The Oval (Eastbourne)
Encyclopedia
The Oval is a football
stadium in Eastbourne
, East Sussex
, England
and is the home of Eastbourne United AFC
since 1946 when they were playing as Eastbourne Old Comrades FC. The stadium is located on the border of Langney
and Eastbourne
, next to the Princes Park
and boating lake.
The area was originally known as the Gilbert Recreation Ground, which was owned by the local council whom invited Eastbourne Old Comrades to play there after their original home at Lynchmere was sold for development. The council at the time were developing it into a sports arena with an athletics track and a grass cycle track surrounding the grass pitch. Plans were made in 1951 to build a stand and a terrace which was opened in September 1955 when Eastbourne United hosted a game against Queens Park Rangers
.
Floodlights were first installed in 1958 and inaugurated with a match versus Eastbourne F.C.
in front of a gate of 4,100. More floodlights were supplemented in 1966 when Eastbourne United were playing in the Athenian League
, these were installed at a cost of £5,500 and were officially turned on 25 October 1967 with a friendly game with West Ham United
. A third set of floodlights was officially opened on 18 February 1980 by former manager Ron Greenwood with another friendly game with Millwall
.
With the local council still owning the site, Eastbourne United AFC
are currently trying to buy the lease to improve the ground and its amenities which started to show its wear and tear in the 1980s. The great storm in 1987 destroyed one of the covered terraces, this was not repaired as the council's insurance did not cover storm damage. The local athetics club left the site in 2003 to a new facility to the north of the town, their move appeared to leave council even less-inclined to maintain the facilities.
Today the perimeter fencing now surrounds the pitch, this was bought from nearby Eastbourne Borough
's ground at Priory Lane when they improved their facilities. The new fencing has allowed spectators to watch the game nearer to the pitch than they used to.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
stadium in Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
, East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
, 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...
and is the home of Eastbourne United AFC
Eastbourne United Association F.C.
Eastbourne United Association F.C. is a football club based in Eastbourne, England. They were formed in 2003 after a merger between Eastbourne United and Shinewater Association. In 2009 they were the Sussex County League champions for the first time in 53 years, 18 years after leaving the Isthmian...
since 1946 when they were playing as Eastbourne Old Comrades FC. The stadium is located on the border of Langney
Langney
Langney is a distinct part of Eastbourne, East Sussex and is on the eastern side of the popular seaside resort. The original village and priory have now been amalgamated with the main town of Eastbourne, and Langney was identified as a single self-contained polling ward within the borough of...
and Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
, next to the Princes Park
Princes Park, Eastbourne
Princes Park in Eastbourne, East Sussex, England, is a park east of Eastbourne Town Centre and the Victorian seafront.The park consists of a 18 hole putting green, a bowling green, a boating lake and 2 small children's play areas, one of which has a paddling pool...
and boating lake.
The area was originally known as the Gilbert Recreation Ground, which was owned by the local council whom invited Eastbourne Old Comrades to play there after their original home at Lynchmere was sold for development. The council at the time were developing it into a sports arena with an athletics track and a grass cycle track surrounding the grass pitch. Plans were made in 1951 to build a stand and a terrace which was opened in September 1955 when Eastbourne United hosted a game against Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
.
Floodlights were first installed in 1958 and inaugurated with a match versus Eastbourne F.C.
Eastbourne Town F.C.
Eastbourne Town F.C. are an English football club based in Eastbourne, East Sussex. The club was founded in 1881 as Devonshire Park FC and they claim to be the oldest senior football club in Sussex. Eastbourne Town FC play at The Saffrons in central Eastbourne, considered to be one of the most...
in front of a gate of 4,100. More floodlights were supplemented in 1966 when Eastbourne United were playing in the Athenian League
Athenian League
The Athenian League was an English amateur football league for clubs in and around London. The league was formed in 1912 with ten clubs, but had to close down in 1914 due to the onset of World War I. When it reformed in 1920, only three of the previous teams rejoined...
, these were installed at a cost of £5,500 and were officially turned on 25 October 1967 with a friendly game with West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
. A third set of floodlights was officially opened on 18 February 1980 by former manager Ron Greenwood with another friendly game with Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
.
With the local council still owning the site, Eastbourne United AFC
Eastbourne United Association F.C.
Eastbourne United Association F.C. is a football club based in Eastbourne, England. They were formed in 2003 after a merger between Eastbourne United and Shinewater Association. In 2009 they were the Sussex County League champions for the first time in 53 years, 18 years after leaving the Isthmian...
are currently trying to buy the lease to improve the ground and its amenities which started to show its wear and tear in the 1980s. The great storm in 1987 destroyed one of the covered terraces, this was not repaired as the council's insurance did not cover storm damage. The local athetics club left the site in 2003 to a new facility to the north of the town, their move appeared to leave council even less-inclined to maintain the facilities.
Today the perimeter fencing now surrounds the pitch, this was bought from nearby Eastbourne Borough
Eastbourne Borough F.C.
Eastbourne Borough are a semi-professional English football club, based in the town of Eastbourne, East Sussex, and are members of the Conference South. They are known as The Sports after their previous name as Langney Sports. Eastbourne Borough play their home matches at Priory Lane in Langney...
's ground at Priory Lane when they improved their facilities. The new fencing has allowed spectators to watch the game nearer to the pitch than they used to.
External links
- The Oval - Official Site
- Nomad Online
- Aerial View
- David Barber Article - published by the TheFA.com