Goldstone Ground
| The Goldstone | |
Goldstone Ground in 1976
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| Location | Hove 4, England |
|---|---|
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1901 |
| Closed | 1997 |
| Demolished | 1997 |
| Tenants | |
| 1901–1904 Hove F.C. 1902–1997 Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 1995 Wimbledon F.C. (European matches) |
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The Goldstone Ground (or The Goldstone) was a football stadium and home ground of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. between 1902 and 1997. The club currently plays at American Express Community Stadium, a stadium on the outskirts of the city, following the move from their temporary stadium in the Brighton suburb of Withdean.
After the sale of the ground to private developers, the area was changed to a row of warehouse style retail shops, along with a "drive-through" Burger King outlet.
The Goldstone Ground stood on Old Shoreham Road, Hove 4 opposite Hove Park in a partly residential area. The area was previously part of Goldstone Farm and was first used for a football match by Hove F.C. on 7 September 1901. Albion played there for the first time on 22 February 1902, and it became the club's permanent home the next season.
The main West Stand was largely built in 1958 and consisted of seating and terraces. The South Stand was originally built in 1949 and served family spectators. The North Stand was built in 1984 and consisted solely of terraces. The East Stand was formed of uncovered terraces. Floodlights were first installed in 1961. The ground also hosted football games for the 1948 Olympic Games, one of only two grounds outside London (the other being Fratton Park).
On 23 September 1992, David Beckham made his professional début at this stadium, coming on as a substitute for Manchester United in a League Cup Second Round tie.
The last game at The Goldstone was held on 26 April 1997, in which Brighton beat Doncaster Rovers 1-0. The result lifted Brighton off the bottom of Division Three and meant that a draw or win in their visit to Hereford United the following weekend would prevent relegation to the Conference and preserve their Football League status. Brighton went on to draw the game 1-1 and secure survival - thus avoiding becoming the first former members of the top flight or the first major cup finalists to be relegated to the Conference.
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