Windsor Park

Known in long-form as the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park, Linfield’s home has undergone significant redevelopment to bring the ground up to modern standards over the years. After proposals to move to a new site were opposed by fans, new stands were built on three sides of the stadium, while the only remaining one – the North Stand – has been refurbished and refitted.

The East Stand as it exists now is smart-looking and single-tiered, and features a high wall as well as some spots for corporate hospitality towards the very back. The South Stand is a significantly larger two-tiered stand that runs along one side of the pitch with its notable semi-circular roof, and has been fitted with a row of corporate boxes between the upper and lower levels. Fans may also like to know that the South East corner of the ground features a large display screen.

The most recent addition to Windsor Park was the West Stand, which opened in 2017 and can host a capacity of 3,400 seated spectators on matchdays. As for the North Stand (which was built in the late 1980s), it is a cantilevered, two-tier stand that offers unobstructed views of the playing surface and can hold 6,862 fans.

One standout aspect of Windsor Park’s refurbishment work saw the original reddish seats replaced by green ones with a speckled white effect in the lower tier, and blue with the same effect in the upper, a design choice that has been described by some as being as if a white paint brush had been shaken over them.

People arriving at the ground on foot from the nearby Adelaide Railway Station will come across a tall, wide, dark green painted footbridge, where a beautiful collection of murals depicting former Northern Ireland players and famous quotes from managers and commentators adorn the walls. Sadly this bridge is also graffiti strewn, and has a cage of steel which blocks the elevated view of the ground and the hills in the distance.

If anyone can provide me with updated photos of Windsor Park for use on this website then please email me at [email protected]. Please note that I can only accept photos that have been taken by yourself or where you have the permission of the photographer for them to appear in this Guide.

Visitors are housed in part of the upper tier of the North Stand on one side of Windsor Park. The seating in this area offers an excellent unobstructed view of the pitch.

However, this stand is normally shared with home fans for Linfield games, though both sets of supporters are kept apart and the other stands at the ground are closed. As a result, the average gate in the region of 2,500-3,000 fans look out onto an empty stadium, which makes the experience a little surreal.

There are no pubs in the immediate vicinity of Windsor Park, however there are a number of food and drink shops within a short distance along Lisburn Road, and plenty to choose from in the city centre, notable pubs within a 15 minute drive include:

• The Dirty Onion and Yardbird – 3 Hill St, BT1 2LA
• The Thirsty Goat – 1 Hill St, BT1 2LA
• Kelly’s Cellars – 30-32 Bank St, BT1 1HL
• Sunflower Public House – 65 Union Street, BT1 2JG

From Portadown, Dungannon and the South
Windsor Park is located approximately 1.5 miles south-west of Belfast city centre. Exit M1 at  Junction 1 and take the second exit on the A12 Westlink roundabout., into Glenmachan Street.Take a sharp turn left into Donegall Road, then turn right into Donegall Avenue, which runs alongside the railway line.

From Antrim, Ballymena and the North
Take the M2 to North Belfast.Turn off into the A12 Westlink Road. This road leads onto the M1 Junction 1.Take the first left exit on the Junction 1 Roundabout into Glenmachan Street, then turn left into Donegall Road, then turn right into Donegall Avenue, which runs alongside the railway line.

From Bangor and Newtonards
Take the A2 Sydenham Bypass into East Belfast. Follow onto the M3,as the road passes over the river Lagan, take a left turn and join the A12 West Link. This road leads onto the M1 Junction 1.Take the first left exit on the Junction 1 Roundabout into Glenmachan Street, then  turn left into Donegall Road, then turn right into Donegall Avenue, which runs alongside the railway line.

Car Parking
The ground has a large car park to the rear of the West Stand, parking around the ground is residential, although there is a number of large industrial estates and retail parks to the south of the ground which has plenty of car parking spaces.

There are a number of Railway stations to the south of Belfast, all within 20 minutes walk of the ground. These are Belfast Central, City Hospital, Botanic and Great Victoria Street, with Adelaide Station being 2 minutes walk south of the ground. All slow train services from Portadown and Bangor stop at these stations, however the Enterprise Service from Belfast Central to Dublin Connolly only stop at Botanic.

Arriving At Victoria Street Railway Station/Europa Bus Station
The ground is around 20-30 minutes walk south of the station, however, for those that would like to visit Belfast City Centre before the game, when you come out of the bus station concourse/retail shops turn left, pass the opera house, and take a right turn into Howard Street. This will lead you towards City Hall and the shops and restaurants in the heart of the City.

There is not a direct service from the city centre to the ground, however Metro Bus 9 operates from Donegall Square East, next to Belfast City Hall. This bus runs along Lisburn Road with regular stops.If you sit on the bus upper deck and look out to the right hand side this will give you a good idea of when you are getting closer to the ground. Depart the bus as close as possible to Lower Windsor Avenue then take a 2 minute walk along to the end of the road, pass over the railway footbridge and
into the ground.

Directions To The Stadium From Great Victoria Street Railway Station/Europa Bus Station
Exit the bus station concourse/retail shops and turn right, following the Great Victoria Street Road. At the Bradbury Place junction take a right turn into the A1 Lisburn Road. Follow this road and take a right turn into Lower Windsor Avenue. The ground is visible at the far end of the road. Once at the end of the road, cross the railway footbridge. The ground is directly ahead.

Directions To The Stadium From Adelaide Railway Station
Adelaide Railway Halt is a 2 minute walk south of the ground. This can be reached by catching the Portadown/Newry slow train from Central Station, Botanic,City Hospital or Great Victoria Street stations. Once at Adelaide Halt turn left and a two minute walk will take you to the railway footbridge and into the ground.

Adults: £15
Concessions £10

Junior £5

Official Matchday Programme £2.

Linfields’s biggest rivalry is with East Belfast club Glentoran, with whom they contend the Belfast Derby. There is also rivalry with Crusaders and Cliftonville from North Belfast. The Blues have failed to beat Glentoran on home turf in five attempts between February 2023 and December 2024 but have won three of their last five trips to their rivals’ home ground.

Linfield Northern Ireland Premier League Fixtures (takes you to the club website fixtures page).

2024-2025: 2,713 (Northern Ireland Premiership)

2023-2024: 3,284 (Northern Ireland Premiership)
2022-2023: 2,821 (Northern Ireland Premiership)
2021-2022: 2,542 (Northern Ireland Premiership)

2020-2021 (COVID-19 affected): 450 (Northern Ireland Premiership)
2019-2020: 2,965 (Northern Ireland Premiership)
2018-2019: 2,398 (Northern Ireland Premiership)

2017-2018: 2,256 (Northern Ireland Premiership)
2016-2017: 2,538 (Northern Ireland Premiership)
2015-2016: 2,304 (Northern Ireland Premiership)

If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Late Rooms. They offer all types of accommodation to suit all tastes and pockets from; Budget Hotels, Traditional Bed & Breakfast establishments to Five Star Hotels and Serviced Apartments. Plus their booking system is straightforward and easy 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.

Official Web Site: www.linfieldfc.com

Official Social Media
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/linfieldtv1886
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/OfficialLinfieldFC
X:  @OfficialBlues

If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, then please e-mail me at: [email protected] and I’ll update the guide.

Special thanks to Linfield FC for providing the photos of Windsor Park, Belfast.