Redheugh Park
Encyclopedia
Redheugh Park a football stadium
in Gateshead
, England
, was built in 1930 when South Shields FC moved to Gateshead from Horsley Hill and became Gateshead AFC
. It was their home for more than 40 years.
The stadium offered terracing all round. The Main Stand was a two-thirds pitch length seated stand (purchased from a greyhound stadium in Carlisle) with covered standing extensions added on either side. Opposite the Main Stand was a large covered terrace that ran the full length of the ground. The North end of the ground had a small covered terrace, whilst the opposite Ropery Road (South) End was a small uncovered terrace (That latterly included a large totaliser scoreboard introduced with the greyhound racing).
Redheugh Park was officially opened by Mr. Sutcliffe, the Football League's then Vice-President on August 30, 1930 when Gateshead AFC played their first ever Football League game winning 2-1 against Doncaster Rovers in front of 15,545 spectators. Greyhound racing at Redheugh Park commenced in 1937, which brought a boost to the Football Clubs financial status and subsequently eased the burden for the upkeep of the stadium. However the inclusion of the Greyhound track reduced the size of the playing area, the terracing at either end of the ground and subsequently the capacity.
With the loss of Football League status in 1960 and the Football Club's subsequent continual slide down the leagues, a further heavy blow was dealt with the cessation of greyhound racing at the stadium in 1966. This put both Redheugh Park and Gateshead AFC in serious financial troubles. Other sources of income were investigated, this included allowing showmen to have a small fair on the car park, allowing advertising to be placed on the wall facing Askew Road (permission was refused) and even converting the refreshment bar into a transport cafe to catch passing trade. In 1967 Gateshead AFC made a vain attempt to fill the void the Greyhound racing had left by staging Speedway racing at the Stadium.
By the early 1970s Redheugh Park had become run down, this, combined with a fire in the 1971/72 season, saw Gateshead AFC move to the Gateshead Youth Stadium (Now known as The Gateshead International Stadium
). However the new venue proved no easier on the finances of the club, bringing the liquidation of Gateshead AFC in late August 1973. 1972 saw Redheugh Park fare no better, a year after the Football Club moved out the ground was in a derelict condition. Weed infested with crumbling terraces and dilapidated stands it was demolished.
to Redheugh Park. It was one of the prime choices for the relocation of the club due to the unsuitability of the International Stadium for football. The main problems with the current ground being the distance between the pitch and stands because of the running track, also the lack of money making opportunities available to the club both on match days and in-between. However the Gateshead FC Chairman has since stated that the club will not be moving back to Redheugh Park. It is believed the main reason behind this decision is the Teams area is too far from Gateshead town centre where the club wishes to be.
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 Gateshead
Gateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
, 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...
, was built in 1930 when South Shields FC moved to Gateshead from Horsley Hill and became Gateshead AFC
Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
. It was their home for more than 40 years.
The stadium offered terracing all round. The Main Stand was a two-thirds pitch length seated stand (purchased from a greyhound stadium in Carlisle) with covered standing extensions added on either side. Opposite the Main Stand was a large covered terrace that ran the full length of the ground. The North end of the ground had a small covered terrace, whilst the opposite Ropery Road (South) End was a small uncovered terrace (That latterly included a large totaliser scoreboard introduced with the greyhound racing).
The Past
In 1930 Gateshead Council set about locating a suitable site for Gateshead AFC to be based. Sites at Low Fell and Sheriff Hill were considered, but were deemed too far out of town. The chosen location was in The Teams area of Gateshead, a worked out clay pit (known as Johnsons Clay Hole) edged by Ropery Road and Derwentwater Road. The holes, tunnels and craters on the site were filled by lorries full of the town's refuse.Redheugh Park was officially opened by Mr. Sutcliffe, the Football League's then Vice-President on August 30, 1930 when Gateshead AFC played their first ever Football League game winning 2-1 against Doncaster Rovers in front of 15,545 spectators. Greyhound racing at Redheugh Park commenced in 1937, which brought a boost to the Football Clubs financial status and subsequently eased the burden for the upkeep of the stadium. However the inclusion of the Greyhound track reduced the size of the playing area, the terracing at either end of the ground and subsequently the capacity.
With the loss of Football League status in 1960 and the Football Club's subsequent continual slide down the leagues, a further heavy blow was dealt with the cessation of greyhound racing at the stadium in 1966. This put both Redheugh Park and Gateshead AFC in serious financial troubles. Other sources of income were investigated, this included allowing showmen to have a small fair on the car park, allowing advertising to be placed on the wall facing Askew Road (permission was refused) and even converting the refreshment bar into a transport cafe to catch passing trade. In 1967 Gateshead AFC made a vain attempt to fill the void the Greyhound racing had left by staging Speedway racing at the Stadium.
By the early 1970s Redheugh Park had become run down, this, combined with a fire in the 1971/72 season, saw Gateshead AFC move to the Gateshead Youth Stadium (Now known as The Gateshead International Stadium
Gateshead International Stadium
Gateshead International Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England. The stadium is primarily set up for athletics, with a running track, but it is home to Gateshead Thunder rugby league club, Gateshead Senators American Football and Gateshead FC. It has also held a...
). However the new venue proved no easier on the finances of the club, bringing the liquidation of Gateshead AFC in late August 1973. 1972 saw Redheugh Park fare no better, a year after the Football Club moved out the ground was in a derelict condition. Weed infested with crumbling terraces and dilapidated stands it was demolished.
Present day
For nearly twenty years the outlines of Redheugh Park could be made out with the terraces appearing as grass humps on the land. The area was completely leveled for the 1990 Gateshead Garden Festival and used as a car park. A few years later saw football return to the area in the shape of the Pitz 5-a-side soccer centre which was renamed Power League which is still in place today.The future
There were discussions about the return of Gateshead F.C.Gateshead F.C.
Gateshead Football Club are a professional Association football club, based in Gateshead, England. They currently play in the Conference National, the fifth level of the English football league system.Ian Bogie is the current manager....
to Redheugh Park. It was one of the prime choices for the relocation of the club due to the unsuitability of the International Stadium for football. The main problems with the current ground being the distance between the pitch and stands because of the running track, also the lack of money making opportunities available to the club both on match days and in-between. However the Gateshead FC Chairman has since stated that the club will not be moving back to Redheugh Park. It is believed the main reason behind this decision is the Teams area is too far from Gateshead town centre where the club wishes to be.