Although it is sometimes difficult to remember, only seven teams have won the Premier League since it was called that, and the second to do so is not even in the competition at the moment. Last day we remembered their goalkeeper and today we will remember their stadium: Ewood Park, home of Blackburn Rovers.
Official name: Ewood Park.
location: Nuttall Street, Blackburn, Lancashire, England.
capacity: 31,367 spectators.
Opening year: 1882.
What is with you: Blackburn Rovers FC.
More stuff: Well, we are looking at one of those gems that was built when Queen Victoria was the Head of State of the United Kingdom, and it is one of those ancient stadiums in England that still retain a flavor of authenticity.
Sports had been played on the Ewood Park site since the early 1880s, and in 1882 a stadium structure was built to host football, greyhound racing and athletics. Keep in mind that Blackburn, so close to Manchester, was one of those thriving Victorian towns associated with the textile industry, where professional football as we know it took its first steps.
In 1883, the club bought the stadium for £2,500, and over the years they expanded the stands. Thus, in 1904, the stand facing Nuttall Street, the main street of the stadium, was constructed according to plans by the respected architect Archibald Leitch, author of many stadiums in the United Kingdom.
In 1913 the capacity exceeded 70,000 spectators, although only 10% of them had seats. In 1958, artificial light appeared for the first time.
The club’s big change came when Blackburn-born millionaire businessman Jack Warner, who made his fortune in the steel industry, bought the club in January 1991 with one aim: to make it the best in England. Their plans also included a refurbishment of the stadium, and between 1992 and 1994 ambitious works were carried out which included the demolition of houses and an adjacent factory to give Ewood Park its current appearance. It was revived in 1995, and has a capacity of more than 31,000 spectators, all seated. The stadium’s main stand is named after Jack Walker, who died in 2001.
In fact, Walker’s dream came true when Rovers won the English Premier League title in the 94/95 season, led by Alan Shearer in the attack, becoming the second team to win the title under its new name.
The stadium has hosted England international matches, and is also the home of Blackburn Rovers Women’s team and since 2014, the stadium has been a site of community interest for Blackburn City.
I hope you liked the article. See you tomorrow.