Solitude (football ground) facts for kids
Entrance, west side
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 Solitude
Location in Greater Belfast
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| Location | Cliftonville Street Belfast, Northern Ireland |
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| Coordinates | 54°37′10″N 5°56′50″W / 54.61944°N 5.94722°W |
| Owner | Cliftonville FC |
| Operator | Cliftonville FC |
| Capacity | 8,000 (3,000 seated) |
| Surface | Artificial |
| Opened | 20 August 1890 |
| Tenants | |
| Cliftonville FC (1890- ) Newington (2018- ) |
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Solitude is a famous football stadium located in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It holds a special place in history as the oldest football stadium in Ireland. Solitude is the home ground for Cliftonville, which is also the oldest football club in Ireland.
The stadium can hold up to 6,224 people. However, for safety reasons, only 2,530 people are currently allowed inside. Solitude was built in 1890 and has been updated many times over the years. In 2010, a new artificial 3G pitch was put in. This replaced the old grass field.
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History of Solitude Stadium
Solitude stadium first opened its doors in 1890. This was after the Cliftonville club moved from their old ground at Oldpark Avenue. Solitude is known for a very special moment in football history. The first ever penalty kick in an international football game was taken here!
This stadium is the oldest football ground in Ireland. It used to have two pitches, but one was later sold. Houses now stand where the second pitch once was.
Hosting International Matches
Solitude has hosted many important cup finals and international games. In the 1890s and early 1900s, it was the main home ground for the Ireland national team. It took over from the Ulster Cricket Ground.
During the 1890s, Solitude hosted 11 home international matches. A famous game happened on March 3, 1894. After many tries, Ireland finally avoided losing to England. The match ended in a 2–2 draw. Goals from Olphert Stanfield and W.K. Gibson helped Ireland come back from being 2–0 down.
Solitude continued to host international games into the early 1900s. However, other stadiums like Windsor Park and Dalymount Park gradually became the main home grounds for Ireland.
Stands at Solitude
The stadium has several different stands for fans to watch the games. Each stand has its own history and features.
The Main Stand
The Main Stand is on the western side of Solitude. Only Cliftonville supporters can sit here. It is a very old building, built in the 1950s.
This stand has two levels. The lower level has both standing areas and seats. The upper level has a mix of seats and benches. More than 2,500 people can fit in the Main Stand.
The original Main Stand was destroyed by a fire in January 1949. This happened after a cup game between Linfield and Glentoran. The match was played at Solitude because Windsor Park was closed at the time.
Inside the Main Stand, you can also find the Cliftonville Social Club. This is a licensed club for Cliftonville fans. The club hopes to get money to build a new, modern Main Stand in the future.
The McAlery Stand
The old Cage Stand was taken down to make way for a new stand. This new stand opened on October 27, 2008. It can seat 1,600 people.
It is now called the McAlery Stand. This name honors the founder of the club. New facilities, including changing rooms, are located under this stand.
The Away End
This part of the stadium is often called "The Bowling Green End." This is because there is a bowling green behind it. The Away End is on the north side of the ground.
It got a big update in 2001. The old covered standing area for visiting fans was replaced. Now, it is an all-seated stand with 880 seats.
Waterworks Stand
The Waterworks Stand was first put up for a special game. This was a UEFA Champions League match against the Scottish team Celtic. As of 2023, it is still a grass bank. It is used for television cameras during games.
The Whitehouse
The Whitehouse building used to hold the changing rooms for players. It also had the board room for the club. It is similar to "the Cottage" at Fulham's stadium, Craven Cottage. However, due to money issues, no work has been done to update these facilities.
Stadium Floodlights
New floodlights were installed at Solitude as part of an improvement project. These lights are very bright, at 800 lux. They stand 35 meters tall. They were first used on September 21, 2009. This was during Cliftonville's 4-0 win against Linfield.
See also
In Spanish: Solitude Stadium para niños
