Kingsmeadow
| Fans' Stadium | |
 |
|
| Full name | Kingsmeadow |
|---|---|
| Location | Jack Goodchild Way, Kingston upon Thames, England |
| Public transit |
 Norbiton
|
| Owner | AFC Wimbledon |
| Operator | AFC Wimbledon |
| Capacity | 4,850 (2,265 seated) |
| Field size | 110 x 75 yards |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1989 |
| Opened | 1989 |
| Tenants | |
|
Kingstonian F.C. (1989–) AFC Wimbledon (2002–) |
|
Kingsmeadow (known as the Cherry Red Records Stadium for sponsorship purposes) is an association football stadium in the area of Norbiton, Kingston upon Thames, London, which is used for the home matches of both AFC Wimbledon and Kingstonian. It has a capacity of 4,850 with 2,265 seats.
The freehold of the site is owned by Kingston Council. The leasehold, which safeguards the site for the borough's football team, was originally held by Kingstonian FC but is currently owned by AFC Wimbledon, having been purchased from the previous owners in March 2003. A condition of the lease is purportedly a renewable 25-year sub-lease to Kingstonian, who are also guaranteed the first pre-season friendly of AFC Wimbledon's first team squad as a home fixture for Kingstonian. The idea is the takings from that first fixture should cover Kingstonian's rent, which is reportedly fixed for the term of the sub-lease.
Kingsmeadow comprises the following stands:
As of October 2012, the stadium has a capacity of 4,850. It originally was designated to have a 6,299 capacity before modern safety requirements and ground improvements (such as re-profiling the Athletics End terrace and replacing the original terraced paddock in front of the main stand with seats) required the capacity to be reduced. Kingstonian's highest attendance at Kingsmeadow was 4,582 v Chelsea (friendly) on 22 July 1995. AFC Wimbledon's highest attendance at Kingsmeadow was 4,870 against Accrington Stanley on 14 May 2016 which set the record attendance at Kingsmeadow.
The stadium has been the home of Kingstonian since 1989, when they built the entire complex on the site following the sale of their traditional Richmond Road ground. Kingstonian opened the ground with a friendly against Queens Park Rangers. Following relegation from the Conference, Kingstonian went into financial administration and both the club and ground were purchased by Rajesh Khosla and his son Anup. Much of Kingstonian's support were alienated as there was a perception that the Khoslas were business men first rather than football oriented.
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