VICTORIA GROUND (STOKE)
Victoria Ground (Stoke) was a League ground for 110 seasons
from 7 Sep 1888 to 30 Jun 1997
The 3rd ground used for a League game
Current capacity: 25,000
Opened: 1883 • Closed: 1997
TENANTS
Teams that have used this ground as a home
| Team | From | To | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Stoke City | 23 Sep 1883 | 31 Jul 1997 | Stoke FC was a founder member of the Football League in 1888, failed to gain re-election in 1890, was elected in 1891 and resigned in 1908. It was elected into Division 2 in 1919 and the name was changed to Stoke City in 1925. The club was also involved in a Test Match at the neutral venue of The Cobridge Athletic Grounds. In 1976 the roof of the main stand blew off and the fixture v. Middlesbrough on January 17th, 1976 was played at Vale Park. The club moved to The Britannia Stadium in 1997. | |
|
Manchester United | 22 Aug 1971 | 24 Aug 1971 | Temp | This match was played here when Old Trafford was closed following crowd trouble. |
LEAGUE EVENTS
Promotions, relegations and ground moves associated with this ground
| Date | Team | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 17 Apr 1888 | Stoke City | Founder member of the League |
| 30 Jun 1890 | Stoke City | Not re-elected to the League |
| 1 Jul 1891 | Stoke City | Expansion of the League |
| 30 Jun 1908 | Stoke City | Resigned from the League |
| 1 Jul 1915 | Stoke City | Elected into the League |
| 27 Aug 1997 | Stoke City | Moved from Victoria Ground (Stoke) to Stoke Stadium |
GROUND HISTORY
adapted from "The Ultimate Directory of English & Scottish Football League Grounds"
Stoke FC moved to the Victoria Ground, in a field owned by the local church, from the Athletic Ground in 1883. The pitch was sited within a long oval running track and the facilities included a 1,000 seat stand on the west side and banking around the remainder of the ground. Improvements carried out prior to WWI included the building of a pavilion on the west side and a cover for standing spectators on the east side.
Following the end of WWI a new 2,000 seat main stand was constructed on the west side and, in 1930, the running track was dispensed with to allow for the extension of banking at the south end. This was subsequently covered and a 5,000 seat stand (with curved corners) completed on the east side in 1936. At the same time the terracing was improved with the installation of concrete slabs and the pitch was moved further south allowing for the expansion of terracing at the north end.
Following the end of WWI a new 2,000 seat main stand was constructed on the west side and, in 1930, the running track was dispensed with to allow for the extension of banking at the south end. This was subsequently covered and a 5,000 seat stand (with curved corners) completed on the east side in 1936. At the same time the terracing was improved with the installation of concrete slabs and the pitch was moved further south allowing for the expansion of terracing at the north end.
In 1963 a new main stand was opened on the west side, a new roof installed on the east side following a gale in 1976 and the last major alteration before Stoke City vacated the ground and moved to the Britannia Stadium in 1997 was the building of a two-tier stand at the north end. The stands were subsequently demolished and the site was still awaiting redevelopment as a housing estate in 2008.
MAP
Victoria Ground (Stoke)