Abbey Park (Grimsby) Explained

Abbey Park
Location:Grimsby, England
Opened:1889
Closed:1899
Surface:Grass
Record Attendance:10,000
Dimensions:114 x 75 yards
Tenants:Grimsby Town (1889–1899)

Abbey Park was a football stadium in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England. It was the home ground of Grimsby Town between 1889 and 1899.

History

Abbey Park was built as a replacement for Grimsby's previous ground, Clee Park. It consisted of a main seated stand on the northern touchline of the pitch and a raised bank on the southern touchline. Behind the eastern end of the pitch there was a 300-seat stand moved from Clee Park, alongside an 800-capacity terrace. The dressing rooms were located in the south-east corner of the ground.[1]

The ground was opened on 30 August 1889 with a friendly match against West Brom, which Grimsby won 6–1. Grimsby became founder members of the Football League Second Division in 1892, and the first League game at Abbey Park on 3 September 1892 saw Grimsby beat Northwich Victoria 2–1 in front of 5,000 spectators.[1]

The record attendance of 10,000 was set on 26 December 1896 for a match against Newcastle United (with Grimsby winning 3–2) and equalled for an 8 April 1897 game against Woolwich Arsenal, a game which Grimsby won 3–1. In 1899 Grimsby moved to Blundell Park; the final match at Abbey Park was played against Darwen on 15 April 1899, with the 9–2 victory also being the ground's record home win.[1]

A housing development was later built on the site.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Paul Smith & Shirley Smith (2005) The Ultimate Directory of English & Scottish Football League Grounds Second Edition 1888–2005, Yore Publications, p11,