Former football stadium of West Ham United FC

The Boleyn Ground, [ 1 ] frequently referred to as Upton Park, was a football stadium located in Upton Park, east London. It was the home of West Ham United from 1904 to 2016. The stadium was besides concisely used by Charlton Athletic in the early on 1990s during their years of fiscal difficulty.

The seat capacity of the grind at closure was 35,016. [ 2 ] From the 2016–17 temper, West Ham United have played their base matches at the London Stadium in nearby Stratford. The last excellent match played at the Boleyn Ground was on 10 May 2016, a 3–2 West Ham United win in the Premier League against Manchester United. The stadium was demolished in 2016 to make way for a newly development .

history [edit ]

West Ham United took up occupancy of the Boleyn Ground from local baseball club Boleyn Castle in 1904, after the two clubs amalgamated. [ 3 ] West Ham rented Green Street House and grounds in East Ham from the Roman Catholic Church from around 1912. [ citation needed ] Green Street House was known locally as Boleyn Castle because of its levy nature and an association with Anne Boleyn, who had either stayed at or, as some believe, owned the house. Hence the ground became known as the Boleyn Ground. The background was besides often referred to as Upton Park, after the Upton Park, London area where it is located. In August 1944, a V-1 flying turkey fell on the southwest corner of the pitch. This forced West Ham to play its matches at other grounds while repairs were undertake, but it did not affect performances as West Ham managed nine consecutive victories. Upon their return to the land in December 1944, they lost 1–0 to Tottenham Hotspur. By 1990, West Ham were required to convert Upton Park into an all-seater stadium for the 1994-95 season in order to comply with the requirements of the Taylor Report. The first degree of the renovation came in 1993, when the South Bank was replaced by a 9,000 induct, two-tier rack named in honor of former captain Bobby Moore, who had died earlier that year. The base incorporated administrator boxes american samoa well as a digital clock. The North Bank was demolished in 1994 and a new 6,000 seat, two-tier stand named the “ centennial Stand ” was opened on its web site the follow class ; this was late renamed the “ Sir Trevor Brooking Stand ”. The East Stand Lower was besides converted into an all-seater stand. The final examination transfer came in 2000, when the West Stand was replaced by a 15,000 seat, two-tier stand named the “ Dr. Martens Stand ”. The stand incorporated executive boxes on two levels american samoa well as the West Ham United Hotel. This gave the stadium a 35,000 all-seater capability. There were plans to increase the capability to approximately 40,500 through the build of a new larger East Stand, that would have used the spare space created when the Doctor Martens point of view was built promote West than the erstwhile West Stand. however, these plans never came to realization .

decision to demolish [edit ]

Through 2006, talk was overabundant of West Ham moving to the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Summer Olympics, with meditation increasing after fresh club president Eggert Magnusson confirmed he was matter to in a motion there. [ 4 ] however, talks broke devour between the cabaret and the Olympic Committee after it was announced the Stadium would be reduced to a 25,000 capacity all-seater after the Olympic Games, which was 10,000 less than the Boleyn Ground ‘s capacity, and the stadium would be keeping its running track, leaving supporters further from the pitch and affecting the atmosphere within the stadium. Rumours suggested West Ham might move to a new stadium at the Parcelforce storehouse near to West Ham Underground/mainline station alternatively. indeed, on 7 November 2007, Mayor of London Ken Livingstone announced a new web site had been identified for West Ham ‘s newly stadium. [ 5 ] however, in 2009, club CEO Scott Duxbury announced West Ham had obtained planning permission to expand the East Stand ; this would have brought the stadium ‘s capacity over 40,000. [ 6 ] then, in 2010, new club owners David Gold and David Sullivan announced West Ham would move to the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Olympics after all. [ 7 ] On 23 March 2010, the cabaret announced it was working on a joint bid with Newham London Borough Council to move into the Olympic Stadium. [ 8 ] On 30 September 2010, the baseball club formally submitted its bid for the Olympic Stadium with a presentation at 10 Downing Street, [ 9 ] and the world ‘s largest hot entertainment company Live Nation endorsed the club ‘s Olympic Stadium plans on 8 October 2010. [ 10 ] Three days after survive state ‘s second UK Athletics confirmed its dinner dress support for West Ham United and Newham Council in their roast offer to take over the Olympic Stadium in bequest mood. [ 11 ] In November 2010, West Ham commenced a search for potential developers for “ informal discussions ” about what would happen to the grind if it did take over the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games. [ 12 ] On 11 February 2011, the Olympic Park Legacy Committee selected West Ham as the prefer club to move into the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games. The decision, in favor of West Ham ‘s wish, was consentaneous. [ 13 ] On 3 March 2011, West Ham United ‘s proposed motion to the Olympic Stadium was approved by the british government and London mayor Boris Johnson ; but due to ongoing legal challenges to the musical arrangement by Tottenham Hotspur and Leyton Orient, the distribute to sell the Olympic Stadium to West Ham collapsed on 11 October 2011, [ 14 ] West Ham announced plans to become tenants of the stadium [ 15 ] and on 22 March 2013 after months of vote and negotiations, West Ham won the Olympic Stadium invite. West Ham were offered a 99-year rent and hoped to move there in time for the 2016–17 temper. [ 16 ] In February 2014, West Ham announced the sale of the Boleyn Ground to the growth company the Galliard Group, to be effected once the move to the Olympic Stadium was dispatch .

The concluding game [edit ]

Winston Reid, scorer of the last goal at the Boleyn Ground When the Premier League fixtures were drawn-up at the start of the 2015–16 Premier League temper, Swansea City were planned to be West Ham ‘s final opponents at the Boleyn Ground, on 7 May 2016. [ 17 ] however, due to Manchester United ‘s engagement in the FA Cup on 23 April when they were due to play West Ham, the repair was rearranged to 10 May 2016. [ 18 ] The meet was preceded by ferocity on Green Street when the coach carrying the players and staff of Manchester United was pelted with missiles resulting in broken windows. With the coach delayed, the players were late arrive at the ground and the schedule 19:45 kick-off was moved to 20:15. [ 19 ] In the 2,398th match played at the ground, [ 20 ] with both sides looking to qualify for european football in the 2016–17 temper, in movement of a crowd of 34,907, West Ham took the leash in the tenth infinitesimal through Diafra Sakho, merely for Manchester United to make the score 1–2 with two goals from Anthony Martial. however, Michail Antonio equalized for West Ham and Winston Reid scored a third in the eightieth infinitesimal to make it 3–2, the final score. [ 21 ] [ 22 ] It was West Ham ‘s 384th Premier League pit at the earth, the succeed signifying 601 home plate Premier League points won there. [ 22 ] Mark Noble was named Man of the Match. [ 22 ] The match was followed by a 45-minute expose on the pitch in celebration of the history of the ground. [ 22 ] The following day, the club condemned the violence aimed at the Manchester United passenger car, vowing to ban for life any person convicted. [ 19 ] Three people were arrested on the night of the game, two for pitch incursion and one for throwing a bottle at the patrol. The follow day, the Metropolitan Police issued pictures of four men they hoped to identify in joining with the coach attack. [ 23 ]

blockage, demolition and renovation [edit ]

The sale of the earth was completed on 15 July 2016, at a sale price of £40,000,000. [ 24 ] The developer ‘s plans include 838 new homes, retail outlets and leisure facilities which will be available by 2018. The possibility of a statue of Bobby Moore and a landscape garden named after him has besides been revealed. The plans caused controversy for entirely including 51 “ low-cost ” homes and no social housing. [ 25 ] [ 26 ] In March 2016, plans were approved for 800 homes to be built on the site, 25 % of which would be low-cost housing. [ 27 ] On 14 March 2016, the disassemble of the ground began with the removal of the John Lyall gates for transfer and reinstallation at the Olympic Stadium. [ 28 ] By July 2016, the seats had been removed from the land and it was boarded-up and handed over to developers for destruction and renovation. [ 29 ] In August 2016, possession of the site was transferred to Barratt London. [ 30 ] In September 2016, the crunch was used as a film-set for the movie Final Score [ 31 ] and on 27 September 2016 it hosted a charity peer concisely before demolition commenced. [ 32 ] 1,000 of 1,400 commemorative bricks were saved by Jonjo Heuerman when the wall they were in was taken down, and are available to be claimed by the fans who paid for them. The inscriptions have been reproduced in a pathway at the new reason. [ 33 ]

The stands [edit ]

A panorama of the Boleyn Ground from the East Stand The phonograph record attendance at the crunch was 42,322, against Tottenham in an honest-to-god Division One equal on 17 October 1970, when the North and South Banks were terraced, as was the old “ Chicken Run ” at the front of the East Stand. The Boleyn Ground became an all-seater stadium from the early 1990s because clubs had to meet new FA regulations for stadium condom after the Hillsborough Disaster in 1989. The record attendance after Upton Park became an all-seater was 35,550, on 21 September 2002 for a Premier League match against Manchester City. Before its closure, the ground had a total capacity of 35,016, [ 1 ] all seated. Upton Park had four main stands, the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand, Bobby Moore Stand, East Stand and Betway Stand .

Sir Trevor Brooking Stand [edit ]

The North Bank, 1991, before renovation . The Sir Trevor Brooking Stand.

The Sir Trevor Brooking Stand ( once the North Bank then the Centenary Stand ) was built in 1995 which coincided with the golf club ‘s 100th season, after being formed in 1895 as Thames Ironworks. Its diagnose was changed from the Centenary Stand to the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand in July 2009. [ 34 ] The stand held about 6,000 seats, and had two tiers, with the upper-tier seat known as the class section, as supporters could only purchase tickets there if with a child. The lower tier behind the goal was split between home and off fans. West Ham initially gave around 2,500–3,000 tickets to away supporters, going from the furthest side to the leftover of the bottom tier right up to behind the goal. If the off side could not sell all their tickets, they were returned and re-sold to dwelling supporters, as there was big requirement from West Ham fans to purchase seats in the lower seat sphere. Home fans in the lower area broadly preferred to stand during games and sing throughout. [ citation needed ] It was known as one of the more atmospheric sections of the stadium, specially with the two sets of supporters next to each other ( separated by stewards and police ). There was besides one of two large LED video screens situated in the corner between the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand Stand and the East Stand .

East Stand [edit ]

Boleyn Ground view from the East Stand before kick-off in the FA Cup against Liverpool, one of the last nox games to be played at the venue . The East Stand The East Stand was situated on the far side of the Boleyn Ground, opposite the West Stand which housed the offices and dressing rooms. The stand was the oldest and smallest stand in the stadium, being built in 1969 [ 35 ] and held merely 5,000 seats due to its narrow width. The stand was known as the loudest and most daunting stand at Upton Park. [ 36 ] The stall was known as the ‘Chicken Run ‘, a list that had originally been applied to an earlier point of view. This was an old wooden stand ( standing room only ) on the east side of the peddle. unusually, the roof sloped depressed away from the pitch and it was surrounded by a similar classify of wire to that used on chicken runs, so when viewed from the inverse side of the background it looked like a chicken run. The presence of the stand was identical close to the deliver. It was knocked down and rebuilt in 1969. [ 36 ] The stand at one point had the words “ DAGENHAM MOTORS ” written into the bottom tier through the seats, [ 37 ] but was alone changed during the 2006–07 season, despite the club splitting from their sponsorship with the car caller back in 1997. The base was besides the only stand left at Upton Park to placid have a little minority of wooden seats ( at the time of demolition ), in the middle of the amphetamine tier. There were besides plans to build a new East Stand soon after the Dr. Martens stand was completed in 2001, which would have seen the stadium ‘s capacity get up from 35,345 to around 40,500, but the plans were put on hold after a combination of resistance from the local residents behind the stand and the club ‘s relegation from the Premier League in 2003, which spiralled the club into debt at the time. [ 37 ]

Bobby Moore Stand [edit ]

The Bobby Moore Stand The South Bank, Boleyn Ground, 1991, before renovation The Bobby Moore Stand ( once the South Bank ) was built in 1993 and held up to 9,000 spectators, all seated. The point of view was built in the first place to comply with newfangled stadium all-seater regulations, and the name of the stall was decided after the death of the club ‘s fabled captain from the successful mid-1960s side in the same class of construction. The stand had two tiers, and spelt the words “ WEST HAM UNITED ” through the seats of both tiers. The lower tier of the Bobby Moore stand, like the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand, was well known for its supporters ‘ heat and the atmosphere created through standing and sing. The stand had executive boxes situated between the upper and lower tiers, and a digital clock. The stand was renovated in 2001 after the construction of the newfangled Dr. Martens Stands, with a moment LED television blind in the stadium being introduced between the two stands and raw seats added on the conclusion of the stand to join with the newfangled Dr. Martens Stand .

The Betway Stand [edit ]

view from the West Stand The West Stand was the newest and by far the largest stand inside Upton Park, holding up to 15,000 spectators and was renamed after Betway became West Ham ‘s official sponsors. [ 38 ] The stand was built in 2001 as the Dr. Martens Stand, bringing the stadium capacity up from around 26,000 to 35,647. The West Stand was the chief resist in Upton Park, as it included two tiers for paying home supporters, separated by two tiers of administrator boxes. The stand besides hosted all the club ‘s offices, board rooms, suites, dressing rooms, official denounce, and the West Ham United Hotel. It was the largest one football stand in London. The stall ‘s main feature of speech was seen from the outside of the stadium, with two big turrets built onto the stand with the club badge embedded on both, going with the subject of the club ‘s badge. The terrace besides had two scoreboards at both corners joining with the Centenary and Bobby Moore Stands, displaying the score and time of the plot in process. The stand was so big, it was visible from the A406 North Circular Road and from the A13 Newham Way, where people could clearly make out the roof of the point of view over the column blocks. The stand was formally opened by HM The Queen, where Her Majesty was introduced to the coach and captain at the clock, Glenn Roeder and Joe Cole. In 2009, following the end of Dr. Martens sponsorship, the stand resumed the old name of the West Stand. [ 39 ] In 2011, the cabaret signed a three-year agreement for the digest to be named “ The Alpari Stand ”. [ 40 ]

other events [edit ]

In June 1989, evangelist Billy Graham hosted a three-day christian deputation to London to which free tickets were given away. He gave away more tickets than seats, not expecting them all to be used. In the event they were used and many were locked out. After negotiations between the club and Graham ‘s representatives, the crowd were allowed to use the slope. [ 41 ] On 12 February 2003, England played Australia at the Boleyn Ground in an international friendly, with Australia winning 3–1. The couple is best known for marking Wayne Rooney ‘s external debut. [ 42 ] On 9 May 2012, the Boleyn Ground was confirmed as the venue for the fight between David Haye and Derek Chisora, a fight sanctioned by the Luxembourg Boxing Federation on 14 July 2012. The fight caused controversy at the clock as neither champion held a license from the british Boxing Board of Control. [ 43 ] On 12 November 2014, a friendly game between Argentina and Croatia was played at the Boleyn Ground. The match finished 2–1 to Argentina and saw the render of former West Ham striker Carlos Tevez to the Boleyn Ground. [ 44 ] The stadium is the mount of the 2018 film Final Score. An ex-soldier, played by Dave Bautista, is forced into action to defend the jammed stadium when armed russian terrorists take command of it .

International matches [edit ]

References [edit ]