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Cowdenbeath

Central Park

Capacity: 5,268 (Seated 1,622)
Club Nickname: Cowden or Blue Brazil
Year Opened: 1917
Pitch Size: 107 x 66 yards
Address: Cowdenbeath, Fife, KY4 9QQ
Phone: 01383 610 166
Pitch Type: Grass
Fax: 01383 512 132
Undersoil Heating: No
Home Kit: Royal Blue and White
Last Update: June 13, 2022

Central Park also hosts motor sport events, which means that around the oval grass football playing area, at the front of the spectator areas, there is a fair sized tarmac track, plus a meshed safety fence. It is largely an open stadium with three sides having small open terraces. Only on the North Side of the stadium is there a covered Main Stand. Or really I should say Main Stands as there are two, as an older and newer structure, sit side by side. This is because the original old Main Stand was partly destroyed by fire in 1992 and a new structure was constructed beside the remnants of the old stand. Both are covered and all seated and have a row of floodlight pylons at the front of them, which could affect your view.

For most games there is no segregation of supporters. If segregation needs to be enforced, then the terraces at both the South & East sides are allocated to away fans. The oval stock car track means that supporters using the end terrace are set rather far back from the action. For this reason supporters tend to congregate on either side of the ground, where you are a bit closer to the pitch. As the perimeter wall surrounding the stadium is not that high, you can often see a few dotted faces, peering over it and watching the game for nothing!

Derek Hall a visiting Hartlepool United fan adds; ‘Not one of the better grounds that I have visited. The black markings and large tyres surrounding the pitch makes the whole site look quite ugly. The only saving grace for this place is that it sells the famous Killie Pie’.

There are a number of bars located on or around the High Street. Near to Cowdenbeath Railway Station there is Partners Bar as well as the New Goth (both on the High Street). Whilst on nearby Broad Street there is the Woodside Hotel which also has a bar.

The ground is located in the centre of the town, beside the High Street, however it is not easily visible when driving along the High Street itself.

Leave the M90 at Junction 3 and take the A92 towards Kirkcaldy. Then take the A909 into Cowdenbeath, which then leads into the High Street. After a short distance along the High Street there is a small parking sign entitled ‘Central Park’ which points left down a small road for the ground. If you miss the sign (as I did), continue further up the High Street and turn left into Stenhouse Street where there is an overflow car park used on matchdays. There is also a fair sized car park at the ground as well, which is free to use.

Cowdenbeath Railway Station is only a five minute walk away from Central Park and is served by trains from Edinburgh. Exit the station walking down the slope towards the main High Street and bear left at the bottom. Walk down the High Street towards a set of traffic lights and turn right there into Hall Street. You will pass under a railway bridge and the ground will become visible slightly to your left not long afterwards. Thanks to Iain Badger for providing the directions.

Booking train tickets in advance will normally save you money! Find train times, prices and book tickets with Trainline. Visit the website below to see how much you can save on the price of your tickets:

All areas of Central Park
Adults £12
Over 65’s/Under 16’s £6

Official Programme £2.50

East Fife.

Cowdenbeath FC fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website).

Record Attendance 

25,586 v Glasgow Rangers
League Cup Quarter Final, 21st September 1949.

Average Attendance
2018-2019: 355 (League Two)
2017-2018: 320 (League Two)
2016-2017: 345 (League Two)

If you require hotel accommodation in Cowdenbeath then first try a hotel booking service provided by Booking.com. 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 help towards the running costs of keeping this Guide going.

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.cowdenbeathfc.com

Unofficial Web Sites: 
Any recommendations?

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 Ryan Thomson for helping me out with some additional photos of Central Park.

Reviews

Avatar of Brian Scott (Neutral) Brian Scott (Neutral)

Cowdenbeath v Dundee
Scottish League Cup Group Stage
Wednesday 26th July 2017, 7.45pm
Brian Scott (Neutral fan)

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Central Park?
 
Cowdenbeath was the last of the four clubs that I had lined up to visit in this round of the Scottish League Cup first round group stages.
 
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
 
I travelled by train and booked into the Straun Bank Hotel. The Central Park ground was easy to find on foot, and even easier when they turned on the loud music an hour before kick off!
 
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
 
On my way from the hotel I had a meal in the Chinese restaurant in the main street. I was the only diner because it was early. I can recommend it.
 
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the Central Park Stadium?
 
As I approach the turnstiles, I see separate home and away entrances. After having my bag 'searched' I go into the Old Main Stand. A steward then asks me if I'm a member of the Press. She asks me to leave the stand as it's closed today. The most unfriendly ground I've been to! Good job it's not raining as the Dundee fans have been allocated the entire open areas on three sides of the ground. Seems like the Dundee fans get no seats at all. Can't do my usual walk around the ground. Get a seat in the new stand making sure it does not have 'reserved' on the back. The tyres around the pitch for the motor racing simply look awful. This new stand is the only area available for home fans. Players came out through a horrible small opening in the perimeter wall. Subs benches equally ugly rusting metal with perspex. Just before kick off a man in a suit and tie walked up the steps towards me and told me off for sitting where I was. He quite rudely chucked me out as it appeared that I had unwittingly sat in the area allocated to home directors. It was not segregated or marked at all. Moved about six seats to the right in the back row. Cowdenbeath – 0/10 for friendliness and organisation. By kick off my allegiences are certainly with the away team! It appears that the Dundee Directors and friends are in an unsegregated and unmarked area a few rows in front of me and loud cheers go up from there when the first goal is scored. After the third goal in the 38th minute, there is an altercation between a home fan and a couple in this Directors area. The atmosphere in the section I was sitting in got so intimidating that it made me wish I wasn't there. I went to the toilet and saw that the Old stand had now got fans in so I  moved there. They are Dundee fans who are now allowed the seats, so they had even more of the ground! Seems like 90% of the crowd are away fans and all well behaved. Shame the other 10% are so unfriendly.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
 
Three goals scored in the first half all by the same player for Dundee. This made home fans angry, I suppose with their team. Cowdenbeath did play better in the second half but it was all over at half time. This result sets up an interesting final group game next week with Dundee playing Dundee United to find out who wins the group and gets automatically into the next round. (only 4 of the 8 group runners-up go through, which are those who are the best on merit).
 
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
 
After the match on walking back to my hotel I noticed that the majority of shops have metal shutters to cover their windows. Is it like that around here? I wonder how many will actually open in the morning? Looks so run down. I won't worry if I never have to return to Cowdenbeath. No problem getting away and back in the hotel by 9.45pm.
 
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
 
Just so glad that I hadn't planned to stay in Cowdenbeath for any longer than I did.
Avatar of Welsh Exile (Neutral) Welsh Exile (Neutral)

Cowdenbeath v Annan Athletic
Scottish Football League Two
Saturday 15th October 2016, 3pm
Welsh Exile (Neutral fan)

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Central Park?

I had been to Central Park before and loved the uniqueness of the ground. The race track, the fences, the terracing, it has it all. Also My friend had never been and wanted to tick a new ground off.

How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?

We got public transport to Cowdenbeath. The train station is only around the corner from the Central Park ground and right in the town itself. Also there is car parking available at the ground,  though if there is a big crowd may have trouble finding a space.

What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?

Went and had a bite to eat in a chippy on the High Street, then went to a few pubs before we went to the game. The pubs around there are old fashioned and no hassle in any of them. Home fans were friendly enough the ones that we spoke to.

What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Central Park?

Entrance to Central Park is through some old fashioned turnstiles. Once inside the ground you can either go into the seated stand or climb up a set of steps to the home terrace. I prefer to stand at matches so went in the home terrace. You have to walk around the end of the goal which has a high fence and race track around it so seem like your miles away from the pitch. We went on to the big terrace on the side. This also had the big fence and floodlight pylons in front of it plus it partly housed the facilities for the stock car racing. Even though you are set a little back from the pitch there is still good views to be had at the back of the stand. To the left of this stand is a little open terrace again set back from pitch along with more facilities for the stock cars. Opposite is the Main Stand which is comprised of two different structures. One is an old benched seating area which houses away fans and the other a new modern stand although they also have flood lights in front.

Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..

Atmosphere is a little flat due to being so far away from the pitch also being a largely open ground. Cowdenbeath fans tried their best but with lack of support it's hard to create s decent atmosphere. There is catering trucks with the ground and toilets in the Main Stand and in the terrace on side of the pitch.stewards were friendly.

Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:

Easy enough had time to wait for transport so had a couple of pints before heading home.

Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:

Nice day out, town is old fashioned and has charm and was decent game. Central Park is a ground that you have to go to at least once to appreciate it as there is no other ground quite like it. I enjoy days out there even though you are exposed when it rains.