Hillsborough
Pre-Hillsborough
Before Sheffield Wednesday, as they are known now, settled at their long standing home of Hillsborough in Owlerton in 1899 the club had in fact used a number of different venues for their home games. One of those venues was Bramall Lane which is now the home of their city rivals Sheffield United. They had a number of successes at Bramall Lane including the winning of the Cromwell Cup in 1868. They also played at venues such as Hunters Bar, Highfield and Myrtle Road. However, the most important games were played at either Bramall Lane or Sheaf House until it was decided that they needed their own ground. In 1889 the Wednesday attained their first stadium on Queens Road after leasing land off the Duke of Norfolk. This ground was named Olive Grove and provided the home of their first league title win in the 12 team Football Alliance League of 1889. Despite success over the following few years problems were starting to build up for the club, not least because they could not renew their lease at Olive Grove which also coincided with the team dropping out of the first division. However, Owlerton was identified as the prime location for the new ground, despite opposition from a number of fans to the situation of the new site, and a new home was born.
Hillsborough (Owlerton Stadium) 1899-1988
Following the move to their new stadium in Owlerton, Wednesday experienced a wealth of success in the early 20th Century. It began with an instant return to the top flight which was followed by a high level of success in the First division, which they won in 1902/03 and 1903/04 seasons, and F.A. Cup, which they won in the 1906/07 season. As the century went on and the Wednesday continued to be one of the best teams in the country and gather huge support from working classes within Sheffield the stadium steadily went through massive structural changes which have given us the magnificent stadium as we know it today. All the stands apart from the Spion Kop have been through massive re-construction, which mainly took place in the 1960’s in order to host a number of World Cup games.
The North Stand
The First North Stand was built in 1899 but was then rebuilt in 1961. It was the first stand in the country to span the whole length of the pitch. The stand can hold up to 9,225 people. It was opened on 22nd October 1961 with a friendly match against Brazilian team Santos, who had Brazilian legend Pele in the team.
Before Sheffield Wednesday, as they are known now, settled at their long standing home of Hillsborough in Owlerton in 1899 the club had in fact used a number of different venues for their home games. One of those venues was Bramall Lane which is now the home of their city rivals Sheffield United. They had a number of successes at Bramall Lane including the winning of the Cromwell Cup in 1868. They also played at venues such as Hunters Bar, Highfield and Myrtle Road. However, the most important games were played at either Bramall Lane or Sheaf House until it was decided that they needed their own ground. In 1889 the Wednesday attained their first stadium on Queens Road after leasing land off the Duke of Norfolk. This ground was named Olive Grove and provided the home of their first league title win in the 12 team Football Alliance League of 1889. Despite success over the following few years problems were starting to build up for the club, not least because they could not renew their lease at Olive Grove which also coincided with the team dropping out of the first division. However, Owlerton was identified as the prime location for the new ground, despite opposition from a number of fans to the situation of the new site, and a new home was born.
Hillsborough (Owlerton Stadium) 1899-1988
Following the move to their new stadium in Owlerton, Wednesday experienced a wealth of success in the early 20th Century. It began with an instant return to the top flight which was followed by a high level of success in the First division, which they won in 1902/03 and 1903/04 seasons, and F.A. Cup, which they won in the 1906/07 season. As the century went on and the Wednesday continued to be one of the best teams in the country and gather huge support from working classes within Sheffield the stadium steadily went through massive structural changes which have given us the magnificent stadium as we know it today. All the stands apart from the Spion Kop have been through massive re-construction, which mainly took place in the 1960’s in order to host a number of World Cup games.
The North Stand
The First North Stand was built in 1899 but was then rebuilt in 1961. It was the first stand in the country to span the whole length of the pitch. The stand can hold up to 9,225 people. It was opened on 22nd October 1961 with a friendly match against Brazilian team Santos, who had Brazilian legend Pele in the team.
North-West Terrace
The North West Stand was originally constructed in 1919-20 and is still called a terrace despite now being all-seated. Its main purpose was to join the North stand and the West stand. It was knocked down in 1965 in order to be re-built for the 1966 World Cup. However, it has not been used much in recent times and is generally used as overspill for away fans and extra advertising space.
The North West Stand was originally constructed in 1919-20 and is still called a terrace despite now being all-seated. Its main purpose was to join the North stand and the West stand. It was knocked down in 1965 in order to be re-built for the 1966 World Cup. However, it has not been used much in recent times and is generally used as overspill for away fans and extra advertising space.
South-Stand and Grandstand
The original South stand was actually built at the original home of Olive Grove and was transported to Owlerton when they were forced to move. It was then re-constructed in 1913, which makes it the oldest stand at the ground. The stand has been through a number of re-development’s including a conversion into an all-seated stand in 1965 for the 1966 World Cup and a £7 million re-development for Euro 1996.
The original South stand was actually built at the original home of Olive Grove and was transported to Owlerton when they were forced to move. It was then re-constructed in 1913, which makes it the oldest stand at the ground. The stand has been through a number of re-development’s including a conversion into an all-seated stand in 1965 for the 1966 World Cup and a £7 million re-development for Euro 1996.
Spion Kop
The Spion Kop is the only part of the ground that has not been through re-construction since it was built in 1914, apart from the addition of a roof to protect fans from the bad weather in 1986. The roof was built with the help of funding from a number of supporters. The name Spion comes from a famous battle that was fought in the Second Boer War. It can hold up to 11,210 fans, nearly half the amount it was before it was converted to a seated stand to comply with new regulations following the Taylor report in 1993.
The Spion Kop is the only part of the ground that has not been through re-construction since it was built in 1914, apart from the addition of a roof to protect fans from the bad weather in 1986. The roof was built with the help of funding from a number of supporters. The name Spion comes from a famous battle that was fought in the Second Boer War. It can hold up to 11,210 fans, nearly half the amount it was before it was converted to a seated stand to comply with new regulations following the Taylor report in 1993.
The Hillsborough Disaster: A defining moment in world football
On the 15th April 1989, Hillsborough was the scene of one of the worst disasters that the footballing world has ever seen. The stadium was holding an F.A. Cup Semi Final between Liverpool F.C. and Nottingham Forest when just minutes into the game 96 Liverpool fans got crushed to death at the Leppings Lane (West Stand) end of the ground. The disaster occurred after incompetency from the South Yorkshire Police, imparticular Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield who was in charge of the situation. The video below gives an idea of what happened on the day.
This was a major turning point in English and World football because it showed the major deficiencies in having all standing stands in football stadiums. The Taylor report by Lord Justice Taylor, that was published in January 1990 which strongly supported the idea of all sporting events to have all-seated areas for supporters
On the 15th April 1989, Hillsborough was the scene of one of the worst disasters that the footballing world has ever seen. The stadium was holding an F.A. Cup Semi Final between Liverpool F.C. and Nottingham Forest when just minutes into the game 96 Liverpool fans got crushed to death at the Leppings Lane (West Stand) end of the ground. The disaster occurred after incompetency from the South Yorkshire Police, imparticular Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield who was in charge of the situation. The video below gives an idea of what happened on the day.
This was a major turning point in English and World football because it showed the major deficiencies in having all standing stands in football stadiums. The Taylor report by Lord Justice Taylor, that was published in January 1990 which strongly supported the idea of all sporting events to have all-seated areas for supporters
