Bescot Stadium
Encyclopedia
Bescot Stadium, also known as the Banks's Stadium for sponsorship purposes, is the home ground of Walsall Football Club
. It was built in 1989-90 by GMI Construction with a reported build cost of £4.5m. It was opened in 1990 by Stanley Matthews
, replacing the club's previous ground, Fellows Park
, which was located a quarter of a mile away.
The first game was played on 25 August 1990, the opening day of the 1990-91
Football League Fourth Division
campaign. 5,219 spectators watched Walsall draw 2-2 with Torquay United
, with the stadium's first goal being an own goal scored by Walsall defender Matt Bryant
after 65 seconds. The first goal scored for Walsall at the stadium was from Stuart Rimmer
.
Originally both ends of the ground were standing areas, and the capacity of the ground was around 9,400.
Bescot Stadium currently has a capacity of 11,300 following an extension to the Floors-2-Go Stand (formerly known as the Gilbert Alsop Stand), during the 2002/03 season, this stand was and still is the home end. It is now an all-seater stadium with disabled, educational and conferencing facilities that make it a focal point for the local residential and business communities.
The stadium has been host to England under-21
and under-19
international matches, Aston Villa reserve matches (winter fixtures only) and England women's
international matches.
In addition to this, there are 3 further bars within the Stadium - the Swifts and Priory Lounges to the rear of the western most stand, and the Bescot Bar, which is located beneath the lower tier of the Floors-2-Go stand. There are food and beverage kiosks in all four corners of the ground, whilst the Bonser Suite doubles as a restaurant on match days.
During the Spring of 2011, the owner of Bescot Stadium, Jeff Bonser, announced via his proxy, Suffolk Life, that the stadium was for sale on the open market. Steve Jenkins, record producer and life-long Walsall supporter, tried to drum up support for the council to buy the land.
On July 11, 2011, the idea of council ownership of Bescot Stadium was finally put to bed after the council voted 28-24 against purchasing the stadium.
Funding for the redevelopment was to come, in part, from a large advertising board on the back of the stand facing the M6 motorway
. The board would be the largest illuminated sign adjacent to a motorway in Europe
.
However, due to the club's fall from the Football League Championship
to Football League Two
in the space of three seasons, and the subsequent drop off in attendances, the redevelopment plans have been put on hold, though they still remain in place.
In 2009, the club erected a large advertising hoarding to the south of the southern most stand, facing the M6 motorway. However, the financial success of this hoarding has been limited, with it having been successfully rented for only 4 months and 2 weeks of 2010.
Lowest
Average
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
. It was built in 1989-90 by GMI Construction with a reported build cost of £4.5m. It was opened in 1990 by Stanley Matthews
Stanley Matthews
Sir Stanley Matthews, CBE was an English footballer. Often regarded as one of the greatest players of the English game, he is the only player to have been knighted while still playing, as well as being the first winner of both the European Footballer of the Year and the Football Writers'...
, replacing the club's previous ground, Fellows Park
Fellows Park
Fellows Park was a football stadium in Walsall, England. It was the home ground of Walsall F.C. from 1896 till 1990, when the team moved to the Bescot Stadium....
, which was located a quarter of a mile away.
The first game was played on 25 August 1990, the opening day of the 1990-91
1990-91 in English football
The 1990–91 season was the 111th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Arsenal won the league. Runners-up spot was achieved by Liverpool, who had led the table for much of the first half of the season but had been shell-shocked in February by the sudden resignation of manager...
Football League Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
campaign. 5,219 spectators watched Walsall draw 2-2 with Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
, with the stadium's first goal being an own goal scored by Walsall defender Matt Bryant
Matt Bryant
Steven Matt Bryant is an American football placekicker for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was signed by the Frankfurt Galaxy as a street free agent in 2002...
after 65 seconds. The first goal scored for Walsall at the stadium was from Stuart Rimmer
Stuart Rimmer
Stuart Rimmer is an English former footballer who is Chester City's record goalscorer. He scored 134 league goals in two spells for Chester, and also represented seven other clubs during his professional career....
.
Originally both ends of the ground were standing areas, and the capacity of the ground was around 9,400.
Bescot Stadium currently has a capacity of 11,300 following an extension to the Floors-2-Go Stand (formerly known as the Gilbert Alsop Stand), during the 2002/03 season, this stand was and still is the home end. It is now an all-seater stadium with disabled, educational and conferencing facilities that make it a focal point for the local residential and business communities.
The stadium has been host to England under-21
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
and under-19
England national under-19 football team
-Other matches:-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the friendly match against Denmark.- Recent call-ups :The following players have also been called up to the England under-19 squad and remain eligible.-Past squads:...
international matches, Aston Villa reserve matches (winter fixtures only) and England women's
England women's national football team
The England women's national football team represents England in international women's football. The side has been quite successful of late, qualifying for three World Cups, 1995, 2007 and 2011...
international matches.
Facilities
Bescot Stadium has two large conferencing suites, named the Bonser Suite and the Stadium Suite. The Bonser Suite is adjoined to the rear of the West Stand (formerly the H. L. Fellows Stand), while the Stadium Suite is underneath the upper tier of the northern most stand (currently the Floors-2-Go Stand). Both suites host conferences, cabaret evenings, concerts and events.In addition to this, there are 3 further bars within the Stadium - the Swifts and Priory Lounges to the rear of the western most stand, and the Bescot Bar, which is located beneath the lower tier of the Floors-2-Go stand. There are food and beverage kiosks in all four corners of the ground, whilst the Bonser Suite doubles as a restaurant on match days.
Stadium Ownership
It was reported in the Express and Star Newspaper on 6 June 2008, that Walsall were attempting to sell the stadium to Walsall Council, and renting it back off them to secure the club's financial future. The Council, however, stated they did not have the funds to purchase the ground.During the Spring of 2011, the owner of Bescot Stadium, Jeff Bonser, announced via his proxy, Suffolk Life, that the stadium was for sale on the open market. Steve Jenkins, record producer and life-long Walsall supporter, tried to drum up support for the council to buy the land.
On July 11, 2011, the idea of council ownership of Bescot Stadium was finally put to bed after the council voted 28-24 against purchasing the stadium.
Future Plans
Plans to develop the southern most stand (which usually caters for away supporters) were announced by the club during 2005. The proposed development would mean using the blueprint of the northern most stand (currently the Floors-2-Go Stand), which stands opposite it.Funding for the redevelopment was to come, in part, from a large advertising board on the back of the stand facing the M6 motorway
M6 motorway
The M6 motorway runs from junction 19 of the M1 at the Catthorpe Interchange, near Rugby via Birmingham then heads north, passing Stoke-on-Trent, Manchester, Preston, Carlisle and terminating at the Gretna junction . Here, just short of the Scottish border it becomes the A74 which continues to...
. The board would be the largest illuminated sign adjacent to a motorway in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
However, due to the club's fall from the Football League Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
to Football League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
in the space of three seasons, and the subsequent drop off in attendances, the redevelopment plans have been put on hold, though they still remain in place.
In 2009, the club erected a large advertising hoarding to the south of the southern most stand, facing the M6 motorway. However, the financial success of this hoarding has been limited, with it having been successfully rented for only 4 months and 2 weeks of 2010.
Attendances
Highest- 11,049 - Walsall vs. Rotherham UnitedRotherham United F.C.Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
, May 9, 2004, Football League First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
.
Lowest
- 1,793 - Walsall vs. ChesterfieldChesterfield F.C.Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
, August 31, 2010, Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
Average
- 2010-2011: 3,846 (Football League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
) - 2009-2010: 4,028 (Football League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
) - 2008-2009: 4,571 (Football League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
) - 2007-2008: 5,619 (Football League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
) - 2006-2007: 5,642 (Football League TwoFootball League TwoFootball League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
) - 2005-2006: 5,392 (Football League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
) - 2004-2005: 6,081 (Football League OneFootball League OneFootball League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
)