Your Route to Real News

Abandoned stadium shares unique link to Rangers' ex-chairman and a by-election

1081     0
It once became a political football too
It once became a political football too

FOR a generation of modern day football fans, Douglas Park is a Rangers director and former chairman.

A wealthy motor trade businessman with a fleet of luxury coaches used by clubs around the country, and various car dealerships selling the latest models on four wheels.

Douglas Park, home of Hamilton Accies from 1888 until 1994 qhiddrixrierprw
Douglas Park, home of Hamilton Accies from 1888 until 1994Credit: Scottish News and Sport
This is also Douglas Park - of Rangers and motor trade fame
This is also Douglas Park - of Rangers and motor trade fameCredit: SNS
This is NEW Douglas Park formerly known as Ballast Park - opened in 2001
This is NEW Douglas Park formerly known as Ballast Park - opened in 2001Credit: Scottish News and Sport

But some of those very cars now park up on the Scottish football site that once shared the same name - right in the middle of Hamilton.

New Douglas Park is home to Hamilton Accies, and has been since 2001.

Before then, 'old' Douglas Park - the original - was where the Accies played, but it's now a car park serving shoppers, right next door.

Celtic icon Frank McGarvey dies aged 66 as tributes paid to hero after cancer fightCeltic icon Frank McGarvey dies aged 66 as tributes paid to hero after cancer fight

Meet the new ground, same as the old ground? Just about in geography terms, but very different in reality. It was called Ballast Park in its' infancy and only has two stands for a start.

In 1994 the club sold off their ground for £6m to a retail park after 108 years there. Developers built Sainsbury's, McDonalds and a bingo hall on the site.

Via ground sharing agreements at Firhill in Glasgow and Cliftonhill, Coatbridge throughout the 90s, Hamilton eventually moved back to where it all began and made a VERY short move north.

Their new ground - now named just like so - borders their old one at the back of the supermarket - and from the former pitch turned car park you can see the floodlights of the current stadium quite clearly from the penalty box of old one.

You can hear the cheers, moans and groans of fans on a busy matchday too - although not legendary fan 'Fergie'.

Real name Ian Russell, he honed an infamous reputation for his barracking from the stands - and everyone was a target.

He became a figure of Scottish football folklore for his loud heckles and language known throughout the country amongst fans and players alike.

Accies tried to silence him by banning him during their travelling time and Russell ended up in court on a breach of the peace charge and fined £100.

He said: "When the team is doing badly I can't control my mouth. If the Accies were doing better, I wouldn't have to swear."

The notorious Accies fan died in 2009, aged 71, with his beloved team in the top flight.

Celtic legend Frank McGarvey passes away aged 66 with family by his sideCeltic legend Frank McGarvey passes away aged 66 with family by his side

A huge council car park nearby used to serve the old ground and is still used by buses and supporters' cars now, but with John Rankin's team in League One packed Premiership-style attendances have been few and far between recently.

But fans truly made a noise during the nomadic days with Hamilton re-located for seven years while the new base was built.

It even became a political campaign in 1999 when an independent by-election candidate Stephen Mungall stood on the promise to bring the club back to town - and picked up more than 1,000 votes.

The supermarket can be seen taking shape behind goalscorer Marc Corcoran
The supermarket can be seen taking shape behind goalscorer Marc CorcoranCredit: John Kirkby - The Sun Glasgow
The Douglas Park pitch is now parking bays
The Douglas Park pitch is now parking baysCredit: Kenny Ramsay - The Sun Glasgow
Famously outspoken Accies fan Fergie (real name Ian Russell)
Famously outspoken Accies fan Fergie (real name Ian Russell)Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

The primary school teacher picked up more votes than the club had 'home' supporters at the time.

But now chasing promotion back to the Championship - though 11 points off League One leaders Falkirk, those bigger away crowds could soon be back in south Lanarkshire.

But only if plastic pitches are allowed in at that stage. There is talk synthetic surfaces must be replaced by grass in the top division in future and Accies have used TigerTurf and various other plastic alternatives for the last 10 years at the 23-year-old ground.

To a generation of supporters its' where Accies have always been, tucked behind Sainsbury's and Morrisons, but the ghosts of the past are just a mishit shot at goal and a few parking bays away.

Hamilton fans queue up for the first game at the new ground - a friendly vs Sunderland on July 28, 2001
Hamilton fans queue up for the first game at the new ground - a friendly vs Sunderland on July 28, 2001Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page 

David Oliver

Print page

Comments:

comments powered by Disqus