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 The Hawthorns has been the home of West Bromwich Albion Football Club for over 100 Years. It was the first Football League ground to be built in the 20th century and was opened on the 3rd September 1900 for the First Division game with Derby County. The game finished 1-1 in front of 20,104 spectators. Derby's Cradley born England International Steve Bloomer scored the first ever goal on the ground whilst 'Chippy' Simmons became Albion's first scorer at The Hawthorns when he grabbed the equalising goal. The actual move to The Hawthorns came about due to serious financial problems the club were having at the time. The club were finding it hard to attract investment or indeed enough supporters to Stoney Lane and the fact that Albion didn't own the ground meant the directors of the club were unwilling to spend money on improving what had become one of the poorest grounds in the country. The club's financial problems meant there was also a need for a ground capable of attracting and accomodating more supporters so the search began for a new home for the club. In December 1899 Albion were offered a piece of land by The Sandwell Park Colliery Company. The land was situated on the boundaries of West Bromwich, Handsworth and Smethwick and on maps was listed as The Hawthorns Estate. The following May the club accepted the offer and signed a fourteen year lease with the company. In 1913 just before the lease expired Albion purchased the freehold of The Hawthorns for £5,350.
Halfords Lane 1910 With the club now owning the ground and due to the money raised through the teams success on the pitch ground improvements were carried out over a number of years taking the capacity up to around the 70,000 figure although the highest gate to assemble at the ground was some 5,000 short of that when 64,815 watched the FA Cup game with Arsenal in 1937. Over the years the capacity has gradually fallen and today stands at around the 28,000 mark. The Hillsborough disaster in 1989 was to change the face of football grounds forever including The Hawthorns. In 1994 due to the Taylor Report both the Birmingham Road End and Smethwick End terraces were demolished and replaced by new all seater stands. The new look Hawthorns was completed with the construction of a new East Stand in 2001. At 551 feet above sea level The Hawthorns is the highest league ground in the UK. Vale Park, home of Port Vale is second highest closely followed by Boundary Park, Oldham.
Halfords Lane 2005 |
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