Gretna FC

Here's another instalment from my little tour of Scottish football grounds that I undertook during Easter 2009.

This time, it's the turn of RAYDALE PARK - the former home to the now defunct GRETNA FC.
Once capable of holding 3000 fans, now it's just a sad old shell.



Here is a very brief history of Gretna FC and their sad demise.

Gretna FC plied their trade in English football between the years of 1947 and 2002, at which time, they were elected into the Scottish Football League.

Under the financial wing of businessman Brooks Mileson, an astonishing rise from Third Division football to the giddy heights of the SPL (Premier League) was accomplished in just under 5 years, even becoming runners up in the Scottish Cup in 2005/06 - a game in which Hearts only triumphed on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

However, on his becoming ill, Mileson was forced to withdraw his backing - resulting in Gretna resigning from the league on June 3rd,2008.Financial difficulties during the season had already forced Gretna into administration - a move that saw many players and staff made redundant.

With no investors willing to rescue Gretna FC on the horizon, the administrators formally liquidated the club on August 8th, 2008.

A supporters trust formed a new club - named GRETNA 2008 - on July 2nd, 2008, and this was accepted into the EAST OF SCOTLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE.

Initially, home games were contested during Season 2008/09 at EVERHOLM STADIUM in nearby ANNAN, but in May 2009, Gretna 2008 returned to Raydale Park -although the long term future of the ground is unclear.




Below are my pictures of a deserted Raydale.




THE GRETNA WELCOME BOARDS VIEWED FROM ACROSS THE CLUB CAR PARK WHICH HOUSES A LARGE CLUBHOUSE ( SITUATED BEHIND THE CAMERA).
THIS IS THE BACK OF THE "LONG STAND" - ONCE A SIMPLE COVERED TERRACE FOR THE HOME FANS.



THE FIXTURE BOARD - VIEWED FROM OVER THE HIGH WALL OF THE COVERED PITCH LENGTH TERRACE.



VIEW FROM THE TURNSTILE BLOCK, ACROSS THE LENGTH OF THE GROUND, TO "THE CORRIES STAND."
TO THE LEFT, THE HOME TERRACE.



CLOSER VIEW OF THE ALL SEATED "CORRIES STAND."



PERCHED ON MY VANTAGE POINT OF 3 BREEZE BLOCKS, THE TERRACING IN ALL ITS DILAPIDATED GLORY!!



AND TO THE RIGHT, A VERY SORRY LOOKING "EWART ENGINEERING LTD" STAND - THE MAIN STAND TO YOU AND ME!!




CLOSE UP OF THE MAIN STAND, WHICH ADJOINED THE CHANGING FACILITIES AND BOARD ROOM, ETC.



OVER TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE GROUND, THE OLD PLAYERS/OFFICIALS ENTRANCES CAN STILL BE VIEWED - THROUGH A BUILDING SITE STYLE FENCE.
MORE WELCOME SIGNAGE.



THE PLAYERS/OFFICIALS ENTRANCE - BOARDED UP TO PREVENT VANDALS.



A MUCH BETTER ANGLE OF THE MAIN STAND AND ALL THE ADJOINING FACILITIES.
THE PLAYERS WOULD ENTER THE FIELD OF PLAY FROM THE EXTREME RIGHT HAND CORNER.



FINAL IMAGE OF THE "CORRIES STAND", WITH THE PITCH NOW ROUGH AND OVERGROWN.