Town Ground (Nottingham) facts for kids
| Location | Nottingham, England |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 52°56′18″N 1°08′25″W / 52.9384°N 1.1404°W |
| Record attendance | 15,000 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 2 October 1890 |
| Closed | 1898 |
| Construction cost | £1,000 |
| Tenants | |
| Nottingham Forest | |
The Town Ground was an old football stadium in Nottingham, England. It was the first home for the famous football team, Nottingham Forest. This ground was special because it was the very first place to host a football match that used both crossbars and goal nets!
Contents
Building a New Home for Football
In July 1890, the Nottingham Forest football club bought a piece of land. This land was known as "Councilor Woodward's Field." They wanted to build a brand new stadium there.
How the Town Ground Was Built
Building the Town Ground cost about £1,000. This was a lot of money back then! The stadium had a covered stand that could hold 1,000 people. There was also a large area for standing fans. On the other side of the pitch, there was a big grassy bank with six steps for more spectators.
First Games at the Town Ground
The Town Ground officially opened on October 2, 1890. The first game was a friendly match against Queen's Park. Nottingham Forest won the game 4-2. About 3,500 fans came to watch this exciting first match.
A Place for Football Firsts
The Town Ground made history in 1891. It hosted a special game between teams from the North and the South of England. This match was the very first time that football was played using both crossbars and goal nets. These are now standard parts of every football pitch!
Joining the Football League
Nottingham Forest joined the Football League in 1892. The first League match at the Town Ground was on September 10, 1892. Forest played against Stoke and lost 4-3. Around 9,000 people watched this important game.
Sharing the Pitch
Sometimes, another local team, Notts County, used the Town Ground. This happened in 1895 and 1896. Their own stadium, Trent Bridge, was being used for cricket at those times.
Big Matches and Record Crowds
The Town Ground hosted some very important games. In the 1895–96 season, it was chosen for an FA Cup semi-final match. The Wednesday beat Bolton Wanderers 3-1 in that game.
Record Attendance
The biggest crowd ever at the Town Ground for a League game was 15,000 people. This happened on April 24, 1897. It was a special match between Nottingham Forest and Burnley. The same number of fans came again on September 4, 1897. They watched Forest and Notts County play a 1-1 draw in the exciting Nottingham derby.
Moving On to a New Stadium
Nottingham Forest moved to their new stadium, the City Ground, on September 3, 1898. The very last League match at the Town Ground was on April 9, 1898. Forest won 3-1 against Bury. About 6,000 fans were there to see the final game. After the team moved, houses were built on the land where the Town Ground once stood.
