Stonebridge Road
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| Stonebridge Road Stadium | |
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| San Stonebridge | |
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| Location | Stonebridge Road, Northfleet, Kent DA11 9GN |
| Built | 1905 |
| Opened | 1905 |
| Owner | LaFarge Cement and leased back to club |
| Operator | Ebbsfleet United |
| Tenants | Ebbsfleet United Charlton Athletic Reserves |
| Capacity | 5,011 (500 seated) |
Stonebridge Road is a multi-use stadium in Northfleet, Gravesend, Kent, England, which is primarily used for football matches. Stonebridge Road was constructed in 1905, and was initially the home of Northfleet F.C., which merged with Gravesend F.C. in 1946.[1] It is currently the home ground of Ebbsfleet United F.C. (formerly Gravesend & Northfleet F.C.).[2] Thus, Stonebridge Road has been the home of Ebbsfleet and its predecessor football clubs for over 100 years.
Although one of the Fleet's local rivals, from 2000 to 2006 Dartford F.C. had a groundsharing agreement with Ebbsfleet United to use Stonebridge Road as its home field.[3] Gillingham F.C. used Stonebridge Road briefly for home matches in 1961.[4] Charlton Athletic Reserves also plays home matches at the ground.[5]
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[edit] Ground details
The stadium has a capacity of 5,011 people.[6] The average attendance for Ebbsfleet United home ties at Stonebridge Road was 1,165 in the 2006-2007 season.[1]
When the Fleet plays at Stonebridge Road, the home supporters typically sit in the Main Stand or in the Plough End. Both those seating areas are covered, although seats were not installed in the Plough End, which is also called the Northfleet End, until 2006.[2] Home fans also stand in the terraced Stonebridge Road Stand, which runs along the length of the pitch on the side of the stadium closest to the street and which is also covered. Away supporters typically stand in the Swanscombe End, which is an open terrace.[1]
The pitch size at Stonebridge Road is 112 by 72 yards for football matches,[1] and the pitch is presently maintained by groundsman Peter Norton.[7]
The postcode (for maps and directions) of Stonebridge Road is DA11 9GN.[8]
[edit] History
Ebbsfleet United, then called Gravesend and Northfleet F.C., played its first ever match after the merger of the two Kent clubs at Stonebridge Road in August 1946 against Hereford United. The Fleet won that first match 3-0 and over 5,000 fans were in attendance.[9] The stadium's record attendance is 12,032, which was achieved against Sunderland F.C. in February 1963 in an FA Cup Fourth Round tie.[6]
In April 2002, the Fleet gained promotion to the top level of non-league play, the Conference National, by defeating Canvey Island F.C. at Stonebridge Road in front of an official 4,068 spectators, although unofficial estimates put the number closer to 6,000 fans.[9]
Following the club's victory in the FA Trophy in May 2008, the parade honouring Ebbsfleet United's victorious squad started at Stonebridge Road.[10]
[edit] The future
Ebbsfleet United is actively investigating the possibility of moving to or constructing a new stadium in the next three years.[11]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Adams, Duncan (2008-03-10). Ebbsfleet United. Blue Square Premier League Football Ground Guide. Retrieved on 2008-05-24.
- ^ a b Stonebridge Road. Ebbsfleet United F.C. Official Website. Retrieved on 2008-05-23.
- ^ McCartney, Stephen (2008-01-27). Stonebridge Showdown: Darts want to follow in the Fleet's footsteps. www.kentishfootball.co.uk. Retrieved on 2008-05-24.
- ^ Stonebridge Road. Doing the 92 (2008-05-10). Retrieved on 2008-05-23.
- ^ Charlton reserves change ground. BBC Sport (2006-06-12). Retrieved on 2008-05-25.
- ^ a b Oliver, Pete (2007-08-08). Blue Square Premier form guide. BBC Sport. Retrieved on 2008-05-24.
- ^ Beat the weather - myfootballclub.co.uk. YouTube (2008-04-23). Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
- ^ Ebbsfleet United Ground Guide. The Football Supporters Federation. Retrieved on 2008-05-23.
- ^ a b Concise history of the Fleet. Ebbsfleet United F.C. Official Website. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
- ^ Route update: Fleet's Trophy heroes take to the streets. Gravesham Borough Council Official Website (2008-05-14). Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
- ^ Fleet eye new stadium for 2010. kentnews.co.uk (2007-12-24). Retrieved on 2008-05-23.
[edit] External links
- Ebbsfleet United F.C. Official Site - 360-degree panorama and photos of Stonebridge Road
- EbbsfleetUnited.net - Photos of the stadium
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Conference National Venues 2007-08
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Abbey Stadium | Aggborough | Bridge Road | Broadfield Stadium | Broadhall Way | Butcher's Arms Ground | Kassam Stadium | Kingfield Stadium | KitKat Crescent | Marston Road | Moss Lane | Nene Park | The New Lawn | New Recreation Ground | Plainmoor | Pirelli Stadium | The Raymond McEnhill Stadium | Recreation Ground | The Shay | St James Park | Stonebridge Road | Throstle Nest | Victoria Stadium | The Wessex Stadium |
