Fir Park Stadium
| Fir Park | |
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 Fir Park Stadium
Location in North Lanarkshire
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| Location | Motherwell, North Lanarkshire |
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| Coordinates | 55°46′47.81″N 3°58′48.28″W / 55.7799472°N 3.9800778°W |
| Owner | Motherwell F.C. |
| Capacity | 13,677 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1895 |
| Renovated | 1995 (Davie Cooper Stand) |
| Architect | Bill Dickie (Davie Cooper Stand & South Stand) |
| Tenants | |
| Motherwell F.C. Gretna F.C. |
1896–present 2007–2008 |
Fir Park Stadium is a football stadium situated in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire, Scotland. The stadium plays host to the home matches of Scottish Premiership club Motherwell and was the temporary home of Gretna for the 2007–08 SPL season. Motherwell moved to the stadium in 1895, previously playing their football at Dalziel Park.
Motherwell F.C. was formed in 1886. It played at sites on Roman Road and Dalziel Park until 1895, when Fir Park was opened. The ground was laid out in a wooded area belonging to Lord Hamilton of Dalzell, whose racing colours were claret and amber. Motherwell then adopted these colours themselves.
Fir Park did not get off to a convincing start, with low attendances leading to rumours that Hibernian were ready to take over the stadium, something that didn't materialise.
For most of the 20th century, the only stand at Fir Park was a two-tier main stand. The record attendance for the stadium is 35,632 against Rangers in a 1951–52 Scottish Cup replay. Motherwell went on to win the competition. Two years later Motherwell built an enclosure roof over the eastern terrace, costing £6,500. Floodlight lamps were built on the two roofs and the first floodlit game, against Preston, was played in 1956. The enclosure roof was damaged by strong winds, however, which meant that large corner floodlight pylons were built in 1959.
Construction of a new main stand began in 1962. The £92,000 cost of this work was financed by a small quote and the selling of two players, Pat Quinn and Ian St. John. To minimise disruption to the old stand, the steel frame was built over and behind it. Construction of the main stand stopped 20 yards short of the south end, however, because a local resident successfully objected to a completed stand. The objection was made because it would have restricted light to the garden and reduced the value of the property. By the time the property owner had decided to sell, Motherwell did not have the funds or will to complete a full length main stand. The club instead bought the house and used it for their offices.
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