Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Shillong) Explained

Stadium Name:Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
Nickname:Polo Ground
Fullname:Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
Location:Shillong, Meghalaya, India
Coordinates:25.58°N 91.8943°W
Surface:Grass
Tenants:Shillong Premier League
Meghalaya State League
SSA Women's Football League
Meghalaya football team
Seating Capacity:17,000[1]
Dimensions:103.0 x 67.0 m

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, locally known as Polo Ground, is a football stadium in Shillong, in the Indian state of Meghalaya.[2] It has most notably hosted the home matches of Shillong Lajong FC[3] [4] in the I-League. The stadium has a seating capacity of 17,000 spectators.

History

The stadium is a two tier stadium with a roof over the main stand. Astroturf was installed in 2012. The stadium predominantly hosted I-League and Shillong Premier League matches.[5] [6] Before professional football was played in Shillong, the stadium was created for football and running use. Both sports were played at an amateur level.

In 2009 the football club known as Shillong Lajong F.C. gained promotion to the top-tier of Indian football I-League and as a result started using the Nehru Stadium as there ground. The team regularly drew 30,000 fans for the games.

After relegation the stadium was again used for Lajong games in the I-League 2nd Division for the 2011 Season Final Round. The home field advantage managed to give Lajong promotion back to the I-League and back into fully professional football.

After the 2011 I-League 2nd Division it was announced that a change needed to be done to the pitch at the Nehru Stadium. When the stadium hosted the 2011 2nd Division it drew criticism for how the pitch was very unprepared, it even drew criticism from Indian Football Captain Baichung Bhutia.[7] On 17 August 2011, it was officially announced that the Meghalaya Government had officially given 555,000,000 for the stadium renovation and it was commenced.[8] Due to this Lajong had to move to another stadium for there 2011–12 I-League matches.[9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Renovated JN Stadium ready for Durand Cup inauguration . August 2024 .
  2. Web site: Manipur Footballer David Ngaihte Rocks For Rangdajied United. e-pao.net. 13 October 2013. 19 October 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131019141531/http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=Sport10..181013.oct13. live.
  3. https://blog.cpdfootball.de/2013/10/03/rangdajied-united-look-to-turn-tide-at-home/amp/ Rangdajied United look to turn tide at home
  4. Web site: Rangdajied United vs Bengaluru FC 3 – 2. Soccerway. 30 April 2014. 23 April 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140423005141/http://int.soccerway.com/matches/2014/03/01/india/i-league/arhima-club/bengaluru/1585407/. live.
  5. Web site: Football: Rangdajied FC ends Shillong Lajong unbeaten run. 5 October 2016. 26 November 2022. thenortheasttoday.com. The NorthEast Today. 21 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230421164303/https://thenortheasttoday.com/sports/football-rangdajied-fc-ends-shillong-lajong-unbeaten-run/cid2546388.htm.
  6. Web site: Rangdajied down Lajong. 5 October 2016. 26 November 2022. thenortheasttoday.com. The Sentinel Assam. Guwahati. Sentinel. Digital Desk. 21 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230421164244/https://www.sentinelassam.com/amp/news/rangdajied-down-lajong/.
  7. Web site: English News Headlines: Latest News Today, Breaking News from India & World. Jagran English. 21 April 2023. 19 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230419230539/https://english.jagran.com/. live.
  8. Web site: I-League: Meghalaya Government Sanctions 5.5 Crores For Stadium Renovation – Shillong Lajong's Larsing Ming . Rahul Bali . 17 August 2011 . www.goal.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140608053641/https://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1064/i-league/2011/08/17/2623428/i-league-meghalaya-government-sanctions-55-crores-for . 8 June 2014.
  9. News: JNSC not yet ready, fans to miss live I-League action . 20 October 2011 . The Shillong Times . 19 July 2018 . 16 March 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140316143251/http://www.theshillongtimes.com/2011/10/20/jnsc-not-yet-ready-fans-to-miss-live-i-league-action/ . live .