With Edinburgh City’s current Meadowbank Stadium home about to undergo a major refurbishment, the Club have had to seek another location for home games. The Club have agreed a three year groundshare of Ainslie Park Stadium, the home of Spartans FC, who were Edinburgh City’s main local rivals when both clubs played in the Scottish lowland League.
Ainslie Park Stadium is fairly modern having been opened in 2008 but is a small basic affair. Three sides are open areas that are consisted of perimeter fencing surrounded by a small hard standing or grassed areas, where fans stand to watch the game. One one side is a covered all seated Main Stand that has a capacity of around 500 seats. This stand which is comprised of six rows does not run the full length of the pitch, being just over half the pitch length. The roof of the stand is raised quite high above the seating area and at least there are no supporting pillars to contend with. It is though quite setback from the side of the pitch. Oddly the team dugouts are not located in front of this Main Stand but are housed on the opposite side of the ground. This leads to quite a procession of players and club staff across the pitch at half and at full time. There is also a precarious looking television gantry on this side.Beyond this side are some sizeable blocks of residential apartments that overlook the stadium. In addition, a number of houses overlook the ground from the North End. At the South East Corner there is a small structure that houses the changing rooms, Club offices and clubhouse bar. It has a raised balcony viewing area for Club Officials and Sponsors. The stadium has two rows of four floodlight pylons running down each side of the ground.
Apart from Spartans FC, the stadium is also home to Hibernian Ladies FC. The stadium has an artificial 3G playing surface.
The local council have approved plans to replace the current Meadowbank Stadium and Sports Centre, with a new facility. Works are expected to commence in early 2018. As part of these plans, a new athletics stadium will be created, featuring a running track surrounding a 3G artificial pitch, which can be used for football. The stadium would also include the construction of a new 500 capacity seated Main Stand. It is expected that works will continue until Easter 2020, with Edinburgh City FC returning shortly thereafter.
It unlikely that any league games will be segregated at Ainslie Park Stadium. If there is a need to segregate fans then visiting supporters are allocated specific seats on the North side of the Main Stand. Your entrance fee allows you stand or sit down at the ground. If you decide to stand then note at the North End of the stadium there is a small raised grassy bank, which gives spectators an elevated view of the match. The refreshments include a range of pies including a Macroni Pie £2. I have yet to attend a game at the stadium, but I am sure a friendly welcome awaits you. If you wish to feedback your experience to me of seeing a game there, then please email me at: [email protected].
There is no club house or bars located near to the ground. The closest is probably the Inverleith which is located around a mile away from the stadium on Ferry Road (going towards Leith).
From the North
After crossing the Forth Road Bridge and just before reaching the M90, take the left hand slip road onto the A90 towards Edinburgh, which then becomes the A902. After seven miles you will pass a Shell Petrol Station on your right and at the next roundabout take the third exit towards Leith and Newhaven which is Ferry Road (A902). After passing a Morrisons Store on your left, take the next left into Pilton Drive. The entrance to the Leisure Centre and Football Club are located down on the left after crossing a small railway bridge.
From the West & Glasgow
On reaching the end of the M8 take the A720 City Bypass North. At the next roundabout take the third exit onto the A8 towards Edinburgh City Centre. Then at the traffic lights (where there is a Shell Garage on one corner) turn left onto Maybury Road towards Forth Road Bridge/Leith. Go straight across at the next roundabout and on reaching the next traffic lights which is the junction with Queensferry Road, turn right towards City Centre/Leith (A90). Follow this road for three miles and as you pass a Shell Petrol Station on your right then at the next roundabout take the third exit towards Leith/Newhaven which is Ferry Road (A902). After passing a Morrisons Store on your left, take the next left into Pilton Drive. The entrance to the Leisure Centre and Football Club are located down on the left after crossing a small railway bridge.
From the South
Follow the A1 and then the A199 towards Leith. After passing through the centre of Leith and crossing the bridge over the Water of Leith, turn left at the traffic lights onto North Junction Road. At the next traffic lights turn right onto Ferry Road towards Forth Road Bridge/Glasgow (A902). Stay on Ferry Road for two miles. After passing the Rugby Club on the left, then at the next traffic lights just before reaching the Morrisons Store turn right into Pilton Drive. The entrance to the Leisure Centre and Football Club are located down on the left after crossing a small railway bridge.
Car Parking
There is some parking available to the Leisure Centre, otherwise street parking. Please note that parking at the nearby Morrisons Supermarket is restricted to two hours.
The nearest railway stations are Edinburgh Haymarket and Edinburgh Waverley, both of which are around two and a half to three miles away from Ainslie Park Stadium. Therefore really they are too far to walk, so either get a taxi (around £10) or if arriving at Edinburgh Waverley you can catch a Number 27 Lothian Bus, which drops you off outside the Morrisons Supermarket on Ferry Road close to the ground. You can catch the 27 Bus from ‘The Mound’ road which is close to the Waverley Station on the town side, by the Scottish National Gallery. The service operates every ten minutes on Saturdays and takes around 20 minutes to reach Morrisons. The bus costs £1.60 each way for Adults and 80p each way for Children. See the Lothian Buses website for more details.
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:
Adults £12 Concessions £6
Concessions apply to OAP’s, Under 18’s, Students and the Disabled, plus carer.
Official Matchday Programme: £2
The Club have enjoyed a healthy non-league rivalry with Spartans FC. With promotion to the Football League it will remain to be seen with which Clubs a rivalry develops.
Edinburgh City FC fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website).
Official website: www.edinburghcityfc.com
Official Social Media
Twitter: @EdinburghCityFC Facebook: facebook.com/ecfc01
Record Attendance
At Meadowbank Stadium 2,522 v Hibernian Pre-Season Friendly, 7th July 2016.
Record Attendance For Ainslie Park Stadium 3,127 Spartans v Manchester United Pre-Season Friendly, 23rd July 2011.
Average Attendance
At Ainslie Park 2018-2019: 401 (League Two) 2017-2018: 325 (League Two)
At Meadowbank Stadium 2016-2017: 401 (League Two)
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Special thanks to Geoff Jackson and Jonathan Gallagher for proving photos of the Ainslie Park Stadium in Edinburgh.Check out Geoff’s Cumbrian Groundhopper blog.
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, then please e-mail me at: [email protected] and I’ll update the guide.
Ground Layout

Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting the ground itself?
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of the stadium?
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out
Edinburgh City v Elgin City
Scottish League Two
Saturday 9th November 2019, 3pm
Mark Jamieson (Elgin City)
Why were you looking forward to this game and visiting Ainslie Park?
I had never visited Ainslie Park before and both teams were in great form coming into this match. I had heard positive things of the ground from other supporters and wanted to see it for myself.
How easy was your journey/finding the ground/car parking?
I travelled up to Edinburgh by train from my home in Middlesbrough on the Saturday morning and then got the 27 bus from The Mound in the city centre to Pilton Drive. The ground was just a short walk from the bus stop and was easy to find.
What you did before the game pub/chippy etc, and were the home fans friendly?
Before the game, we went to the Number 1 High Street pub on The Royal Mile and had something to eat and drink. Reasonable prices for home-cooked food and a large variety of beers.
What you thought on seeing the ground, first impressions of away end then other sides of Ainslie Park?
The ground is very modern and intimate. There is an artificial pitch which is commonplace amongst many lower league clubs these days. There is no segregation in place between home and away fans and a warm welcome awaits visitors.
Comment on the game itself, atmosphere, stewards, pies, facilities etc..
Like most games at League Two level, it started very scrappily. Elgin then scored just before half-time to make it a bit more exciting and they dominated most of the second half but Edinburgh City scored with five minutes left to draw 1-1. The facilities at the ground are fantastic and the pies are delicious. Pies are £2 each and you have to choose between Scotch, Curry or Macaroni. I chose a traditional Scotch pie and was not left disappointed. Tea/Coffee are £1.25.
Comment on getting away from the ground after the game:
After the game, we got the 27 bus back to the city centre and then made the short walk back to the train station feeling slightly disappointed that we didn't get all three points.
Summary of overall thoughts of the day out:
In summary, it was a great day out and another ground ticked off my list. I would definitely recommend a trip to Edinburgh City to others and look forward to going back to see Edinburgh City when they are playing in the new Meadowbank stadium.
Edinburgh City v Berwick Rangers
Scottish League 2
Tuesday 5th March 2019, 7.45pm
Tony Smith (Doing the 134)
Edinburgh City v Montrose
Scottish League 2
Saturday 13th January 2018, 3pm
Graeme Whitton (Neutral fan)
Edinburgh City v Stirling Albion
Scottish League Two
Saturday 4th November 2017, 3pm
Martin Cooper (Neutral fan)
Spartans v Clachnacuddin
Scottish Cup 2nd Round
Saturday 14th October 2017, 3pm
John Scott (Clachnacuddin fan)