Bayview Park, Methil
Encyclopedia
Bayview Park was a football stadium
in the town of Methil, Fife
, Scotland
. It was the home ground of East Fife F.C.
from their formation in 1903 until they moved to the new Bayview Stadium in 1998.
area, they took over the venue, which subsequently led to the demise of Leven Thistle. Town Hall Park was renamed as Bayview Park (due to its location near Largo Bay
) and reopened with a match against Heart of Midlothian
on 15 August 1903.
Bayview became fully enclosed with a 400 seat grandstand in 1906, but soon afterwards doubts about the ground's future viability were raised because of plans to build a new school nearby. This ultimately led to the pitch being moved several yards to the west in 1910, with the outcome that the stand — previously situated halfway along the north touchline — was now at the northeast corner of the pitch. After several attempts, East Fife were elected to the Scottish Football League
in 1921 and Bayview staged its first League match against Bathgate
on 20 August that year. Ambitious plans to develop the ground had already been announced; a new main stand was opened on the south side of the pitch in 1922, however it held only a third of the 3,000 spectators envisaged in the original plan. The banking around the pitch was terraced in 1923, at which time it was estimated that 20,000 standing spectators could be accommodated "in comfort". Further improvements followed promotion to Division One in 1930.
East Fife's Scottish Cup
win in 1938 ushered in the club's most successful era. Bayview was again improved and expanded in 1948, and a record attendance of 22,515 was present for a local derby against Raith Rovers
in 1950. Floodlights were installed in 1954 and first used in a friendly against Leeds United
. The club, however, were relegated in 1958 and both East Fife and Bayview went into decline over the subsequent decades.
By the end of the 1970s attendances had dropped significantly, and the club was experiencing severe financial difficulties. Bayview's town centre location made it attractive to developers, and in 1995 the club agreed to sell the site in a deal that would provide them with a modern all-seater stadium. The site of the new Bayview Stadium was found on derelict land near Methil Docks, and East Fife finally left their original home in May 1998, at the end of the 1997-98 season
, after 95 years, moving to their new stadium when the new season
began in August 1998.
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...
in the town of Methil, Fife
Fife
Fife is a council area and former county of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries to Perth and Kinross and Clackmannanshire...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It was the home ground of East Fife F.C.
East Fife F.C.
East Fife Football Club are a Scottish football club based in the Fife coastal town of Methil...
from their formation in 1903 until they moved to the new Bayview Stadium in 1998.
History
The ground was previously known as Town Hall Park when it became the home of a local junior club, Leven Thistle, in 1902. When East Fife were formed in 1903 as a new senior club to represent the LevenmouthLevenmouth
Levenmouth is a small conurbation on the north side of the Firth of Forth, on the east coast of Scotland. It consists of three coastal towns, eleven villages inland and smallerHamlets. The industrial towns of Buckhaven and Methil lie on the west bank of the River Leven, and the resort town of Leven...
area, they took over the venue, which subsequently led to the demise of Leven Thistle. Town Hall Park was renamed as Bayview Park (due to its location near Largo Bay
Largo Bay
Largo Bay is on the northern shore of the Forth Estuary, on the coast of Fife in Scotland.Lower Largo is a village right on the bay, with small harbour....
) and reopened with a match against Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
on 15 August 1903.
Bayview became fully enclosed with a 400 seat grandstand in 1906, but soon afterwards doubts about the ground's future viability were raised because of plans to build a new school nearby. This ultimately led to the pitch being moved several yards to the west in 1910, with the outcome that the stand — previously situated halfway along the north touchline — was now at the northeast corner of the pitch. After several attempts, East Fife were elected to the Scottish Football League
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...
in 1921 and Bayview staged its first League match against Bathgate
Bathgate F.C.
Bathgate F.C. was a Scottish football club based at Mill Park in Bathgate. The club was a member of the Scottish Football League from 1921 to 1929.-History:The club was formed in 1893 and played in the Central Football League and other minor leagues...
on 20 August that year. Ambitious plans to develop the ground had already been announced; a new main stand was opened on the south side of the pitch in 1922, however it held only a third of the 3,000 spectators envisaged in the original plan. The banking around the pitch was terraced in 1923, at which time it was estimated that 20,000 standing spectators could be accommodated "in comfort". Further improvements followed promotion to Division One in 1930.
East Fife's Scottish Cup
Scottish 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...
win in 1938 ushered in the club's most successful era. Bayview was again improved and expanded in 1948, and a record attendance of 22,515 was present for a local derby against Raith Rovers
Raith Rovers F.C.
Raith Rovers Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Kirkcaldy, Fife. They are members of the Scottish Football League, currently playing in the First Division, having secured promotion from the Second Division as champions in 2009. Rovers have won one national trophy, the...
in 1950. Floodlights were installed in 1954 and first used in a friendly against Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
. The club, however, were relegated in 1958 and both East Fife and Bayview went into decline over the subsequent decades.
By the end of the 1970s attendances had dropped significantly, and the club was experiencing severe financial difficulties. Bayview's town centre location made it attractive to developers, and in 1995 the club agreed to sell the site in a deal that would provide them with a modern all-seater stadium. The site of the new Bayview Stadium was found on derelict land near Methil Docks, and East Fife finally left their original home in May 1998, at the end of the 1997-98 season
1997-98 in Scottish football
The 1997–98 season was the 101st season of competitive football in Scotland. Celtic halted Rangers in their bid for a record 10-in-a-row.-Scottish Premier Division:-Top scorers:-Table:-Top scorers:-Table:-Top scorers:-Table:...
, after 95 years, moving to their new stadium when the new season
1998-99 in Scottish football
The 1998–99 season was the 102nd season of Scottish league football.-Summary:The 1998–99 SPL season was one that ended in success for Rangers. Dutchman Dick Advocaat was brought in to replace Walter Smith at Rangers and made major changes, bringing in many players.Rangers were...
began in August 1998.