St Mary's Stadium Facts for Kids

St Mary's Stadium, home of the Saints

St Mary's Stadium is a famous sports ground located in Southampton, England. It is the proud home of Southampton Football Club, a team often called "the Saints." This stadium is where the Saints play their home games in the Premier League, which is the top football league in England. It can hold a lot of fans, with space for 32,505 people to watch the exciting matches.

Building the Saints' New Home
Design and Features
- The Pitch
- Statues and Tributes
More Than Just Football
Location and Name
Images for kids
See also

Building the Saints' New Home

Southampton FC used to play at a stadium called The Dell for over 100 years. However, The Dell was getting old and too small for the club's growing number of fans. The team needed a bigger, more modern place to play. So, they decided to build a brand-new stadium.

The construction of St Mary's Stadium began in December 1999. It was a big project that took about 20 months to complete. The stadium officially opened its doors in August 2001. It cost around £32 million to build, which was a huge investment for the club.

Design and Features

St Mary's Stadium has a modern design. It is built so that all 32,505 seats have a clear view of the pitch. This means fans can enjoy every moment of the game without anything blocking their view. The stadium has four main stands, each named after a direction:

The Northam Stand
The Itchen Stand
The Chapel Stand
The Kingsland Stand

The Itchen Stand is the largest and holds the main facilities. These include changing rooms for the players, media rooms for journalists, and hospitality suites for special guests. The stadium also has a special area for away fans who come to support the visiting team.

The Pitch

The playing field at St Mary's Stadium is a high-quality grass pitch. It is carefully maintained to ensure it's in perfect condition for every match. Good pitch conditions help players perform their best and make the games more exciting to watch.

Statues and Tributes

Outside the stadium, there are special tributes to important people from Southampton FC's history. One famous statue is of Ted Bates. He was a legendary player, manager, and director for the club. He spent over 60 years with Southampton, making him a true "Mr. Southampton." The statue honors his incredible dedication to the team.

More Than Just Football

While St Mary's Stadium is mainly known for football, it also hosts other events. Sometimes, music concerts are held there, bringing famous bands and singers to Southampton. The stadium's large capacity makes it a great venue for big events. It also has conference facilities and event spaces that can be used for meetings or parties.

Location and Name

The stadium is located on the banks of the River Itchen, close to Southampton city centre. It is named St Mary's because it is built near St Mary's Church. This church is also where Southampton Football Club was originally founded in 1885. So, the name connects the modern stadium back to the club's long history and roots in the community.