Post by romfordkev on Jun 24, 2009 17:45:32 GMT
During my Easter stay in Scotland earlier this year, I made numerous trips to FIRS PARK - home to EAST STIRLINGSHIRE FC of the IRN BRU SCOTTISH THIRD DIVISION, in order to gain some photos for this forum.
"Why?" you may ask.
Because, due to Firs Park being unable to meet the league's new ground criteria (insufficient turnstiles/exits),coupled with the fact that "THE SHIRE" couldn't afford the necessary ground improvements required, this ground was soon to disappear off the football radar.
At the time of my visit(s), East Stirlingshire had already entered into a 5 year ground share deal with neighbours STENHOUSEMUIR, at nearby OCHILVIEW PARK - but still held the keys to the ground until June 2009, when they would be handed over to the developers, who in turn would turn the site into housing.
The club's stay at Firs Park had lasted 88 years.Ambitious future plans are to move to a newbuild stadium somewhere around the Falkirk area, but with limited resources, that might just be a pipe dream of "The Shire" faithful.
Anyway, my first 3 trips bore no rewards whatsoever.
However, after conversation with some local police officers, I finally gained access to the ground with only a day to go before I was to travel home again!
To be honest, I half expected the facilities to be badly overgrown - but was suitably surprised as, to their credit, the groundsmen still insisted on coming in each morning to keep the facilities as tidy as possible.
The first 3 pictures were taken at the start of the week - and it seemed apparent that the ground was locked secure to deter unwanted access.
THIS IS MY FIRST GLIMPSE OF FIRS PARK!
THESE ARE THE ONLY TURNSTILES INTO THE GROUND - AND ARE SITUATED AT THE END OF FIRS STREET.
BOARDING AND MESH PREVENT ANY VIEWS INTO THE GROUND WHATSOEVER.
SURROUNDED BY A COMBINATION OF FLATS, HIGH WALLS AND A RETAIL PARK, THIS IS THE ONLY VIEW OBTAINABLE BY OUTSIDERS OF THE MAIN STAND.
THIS, INCIDENTLY SHOWS THE BACK OF THE STAND, FROM COMET'S GOODS IN AREA!!
CLOSE UP OF CLUB BADGE DETAIL ON THE STAND ROOF.
Perseverance paid off and finally, I gained access to the hidden treasures of Firs Park!
I apologize in advance if I repeat myself, or some pictures are similar to others - these may be the last photos of Firs Park anyone on this forum will be able to get, so I left no stone unturned!!
For the other "Statto's" out there, capacity is approximately 1880, of which 200 are seats.
Here are my pics.
THIS FIRST PICTURE, AGAIN SHOWS THE ONLY VIEW OF THE STAND FROM OUTSIDE - TOGETHER WITH THE LOADING AREA OF COMET!!
AND ON THE CORNER OF THAT HIGH WALL - THE DOORWAY TO THE SECRET GARDEN!
THIS IS THE CARETAKER/GROUNDSMAN'S ENTRANCE INTO FIRS PARK.
FROM THE TOP OF THE METAL STAIRWAY, A DIAGONAL VIEW ACROSS FIRS PARK, WITH COVERED TERRACING TO THE RIGHT, AND THE TURNSTILES IN THE FAR RIGHT HAND CORNER OF THE GROUND.
SIDE VIEW OF THE WONDERFUL BARREL - ROOFED MAIN STAND, AND GRASS BANK BEHIND THE FAR GOAL.
ANOTHER DIAGONAL VIEW FROM THE STAIRS.
FIRST VIEW OF THE VERY BASIC LOOKING DUGOUTS.
FRONT ON VIEW OF THE SUNKEN DUGOUTS, WITH THE BLACK AND WHITE SEATS OF THE STAND IN THE BACKGROUND.
YOU KNEW I'D DO IT, DIDN'T YOU!
VIEW FROM THE HOME DUGOUT TOWARDS FIRS STREET.
AND THE VIEW TOWARDS THE RETAIL PARK.
A VERY SORRY LOOKING AND NEGLECTED CLUB SHOP, SITUATED TO THE SIDE OF THE STAND.
CLUB BADGE DETAIL ON THE PORTACABIN - OBVIOUSLY SEEN BETTER DAYS!
VIEW OVER THE DUGOUTS FROM THE TOP OF THE MAIN STAND'S CONCRETE STEPS.
LOOKING ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE MAIN STAND.
THE PA BOX AT THE REAR OF THE STAND - SADLY VANDALISED.
A CENTRAL VIEW OF THE PITCH FROM THE BACK OF THE STAND - SPOILED BY AN ILL POSITIONED ROOF STRUT.
SLIGHTLY OBSCURED VIEW TO THE RIGHT........
....AND TO THE LEFT!
SIDE VIEW OF THE WONDERFUL MAIN STAND.
AND A CLOSER LOOK OF THE STAND.
ISN'T IT A SHAME THAT NONE OF THE STANDS THAT ARE BUILT TODAY HAVE THE SAME CHARACTER ABOUT THEM.
ELECTRICAL GIANTS COMET TOWERING OVER FIRS PARK.
BACK OF THE NET!!(AS ALAN PARTRIDGE WOULD SAY).
VERY LIMITED SPACE BEHIND THE GOAL - WOULDN'T FANCY CUTTING THE BALL BACK AND COLLIDING WITH THAT WALL!
VIEW FROM CORNER FLAG TO CORNER FLAG.
THE TERRACING - PART COVERED, PART OVERGROWN AND CONDEMNED!!
WHAT I THOUGHT WAS A GRASS BANK, TURNS OUT TO BE MORE OPEN TERRACE - BUT COMPLETELY COVERED IN VEGETATION. SHOULD BE FUN STANDING THERE IN THE WET!!
THE TURNSTILE BLOCK - BRINGING THE FANS IN FROM FIRS STREET, WITH ADJOINING TOILET BLOCK.
THE COVERED TERRACE - SHOWING ITS GOOD SIDE!
THE RIGHT HAND GOAL AREA - FROM IN FRONT OF THE MAIN STAND, AND OVERLOOKED BY ALLIED CARPETS AND LAND OF LEATHER!
THE LEFT HAND GOAL - BACKED BY AN OLD WHITEWASHED WALL AND SOME SCRUBLAND!
THE COVERED TERRACE - BACKED BY VARIOUS HOUSES AND FLATS, WITH THE SPIRE OF ST JAMES' CHURCH (ON THE CORNER OF FIRS STREET AND THORNHILL ROAD) CLEARLY VISIBLE.
ANOTHER ANGLED VIEW OF THE MAIN STAND - I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I REALLY LIKE IT'S QUIRKINESS. WHAT A SHAME IT HAS TO BE TORN DOWN.
NOTE THE PLAYERS "TUNNEL" TO THE FAR RIGHT OF THE STAND.
AND FINALLY,MY LAST PHOTO OF THE HOME OF "THE SHIRE."
SOON, THIS WILL ALL BE GONE - AND LOST FOREVER.
