Central Park, Cowdenbeath
|
Main Stand and Alex Menzies Stand | |
  Central Park Location in Fife | |
| Location |
Cowdenbeath, Fife KY4 9QQ |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 56°06′31.46″N 3°20′49.55″W / 56.1087389°N 3.3470972°W |
| Owner | Cowdenbeath F.C. |
| Capacity | 4,309[1] 12,370 standing |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1917 |
| Renovated | 1995 (Alex Menzies Stand) |
| Tenants | |
| Cowdenbeath F.C. | |
Central Park is a football stadium in Cowdenbeath, Scotland. It is the home ground of Cowdenbeath. The ground is situated in the centre of the town, just off the High Street.[2] Central Park has a capacity of 4,309.[1] The most unusual feature of the ground is a tarmac race-track circling the pitch, which is because the stadium is regularly used for stock car racing.[2] The track means fans on the east and west terraces are quite far away from the pitch. The pitch size is 107 x 66 yards.
History
Cowdenbeath F.C. played at Jubilee Park until 1888, and then at North End Park. The club moved to Central Park when it was opened in 1917.[3] A main stand was built in 1921.[3] A record crowd of 25,586 attended a Scottish League Cup tie against Rangers in 1949.[2][3] Floodlights were first used in 1968, in a match against Celtic.[3] Central Park was also used for greyhound racing and speedway.[3] It became a stock car racing track in 1970, and has since hosted four world championships.[3]
Half of the main stand was destroyed by a fire in 1992.[3] The surviving section of this stand is called the West Stand, or the Old Stand. Beside this the ' Alex Menzies Stand' (or New Stand) was opened in March 1995,[3] giving a total seated capacity of 1,622. Along with this the club built new dressing rooms, a board room, function suite, and office facilities. Both stands have a row of floodlight pylons in front of them, which can obstruct supporters views.[2] Three sides of the ground are uncovered terraces.[3]
Greyhound racing
Greyhound racing around Central Park started on 7 July 1928. A 400 yard circumference track had an inside hare and both handicap and level start racing took place. It was an all grass track and distances raced were 289 and 489 yards. Greyhound racing ceased in 1965.[4]
Future
In 2011, there were plans for Cowdenbeath to move to a new stadium, to be located on the outskirts of Cowdenbeath.[5][6]
Transport
Cowdenbeath railway station is five minutes' walk from Central Park.[2] The M90 motorway passes near Cowdenbeath, with Central Park reached by leaving the motorway at junction 3, taking the A92 for Kirkcaldy.[2] The A909 road then leads into Cowdenbeath and free car parking is provided at the ground.[2]
References
- 1 2 "Cowdenbeath Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Cowdenbeath". Scottish Ground Guide. Duncan Adams. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Inglis 1996, p. 437
- ↑ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. p. 413. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
- ↑ Social networks... Facebook Twitter. "News". Central Fife Times. Retrieved 2013-07-22.
- ↑ Cowdenbeath take step towards new stadium, BBC Sport, 11 April 2011
- Sources
- Inglis, Simon (1996). Football Grounds of Britain. Collins Willow. ISBN 0-00-218426-5.