The Oval (Belfast) facts for kids
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The Oval
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The Oval circa 2004
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| Location | Belfast |
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| 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) |
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The Oval is a famous football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It has been the home of the Glentoran F.C. football team since 1892. Today, it is also known as The BetMcLean Oval because of a sponsorship deal.
The stadium was badly damaged in 1941 during World War II bombings. It could not be used again until 1949. A new main stand was built in 1953. The stadium was updated in 2000 with another new stand. However, it needs regular care to stay safe. Its current safe capacity is 6,050 people. The Oval has hosted important football matches, including finals for the Irish Cup and other competitions.
The Oval's Story
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 settled at The Oval. The pitch was originally in a different spot. In 1903, it was turned 90 degrees to its current position. The land for The Oval was given to Glentoran forever by Belfast's Lord Mayor, Daniel Dixon.
The Oval was close to Belfast's shipyards. Because of this, it was heavily bombed in 1941 during World War II. The bombings destroyed both main stands. Glentoran lost many of its club items. A large hole was left in the pitch. The ground was also flooded often by the Connswater River. It was unusable until 1949. Glentoran club members and supporters worked together to rebuild it. They formed a group called the 'Back to the Oval' committee. While their stadium was being rebuilt, the team played at Grosvenor Park, Belfast.
In 1953, a new main grandstand was built.
In 1995, Glentoran put up a large sign at The Oval. It had "JESUS" written 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 for new advertisements. The sign had not brought in any money for the club for several years.
In 2000, The Oval received money to improve the railway stand. Seats were added to the old standing area. This created a stand that could hold 1,600 people. This funding was part of a larger investment in sports in Northern Ireland. Since then, the ground has only received new floodlights and minor updates to a small part of the standing area.
In 2005, after a match, some fans caused trouble. They broke a gate to get onto the pitch. They threw things at other fans. Two people were charged for their actions.
In 2008, some people protested outside The Oval. They were against playing football matches on Sundays. This was a new idea in Northern Ireland. Traditionally, Sundays were kept for religious activities. The protesters worried that Sunday matches would stop people from going to church.
The Oval has faced challenges in recent years. It has not received much new investment. This means it needs constant small repairs to meet safety rules. In 2009, a match was stopped because the floodlight poles were shaking in strong winds. The referee decided it was too dangerous to continue.
In 2012, Glentoran thought about selling the stadium's naming rights. They also announced plans to move to a new stadium. This new stadium would be in the Titanic Quarter, Belfast. The Oval was sold to property developers in March 2013 for £4 million. Glentoran's chairman suggested the land might be used for new homes.
In March 2021, Glentoran shared plans to completely update the football ground. These plans include building two new stands with 4,000 seats. They also plan two standing areas at each end of the pitch. These would hold 1,000 people each. This would bring the stadium's total capacity to 6,000 spectators. The project is expected to cost between £8 and £10 million.
Stadium Layout
The Oval is located near the Port of Belfast. You can see the huge Harland and Wolff cranes, Samson and Goliath, from inside the stadium. Many football fans see it as a historic ground. This is because of its concrete standing areas and steel fences. For matches approved by UEFA, only the 3,000 seats in the two main stands can be used. This is because standing areas are not allowed in UEFA matches since 1998.
The stadium's total capacity is 26,556 people. However, safety rules limit the number of people who can attend. In 2011, the safe capacity was set at 5,300. Before 2010, over 8,000 people could attend. The main stand holds 2,720 people. The Railway stand holds 2,070 people. The record attendance at The Oval was 55,000 fans. This was for a European Cup Winners Cup match against Rangers on September 27, 1966.
Hosting Important Matches
The Oval has often hosted the final of the Irish Cup. It is one of Northern Ireland's biggest stadiums, along with Windsor Park. Sometimes, a coin toss decided where the final would be played. During the 1985 Irish Cup final, Glentoran fans played a prank. They released a chicken and a pig onto the pitch. The pig had been painted blue.
The Oval also hosted the final of the County Antrim Shield in 2012. It has also been used for the Setanta Cup final. In 2012, it hosted the final between Belfast's Crusaders and Derry City. The 2015 Irish Cup Final between Glentoran and Portadown was also played at The Oval.
See also
In Spanish: The Oval (Belfast) para niños
