Knowsley Road, renamed
The GPW Recruitment
Stadium after a sponsorship deal on May 6th 2008, has been
the home of
St Helens RLFC since
1890.
St Helens
Town FC have played their home fixtures at Knowsley Road since
2002. In the past the venue has also hosted
Liverpool FC
Reserves.
Knowsley
Road stadium is located in Eccleston
in Dunriding Lane / Knowsley Road's residential
area.
St Helens RLFC are currently making
preparations to move to an, as yet, unbuilt new
stadium
. The plans for the New St Helens
Stadium became more concrete in June 2007, as St Helens RLFC Chairman Eamonn McManus
announced plans for a new 18,000 capacity stadium, with a Tesco
store and
plaza with 2000 car parking spaces. These plans were
approved by local councillors in May 2008.
The plans can be seen on
sthelensstadium.com .
The stadium
This ground has a capacity of 17,500.
The attendance record for the ground is 35,695 set on 26 December,
1949 for a game between
St Helens and
Wigan .
The attendance record for a
Super
League match is 18,098 in 1996 for a game between
St Helens and
Warrington.
The ground consists of four areas of open terracing and one seated
area. The majority of the ground is under cover although the
Dunriding Lane End is not. The
Family
Stand contains the seated area, while the
Eddington End now holds the visiting supporters,
although this area was once popular with home supporters.
The
Popular Side, whilst containing standing areas
is also where the television and commentary area is located.
The players enter the field from a doorway below the
Family
Stand, succeeding a players' tunnel in the Dunriding Lane
end after the changing rooms where moved.
The stadium boasts a restaurant and the club's official
store.
History
St Helens moved to Knowsley Road in 1890, defeating Manchester
Rangers in their first match.
Knowsley Road enjoyed something of a face-lift at the beginning of
the 2006 season when the club's new sponsorship deal with Earth
Money was struck. New signage, a lick of paint and new dug-outs
were installed. Toilet facilities, which had for a long time been
complained about by fans, were finally improved.
Knowsley Road was recently approved as an International Test venue
after recent safety and capactity improvements. It subsequently
hosted an international test fixture in 2006 between Great Britain
and New Zealand, which Great Britain won easily.
See also
References
External links
Wikis
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