The Dell (Southampton) facts for kids
Exterior of the Dell in 2000
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| Location | Milton Road, Southampton, Hampshire, England |
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| Coordinates | 50°54′53″N 001°24′47″W / 50.91472°N 1.41306°W |
| Owner | Southampton Leisure Holdings PLC |
| Operator | Southampton F.C. |
| Type | Football stadium |
| Capacity | 15,200 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1897 |
| Opened | September 1898 |
| Expanded | 1927, 1929, 1980s, 1990s |
| Closed | May 2001 |
| Demolished | June – 13 July 2001 |
| Construction cost | £7,000 – £9,000 |
| Architect | Archibald Leitch (the West Stand) |
| Tenants | |
| Southampton F.C. (1898–2001) | |
The Dell was the famous home stadium of Southampton F.C. for over 100 years. Located on Milton Road in Southampton, England, it was the team's home from 1898 until 2001. It saw many exciting football matches and was a special place for fans.
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Building a New Home for Southampton FC
Before the Dell, Southampton FC played at the County Ground. This was a cricket stadium, and the rent was quite expensive for the football club. They needed their own place to play.
In 1897, the club found a perfect spot. It was a narrow valley, or "dell," not far from the old ground. This area had a small stream called the Rollsbrook running through it.
The land was originally bought for a railway line that was never finished. So, it was cleared of trees and ready for a new purpose.
How the Dell Stadium Was Built
A man named George Thomas, who was a director of the club, bought the land. He spent a lot of money, between £7,500 and £9,000, to get the site ready. This included draining the land and leveling the playing field.
The Rollsbrook stream was put into a special underground pipe. Then, the ground was covered with grass, ready for football.
When it was finished, the stadium could hold many fans. The north side had standing areas for 5,500 people. The covered East and West stands could seat 4,000. The south side had more standing room for 15,000 spectators. In total, about 24,500 people could watch a game.
At first, the stadium didn't have an official name. People suggested names like "Fitzhugh Dell" or "Milton Park." But soon, everyone just started calling it "the Dell."
First Games at the Dell
The Dell officially opened in September 1898. The very first match was on September 3 against Brighton United. Southampton won 4–1! The first goal at the stadium was scored by Watty Keay.
The stadium even hosted an international match in 1901. England played against Ireland and won 3–0.
Upgrades and Changes to the Stadium
Over the years, the Dell was updated several times. In 1927, the old West Stand was taken down. A new, improved West Stand was built in its place. This new stand was designed by Archibald Leitch, a famous architect who designed many football stadiums.
A year later, in 1929, a fire destroyed the East Stand. It was believed to have started from a dropped cigarette. A new East Stand was built, looking similar to the new West Stand. These changes increased the stadium's capacity to about 30,000 fans.
The Dell During Wartime
During World War II, the Dell was hit by a German bomb on November 30, 1940. It left a large hole, 18 feet deep, in the penalty area of the pitch. While the pitch was being fixed, Southampton had to play their home games somewhere else.
In March 1941, another incident happened. An explosion from military supplies stored at the ground caused a big fire in the West Stand. Luckily, it was rebuilt quickly. The Dell reopened in October 1941.
Modernizing the Dell Stadium
In 1950, the Dell made history. It became the first football ground in England to have permanent floodlights installed. The first game played under these lights was a friendly match on October 31, 1950.
Huge crowds continued to fill the Dell in the years after the war. The record attendance was set on October 8, 1969. A massive 31,044 fans watched Southampton play against Manchester United.
Southampton FC played in the top division of English football for most of the time the Dell was their home. They even won the FA Cup in 1976 and finished second in the league in 1984.
More Changes and the Final Years
In the 1980s, more changes were made to the stadium. New sections were built for families. After the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, all top English football clubs had to have all-seater stadiums. This meant no more standing areas.
New seats were added, and new stands were built at both ends of the stadium. By the 1993–94 season, the Dell could hold just over 15,000 fans. This made it the smallest stadium in the top league at the time.
Saying Goodbye to the Dell
By the mid-1990s, Southampton FC started looking for a new, bigger home. They planned to move to a new 32,000-seat stadium. This new stadium, called St Mary's Stadium, was built on the banks of the River Itchen.
The new stadium was ready for the 2001–02 football season.
The last competitive game at the Dell was on May 19, 2001. Star player Matt Le Tissier scored the winning goal in the final minutes. Southampton beat Arsenal 3–2, a perfect way to say goodbye.
On May 26, fans had one last chance to visit the Dell. After a friendly match, fans took home seats, pieces of the pitch, and even advertising boards as souvenirs. The very last goal ever scored at the Dell was by Uwe Rösler.
The Dell stadium was torn down in June and July 2001. Today, a housing estate stands on the site. The apartment buildings there are named after famous Southampton players, like Stokes Court and Le Tissier Court. There's even a green space where the center of the pitch used to be.
Images for kids
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Exterior of the Dell in 2000
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Inside the Dell (Southampton draw 0–0 against Leicester City, March 1997)
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Flats on the site of 'The Dell'
