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Display Ground information
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Victoria Park has been a League ground
for 90 seasons;
from June 1st, 1921
to
the current day
.
Victoria Park was the 111st
ground
to be used for a League game.
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| The site, part of a disused quarry and rubbish tip, was first used as a sporting venue by West Hartlepool Rugby Club in 1886. Following the demise of the rugby club Hartlepools United FC took the Victoria Ground over in 1908 and split the site into two parts, the northern portion as a football ground and the southern for rugby and, subsequently, greyhound racing.
Full details of the early facilities are not known but there was a main stand on the east side which was famously destroyed by bombs during a Zeppelin raid in 1916. As the council had plans to improve the road behind the stand only a temporary 620 seat replacement structure was erected in time for the club’s entry into the Football League in 1921. Over the years leading up to 1947, terraces were installed around the ground and a cover constructed at the north end.
The record attendance of 17,426 was set at the FA Cup 3rd Round tie v. Manchester United (3-4) on January 5th, 1957 and a new cantilever roofed stand was constructed on the west side in 1968. The “temporary stand” having survived for 66 years was finally demolished as a safety measure in 1985, as were the covers at both ends in the following year.
The ground was improved during the 1990s with the construction of new covers at each end and a new cantilever roofed 1,650 seat main stand on the east side. The venue was re-named as Victoria Park and by the start of the 2007/8 season the capacity was 7,629 with 3,966 seats and the pitch size was 113 x 77 yards.
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