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Southport
Merseyrail Community Stadium

(But still know to many fans as Haig Avenue)
Capacity: 6,008 (Seats 1,844)
Address:
Haig Avenue, Southport, PR8 6JZ
Main Telephone No: 01704 533422
Fax No: 01704 533455
Team Nickname: The Sandgrounders
Year Ground Opened: 1905
Pitch Size: 115 x 78 yards
Home Kit Colours: Yellow & Black
Official Web Site:
www.southportfc.net
Unofficial Web Sites:
Trust in Yellow
Southport FC Stats
Port Online
SFCAwaydays

Contents
What's Haig Avenue Like? Grandstand (photo) What Is It Like For Away Supporters? Jack Carr Stand (photo) Where To Drink? Popular Side (photo) How To Get There By Car & Where To Park By Train Blowick End (photo) Local Rivals Admission Prices Programme Ground Layout Fixtures 2012-2013 Record & Average Attendance Fans Ground Reviews Hotel Accommodation Haig Avenue Location Map

What's Haig Avenue Like?
A fairly open ground that on one side has a tidy looking Grandstand. This covered all seated stand is of a fair size, housing around 1,840 supporters. The stand, which was opened in 1968, doesn’t run the full length of the pitch and straddles the half way line, with the spaces on either side, unused for spectators. It is not totally free of supporting pillars, with one large pillar, situated towards the middle. There are windshields to either side and a couple of odd looking floodlights on its roof. The rest of the stadium is comprised of terrace, with only the Jack Carr terrace (named after a former Director of the Club) at one end being covered. This terrace, which is also known as the Scarisbrick End, is the home end and can house just over 900 fans. The roof has no supporting pillars to hinder the view, but only runs for around half the width of the playing area. Opposite is the Blowick End, a small open terrace which is allocated to away fans. On the remaining side of the ground is the Popular Side, another open terrace, which is unusual in the respect that it is comprised of four separate blocks. Between a couple of these blocks are floodlight pylons, as rather than traditionally having a floodlight pylon in each corner of the ground, they run down both sides. Top Of Page
Grandstand
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What Is It Like For Away Supporters?
Away fans are predominantly housed in the Blowick terrace at one end of the ground, where just under 1,200 supporters can be housed. This small terrace is set back from the pitch and is open to the elements, so hope it does not rain. A better bet maybe to head for one of the 300 seats made available to visiting supporters in the Grandstand, as this is covered and generally gives a better view. The refreshments are competitively priced; Cheeseburgers (£2.70), Burgers (£2.20), Jumbo Hot Dogs (£2.20) and a selection of pies and pasties (£1.70). Top Of Page
Jack Carr Stand
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Where To Drink?
There is a bar at the ground which is situated behind the Grandstand, aptly called the Grandstand Bar. This shows Sky Sports matches and even serves its own real ale called 'Grand Stand Gold'. Otherwise there is the ‘Thatch & Thistle’ pub, which also serves food. This is located near to the bottom of Haig Avenue, at the junction of Butts Road and Meols Cop Road. As its name suggests the pub has a thatched roof as is part of the 'Two for one' chain. Also coming from the M58 on the Scrisbrick New Road is the Richmond pub, which is also in walking distance of the stadium. If you have a bit more time on your hands, then just over a mile away is Southport town centre, where there are plenty of good pubs to be found. Worth mentioning are the Sir Henry Segrave, Wetherspoon outlet and the Scarisbrick hotel. Both of which are located in Lord Street and are listed in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. Top Of Page
Popular Side
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How To Get There By Car & Where To Park
Leave the M6 at Junction 26 and take the M58 towards Southport. Leave the M58 at Junction 3 and take the A570 towards Ormskirk. Follow the A570 around Ormskirk Town Centre towards Southport. On entering Southport you will come to a large roundabout with Tesco’s & McDonalds outlets. Take the 3rd exit onto Scarisbrick New Road (A570). You should now be able to catch sight of the ground over on your right. Pass the Richmond pub on your left and then turn right into Haig Avenue. The ground is down on the right. There is no car park at the ground as such. There is though plenty of street parking available in the surrounding streets, however in some streets there are some parking restrictions so check for any warning signs. Map showing the location of the Haig Avenue Football Ground (takes you to the Street Map website). Top Of Page
By Train
The nearest station to the ground is Meols Cop which is about a mile away away from the ground. It is served by trains from Manchester Piccadilly. As you come out of the station turn left and proceed down Norwood Road. After about half a mile, turn right into Haig Avenue and the stadium is located down on the left. Southport station is located a mile and a half away from the ground. It costs around £4 for a taxi. Rosalind Zeffertt informs me; 'The best way to get to Haig Avenue from the station is by the number 44 Arriva bus which runs every 20 minutes from Eastbank Street (at 02, 22 and 42 past the hour). Go left out of the station onto Chapel St and then Turn left into Eastbank Street and the bus stop is on that side of the road opposite the Bright House store. In the evenings, the 44a goes from the same stop but is only every half hour, at 17 and 47 past the hour'. Adam Hodson a visiting Stockport County fan adds these walking directions; 'Head out of the station via the Chapel Street exit, turn left and walk through the pedestrianised shopping centre, passing shops such as WH Smiths & Marks & Spencers. Turn left at the end at the end of the pedestrianised shopping centre onto Eastbank Street. At the roundabout take the 2nd exit onto Scarisbrick New Road, passing a Total garage on the left. Continue through one set of traffic lights and at the 2nd set of traffic lights, turn left onto Haig Avenue and the ground is down on the right. It took me around 20-25 minutes to walk'. Whilst Paul Aird informs me; 'For a quicker aleternative walking route; 'Exit the station by the side entrance leading to the car park and turn right into London Street. At the top of London Street take the Victoria Footbridge over the railway line then turn left into Virginia Street, continue straight into Forest Road then right into Haig Avenue for the ground'. Top Of Page
Blowick End
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Local Rivals
Fleetwood Town, Morecambe and Burscough. Top Of Page
Admission Prices
Seating: Adults £14 Concessions £10 Under 18's £5 Terrace: Adults £12.50 Concessions £9 Under 18's £5 Under 11’s accompanied by an adult are admitted free. Top Of Page
Programme
Official Programme £2.50 Top Of Page
Ground Layout
Top Of Page
Fixtures 2012-2013
Southport FC fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website) Top Of Page
Record & Average Attendance
Record Attendance: 20,010 v Newcastle United FA Cup 6th Round, 1932 Average Attendance: 2011-2012: 1,290 (Blue Square Premier) 2010-2011: 1,154 (Blue Square Premier) 2009-2010: 915 (Blue Square North) Top Of Page
Fans Reviews Of Haig Avenue
Spencer Green (AFC Wimbledon) 15/8/10 Top Of Page
Hotel Accommodation
If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Late Rooms. They have a huge choice of places to stay and their booking facility is straightforward to use. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will go to help with the running costs of keeping the Guide going. Access their Southport Hotels and Guest Houses page. Remember that you can use the above link or panel below to book any other hotels that you may need for business or leisure, either in the UK or abroad. Top Of Page
Map Showing The Location Of Haig Avenue, Railway Stations And Listed Pubs
Instructions for using the map: - Use the bar on the left of the map to zoom in / out using the + / - keys. - Click and drag an area of the map to move around or use the up/down, left/right arrows - Click the Satellite button to see aerial view photograph.
Feedback
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please duncan@footballgrounds.net and I'll update the guide.

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Southport Merseyrail Community Stadium

Southport
Merseyrail Community Stadium