Club Information |
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Address : |
City Stadium, Meadow Park, Sudmeadow Road, Hempsted, Gloucester, GL2 5HS |
Telephone : |
01452-421400 |
Fax : |
01452-301330 |
Internet : |
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Gloucester City AFC play in the Premier division of the Southern League in England. The club was promoted as part of the Non-League reorganisation at the end of the 2003/04 season. Having competed in the Premier League for the whole of the 1990's, it's nice to be back among old friends! As the name suggests, the league covers the South of England (and also the Birmingham area). You can travel from Merthyr Tydfil (in Wales) to Kings Lynn (near The Wash), and Hednesford (in the Midlands) to Tiverton in the South-West plus several clubs on the fringe of the M25 in Hertfordshire. |
The Tigers, as they are known, play their home games at Meadow Park in Hempsted. The ground was built in 1986 as part of the deal that saw Westbury Homes build the Swallow Park housing estate on the old stadium in Horton Road. The club purchased the surrounding football pitches from Fieldings in 1995 and renamed the whole area from Sudmeadow Road to Spinnaker Road 'Meadow Park', and called the football ground the 'City Stadium'. Currently the stadium capacity is 5000 (although it was pretty much full to bursting point when 4000 people saw the Trophy game against Dagenham & Redbridge) and there are 560 seats. One of the best things to come from Keith Gardners' chairmanship was putting a roof on the T-End, where the home fans watch the whole game from (they used to change ends at half time) and really get behind the team. It has also caused some controversy, away fans are now rarely welcomed (ask the fans of Burton Albion!) |
The current manager is Tim Harris. Tim replaced previous boss Chris Burns in the January 2006 and is assisted by former player Chris Smith. You can read more about the management elsewhere on TR. |
The club is owned by local company Eamonn McGurk, a keen sports fan. This current board have done wonders to try and clear the debt left by recent failed attempts at success, and cut the wage bill to a fraction of what it has been in previous seasons. This however has won them few friends, but their actions are starting to reap rewards and the club is reportedly no longer trading at a loss. |
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Directions to Meadow Park |
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I've been to many, many non-league football grounds in England and I'm struggling to remember one that is as hard to find as Meadow Park! It is situated between the edge of the village of Hempsted and Gloucester's historic docks. |
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From the South : |
Leave the M5 Motorway at Junction 12 and follow the signs to Gloucester City Centre. You will be heading up the Quedgeley bypass (A38) now, go straight over the roundabout at Waterwells Park and head towards the Cole Avenue traffic lights. Carry on following signs for the City centre again straight up the A430 Bristol Road past a whole host of car dealers until you get to the lights just after the gasometer on the right. Now, turn left over the narrow canal bridge and then right at the roundabout onto the new Hempsted bypass. Follow this until you reach the end and carry on towards the City Centre. Sudmeadow Road is the second left, and then the ground is on the left. |
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From the West : |
Head into Gloucester via the Over Causeway from the A40 (it will be the first City Centre signpost if you are coming in from Wales or the Forest of Dean). As you approach Westgate Bridge get into the right hand lane and via the Westgate Island take the first exit along Quay Street. You should now be travelling with the River Severn on your right hand side and the Prison on your left. As you approach the North Warehouse (Council Offices) get into the right hand lane and turn right over the canal bridge and into Severn Road. Carry on along Severn Road to the end where you will turn right into Llanthony Raod. Follow the sweeping bend and take the second road on the right (Sudmeadow Road) opposite the Llanthony Priory. Meadow Park is on the left. |
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From the North and the East : |
If you are coming from the North or East take the A40 to the West of Gloucester and follow the directions as if you were approaching from the west. Bear in mind that it is a good five mile drive from either M5 junction (11 or 11a) and that you will pass the Plock Court football pitches and continue onto a single carriadgeway section of the A40. Once you have crossed the River Severn turn left at the roundabout and follow the directions as above... |
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