Linford Christie Stadium facts for kids
Training for an American football team taking place at the stadium in 2005
|
|
| Location | Wormwood Scrubs, West London, W12 0DF, England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°31′10″N 0°14′08″W / 51.51944°N 0.23556°W |
| Opened | 1967 |
The Linford Christie Stadium is a special place for sports in Wormwood Scrubs, West London, England. It's mainly used for athletics, which includes running, jumping, and throwing events. Before it was named after a famous athlete, it was known as the West London Stadium.
Contents
Discovering the Stadium's History
This stadium first opened its doors in 1967. Back then, it had a running track made of cinder, which is a type of ash. In 1973, the track was upgraded to a modern, synthetic surface. This new surface is much better for athletes to run on.
Two important sports clubs, the Thames Valley Harriers and the London Olympiades Athletic Club, moved to the stadium in 1968. They found a new home here for their training and competitions.
How the Stadium Got Its Name
In 1993, the stadium was given a new name to honor a very special athlete. It was renamed after Linford Christie, who won a gold medal in the 100 metres race at the Olympics. Linford Christie often trained at this very stadium with the Thames Valley Harriers.
Modern Upgrades and Famous Visitors
The stadium got even more improvements between 2004 and 2006. New areas were added for other sports like football, rugby, and hockey. This big project was supported by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, the Football Foundation, Chelsea F.C., and Barclays.
Some famous football players, John Terry and Shaun Wright-Phillips from Chelsea F.C., even came to the re-opening event. A music video for the song "So Many Roads" by the artist Example was also filmed here in 2007.
Recent Improvements and Future Plans
In 2024, the stadium received £250,000 from the £1 million Coronation Youth Fund. This money helped pay for new floodlights and to resurface the two athletics tracks. These improvements made the stadium even better for athletes.
The stadium has also been a training ground for other teams. The London Blitz American Football club and Kensington Dragons FC have both used the facilities.
In 2024, the local council shared plans to replace the changing rooms. They proposed using temporary buildings for 8 to 10 years. This project would cost about £1.25 million.
External Links
- UK Running Track Directory page
