Stadium Name: | Weavers Park |
Fullname: | Weavers Park |
Location: | Drogheda, County Louth |
Nickname: | United Park |
Opened: | 1979 |
Renovated: | 2010 |
Capacity: | 3,500 |
Tenants: | Drogheda United (1979- present) |
Publictransit: | Drogheda Railway Station, Cross Lane bus stop |
Weavers Park, also known as United Park, and formerly O2 Park, Hunky Dorys Park and Head In The Game Park for sponsorship purposes, is a football stadium in Drogheda, Ireland. The ground has been home to League of Ireland side Drogheda United since 1979. It was officially opened on 12 August 1979 with a friendly against Queens Park Rangers F.C.
In October 1993, the first match under floodlights took place with a 2-1 win over Shamrock Rovers[1]
The ground has a capacity of 3,500 with 1,500 seats. During the middle of 2010, renovations took place to bring the venue up to licensing standards: changes include the addition of seats to the GAA side of the ground (to bring the seating capacity up to 1,500), new toilet facilities and a new covered section dedicated to wheelchair users.
The ground was also known briefly as O2 Park during 2002 and 2003, as part of a sponsorship deal with the telecommunications company O2. The stadium used to hold 5,400,[2] though the safe capacity is now set at 2000 by the Louth County Fire Officer.[3]
The stadium has also hosted five Republic of Ireland under-21 national football team games[4] and other international underage games including games in the 1994 UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship. Proposals were made to sell the site and build a 10,000 all seater new stadium on the outskirts of the town.[5] In July 2008, planning permission was given to Drogheda United by Meath County Council, however, the plans eventually fell through.