Hartsdown Park
Margate
43 pictures
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Margate Football Club were formed in 1896 and Hartsdown park has been their home since 1929, with the exception of a short period between 2002 and 2005 when the clubs redevelopment plans hit bureaucratic red tape after demolition of the old wooden and corrugated iron stands had commenced, a situation which resulted in the clubs expulsion from the Conference in 2004.
The first match at the ground was played on 31 August 1929 when Folkestone visited for a friendly match with spectators watching on from a 500 seater wooden stand, and further covered accomodation, comprising of seated and standing, was added soon afterwards on the opposite side of the ground. The northern end of the ground was developed in the late 50s when a relatively substantial covered terrace, known as 'The Coffin End' was built. The floodlights were first switched on for a friendly match agains West Ham United in September 1959.
Clearly the planned development has never taken place and, with the exception of the clubhouse end of the ground spectator accommodation, is currently a mix of prefab seating and terracing on the west side with flat standing behind both the north goal and along the east side.
In January 2019 the club purchased the freehold of the ground from Thanet District Council who, from an outsiders view, appear to have been obstructive to the club in the past, even threatening to evict them in 1982 when the club (albeit briefly) changed their name to Thanet United; the lease was in the name of Margate FC, so a change of name simply would not do. Thankfully common sense prevailed and the issue was resolved. The purchase of the freehold has seen new plans for a 5,000 capacity Football League standard ground with a hotel, fitness centre and conference venue complex put in place and work is due to start imminently.
The grounds record attendance was set on 13 January 1973 when 14,169 watched Tottenham Hotspur stroll to a 6-0 victory in the third round of the FA Cup. A wonderful collection of pictures and press cuttings from the game can be viewed at http://www.margatefootballclubhistory.com/spurs73.shtml, including a piece concerning the actual attendance, which was considerably greater than the 8,500 reported by the press.
The grounds current capacity is 3,000, 400 of which are seats.
Text & photographs © Ian Mulcahy. Contact photos@iansapps.co.uk or visit my 'Use of my photographs' page for licensing queries (ground level photographs only). |
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