The Oval (Belfast) facts for kids
|
The Oval
|
|
The Oval circa 2004
|
|
| Location | Belfast |
|---|---|
| Owner | Glentoran Recreation Co Ltd |
| Operator | Glentoran |
| Capacity | 26,556 (6,050 safe capacity) |
| Record attendance | 55,000 (Glentoran vs Rangers, UEFA Cup) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1892 |
| Renovated | 2000 |
| Tenants | |
| Glentoran (NIFL Premiership) (1892–1941, 1949–present) Queen's Island (1924–28) |
|
The Oval is a famous football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It has been the home ground for Glentoran F.C. since 1892. Today, it is officially known as The BetMcLean Oval because of a sponsorship deal.
In 1941, during World War II, the stadium was badly damaged by bombs. It could not be used again until 1949. A new main stand was built in 1953. The stadium was updated in 2000 with a new stand. It needs regular care to stay safe for fans. Its current safe capacity is 6,050 people. The Oval has also hosted important football matches, like the final of the Irish Cup and the Setanta Cup.
Contents
History of The Oval
Before moving to The Oval, Glentoran played at other grounds. From 1882 to 1886, they used Ormeau Park. Then they moved to Westbourne for six years. In 1892, they finally moved to The Oval.
The stadium's pitch was turned 90 degrees in 1903 to its current position. Early in the 20th century, the land for The Oval was given to Glentoran forever by the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Daniel Dixon.
Rebuilding After Bomb Damage
Because it was close to the Belfast shipyards, The Oval was heavily bombed in 1941 during the Belfast Blitz. Both main stands were destroyed, and the club lost many of its things. A large hole was left in the pitch. The ground also flooded often because the water pumps could not drain it.
The stadium could not be used until 1949. Glentoran club and its fans worked together to rebuild it. They formed a group called the 'Back to the Oval' committee. While The Oval was being rebuilt, Glentoran played their games at Grosvenor Park, which belonged to another Belfast club, Lisburn Distillery. In 1953, the main grandstand was completed.
The "Jesus" Sign
In 1995, Glentoran put up a large sign at The Oval that said "JESUS" in white letters on a black background. People often called it the "Jesus sign." It stayed there until 2010. Club officials removed it because they needed the space to sell advertising. The sign had not brought in any money for Glentoran for many years.
Stadium Updates and Challenges
In 2000, The Oval received money to improve the railway stand. Seats were added to the old standing area, creating a stand for 1,600 people. This was part of a larger investment in sports in Northern Ireland. Since then, the stadium has only had new floodlights and a small part of the standing area fixed. It has not received much public money for other improvements.
The Oval has faced some challenges over the years. In 2009, a match had to be stopped because the floodlight poles started shaking in strong winds. The referee decided it was too dangerous to continue playing.
In 2012, Glentoran thought about selling the naming rights to The Oval. They also announced plans to move to a new stadium in the Titanic Quarter of Belfast. The Oval was sold to property developers in March 2013. Glentoran's chairman suggested that the land might be used to build homes.
In March 2021, Glentoran shared new plans for The Oval. They want to completely update the stadium. This includes building two new stands with 4,000 seats and two standing areas at each end for 1,000 people each. This would bring the stadium's total capacity to 6,000 fans. This project is expected to cost between £8 million and £10 million.
Stadium Design and Capacity
The Oval is located near the Port of Belfast. You can see the large Harland and Wolff cranes, called Samson and Goliath, from inside the stadium. Many football fans see it as a historic ground because of its concrete standing areas and steel fences.
For matches approved by UEFA (the European football governing body), only seated areas are allowed. This means The Oval can only use its 3,000 seats in the two main stands for these games.
The stadium's total capacity is 26,556 people. However, for safety reasons, its safe capacity is currently limited to 6,050. The main stand holds 2,720 people, and the Railway stand holds 2,070. The record number of fans at The Oval was 55,000. This happened during a European Cup Winners Cup match against Rangers on September 27, 1966.
The design of The Oval's main stand is very similar to the one at Springfield Park, which used to be the home of Wigan Athletic. Both were built in 1953.
Hosting Finals
In the past, The Oval was often used to host the final of the Irish Cup. It was one of Northern Ireland's biggest stadiums, along with Windsor Park. The location for the final was sometimes decided by a coin toss.
The Oval was also used to host the final of the County Antrim Shield in 2012. It has also hosted the Setanta Cup final. For example, it hosted the 2012 final between Belfast's Crusaders and Derry City. The 2015 Irish Cup Final between Glentoran and Portadown was also played at The Oval.
Images for kids
-
The Oval from above
See also
In Spanish: The Oval (Belfast) para niños
