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 a football field in Nottingham, England. It was the home stadium for the football team Nottingham Forest. This ground was special because it was the first place to host a football match that used both crossbars and goal nets.
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History of the Town Ground
In July 1890, the Nottingham Forest football club bought some land. They wanted to build a brand new football ground there. Building the stadium cost about £1,000. This included a covered stand that could hold 1,000 people. There were also standing areas and seats around the field.
The Town Ground officially opened on October 2, 1890. The first game played there was a friendly match. Nottingham Forest played against Queen's Park. Forest won the game 4–2, and about 3,500 fans came to watch.
First Use of Goal Nets
In 1891, an important football game took place at the Town Ground. It was a match between teams from the North and the South of England. This game was historic because it was the very first time that crossbars and goal nets were used in a football match.
Nottingham Forest joined the Football League in 1892. Their first League game at the Town Ground was on September 10, 1892. Forest played against Stoke and lost 4–3. About 9,000 people watched this exciting game.
Sharing the Ground
Sometimes, another local team, Notts County, also used the Town Ground. This happened three times in 1895 and 1896. Their usual stadium, Trent Bridge, was being used for cricket at those times.
The Town Ground also hosted a big game in the FA Cup in the 1895–96 season. This was a semi-final match. The Wednesday played against Bolton Wanderers. The Wednesday won the game 3–1.
Record Attendance
The most people ever to watch a League game at the Town Ground was 15,000. This record was set on April 24, 1897. It was a special promotion-relegation match between Forest and Burnley. The same number of fans, 15,000, came again on September 4, 1897. This was for a local derby game between Forest and Notts County, which ended in a 1–1 draw.
Moving to a New Home
Nottingham Forest moved to their new stadium, the City Ground, on September 3, 1898. The last League game played at the Town Ground was on April 9, 1898. Forest won that match 3–1 against Bury. About 6,000 fans came to see the final game. After the football club moved, the land where the Town Ground stood was used to build houses.
