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Redevelpment of the old girl started back in early July with the North Stand roof pannels being stripped off.
8th July 2010:
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23rd July 2010:
I took these photos while i was over at it renewing my season ticket:
Roof panels are all off:
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Health and Safety required the moats the be filled in and engress allowed to the pitch at both the Kop and North Stands.
Gaps are cut in the moat walls:
![]()
17th August 2010:
By the end of September the Railway Stand, a feature of the Windsor Park landscape for 80 years, will be no more. The demolition squad will have done its job creating a platform for temporary seating to be put in place prior to international matches, both here and in front of the South Stand, until such times as a new Railway Stand – perhaps with shop and office accommodation – will arise as phase one of the redevelopment of ‘the Park’.
Many will be happy to see the demise of the stand which was ‘decommissioned’ four years ago and has since become an eyesore. Seating for over 600 supporters in the form of concrete terracing under the roof was put in place in the mid 60’s.
The roof of the stand is known worldwide throughout the construction industry as the ‘Belfast Roof’. Prior to the advent of cheap steel systems this type of roof was the most economical way of providing a clear span roofing of sheds and warehouses. So there you have it – the railway viewing area was no more than a shed in those days.
The roof initially provided cover on the south side and was moved in 1929 to its current position to allow for the development of a new South Stand designed by one of the best stadium architects of the day, Archibald Leitch at a cost in today’s currency of around £2 million.
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The wooden terrace section of the South Stand is a remnant of this once modern stand. But times have moved on, and facilities in Irish League football have lagged behind and are now facing major difficulties meeting not only health and safety standards but also UEFA and Disability Discrimination legislation. Current safety legislation regarding fire risk rightly puts people first and seated stands with wooden structures are deemed to be a ‘high risk’, requiring evacuation time of two and a half minutes to clear the stand.
Linfield FC has been working closely with experts in the field and will be upgrading fire management systems to meet the requirements of the Safety of Sports Grounds (NI) Order. From the beginning of September supporters will find the capacity of the South Stand reduced from 2700 to just less than 1700. Some areas of the stand, depending on their distance from exits, will be cordoned off and inaccessible. Gangways in some areas will be widened and there will be additional forward egress onto the terrace and pitch. The loss of seats will be upsetting to all and in particular to those supporters who have their favourite seating area but it is unavoidable under the legislation.
We are about to lose one of a few remaining examples of a ‘Belfast Roof’ in Ireland and some capacity in the ‘Home Stand’ but the upside will be an improved look to the Park and better safety for supporters during what is a transitional period to a modern stadium.
Dr. Cameron Ramsey - Linfield Trustee
http://linfieldfc.com/latestnews.asp?nid=5720
21st August 2010:
Railway Stand demolition:
![]()
![]()
New roof pannels on the North Stand:
![]()
I'll keep updating this thread as things happen.
8th July 2010:
23rd July 2010:
I took these photos while i was over at it renewing my season ticket:
Roof panels are all off:
Health and Safety required the moats the be filled in and engress allowed to the pitch at both the Kop and North Stands.
Gaps are cut in the moat walls:
17th August 2010:
By the end of September the Railway Stand, a feature of the Windsor Park landscape for 80 years, will be no more. The demolition squad will have done its job creating a platform for temporary seating to be put in place prior to international matches, both here and in front of the South Stand, until such times as a new Railway Stand – perhaps with shop and office accommodation – will arise as phase one of the redevelopment of ‘the Park’.
Many will be happy to see the demise of the stand which was ‘decommissioned’ four years ago and has since become an eyesore. Seating for over 600 supporters in the form of concrete terracing under the roof was put in place in the mid 60’s.
The roof of the stand is known worldwide throughout the construction industry as the ‘Belfast Roof’. Prior to the advent of cheap steel systems this type of roof was the most economical way of providing a clear span roofing of sheds and warehouses. So there you have it – the railway viewing area was no more than a shed in those days.
The roof initially provided cover on the south side and was moved in 1929 to its current position to allow for the development of a new South Stand designed by one of the best stadium architects of the day, Archibald Leitch at a cost in today’s currency of around £2 million.
The wooden terrace section of the South Stand is a remnant of this once modern stand. But times have moved on, and facilities in Irish League football have lagged behind and are now facing major difficulties meeting not only health and safety standards but also UEFA and Disability Discrimination legislation. Current safety legislation regarding fire risk rightly puts people first and seated stands with wooden structures are deemed to be a ‘high risk’, requiring evacuation time of two and a half minutes to clear the stand.
Linfield FC has been working closely with experts in the field and will be upgrading fire management systems to meet the requirements of the Safety of Sports Grounds (NI) Order. From the beginning of September supporters will find the capacity of the South Stand reduced from 2700 to just less than 1700. Some areas of the stand, depending on their distance from exits, will be cordoned off and inaccessible. Gangways in some areas will be widened and there will be additional forward egress onto the terrace and pitch. The loss of seats will be upsetting to all and in particular to those supporters who have their favourite seating area but it is unavoidable under the legislation.
We are about to lose one of a few remaining examples of a ‘Belfast Roof’ in Ireland and some capacity in the ‘Home Stand’ but the upside will be an improved look to the Park and better safety for supporters during what is a transitional period to a modern stadium.
Dr. Cameron Ramsey - Linfield Trustee
http://linfieldfc.com/latestnews.asp?nid=5720
21st August 2010:
Railway Stand demolition:
New roof pannels on the North Stand:
I'll keep updating this thread as things happen.
