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View Full Version : Archived: Boothferry Park, Hull, November 2008



boxfrenzy
17-11-2008, 12:33 AM
This afternoon, Hull City FC are playing Manchester City two miles away at the KC Stadium. The game will eventually end in a 2-2 draw. Incredibly, as we arrive in the staduim, you can hear the roar of the crowd up the road as they kick off. Throughout the whole of the visit, the ebb and flow of crowd noise is there, which adds to the experience. Today sees intrepid explorers Trouser Cowboy and myself visiting the remains of their former ground.
The club are now known as the Tigers. For a while they were known as the Bothferry's, due to the missing 'O'. They were also known as FER ARK, again due to the lack of bulbs lighting up the lettering.
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii273/thedownings10/New%20Bank%20Street%20Chapel/Picture083.jpg


I love this shot. Anyone who has ever been to a football match will recognise the feeling as you go up and over and see the pitch before you.
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii273/thedownings10/New%20Bank%20Street%20Chapel/Picture059.jpg

The stands on three sides of the ground are gone. All that remains is terracing and rubble.
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii273/thedownings10/New%20Bank%20Street%20Chapel/Picture063.jpg

This walkway should be kept clear at all times
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii273/thedownings10/New%20Bank%20Street%20Chapel/Picture061.jpg

The last remaining stand. Alas, no access was on. It looked trashed.
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii273/thedownings10/New%20Bank%20Street%20Chapel/Picture062.jpg

View of the pitch from behind the goal, then.
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii273/thedownings10/New%20Bank%20Street%20Chapel/boothferry.jpg

View of the pitch from behind the goal, now.
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii273/thedownings10/New%20Bank%20Street%20Chapel/Picture069.jpg

There was much concern at the club it would be ready for it's first game against Lincoln City here at Boothferry Park in 1946. The club had had to play the previous season at a ground on the nearby Boulevard as the ground was not ready. It was prone to waterlogging, and the repairing of tanks here during the second world war by the Home Guard hadn't helped. This is the spot of the pitch I believed to be within the centre circle.
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii273/thedownings10/New%20Bank%20Street%20Chapel/Picture071.jpg

55,019 supporters were here in 1949 to see Manchester United play. To this day, this remains the club's record attendance.
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii273/thedownings10/New%20Bank%20Street%20Chapel/Picture073.jpg


Hull City FC, until last August held the dubious claim of being the largest city in Europe without a football team in the top division. For over 50 years, they called Boothferry Park their home. Although the last game was played here in December 2002, the reserves played on for a further year. Demolition started in January 2008. The burnt out turnstiles.
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii273/thedownings10/New%20Bank%20Street%20Chapel/Picture074.jpg

These ticket stubs were everywhere on the north stand terracing.
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii273/thedownings10/New%20Bank%20Street%20Chapel/Picture076.jpg

How cool is this? The concrete which would have supported the goal posts. Both of them were there at the North Stand end.
http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii273/thedownings10/New%20Bank%20Street%20Chapel/Picture077.jpg