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We think of all seated stadiums as a very recent thing, but that is not the case. Can you name the first Scottish team and the first English team to have all seated grounds and in which year?

MidDevon wrote:We think of all seated stadiums as a very recent thing, but that is not the case. Can you name the first Scottish team and the first English team to have all seated grounds and in which year?

Technicaly Clydebank was the first all seated stadia although they did cheat a little by bolting benches to the terraces all around where they didn't already have seats. They couldn't afford to do a proper job.
Aberdeen were the first to make a decent job of it and provide seating all around the stadium under cover although the corners were still open to the elements.
If I am correct Coventry City were the first to make Highfield Road all seated although I think it felt a bit like an all seated public convenience such was the feel and ambience of the place. Ricoh doesn't look much better to me. What is it about Coventry. One point of note. Coventry were forced to make a section of the stadia terrced again in response to falling attendances and complaints by fans.

Flipping heck Glostergull, you were meant to say Aberdeen and Coventry, because everyone does.

You are indeed right about Clydebank, it was as early as 1976 that they made their ground all seater, Aberdeen followed 2 years later.

Coventry (Jimmy Hill) made Highfield Road all seater in 1980. At that time the cheapest seats were £5 which was one heck of a lot of money back then. When Leeds visited their fans made their stand terrace once again in true Leeds style! and a couple of years later some seats were removed by the club as you so rightly point out.

Any idea on my previous question?

MidDevon wrote:How many Welsh teams have played in the English football league and can you name them?

Swansea
Cardiff
Wrexham
Newport County
Merthyr Town
Aberdare Athletic (who lost their League status to Torquay United).

well done , a great answer

Ok here is a stinker that should be difficult to research on Google, so may prove a challenge for even you two!

In recent years (since 1980) various football teams have had to move ground. Some clubs have moved to share at non league grounds and some have moved to share at other sporting venues.

I can think of SIX such cases, can you name each club and the ground they played at.

by the way, there could be more than 6, but I can only think of 6 myself

are you looking at the last few years or the whole history of the league.
Starter for one or two
Bristol Rovers went to Twerton Azteca as Bobby Gould called it. They also shared Trashton Gate after the fire
Brighton shared The athletics track at Withdean as they were ousted by developers from their old Goldstone ground.
Charlton Athletic left the Valley for a while due to lack of money to refurbish the Valley. They went on to share at both West Hams Upton Park and Crystal palaces Selhurst park.
Bradford City had to share at the Odsall stadium after their tragic fire in 1985
MK (Frnchise utd) dons left Plough lane to share the National Hockey Syadium as their new stadium was proposed and then built.
Rotherham share Dons valley stadium as their new ground is being built.
Millwall were another club to share. but it due to the F.A closing their ground after violence erupted from their supporters at I think Luton Town. They payed matches at a number of grounds one notable match i attended was against Bristol Rovers, I went as it had a novelty value. the attendance that day was around 3,500. with 1500 from Rovers. around 500 from Milwall and the rest from Portsmouth. The songs were somewhat amusing that day. oh there were another 500 attending but they were policemen.
Chester City left their Sealand Road ground due to their new Deva stadium being in the process of developement. They didn't have any money and couldn't (probably wise with their move imminent) afford the cost of upgradinging the old ground before they moved into the Deva Stadium. They shared Macclesfield Moss Rose ground.
One non league club. Gloucester City share Whaddon Road with Cheltenham town.
One other club I can find had to play a match which in a way meant they shared another ground as their own had been closed by the F.A. Stockports ground was closed due to fans rioting after the ref rejected an apeal for a penalty by Stockport in thier relegation battle as they played Sheffield Wednesday on April 21st 1921. The fans didn't like it and rioted in the process breaking the windows of the changing rooms including the referees. The F.A dook a dim view (must have had frosted spectacles) and closed their ground. They had to play thier remaining matches at Old Trafford.
It is possible that there are a few other small clubs who have done this but I am still looking.
Sorry it took a while to reply. I had customers come in.

When Dean Court was rebuilt, did Bournemouth play some games at the Avenue Stadium, Dorchester ?

And when the new Huish was built, Yeovil did likewise ?

I went to Highfield Rd in the early 80s, and to call it an all seater stadium was a bit of an oxymoron. What they actually did was remove the stanchions on the terracing and bolt painted railway sleepers to the steps, without any numbers. It was a disgrace as when 4 of us turned up we were told to sit 'anywhere' as there wasn't 4 'seats' left together. So everyone stood up anyway.
Jimmy Hill really was a proper cnut. :slap:

Bournmouth did indeed play for a season at Dorchester and then moved back to Dean Court when It was rebuilt. Yeovil did not though.
Crystal Palace in their early years were moved out of thier ground at the time by the Military and had to use a temporary ground untill they eventually settled into their Selhurst park stadium

MidDevon wrote:Ok here is a stinker that should be difficult to research on Google, so may prove a challenge for even you two!

In recent years (since 1980) various football teams have had to move ground. Some clubs have moved to share at non league grounds and some have moved to share at other sporting venues.

I can think of SIX such cases, can you name each club and the ground they played at.

OK good work so far, in fact I think there are 8 such grounds since 1980. Remember we are only counting football clubs who have moved to either a non-league ground or a non football venue as a ground share

So far you have 5 such grounds

Bristol Rovers - who played at the home of Bath City
AFC Bournemouth - who played at the home of Dorcester Town
Milton Keynes Dons - who played at the National Hockey Stadium
Bradford City - who played at the Odsell Stadium
Brighton - who played at the Withdean Stadium

I can think of 3 more, here is a clue, Torquay have played at all 3 grounds

Here is an anorak question for all you fans with a keen interest in Devon's non league scene.

Who are Devon's top 5 non league clubs, in order, based on todays non league tables within the "non Legaue Pyramid"

MidDevon wrote:Here is an anorak question for all you fans with a keen interest in Devon's non league scene.

Who are Devon's top 5 non league clubs, in order, based on todays non league tables within the "non Legaue Pyramid"

Bideford AFC (position 1st, Evo-Stik League - Division One South & West)
Tiverton Town (position 14th, Evo-Stik League - Division One South & West)
Willand Rovers (position 1st, Toolstation Western League - Premier Division)
Barnstaple Town (position 13th, Toolstation Western League - Premier Division)
Ilfracombe Town (position 14th, Toolstation Western League - Premier Division)

MidDevon wrote:
OK good work so far, in fact I think there are 8 such grounds since 1980. Remember we are only counting football clubs who have moved to either a non-league ground or a non football venue as a ground share

So far you have 5 such grounds

Bristol Rovers - who played at the home of Bath City
AFC Bournemouth - who played at the home of Dorcester Town
Milton Keynes Dons - who played at the National Hockey Stadium
Bradford City - who played at the Odsell Stadium
Brighton - who played at the Withdean Stadium

I can think of 3 more, here is a clue, Torquay have played at all 3 grounds

Surely Rotherham are counted in this?