to move the cantilever stand to Glanford Park proved impractical, and it was demolished along with the rest of the old stadium.
Scunthorpe's record attendance of 23,935 was set at the Old Showground on 30 January 1954 for an FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
4th round tie against Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
.