Meadow Lane facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Meadow Lane

Full name	Meadow Lane Stadium
Location	Meadow Lane Nottingham NG2 3HJ
Coordinates	52°56′33″N 1°8′14″W / 52.94250°N 1.13722°W / 52.94250; -1.13722
Capacity	19,841
Field size	114 x 76 yards (105 x 68 metres)
Surface	Grass
Construction
Built	1910
Opened	1910
Tenants
Notts County F.C. (1910–present) Notts County Ladies F.C. (2014–2017) Nottingham R.F.C. (2006–2014) Leicester City W.F.C. (2024)

Meadow Lane is a famous football stadium in Nottingham, England. It is the proud home ground of Notts County, one of the oldest football clubs. They have played their games here since the stadium first opened its doors in 1910. From 2014 to 2017, Notts County Ladies F.C. also called Meadow Lane home.

The stadium can hold 19,841 fans for football matches. Its highest ever attendance was 47,310 people. This record was set on March 12, 1955, when Notts County played York City in an FA Cup game.

Meadow Lane is very close to another famous stadium, the City Ground. This is the home of Nottingham Forest. Only the River Trent separates the two grounds. They are the closest football stadiums in England. You can even see parts of the City Ground from some stands at Meadow Lane!

The stadium also hosts exciting university sports events. It is used for men's and women's football in the Varsity Series. This is a competition between Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham.

A Look Back: Meadow Lane's History

Before 1910, Notts County played their matches at Trent Bridge. This ground was mainly for Cricket, which caused problems for the football club. Cricket games often took priority. This meant Notts County sometimes had to play their early or late season games at other places.

Moving to a New Home

The Football League eventually said this was not good enough. They told Notts County to find a better arrangement or a new home. In 1908, the cricket club decided not to let County use Trent Bridge anymore. This gave the football club two years to find a new place.

In 1910, Notts County leased some land from the city council. It was across the River Trent, near the cattle market. A new stadium was quickly built there. Some parts of the new stadium, like a temporary stand, even came from Trent Bridge.

On September 3, 1910, Notts County played their first game at Meadow Lane. It was a 1–1 draw against their old rivals, Nottingham Forest. About 27,000 fans came to watch this special match.

Changes Over the Years

In 1920, there was a plan to remove the club from Meadow Lane. The city council, who owned the land, wanted to build a slaughterhouse there. Luckily, the club stayed.

The stadium mostly stayed the same until 1923. That year, the Sneinton Side stand was replaced. A new stand, called the County Road Stand, was built in its place.

During World War II, Meadow Lane was bombed. This caused the club to stop playing games in the 1942 season. The northern part of the Main Stand was badly damaged. The football pitch was also left in a condition where games could not be played.

The Jimmy Sirrel Stand

The Derek Pavis Stand

The Spion Kop

Jimmy Sirrel (1922–2008) and Jack Wheeler (1919–2009) statue at Meadow Lane

An aerial view showing how close Meadow Lane (right) is to the City Ground

Meadow Lane has also hosted games for Nottingham Forest. This happened after the war when the City Ground was flooded. It also happened in 1968 when a fire destroyed the Main Stand at the City Ground.

In July 2022, new LED floodlights were put in at the stadium. These replaced the older ones that were installed in 2014.

A Modern Stadium for Safety

In the 1970s and 80s, the stadium started to look old and worn out. Safety concerns grew after sad events at other stadiums. A report called the Taylor Report said that football grounds needed to be made safer and more modern.

Because of this, Meadow Lane was completely rebuilt in the early 1990s. Many old stands were taken down and replaced with new ones. The Meadow Lane End, County Road Stand, and Spion Kop were all rebuilt in 1992. They became the Family Stand, the Jimmy Sirrel Stand, and the Spion Kop Stand. The Main Stand was replaced in 1994 by the Derek Pavis Stand.

For a short time in June 2002, the stadium was renamed the "Aaron Scargill Stadium." This was part of a sponsorship deal. However, the deal ended, and the stadium soon went back to its original name.

Meadow Lane Today

The Derek Pavis Stand has many rooms for meetings and events. There is also The Broken Wheelbarrow bar behind the Family Stand. These places host many different events all year round. They are used for supporter gatherings, wedding parties, and even church meetings.

What You'll Find at the Stadium

Away supporters, who are fans of the visiting team, usually sit in the Jimmy Sirrel Stand. This stand has a special triangular shape at the top. It shows the club's name and the year it was formed. Other stadiums, like those of Sheffield Wednesday and Fulham, have similar designs.

The Family Stand was renamed The Haydn Green Family Stand in 2007. Haydn Green was a very important person for Notts County. He saved the club from financial trouble in 2003. He bought the lease for the ground and invested a lot of money. Haydn Green sadly passed away in 2007. His estate still manages the stadium's lease.

Outside the stadium, you can see a bronze statue. It shows two club legends, Jimmy Sirrel and coach Jack Wheeler. This statue is called "Legends of the Lane." It was created by Andy Edwards and was revealed on May 5, 2016.

The Pitch

During the summer of 2024, the playing field was completely redone. New drainage was installed to help with water. Pipes were also put in for future undersoil heating. The new playing surface is a special hybrid type called SIS.

Other Sports at Meadow Lane

Meadow Lane has also been used for other sports. In May 2006, Nottingham Rugby started playing their home games at the stadium. However, in 2014, the rugby club moved to a different ground called The Bay.

Exploring the Stands

The stadium has a total of 20,211 seats. For football matches, the local authorities set the capacity at 19,841 fans. Here is a breakdown of the main stands:

See also

In Spanish: Meadow Lane para niños