TheToughsheet Community Stadiumis afootballstadium inHorwich,Bolton,Lancashire,England, and is the home ground ofBolton Wanderers Football Club,with an all-seated capacity of 28,723.
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| Full name | Toughsheet Community Stadium |
|---|---|
| Former names |
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| Location | Burnden Way Horwich BoltonBL6 6JW England[1] |
| Public transit |  Horwich Parkway |
| Owner | Bolton Wanderers |
| Operator | Bolton Wanderers(1997–present) |
| Capacity | 28,723 (sports)[3] 40,000 (concerts) |
| Record attendance | 28,353 (sports) 34,731 (concert)[citation needed] |
| Field size | 110 x 72 yards (100.6 x 65.8 metres) |
| Surface | GrassMaster[4] |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1996–1997 |
| Opened | 1997 |
| Construction cost | £25m |
| Architect | Populous[2] |
| Tenants | |
| Bolton Wanderers(1997–present) | |
| Website | |
| bwfc.co.uk/stadium | |
Opening in 1997, it was originally named the Reebok Stadium, after club sponsorsReebok.In 2014, Bolton Wanderers signed a naming rights deal with Italian sportswear companyMacron.[5]It was renamed theUniversity of BoltonStadium in 2018.[6]From 1 July 2023 it became known as the Toughsheet Community Stadium,[7]after a Bolton-based recyclable building product manufacturer.
A hotel forms part of the stadium and some of the rooms offer views of the pitch.
History
editThe stadium is anall-seater stadiumwith a capacity of almost 29,000 and was completed in 1997, replacing the club's old ground,Burnden Park.
By the 1980s, Burnden Park, which at its peak had held up to 60,000 spectators, was becoming increasingly dilapidated, and a section of terracing was sold off for redevelopment as a supermarket to help pay off the club's rising debts. Bolton Wanderers had dropped into the Third Division in 1983 and later spent a season in the Fourth Division. In January 1990, theTaylor Reportrequired all clubs in the first and second tiers of the English league to have an all-seater stadium by the1994-95 season.Bolton were still in the Third Division at that stage, but were aiming for promotion - which was finally achieved in 1993. By that time, the club's owners had decided to relocate to a new all-seater stadium away from Burnden Park and, by 1995, had identified a location atHorwichas the preferred site of a new stadium.
The lead consultant/architect of the project was Lobb Sports, while local firmBradshaw Gass & Hopeacted as planning supervisors andquantity surveyors.The contractor wasBirse Construction,and Deakin Callard & Partners provided structural engineering services. The value of the contract was £25 million (US$42.1 million).[8]The stadium is noted for its distinctive gabled architecture, first pioneered by theKirklees Stadium.
The stadium was opened in 1997 byJohn Prescott,aLabour Partypolitician, who was theDeputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdomat the time.[9]
The stadium consists of four stands: The Carrs Pasties (North) Stand at one end; the South Stand (Franking Sense and also the away end) at the other end; the Kia (West) Stand at one side of the pitch; and the Nat Lofthouse (east) Stand on the other side.
When the stadium was named after long-time team sponsor Reebok in 1997, fans considered the title impersonal and believed that too much emphasis was being placed on financial considerations. That opposition lessened considerably after the stadium was built, as fans grew accustomed to the name and were bolstered by Reebok's status as a local company.[10]
The Macron branding was applied in July 2014, after the Bolton Wanderers club finalised a partnership with the large Italian sportswear brand. In April 2014, long-serving club chairman Phil Gartside stated that he was "proud" to be associated with Macron and had "been very impressed with their [Macron's] passion for football". A four-year duration was negotiated for the Macron deal and the club had the option to extend at completion.[11]
When the deal with Macron came to an end in August 2018, the stadium was again renamed, this time as the University of Bolton Stadium.[12]
On 1 July 2023, the stadium name was changed to The Toughsheet Community Stadium, with the deal set to last for five years.[7]
Footballing firsts
edit
- The first competitive – and Premier League – match at the stadium was a 0–0drawbetween Bolton andEvertonon Monday 1 September 1997.[13]Bolton'sGerry Taggarthad a header that crossed the line wrongly ruled out, and the points it would have won would have saved Bolton from relegation at Everton's expense.[14]
- The first player to score at the stadium wasAlan Thompson,apenaltyin the 1–1 draw againstTottenham Hotspur,on 23 September.Chris Armstrong,who later in his career had a short spell with Wanderers, got the equaliser.[15]
- On 6 September 2002, it hosted its first international, a friendly betweenEngland under-21andYugoslavia under-21.It ended in a 1–1 draw with 10,531 in attendance. VisitorDanko Lazovićscored the first goal andShaun Wright-Phillipsequalised.[16]22 years later, it hosted another England under-21 match againstLuxembourg under-21.[17]
- Lokomotiv Plovdivwere the visitors in the firstUEFA Cupmatch at the stadium, on 15 September 2005. Boban Janchevski scored first for the visitors, but late goals fromEl Hadji DioufandJared Borgettisecured a 2–1 home victory in the first competitive European match in Bolton's history.[18]
Other events
edit
The stadium has hosted concerts byOasis,[19]Pink,Elton John,Coldplay,the Killers,Little MixandRod Stewart.The music video for Coldplay's 2005 single "Fix You"uses footage filmed at their Horwich concerts. The track was performed twice on each night so enough footage could be captured.[20]
The stadium also hosted theUK Open Darts Championship,bo xingmatches with local boxerAmir Khanand in 2011Premiershiprugby union,whenSale Sharkslost toLondon Irish.It will also host group matches and the quarter-final of theRugby League World Cupin 2021.
The venue's Premier Suite is home to the UK's leading amateur mixed martial arts event, Full Contact Contender.[21][22]
In August 2019, the stadium hosted a campaign rally byLabour PartyleaderJeremy Corbyn.[23]
In March and April 2021, the stadium heldCrown Courtcases due to the large amount that had built up as a result of theCOVID-19 pandemicwhilst the actual Courts were closed.[24]In the same year it was a venue for COVID-19 vaccinations.[25]
Snooker
editA professional snooker tournament, the2021 Champion of Champions,[26]was hosted at the stadium between 15 and 21 November 2021.[27]
Rugby League
editThe stadium has also hosted seven rugby league matches.[28]
Rugby League Test Matches
edit| Test# | Date | Result | Attendance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 November 1998 |  New Zealanddef. Great Britain36–16 |
27,486 | 1998Great Britain vs New Zealand series |
| 1 | 18 November 2000 | New Zealanddef. England49–6 |
16,032 | 2000 Rugby League World Cupsemi-final |
| 3 | 17 November 2001 |  Australiadef.Great Britain40–12 |
22,152 | 2001Ashes series |
| 4 | 22 October 2022[a] | Englanddef. France42–18 |
23,648 | 2021 Rugby League World CupGroup A |
- ^Originally meant to be on 30 October 2021, but the competition was postponed to 2022 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.
World Club Challenge
edit| Game | Date | Result | Attendance | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 January 2001 |  St. Helensdef. Brisbane Broncos20–18 |
16,041 | 2001 World Club Challenge |
| 2 | 14 February 2003 |  Sydney Roostersdef.St. Helens38–0 |
19,807 | 2003 World Club Challenge |
| 3 | 23 February 2007 | St. Helensdef.Brisbane Broncos18–14 |
23,207 | 2007 World Club Challenge |
Challenge Cup
editIn 2018, the stadium hosted the first ever double-header semi-finals of theChallenge Cup,repeated in 2019. [29]
Bolton Wanderers Free School
editIn 2014, the club establishedBolton Wanderers Free Schoolat the stadium. It was asixth form centreoffering sports and related courses for 16- to 19-year-olds, and utilised the facilities of the stadium for most of its teaching and learning. However, this closed in 2017 due to low pupil numbers which made it 'not financially viable'.[30]
Attendances
editRecord attendances
edit- Record attendance: 28,353 vLeicester City,28 December 2003 (FA Premier League)
- Lowest attendance for a competitive match: 1,540 vEverton U23s,30 August 2016Northern Section Group Stage, Game One
- Lowest Premier League attendance: 17,014 vDerby County,2 January 2008
- RecordUEFA Cupattendance: 26,163 vAtlético Madrid,14 February 2008Last 32 1st leg
- RecordFA Cupattendance: 23,523 vArsenal,12 March 2005Quarter finals
- RecordLeague Cupattendance: 20,064 vAston Villa,23 August 2022,Second Round
- RecordEFL Trophyattendance: 9,062 vBradford City,3 September 2019Northern Section Group Stage, Game One
Average attendances
edit| Season | Division | League Average[31][32][33] | European Average | FA Cup Average | League Cup Average | EFL Trophy Average | Play-off Average |
| 2000–01 | First Division | 14,960 | 14,982 | 4,957 | 23,515 | ||
| 2001–02 | Premier League | 25,098 | 7,015 | ||||
| 2002–03 | 25,016 | 10,123 | 12,621 | ||||
| 2003–04 | 26,794 | 8,759 | 10,191 | ||||
| 2004–05 | 26,005 | 19,837 | 18,037 | ||||
| 2005–06 | 25,265 | 17,635 | 15,223 | 11,997 | |||
| 2006–07 | 23,606 | 21,088 | |||||
| 2007–08 | 20,901 | 18,367 | 15,286 | 15,510 | |||
| 2008–09 | 22,485 | 7,136 | |||||
| 2009–10 | 21,880 | 13,120 | 8,050 | ||||
| 2010–11 | 22,869 | 14,035 | |||||
| 2011–12 | 23,670 | 10,532 | 6,777 | ||||
| 2012–13 | Championship | 18,034 | 15,482[34] | ||||
| 2013–14 | 16,141 | 11,965[35] | |||||
| 2014–15 | 15,413 | 19,480 | 9,249 | ||||
| 2015–16 | 15,056 | 12,812 | 5,842 | ||||
| 2016–17 | League One | 15,194 | 8,453 | 1,565 | |||
| 2017–18 | Championship | 15,887 | 11,574 | 6,385 | |||
| 2018–19 | 14,239 | 5,506 | |||||
| 2019–20 | League One | 12,028 | 6,992 | 5,839 | |||
| 2020–21[a] | League Two | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | ||
| 2021–22 | League One | 16,104 | 11,183 | 7,147 | 2,332 | ||
| 2022–23 | 18,813 | 5,999 | 13,284 | 3,316 | 23,450 | ||
| 2023–24 | 21,022 | 7,369 | 6,747 | 2,713 | 24,518 | ||
| 2024–25 | 4,131 |
- ^All matches playedbehind closed doorsdue to theCOVID-19 pandemic.
Nat Lofthouse statue
edit
Bolton Wanderers unveiled a bronze statue of their most famous player,Nat Lofthouse(1925–2011), prior to a game againstQueens Park Rangerson 24 August 2013. The statue, which cost £100,000 and funded via the generosity of public donations and sponsors, is situated near to the south-west corner of the stadium and was officially revealed by club owner Eddie Davies in a special ceremony.
Club chaplain Phil Mason, chairmanPhil Gartsideand the son of Nat Lofthouse – Jeff Lofthouse, also took part in the ceremony as did sculptorSean Hedges-Quinn.Hedges-Quinn had taken 18 months overall to complete the project having worked successfully on the statues such as that ofBob StokoeatThe Stadium of Light,Ted BatesatSt Mary's StadiumandSir Bobby RobsonandAlf RamseyatPortman Road.[36]
Transport
editThe stadium's West Stand lies about 200 metres fromHorwich Parkway railway stationsituated betweenLostockandBlackrodon theManchester to Preston Line.Football specials used to operate to and from the station on matchdays in the past, but not in recent years. When the Wanderers play at home, bus services are laid on by the club from across the borough.[37]
On non-matchdays, Horwich Parkway is served by two trains an hour in each direction, operated byNorthern.Numerous routes serve bus stops near or at the ground, operated by TfGM under the Bee Network brand.Arriva North West,Vision Bus andDiamond Bus North West.[38]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^To check the stadium's full postal address, go to theRoyal Mail address finderand type: BL6 6JW. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
- ^"Reebok Stadium".architectPopulous.Archived fromthe originalon 27 February 2012.Retrieved10 August2014.
- ^"University of Bolton Stadium".StadiumDB.
- ^"Groundsmen Win Top Awards with Desso Pitches".SAPCA. 18 June 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 23 October 2014.Retrieved10 August2014.
- ^"BWFC strike stadium and kit deal with Macron".bwfc.co.uk. 24 April 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 24 April 2014.Retrieved24 April2014.
- ^"Welcome to the University of Bolton Stadium".Bolton Wanderers F.C.1 August 2018.Retrieved16 September2018.
- ^ab"The Toughsheet Community Stadium".Bolton Wanderers F.C.19 February 2023.Retrieved19 February2023.
- ^"Bolton Wanderers Football & Athletic Co Ltd. New Stadium".Bradshaw Gass & Hope.Bradshaw Gass & Hope, LLP. 2014. Archived fromthe originalon 5 September 2011.Retrieved6 August2014.
- ^"Timeline: A history of the Reebok Stadium".The Bolton News.24 April 2014.Retrieved6 August2014.
- ^Sam Antrobus (17 December 2012)."Should football fans really be so fearful of such deals?".FootballFanCast. Archived fromthe originalon 24 May 2013.Retrieved21 March2013.
- ^"Bolton to change stadium name to Macron Stadium – but where does it rank in the worst arena names?".The Daily Mirror.24 April 2014.Retrieved6 August2014.
- ^"Welcome to the University of Bolton Stadium".bwfc.co.uk. 1 August 2018.Retrieved1 August2018.
- ^Shaw, Phil (2 September 1997)."Football: Speed's miss spares Bolton".The Independent.Retrieved6 March2019.
- ^Iles, Marc (8 July 2017)."Two decades after Gerry Taggart's 'goal that never was' - Bolton Wanderers finally get goal-line technology".The Bolton News.Retrieved6 March2019.
- ^Walker, Michael (21 January 2019)."I scored historic goal but couldn't keep Bolton up".Press Reader.Retrieved6 March2019.
- ^"Wright-Phillips saves England".BBC Sport. 6 September 2002.Retrieved6 March2019.
- ^Bolton Wanderers to host England U21 qualifier in March
- ^"Bolton 2 Lokomotiv Plovdiv 1".Manchester Evening News.15 September 2005.Retrieved6 March2019.
- ^McNair, James (17 July 2000)."Oasis | Reebok Stadium, Bolton".The Independent.Archived fromthe originalon 12 July 2009.
- ^Montgomery, James (2 August 2005)."Coldplay's clip for 'Fix You': All new footage of Chris Martin walking around".MTV. Archived fromthe originalon 11 January 2016.Retrieved6 March2019.
- ^Wharton, Brad."Full Contact Contender 3 Report and Results".YourMMA.tv.YourMMA. Archived from the original on 18 April 2013.Retrieved2 April2013.
- ^McCann, George."FCC 5 Review and Results".Love2Fight Magazine.Archived fromthe originalon 14 May 2014.Retrieved2 April2013.
- ^Marshall, Brad (17 August 2019)."Jeremy Corbyn addresses hundreds of activists at University of Bolton Stadium rally".The Bolton News.Retrieved26 August2019.
- ^Manchester Evening News: "Football stadium to be transformed into a crown court"
- ^Pharmacy to lead mass vaccination site at stadium Pharmacy to lead mass vaccination site at stadium "
- ^"Cazoo and Matchroom Expand Partnership Deal".WST.17 June 2021. Archived fromthe originalon 17 June 2021.
- ^"Champion Of Champions Snooker Heads To University Of Bolton Stadium With Full Crowd This November".Champion of Champions Snooker.15 April 2021.Retrieved17 April2021.
- ^"Reebok Stadium - Results - Rugby League Project".Rugbyleagueproject.org.Retrieved10 January2021.
- ^"Semi Final Venues Announced".rugby-league.co.uk. 30 May 2018.Retrieved30 May2018.
- ^"Bolton Wanderers Free School 'not financially viable'".bwfc.co.uk. 7 March 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 26 October 2018.Retrieved7 May2018.
- ^"Premier League 2001/2002 - Attendance".worldfootball.net.Retrieved9 October2018.
- ^"Championship 2012/2013 - Attendance".worldfootball.net.Retrieved9 October2018.
- ^"League One 2016/2017 - Attendance".worldfootball.net.Retrieved9 October2018.
- ^"Bolton results 2012-13".Football365. Archived fromthe originalon 12 August 2014.Retrieved10 August2014.
- ^"Bolton results 2013-14".Football365. Archived fromthe originalon 10 August 2014.Retrieved10 August2014.
- ^"Nat Lofthouse statue at Bolton's Reebok Stadium".BBC News. 24 August 2013.Retrieved24 August2013.
- ^"Directions to the Reebok Stadium".Bwfc.co.uk.Retrieved25 March2013.
- ^"Archived copy".bwfcbusiness.co.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 2 September 2012.Retrieved17 January2022.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
External links
edit53°34′50″N2°32′8″W/ 53.58056°N 2.53556°W
- Official website
on Bolton Wanderers FC - Bolton Wanderers Free SchoolArchived13 June 2015 at theWayback Machine