Stamford Bridge is a football stadium located in Fulham, London. It is the home ground of Chelsea Football Club. The stadium is located within the Moore Park Estate also known as Walham Green and is often referred to as simply The Bridge.[3][4] The capacity is 41,837,[5] making it the eighth largest ground in the Premier League.
Opened in 1877, the stadium was used by the London Athletics Club until 1905, when new owner Gus Mears founded Chelsea Football Club to occupy the ground; Chelsea have played their home games there ever since. It has undergone numerous major changes over the years, most recently in the 1990s when it was renovated into a modern, all-seater stadium.
Stamford Bridge has been used as a venue for England international matches, FA Cup finals, FA Cup semi-finals and Charity Shield games. It has also hosted numerous other sports, such as cricket, rugby union, speedway, greyhound racing, baseball and American football. The stadium's highest official attendance is 82,905, for a league match between Chelsea and Arsenal on 12 October 1935.Early history
Bird's Eye Picture of Chelsea's Stamford Bridge stadium in 1909
'Stamford Bridge' is considered to be a corruption of 'Samfordesbrigge' meaning 'the bridge at the sandy ford'.[6] Eighteenth century maps show a 'Stanford Creek' running along the route of what is now a railway line at the back of the East Stand as a tributary of the Thames. The upper reaches of this tributary have been variously known as Billingswell Ditch, Pools Creek and Counters Creek. In mediaeval times the Creek was known as Billingwell Dyche, derived from 'Billing's spring or stream'. It formed the boundary between the parishes of Kensington and Fulham. By the eighteenth century the creek had become known as Counter's Creek which is the name it has retained since.[7]
The stream had two local bridges: Stanford Bridge on the Fulham Road (also recorded as Little Chelsea Bridge) and Stanbridge on the Kings Road, now known as Stanley Bridge.The existing Stamford Bridge was built of brick in 1860–2 and has been partly reconstructed since then.
The brand New Stamford Bridge stadium in August 1905
Chelsea beat West Brom at Stamford Bridge in September 1905
Stamford Bridge opened in 1877 as a home for the London Athletics Club and was used almost exclusively for that purpose until 1904, when the lease was acquired by brothers Gus and Joseph Mears, who wanted to stage high-profile professional football matches there. However, previous to this, in 1898, Stamford Bridge played host to the World Championship of shinty between Beauly Shinty Club and London Camanachd.[8] Stamford Bridge was built close to Lillie Bridge, an older sports ground which had hosted the 1873 FA Cup Final and the first ever amateur boxing matches (among other things). It was initially offered to Fulham Football Club, but they turned it down for financial reasons. They considered selling the land to the Great Western Railway Company, but ultimately decided to found their own football club instead, Chelsea, to occupy the ground as a rival to Fulham. Noted football ground architect Archibald Leitch, who had also designed Ibrox, Celtic Park, Craven Cottage and Hampden Park, was hired to construct the stadium.
Stamford Bridge had an official capacity of around 100,000, making it the second largest ground in England after Crystal Palace, the FA Cup final venue. As originally constructed, Stamford Bridge was an athletics track and the pitch was initially located in the middle of the running track. This meant that spectators were separated from the field of play on all sides by the width of running track and, on the north and south sides, the separation was particularly large because the long sides of the running track considerably exceeded the length of the football pitch. The stadium had a single stand for 5,000 spectators on the east side. Designed by Archibald Leitch, it is an exact replica of the Johnny Haynes stand he had previously built at the re-developed Craven Cottage (and the main reason why Fulham had chosen not to move into the new ground). The other sides were all open in a vast bowl and thousands of tons of material excavated from the building of the Piccadilly Line provided high terracing for standing spectators exposed to the elements on the west side.
In 1945, Stamford Bridge staged one of the most notable matches in its history. Soviet side FC Dynamo Moscow were invited to tour the United Kingdom at the end of the Second World War and Chelsea were the first side they faced. An estimated crowd of over 100,000 crammed into Stamford Bridge to watch an exciting 3–3 draw, with many spectators on the dog track and on top of the stands.
[edit]Crisis
In the early 1970s the club's owners embarked on an ambitious project to renovate Stamford Bridge. However, the cost of building the East Stand escalated out of control after shortages of materials and a builders' strike and the remainder of the ground remained untouched. The increase in the cost, combined with other factors, sent the club into decline. As a part of financial restructuring in the late 1970s, the freehold was separated from the club and when new Chelsea chairman Ken Bates bought the club for £1 in 1982, he did not buy the ground. A large chunk of the Stamford Bridge freehold was subsequently sold to property developers Marler Estates. The sale resulted in a long and acrimonious legal fight between Bates and Marler Estates. Marler Estates was ultimately forced to bankruptcy after a market crash in the early 1990s, allowing Bates to do a deal with its banks and re-unite the freehold with the club.
During the 1984-85 season, following a series of pitch invasions and fights by football hooligans during matches at the stadium, chairman Ken Bates erected an electric perimeter fence between the stands and the pitch – identical to the one which effectively controlled cattle on his dairy farm. However, the electric fence was never turned on and before long it was dismantled, due to the GLC blocking it from being switched on for health and safety reasons.[9]
With the Taylor Report arising from the Hillsborough disaster being published in January 1990 and ordering all top division clubs to have all seater stadiums in time for the 1994-95 season, Chelsea's plan for a 34,000-seat stadium at Stamford Bridge was given approval by Hammersmith and Fulham council on 19 July 1990.[10]
The re-building of the stadium commenced again and successive building phases during the 1990s have eliminated the original running track. The construction of the 1973 East Stand started the process of eliminating the track. All stands, now roofed and all-seater, are immediately adjacent to the pitch. This structure has the effect of concentrating and capturing the noise of supporters. Paradoxically, the noise sounds louder now than when supporters were dispersed at a distance from the pitch on open terraces, although the stadium capacity is approximately half of what it was. The pitch, the turnstiles, and the naming rights of the club are now owned by Chelsea Pitch Owners, an organization set up to prevent the stadium from being purchased by property developers again.
KSS Design Group (architects) designed the complete redevelopment of Stamford Bridge Stadium and its hotels, megastore, offices and residential buildings.[11]
[edit]
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anfield stadium
Anfield is a football stadium in Anfield, Liverpool, England which has a seating capacity of 45,276.[1] It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892. It was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, when they moved to Goodison Park.
The stadium has four stands: the Spion Kop, Main Stand, Centenary Stand and Anfield Road. The record attendance of 61,905, was set at a match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1952. The ground's conversion to an all-seater stadium in 1994 as a result of the Taylor Report greatly reduced its capacity.
Two gates at the ground are named after former Liverpool managers: Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley. A statue of Shankly is situated outside the stadium. The ground is 2 miles (3 km) from Liverpool Lime Street railway station.
Plans to replace Anfield with a new 60,000-capacity stadium in adjacent Stanley Park were initiated in 2002. Fenway Sports Group's acquisition of Liverpool in 2010 made the construction of a new stadium doubtful as they have said they would prefer to redevelop Anfield.Opened in 1884, Anfield was originally owned by John Orrell, a minor land owner who was a friend of an Everton F.C. member John Houlding.[2] Everton, who previously played at Priory Road, were in need of a new venue owing to the noise produced by the crowd on match days.[3] Orrell lent the pitch to the club in exchange for a small rent. The first match at the ground was between Everton and Earlestown on 28 September 1884, which Everton won 5–0.[4] During Everton's tenure at the stadium, stands were erected for some of the 8,000-plus spectators regularly attending matches, although the ground was capable of holding around 20,000 spectators and occasionally did. The ground was considered of international standard at the time, playing host to the British Home Championship match between England and Ireland in 1889. Anfield's first league match was played on 8 September 1888, between Everton and Accrington F.C. Everton quickly improved as a team, and became Anfield's first league champions in the 1890–91 season.[5]
The "THIS IS ANFIELD" sign above the tunnel to the pitch at Anfield. It was installed by former manager Bill Shankly to instil fear into the opposition.
In 1892, negotiations to purchase the land at Anfield from Orrell escalated into a dispute between Houlding and the Everton F.C. committee over how the club was run. Events culminated in Everton's move to Goodison Park.[3] Houlding was left with an empty stadium, and decided to form a new club to occupy it. The new team was called Liverpool F.C. and Athletic Grounds Ltd, and the club's first match at Anfield was a friendly played in front of 200 people on 1 September 1892, against Rotherham Town. Liverpool won 7–1.[6]
Liverpool's first Football League match at Anfield was played on 9 September 1893, against Lincoln City. Liverpool won 4–0 in front of 5,000 spectators.[7] A new stand capable of holding 3,000 spectators was constructed in 1895 on the site of the present Main Stand. Designed by architect Archibald Leitch,[8] the stand had a distinctive red and white gable, and was similar to the main stand at Newcastle United's ground St James' Park.[6] Another stand was constructed at the Anfield Road end in 1903, built from timber and corrugated iron. After Liverpool had won their second League championship in 1906, a new stand was built along the Walton Breck Road. Local journalist Ernest Edwards, who was the sports editor of newspapers the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo, christened it the Spion Kop; it was named after a famous hill in South Africa where a local regiment had suffered heavy losses during the Boer War in 1900. More than 300 men had died, many of them from Liverpool, as the British army attempted to capture the strategic hilltop. Around the same period a stand was also built along Kemlyn Road.[9]
The ground remained much the same until 1928, when the Kop was redesigned and extended to hold 30,000 spectators, all standing. A roof was erected as well.[10] Many stadia in England had stands named after the Spion Kop. Anfield's was the largest Kop in the country at the time—it was able to hold more supporters than some entire football grounds.[11] In the same year the topmast of the SS Great Eastern, one of the first iron ships, was rescued from the ship breaking yard at nearby Rock Ferry, and was hauled up Everton Valley by a team of horses, to be erected alongside the new Kop. It still stands there, serving as a flag pole.[12]
Hillsborough memorial (left) erected in memory of the 96 Liverpool fans who died at the ground and the Shankly Gates (right) erected in honour of former manager Bill Shankly.
Floodlights were installed at a cost of £12,000 in 1957. On 30 October they were switched on for the first time for a match against Everton to commemorate the 75-year anniversary of the Liverpool County Football Association.[11] In 1963 the old Kemlyn Road stand was replaced by a cantilevered stand, built at a cost of £350,000, and able to hold 6,700 spectators.[13] Two years later alterations were made at the Anfield Road end, turning it into a large covered standing area. The biggest redevelopment came in 1973, when the old Main Stand was demolished and a new one constructed. At the same time, the pylon floodlights were pulled down and new lights installed along the top of the Kemlyn Road and Main Stands. The new stand was officially opened by the Duke of Kent on 10 March 1973.[13] In the 1980s the paddock in front of the Main Stand was turned into seating, and in 1982 seats were introduced at the Anfield Road end. The Shankly Gates were erected in 1982, a tribute to former manager Bill Shankly; his widow Nessie unlocked them for the first time on 26 August 1982.[12] Across the Shankly Gates are the words You'll Never Walk Alone, the title of the hit song by Gerry & The Pacemakers adopted by Liverpool fans as the club's anthem during Shankly's time as manager.[14]
A statue in honour of Bill Shankly, which was erected in 1997 outside The Kop
Coloured seats and a police room were added to the Kemlyn Road stand in 1987. After the Hillsborough disaster in 1989 where overcrowding led to the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans, the Taylor Report recommended that all grounds in the country should be converted into all-seater grounds by May 1994.[15] A second tier was added to the Kemlyn Road stand in 1992, turning it into a double-decker layout. It included executive boxes and function suites as well as 11,000 seating spaces. Plans to expand the stand had been made earlier, with the club buying up houses on Kemlyn Road during the 1970s and 1980s, but had to be put on hold until 1990 because two sisters, Joan and Nora Mason, refused to sell their house. When the club reached an agreement with the sisters in 1990, the expansion plans were put into action.[16] The stand—re-named the Centenary Stand—was officially opened on 1 September 1992 by UEFA president Lennart Johansson. The Kop was rebuilt in 1994 after the recommendations of the Taylor Report and became all seated; it is still a single tier, and the capacity was significantly reduced to 12,390.[11]
On 4 December 1997, a bronze statue of Bill Shankly was unveiled at the visitors' centre in front of the Kop. Standing at over 8 feet (2.4 m) tall, the statue depicts Shankly with a fan's scarf around his neck, in a familiar pose he adopted when receiving applause from fans. Inscribed on the statue are the words "Bill Shankly – He Made the People Happy".[17] The Hillsborough memorial is situated alongside the Shankly Gates, and is always decorated with flowers and tributes to the 96 people who died in 1989 as a result of the disaster. At the centre of the memorial is an eternal flame, signifying that those who died will never be forgotten.[18] The most recent structural change to Anfield came in 1998 when the new two-tier Anfield Road end was opened. The stand has encountered a number of problems since its redevelopment; at the beginning of the 1999–2000 season, a series of support poles and stanchions had to be brought in to give extra stability to the top tier of the stand. During Ronnie Moran's testimonial match against Celtic, many fans complained of movement of the top tier. At the same time that the stanchions were inserted, the executive seating area was expanded by two rows in the main stand, lowering the seating capacity in the paddock.[19]
[edit]Structures and facilities
Outline of Anfield; Centenary Stand (top), The Kop (right), Main Stand (bottom) and Anfield Road stand (left)
Anfield comprises 45,276 seats split between four stands: the Anfield Road end, the Centenary Stand, the Kop, and the Main Stand. The Anfield Road end and Centenary Stand are two-tiered, while the Kop and Main Stand are single-tiered.[20] Entry to the stadium is gained by radio-frequency identification (RFID) smart cards rather than the traditional manned turnstile. This system, used in all 80 turnstiles around Anfield, was introduced in 2005.[21]
The Kop is a large single-tiered stand. Originally a large terraced banking providing accommodation for more than 30,000 spectators, the current incarnation was constructed in 1994–95 and is single-tiered with no executive boxes. The Kop houses the club's museum, the Reducate centre and the official club shop.[22] The Kop is the most-renowned stand at Anfield among home and away supporters, with the people who occupy the stand referred to as kopites. Such was the reputation that the stand had it was claimed that the crowd in the Kop could suck the ball into the goal.[23] Traditionally, Liverpool's most vocal supporters congregate in this stand.[24]
The oldest stand at Anfield is the Main Stand, which was completed in 1982. It is a single-tiered stand that houses the dressing rooms and directors' box. The press and directors VIP box are located in the middle of the stand. The large roof is supported by two thin central uprights, with a large suspended television camera gantry.[25] The players' tunnel and the technical area where the managers and substitutes sit during the match are in the middle of the stand at pitch level. Above the stairs leading down to the pitch hangs a sign stating "THIS IS ANFIELD". Its purpose is to both intimidate the opposition and to bring the Liverpool players who touch it good luck. Accordingly, Liverpool players and coaching staff reach up and place one or both hands on it as they pass underneath.[26]
The Paisley Gateway outside The Kop, which was erected in honour of former manager Bob Paisley
The Centenary Stand is a two-tiered stand. Originally a single-tiered stand called the Kemlyn Road Stand, the second tier was added in 1992 to coincide with the club's centenary.[27] It is located opposite of the Main Stand and houses directors' boxes, which are between the two tiers. The stand also houses the ground's police station.[20]
The Anfield Road stand, on the left side of the Main Stand, houses the away fans during matches. The Anfield Road End was rebuilt in 1965, and multi-coloured seats were added in 1982. Originally a single-tier stand, a further revamp, which was completed in 1998, gave the stand a second-tier providing additional seating.[27]
There are 59 spaces available in the stadium to accommodate wheelchair users who have season tickets; a further 33 spaces are available for general sale and 8 are allocated to away supporters. These spaces are located in the Main Stand, Anfield Road Stand and The Kop. There are 38 spaces available for the visually impaired, which are situated in the paddock area of the Main Stand, with space for one personal assistant each. A headset with full commentary is provided.[28]
The stadium features tributes to two of the club's most successful managers. The Paisley Gateway is a tribute to Bob Paisley, who guided Liverpool to three European Cups and six League Championships in the 1970s and '80s. The gates were erected at the Kop; their design includes representations of the three European Cups Paisley won during his tenure, the crest of his birthplace in Hetton-le-Hole, and the crest of Liverpool F.C.[29] The Shankly Gates, in tribute of Bill Shankly, Paisley's predecessor between 1959 and 1974, are at the Anfield Road end. Their design includes a Scottish flag, a Scottish thistle, the Liverpool badge, and the words "You'll Never Walk Alone".[30]
[edit]Future
See also: Stanley Park Stadium
The Kop; the atmosphere generated by the crowd in the stand has led owner John W. Henry to reconsider the construction of a new stadium.
Plans to replace Anfield were originally initiated by Liverpool in May 2002.[31] The proposed capacity was 55,000, but it was later revised to 61,000, with 1,000 seats given for segregation between home and away fans. Several attempts were made between 2003 to 2007 by the Liverpool City Council to instigate a groundshare of the proposed stadium with local rivals Everton, but this move was rejected, as neither club favoured it.[32] On 30 July 2004 Liverpool was granted planning permission to build a new stadium 300 yards (270 m) away from Anfield at Stanley Park.[33] On 8 September 2006 Liverpool City Council agreed to grant Liverpool F.C. a 999-year lease of the land on the proposed site.[34]
Following the takeover of Liverpool F.C. on 6 February 2007 by George Gillett and Tom Hicks, the proposed stadium was redesigned to reduce the costs of construction. In November 2007 the redesigned layout was approved by the council, and construction was due to start in early 2008.[35] The new stadium, provisionally called Stanley Park Stadium, was to be built by HKS, Inc.. It was scheduled to open in August 2011 with a capacity of 71,000.[36] If the new stadium is built Anfield will be demolished. The land will become home to the centrepiece for the Anfield Plaza development, which would include a hotel, restaurants, and offices.[37] However, the construction of Stanley Park was delayed following the economic crisis of 2008 and the subsequent recession, which directly affected the then American owners. The situation was worsened because the club was bought with borrowed money, not the owners' capital, and interest rates were higher than expected.[38] Hicks and Gillett promised to begin work on the stadium within 60 days of acquisition of the club, but had trouble financing the estimated £300 million needed for the Stanley Park development. The deadline passed, and as of June 2011 the site remains untouched.[39] The delays had repercussions in the local district of Anfield, with regeneration plans on hold until the future of the football stadium is decided.[40]
The acquisition of Liverpool by Fenway Sports Group in October 2010 put into question whether Liverpool would leave Anfield. In February 2011 the new club owner, John W. Henry, stated he had a preference for remaining at Anfield and expanding the capacity. After attending a number of games at Anfield, Henry stated that "the Kop is unrivalled", adding "it would be hard to replicate that feeling anywhere else".[41]
[edit]Other uses
Anfield has hosted numerous international matches, and was one of the venues used during Euro 96; the ground hosted three group games and a quarter-final.[42] The first international match hosted at Anfield was between England and Ireland, in 1889. England won the match 6–1. Anfield was also the home venue for several of England's international football matches in the early 1900s and for the Welsh team in the later part of that century.[43][44] Anfield has also played host to five FA Cup semi-finals, the last of which was in 1929.[43] The most recent international to be hosted at Anfield was England's 2–1 victory over Uruguay on 1 March 2006.[45] England has played two testimonial matches against Liverpool at Anfield. The first was in 1983, when England faced Liverpool for Phil Thompson's testimonial. Then, in 1988, England visited again for Alan Hansen's testimonial.[46]
Anfield has been the venue for many other events. During the mid-twenties, Anfield was the finishing line for the city marathon. Liverpool held an annual race which started from St George's plateau in the city centre and finished with a lap of Anfield.[43] Boxing matches were regularly held at Anfield during the inter-war years, including a number of British boxing championships; on 12 June 1934 Nel Tarleton beat Freddie Miller for the World Featherweight title. Professional tennis was played at Anfield on boards on the pitch. US Open champion, Bill Tilden, and Wimbledon champion, Fred Perry, entertained the crowds in an exhibition match. In 1958, an exhibition basketball match featuring the Harlem Globetrotters was held at the ground.[47] The 1991 World Club Challenge rugby league match, between the Penrith Panthers, winners of the Australian National Rugby League, and the Wigan Warriors, winners of the European Super League was held at the ground in front of 20,152 people. In addition to rugby league, Anfield has been confirmed as one of the grounds that will host matches during the 2015 Rugby Union World Cup.[48] Aside from sporting uses, Anfield has been a venue for musicians of different genres as well as evangelical preachers. One week in July 1984, the American evangelist Billy Graham preached at Anfield, attracting crowds of over 30,000 each night.[43] Anfield was featured in Liverpool's 2008 European Capital of Culture celebrations: 36,000 people attended a concert on 1 June 2008, featuring The Zutons, Kaiser Chiefs, and Paul McCartney.[49]
[edit]Records
Average attendance at Anfield since 1947
The highest attendance recorded at Anfield is 61,905, for Liverpool's match against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup fifth round, on 2 February 1952.[50] The lowest attendance recorded at Anfield was 1,000 for a match against Loughborough on 7 December 1895.[51] The highest average attendance of 48,127 was set in 1978.[27]
Liverpool did not lose a match at Anfield during the 1893–94, 1970–71, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1987–88, and 2008–09 seasons. They won all their home games during the 1893–94 season. Liverpool's longest winning streak at home extended from January 1978 to January 1981, a period encompassing 85 games, in which Liverpool scored 212 goals and conceded 35.[50] Liverpool's worst losing streak at Anfield is three games. This occurred three times in the club's history to date (1899–1900, 1906–07 and 1908–09 seasons).[52]
[edit]Transport
The stadium is about 2 miles (3 km) from Lime Street Station,[53] which lies on a branch of the West Coast Main Line from London Euston. Kirkdale Station, about 1 mile (1.6 km) from the stadium, is the nearest station to Anfield. Fans travelling by train for matches may book direct to Anfield or Goodison Park, changing to the Merseytravel Soccerbus service at Sandhills Station on the Merseyrail Northern Line.[54] The stadium has no parking facilities for supporters, and the streets around the ground allow parking only for residents with permits. There are proposals under consideration for reinstating passenger traffic on the Bootle Branch, which would cut the distance from the nearest train station to about 0.5 miles (1 km)
The stadium has four stands: the Spion Kop, Main Stand, Centenary Stand and Anfield Road. The record attendance of 61,905, was set at a match between Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1952. The ground's conversion to an all-seater stadium in 1994 as a result of the Taylor Report greatly reduced its capacity.
Two gates at the ground are named after former Liverpool managers: Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley. A statue of Shankly is situated outside the stadium. The ground is 2 miles (3 km) from Liverpool Lime Street railway station.
Plans to replace Anfield with a new 60,000-capacity stadium in adjacent Stanley Park were initiated in 2002. Fenway Sports Group's acquisition of Liverpool in 2010 made the construction of a new stadium doubtful as they have said they would prefer to redevelop Anfield.Opened in 1884, Anfield was originally owned by John Orrell, a minor land owner who was a friend of an Everton F.C. member John Houlding.[2] Everton, who previously played at Priory Road, were in need of a new venue owing to the noise produced by the crowd on match days.[3] Orrell lent the pitch to the club in exchange for a small rent. The first match at the ground was between Everton and Earlestown on 28 September 1884, which Everton won 5–0.[4] During Everton's tenure at the stadium, stands were erected for some of the 8,000-plus spectators regularly attending matches, although the ground was capable of holding around 20,000 spectators and occasionally did. The ground was considered of international standard at the time, playing host to the British Home Championship match between England and Ireland in 1889. Anfield's first league match was played on 8 September 1888, between Everton and Accrington F.C. Everton quickly improved as a team, and became Anfield's first league champions in the 1890–91 season.[5]
The "THIS IS ANFIELD" sign above the tunnel to the pitch at Anfield. It was installed by former manager Bill Shankly to instil fear into the opposition.
In 1892, negotiations to purchase the land at Anfield from Orrell escalated into a dispute between Houlding and the Everton F.C. committee over how the club was run. Events culminated in Everton's move to Goodison Park.[3] Houlding was left with an empty stadium, and decided to form a new club to occupy it. The new team was called Liverpool F.C. and Athletic Grounds Ltd, and the club's first match at Anfield was a friendly played in front of 200 people on 1 September 1892, against Rotherham Town. Liverpool won 7–1.[6]
Liverpool's first Football League match at Anfield was played on 9 September 1893, against Lincoln City. Liverpool won 4–0 in front of 5,000 spectators.[7] A new stand capable of holding 3,000 spectators was constructed in 1895 on the site of the present Main Stand. Designed by architect Archibald Leitch,[8] the stand had a distinctive red and white gable, and was similar to the main stand at Newcastle United's ground St James' Park.[6] Another stand was constructed at the Anfield Road end in 1903, built from timber and corrugated iron. After Liverpool had won their second League championship in 1906, a new stand was built along the Walton Breck Road. Local journalist Ernest Edwards, who was the sports editor of newspapers the Liverpool Daily Post and Echo, christened it the Spion Kop; it was named after a famous hill in South Africa where a local regiment had suffered heavy losses during the Boer War in 1900. More than 300 men had died, many of them from Liverpool, as the British army attempted to capture the strategic hilltop. Around the same period a stand was also built along Kemlyn Road.[9]
The ground remained much the same until 1928, when the Kop was redesigned and extended to hold 30,000 spectators, all standing. A roof was erected as well.[10] Many stadia in England had stands named after the Spion Kop. Anfield's was the largest Kop in the country at the time—it was able to hold more supporters than some entire football grounds.[11] In the same year the topmast of the SS Great Eastern, one of the first iron ships, was rescued from the ship breaking yard at nearby Rock Ferry, and was hauled up Everton Valley by a team of horses, to be erected alongside the new Kop. It still stands there, serving as a flag pole.[12]
Hillsborough memorial (left) erected in memory of the 96 Liverpool fans who died at the ground and the Shankly Gates (right) erected in honour of former manager Bill Shankly.
Floodlights were installed at a cost of £12,000 in 1957. On 30 October they were switched on for the first time for a match against Everton to commemorate the 75-year anniversary of the Liverpool County Football Association.[11] In 1963 the old Kemlyn Road stand was replaced by a cantilevered stand, built at a cost of £350,000, and able to hold 6,700 spectators.[13] Two years later alterations were made at the Anfield Road end, turning it into a large covered standing area. The biggest redevelopment came in 1973, when the old Main Stand was demolished and a new one constructed. At the same time, the pylon floodlights were pulled down and new lights installed along the top of the Kemlyn Road and Main Stands. The new stand was officially opened by the Duke of Kent on 10 March 1973.[13] In the 1980s the paddock in front of the Main Stand was turned into seating, and in 1982 seats were introduced at the Anfield Road end. The Shankly Gates were erected in 1982, a tribute to former manager Bill Shankly; his widow Nessie unlocked them for the first time on 26 August 1982.[12] Across the Shankly Gates are the words You'll Never Walk Alone, the title of the hit song by Gerry & The Pacemakers adopted by Liverpool fans as the club's anthem during Shankly's time as manager.[14]
A statue in honour of Bill Shankly, which was erected in 1997 outside The Kop
Coloured seats and a police room were added to the Kemlyn Road stand in 1987. After the Hillsborough disaster in 1989 where overcrowding led to the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans, the Taylor Report recommended that all grounds in the country should be converted into all-seater grounds by May 1994.[15] A second tier was added to the Kemlyn Road stand in 1992, turning it into a double-decker layout. It included executive boxes and function suites as well as 11,000 seating spaces. Plans to expand the stand had been made earlier, with the club buying up houses on Kemlyn Road during the 1970s and 1980s, but had to be put on hold until 1990 because two sisters, Joan and Nora Mason, refused to sell their house. When the club reached an agreement with the sisters in 1990, the expansion plans were put into action.[16] The stand—re-named the Centenary Stand—was officially opened on 1 September 1992 by UEFA president Lennart Johansson. The Kop was rebuilt in 1994 after the recommendations of the Taylor Report and became all seated; it is still a single tier, and the capacity was significantly reduced to 12,390.[11]
On 4 December 1997, a bronze statue of Bill Shankly was unveiled at the visitors' centre in front of the Kop. Standing at over 8 feet (2.4 m) tall, the statue depicts Shankly with a fan's scarf around his neck, in a familiar pose he adopted when receiving applause from fans. Inscribed on the statue are the words "Bill Shankly – He Made the People Happy".[17] The Hillsborough memorial is situated alongside the Shankly Gates, and is always decorated with flowers and tributes to the 96 people who died in 1989 as a result of the disaster. At the centre of the memorial is an eternal flame, signifying that those who died will never be forgotten.[18] The most recent structural change to Anfield came in 1998 when the new two-tier Anfield Road end was opened. The stand has encountered a number of problems since its redevelopment; at the beginning of the 1999–2000 season, a series of support poles and stanchions had to be brought in to give extra stability to the top tier of the stand. During Ronnie Moran's testimonial match against Celtic, many fans complained of movement of the top tier. At the same time that the stanchions were inserted, the executive seating area was expanded by two rows in the main stand, lowering the seating capacity in the paddock.[19]
[edit]Structures and facilities
Outline of Anfield; Centenary Stand (top), The Kop (right), Main Stand (bottom) and Anfield Road stand (left)
Anfield comprises 45,276 seats split between four stands: the Anfield Road end, the Centenary Stand, the Kop, and the Main Stand. The Anfield Road end and Centenary Stand are two-tiered, while the Kop and Main Stand are single-tiered.[20] Entry to the stadium is gained by radio-frequency identification (RFID) smart cards rather than the traditional manned turnstile. This system, used in all 80 turnstiles around Anfield, was introduced in 2005.[21]
The Kop is a large single-tiered stand. Originally a large terraced banking providing accommodation for more than 30,000 spectators, the current incarnation was constructed in 1994–95 and is single-tiered with no executive boxes. The Kop houses the club's museum, the Reducate centre and the official club shop.[22] The Kop is the most-renowned stand at Anfield among home and away supporters, with the people who occupy the stand referred to as kopites. Such was the reputation that the stand had it was claimed that the crowd in the Kop could suck the ball into the goal.[23] Traditionally, Liverpool's most vocal supporters congregate in this stand.[24]
The oldest stand at Anfield is the Main Stand, which was completed in 1982. It is a single-tiered stand that houses the dressing rooms and directors' box. The press and directors VIP box are located in the middle of the stand. The large roof is supported by two thin central uprights, with a large suspended television camera gantry.[25] The players' tunnel and the technical area where the managers and substitutes sit during the match are in the middle of the stand at pitch level. Above the stairs leading down to the pitch hangs a sign stating "THIS IS ANFIELD". Its purpose is to both intimidate the opposition and to bring the Liverpool players who touch it good luck. Accordingly, Liverpool players and coaching staff reach up and place one or both hands on it as they pass underneath.[26]
The Paisley Gateway outside The Kop, which was erected in honour of former manager Bob Paisley
The Centenary Stand is a two-tiered stand. Originally a single-tiered stand called the Kemlyn Road Stand, the second tier was added in 1992 to coincide with the club's centenary.[27] It is located opposite of the Main Stand and houses directors' boxes, which are between the two tiers. The stand also houses the ground's police station.[20]
The Anfield Road stand, on the left side of the Main Stand, houses the away fans during matches. The Anfield Road End was rebuilt in 1965, and multi-coloured seats were added in 1982. Originally a single-tier stand, a further revamp, which was completed in 1998, gave the stand a second-tier providing additional seating.[27]
There are 59 spaces available in the stadium to accommodate wheelchair users who have season tickets; a further 33 spaces are available for general sale and 8 are allocated to away supporters. These spaces are located in the Main Stand, Anfield Road Stand and The Kop. There are 38 spaces available for the visually impaired, which are situated in the paddock area of the Main Stand, with space for one personal assistant each. A headset with full commentary is provided.[28]
The stadium features tributes to two of the club's most successful managers. The Paisley Gateway is a tribute to Bob Paisley, who guided Liverpool to three European Cups and six League Championships in the 1970s and '80s. The gates were erected at the Kop; their design includes representations of the three European Cups Paisley won during his tenure, the crest of his birthplace in Hetton-le-Hole, and the crest of Liverpool F.C.[29] The Shankly Gates, in tribute of Bill Shankly, Paisley's predecessor between 1959 and 1974, are at the Anfield Road end. Their design includes a Scottish flag, a Scottish thistle, the Liverpool badge, and the words "You'll Never Walk Alone".[30]
[edit]Future
See also: Stanley Park Stadium
The Kop; the atmosphere generated by the crowd in the stand has led owner John W. Henry to reconsider the construction of a new stadium.
Plans to replace Anfield were originally initiated by Liverpool in May 2002.[31] The proposed capacity was 55,000, but it was later revised to 61,000, with 1,000 seats given for segregation between home and away fans. Several attempts were made between 2003 to 2007 by the Liverpool City Council to instigate a groundshare of the proposed stadium with local rivals Everton, but this move was rejected, as neither club favoured it.[32] On 30 July 2004 Liverpool was granted planning permission to build a new stadium 300 yards (270 m) away from Anfield at Stanley Park.[33] On 8 September 2006 Liverpool City Council agreed to grant Liverpool F.C. a 999-year lease of the land on the proposed site.[34]
Following the takeover of Liverpool F.C. on 6 February 2007 by George Gillett and Tom Hicks, the proposed stadium was redesigned to reduce the costs of construction. In November 2007 the redesigned layout was approved by the council, and construction was due to start in early 2008.[35] The new stadium, provisionally called Stanley Park Stadium, was to be built by HKS, Inc.. It was scheduled to open in August 2011 with a capacity of 71,000.[36] If the new stadium is built Anfield will be demolished. The land will become home to the centrepiece for the Anfield Plaza development, which would include a hotel, restaurants, and offices.[37] However, the construction of Stanley Park was delayed following the economic crisis of 2008 and the subsequent recession, which directly affected the then American owners. The situation was worsened because the club was bought with borrowed money, not the owners' capital, and interest rates were higher than expected.[38] Hicks and Gillett promised to begin work on the stadium within 60 days of acquisition of the club, but had trouble financing the estimated £300 million needed for the Stanley Park development. The deadline passed, and as of June 2011 the site remains untouched.[39] The delays had repercussions in the local district of Anfield, with regeneration plans on hold until the future of the football stadium is decided.[40]
The acquisition of Liverpool by Fenway Sports Group in October 2010 put into question whether Liverpool would leave Anfield. In February 2011 the new club owner, John W. Henry, stated he had a preference for remaining at Anfield and expanding the capacity. After attending a number of games at Anfield, Henry stated that "the Kop is unrivalled", adding "it would be hard to replicate that feeling anywhere else".[41]
[edit]Other uses
Anfield has hosted numerous international matches, and was one of the venues used during Euro 96; the ground hosted three group games and a quarter-final.[42] The first international match hosted at Anfield was between England and Ireland, in 1889. England won the match 6–1. Anfield was also the home venue for several of England's international football matches in the early 1900s and for the Welsh team in the later part of that century.[43][44] Anfield has also played host to five FA Cup semi-finals, the last of which was in 1929.[43] The most recent international to be hosted at Anfield was England's 2–1 victory over Uruguay on 1 March 2006.[45] England has played two testimonial matches against Liverpool at Anfield. The first was in 1983, when England faced Liverpool for Phil Thompson's testimonial. Then, in 1988, England visited again for Alan Hansen's testimonial.[46]
Anfield has been the venue for many other events. During the mid-twenties, Anfield was the finishing line for the city marathon. Liverpool held an annual race which started from St George's plateau in the city centre and finished with a lap of Anfield.[43] Boxing matches were regularly held at Anfield during the inter-war years, including a number of British boxing championships; on 12 June 1934 Nel Tarleton beat Freddie Miller for the World Featherweight title. Professional tennis was played at Anfield on boards on the pitch. US Open champion, Bill Tilden, and Wimbledon champion, Fred Perry, entertained the crowds in an exhibition match. In 1958, an exhibition basketball match featuring the Harlem Globetrotters was held at the ground.[47] The 1991 World Club Challenge rugby league match, between the Penrith Panthers, winners of the Australian National Rugby League, and the Wigan Warriors, winners of the European Super League was held at the ground in front of 20,152 people. In addition to rugby league, Anfield has been confirmed as one of the grounds that will host matches during the 2015 Rugby Union World Cup.[48] Aside from sporting uses, Anfield has been a venue for musicians of different genres as well as evangelical preachers. One week in July 1984, the American evangelist Billy Graham preached at Anfield, attracting crowds of over 30,000 each night.[43] Anfield was featured in Liverpool's 2008 European Capital of Culture celebrations: 36,000 people attended a concert on 1 June 2008, featuring The Zutons, Kaiser Chiefs, and Paul McCartney.[49]
[edit]Records
Average attendance at Anfield since 1947
The highest attendance recorded at Anfield is 61,905, for Liverpool's match against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup fifth round, on 2 February 1952.[50] The lowest attendance recorded at Anfield was 1,000 for a match against Loughborough on 7 December 1895.[51] The highest average attendance of 48,127 was set in 1978.[27]
Liverpool did not lose a match at Anfield during the 1893–94, 1970–71, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1987–88, and 2008–09 seasons. They won all their home games during the 1893–94 season. Liverpool's longest winning streak at home extended from January 1978 to January 1981, a period encompassing 85 games, in which Liverpool scored 212 goals and conceded 35.[50] Liverpool's worst losing streak at Anfield is three games. This occurred three times in the club's history to date (1899–1900, 1906–07 and 1908–09 seasons).[52]
[edit]Transport
The stadium is about 2 miles (3 km) from Lime Street Station,[53] which lies on a branch of the West Coast Main Line from London Euston. Kirkdale Station, about 1 mile (1.6 km) from the stadium, is the nearest station to Anfield. Fans travelling by train for matches may book direct to Anfield or Goodison Park, changing to the Merseytravel Soccerbus service at Sandhills Station on the Merseyrail Northern Line.[54] The stadium has no parking facilities for supporters, and the streets around the ground allow parking only for residents with permits. There are proposals under consideration for reinstating passenger traffic on the Bootle Branch, which would cut the distance from the nearest train station to about 0.5 miles (1 km)
old trafford
Old Trafford is a football stadium in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England, and the home of Manchester United. With a capacity of 75,811,[1] Old Trafford is the second-largest football stadium in England after Wembley, the third-largest in the United Kingdom and the eleventh-largest in Europe. The stadium is approximately 0.5 miles (0.8 km) from Old Trafford Cricket Ground and the adjacent tram station.
The ground, nicknamed the Theatre of Dreams by Bobby Charlton, has been United's permanent residence since 1910, with the exception of an eight-year absence from 1941 to 1949, following the bombing of the stadium during the Second World War. During this period, the club shared Maine Road with local rivals Manchester City. The ground underwent several expansions in the 1990s and 2000s, including the addition of extra tiers to the North, West and East Stands, which served to return the ground almost to its original capacity of 80,000. Future expansion is likely to involve the addition of a second tier to the South Stand, which would raise the capacity to over 90,000.[3] The stadium's record attendance was recorded in 1939, when 76,962 spectators watched the FA Cup semi-final between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Grimsby Town.
The ground has frequently hosted FA Cup semi-final matches as a neutral venue and several England international fixtures while the new Wembley Stadium was under construction. It also hosted matches at the 1966 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 1996, as well as the 2003 UEFA Champions League Final. Aside from football-related uses, Old Trafford has hosted rugby league's Super League Grand Final since the league's adoption of playoffs in 1998 and the final of the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.Construction and early years
The statue of Sir Matt Busby, overlooking the East Stand forecourt
Before 1902, Manchester United were known as Newton Heath, during which time they first played their football matches at North Road and then Bank Street in Clayton. However, both grounds were blighted by wretched conditions, the pitches ranging from gravel to marsh, while Bank Street suffered from clouds of fumes from its neighbouring factories.[4] Therefore, following the club's rescue from near-bankruptcy and renaming, the new chairman John Henry Davies decided in 1909 that the Bank Street ground was not fit for a team that had recently won the First Division and FA Cup, so he donated funds for the construction of a new stadium.[5] Not one to spend money frivolously, Davies scouted around Manchester for an appropriate site, before settling on a patch of land adjacent to the Bridgewater Canal, just off the north end of the Warwick Road in Old Trafford.[6]
Designed by Scottish architect Archibald Leitch, who designed several other stadia, the ground was originally designed with a capacity of 100,000 spectators and featured seating in the south stand under cover, while the remaining three stands were left as terraces and uncovered.[7] Including the purchase of the land, the construction of the stadium was originally to have cost £60,000 all told. However, as costs began to rise, to reach the intended capacity would have cost an extra £30,000 over the original estimate and, at the suggestion of club secretary J. J. Bentley, the capacity was reduced to approximately 80,000.[8][9] Nevertheless, at a time when transfer fees were still around the £1,000 mark, the cost of construction only served to reinforce the club's "Moneybags United" epithet, with which they had been tarred since Davies had taken over as chairman.[10]
In May 1908, Archibald Leitch wrote to the Cheshire Lines Committee (CLC) – who had a rail depot adjacent to the proposed site for the football ground – in an attempt to persuade them to subsidise construction of the grandstand alongside the railway line. The subsidy would have come to the sum of £10,000, to be paid back at the rate of £2,000 per annum for five years or half of the gate receipts for the grandstand each year until the loan was repaid. However, despite guarantees for the loan coming from the club itself and two local breweries, both chaired by club chairman John Henry Davies, the Cheshire Lines Committee turned the proposal down.[11] The CLC had planned to build a new station adjacent to the new stadium, with the promise of an anticipated £2,750 per annum in fares offsetting the £9,800 cost of building the station. The station – Trafford Park – was eventually built, but further down the line than originally planned.[6] The CLC later constructed a modest station with one timber-built platform immediately adjacent to the stadium and this opened on 21 August 1935. It was initially named United Football Ground,[12] but was renamed Old Trafford Football Ground in early 1936. It was served on match days only by a shuttle service of steam trains from Manchester Central railway station.[13] It is currently known as Manchester United Football Ground.[14]
Construction was carried out by Messrs Brameld and Smith of Manchester[15] and development was completed in late 1909. The stadium hosted its inaugural game on 19 February 1910, with United playing host to Liverpool. However, the home side were unable to provide their fans with a win to mark the occasion, as Liverpool won 4–3. A journalist at the game reported the stadium as "the most handsomest [sic], the most spacious and the most remarkable arena I have ever seen. As a football ground it is unrivalled in the world, it is an honour to Manchester and the home of a team who can do wonders when they are so disposed".[16]
Before the construction of Wembley Stadium in 1923, the FA Cup Final was hosted by a number of different grounds around England including Old Trafford.[17] The first of these was the 1911 FA Cup Final replay between Bradford City and Newcastle United, after the original tie at Crystal Palace finished as a no-score draw after extra time. Bradford won 1–0, the goal scored by Jimmy Speirs, in a match watched by 58,000 people.[18] The ground's second FA Cup Final was the 1915 final between Sheffield United and Chelsea. Sheffield United won the match 3–0 in front of nearly 50,000 spectators, most of whom were in the military, leading to the final being nicknamed "the Khaki Cup Final".[19] On 27 December 1920, Old Trafford played host to its largest pre-Second World War attendance for a United league match, as 70,504 spectators watched the Red Devils lose 3–1 to Aston Villa.[20] The ground hosted its first international football match later that decade, when England lost 1–0 to Scotland in front of 49,429 spectators on 17 April 1926.[21][22] Unusually, the record attendance at Old Trafford is not for a Manchester United home game. Instead, on 25 March 1939, 76,962 people watched an FA Cup semi-final between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Grimsby Town.[23]
[edit]Wartime bombing
In 1936, as part of a £35,000 refurbishment, an 80-yard-long roof was added to the United Road stand (now the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand) for the first time,[24] while roofs were added to the south corners in 1938.[25] Upon the outbreak of the Second World War, Old Trafford was requisitioned by the military to be used as a depot.[26] Football continued to be played at the stadium, but a German bombing raid on Trafford Park on 22 December 1940 damaged the stadium to the extent that a Christmas day fixture against Stockport County had to be switched to Stockport's ground.[26] Football resumed at Old Trafford on 8 March 1941, but another German raid on 11 March 1941 destroyed much of the stadium, notably the main stand (now the South Stand), forcing the club's operations to move to Cornbrook Cold Storage, owned by United chairman James W. Gibson.[26] After pressure from Gibson, the War Damage Commission granted Manchester United £4,800 to remove the debris and £17,478 to rebuild the stands.[24] During the reconstruction of the stadium, Manchester United played their "home" games at Maine Road, the home of their cross-town rivals, Manchester City, at a cost of £5,000 a year plus a percentage of the gate receipts.[27] The club was now £15,000 in debt, not helped by the rental of Maine Road, and the Labour MP for Stoke, Ellis Smith, petitioned the Government to increase the club's compensation package, but it was in vain.[24] Though Old Trafford was reopened, albeit without cover, in 1949, it meant that a league game had not been played at the stadium for nearly 10 years.[28] United's first game back at Old Trafford was played on 24 August 1949, as 41,748 spectators witnessed a 3–0 victory over Bolton Wanderers.[29]
[edit]Completion of the master plan
A roof was restored to the Main Stand by 1951 and, soon after, the three remaining stands were covered, the operation culminating with the addition of a roof to the Stretford End (now the West Stand) in 1959.[25] The club also invested £40,000 in the installation of proper floodlighting, so that they would be able to use the stadium for the European games that were played in the late evening of weekdays, instead of having to play at Maine Road. In order to avoid obtrusive shadows being cast on the pitch, two sections of the Main Stand roof were cut away.[24] The first match to be played under floodlights at Old Trafford was a First Division match between Manchester United and Bolton Wanderers on 25 March 1957.[15]
However, although the spectators would now be able to see the players at night, they still suffered from the problem of obstructed views caused by the pillars that supported the roofs. With the 1966 FIFA World Cup fast approaching, this prompted the United directors to completely redesign the United Road (north) stand. The old roof pillars were replaced in 1965 with modern-style cantilevering on top of the roof, allowing every spectator a completely unobstructed view,[25] while it was also expanded to hold 20,000 spectators (10,000 seated and 10,000 standing in front) at a cost of £350,000.[30] The architects of the new stand, Mather and Nutter (now Atherden Fuller),[15] rearranged the organisation of the stand to have terracing at the front, a larger seated area towards the back, and the first private boxes at a British football ground. The east stand – the only remaining uncovered stand – was developed in the same style in 1973.[31] With the first two stands converted to cantilevers, the club's owners devised a long-term plan to do the same to the other two stands and convert the stadium into a bowl-like arena.[3] Such an undertaking would serve to increase the atmosphere within the ground by containing the crowd's noise and focusing it onto the pitch, where the players would feel the full effects of a capacity crowd.[32] Meanwhile, the stadium hosted its third FA Cup Final, hosting 62,078 spectators for the replay of the 1970 final between Chelsea and Leeds United; Chelsea won the match 2–1. The ground also hosted the second leg of the 1968 Intercontinental Cup, which saw Estudiantes de La Plata win the cup after a 1–1 draw.[33] The 1970s saw the dramatic rise of football hooliganism in Britain,[34] and a knife-throwing incident in 1971 forcing the club to erect the country's first perimeter fence, restricting fans from the Old Trafford pitch.[30]
1973 saw the completion of the roof around the circumference of the stadium, along with the addition of 5,500 seats to the Scoreboard End and the replacement of the old manual scoreboard with an electronic one in the north-east corner. Then, in 1975, a £3 million expansion was begun, starting with the addition of the Executive Suite to the Main Stand. The suite's restaurant overlooked the pitch, but the view was still obstructed by the roof pillars. Therefore, in kind with the roofs of the United Road Stand and the Scoreboard End, the Main Stand roof was replaced with a cantilever design. The Executive Suite and cantilever roof were then extended to the full length of the stand, allowing for the relocation of the club offices from the south-east corner to the Main Stand. The south-east quadrant was then removed and replaced in 1985 with a seated section bringing the total seating capacity of the stadium to 25,686 (56,385 overall). The completion of the cantilever roof around three sides of the stadium allowed for the replacement of the old floodlight pylons, and the attachment of a row of floodlights around the inner rim of the roof in 1987.
[edit]Conversion to all-seater
The Stretford End before its redevelopment in the early 1990s
With every subsequent improvement made to the ground since the Second World War, the capacity steadily declined. By the 1980s, the capacity had dropped from the original 80,000 to approximately 60,000. The capacity dropped still further in 1990, when the Taylor Report recommended, and the government demanded that all First and Second Division stadia be converted to all-seaters. This meant that £3–5 million plans to replace the Stretford End with a brand new stand with an all-standing terrace at the front and a cantilever roof to link with the rest of the ground had to be drastically altered.[15] This forced redevelopment, including the removal of the terraces at the front of the other three stands, not only increased the cost to around £10 million, but also reduced the capacity of Old Trafford to an all-time low of around 44,000.[35] In addition, the club was told in 1992 that they would only receive £1.4 million of a possible £2 million from the Football Trust to be put towards work related to the Taylor Report.[36]
The redeveloped East Stand was opened at the beginning of the 2000–01 season.
The club's resurgence in success and increase in popularity in the early 1990s ensured that further development would have to occur. In 1995, the 30-year-old North Stand was demolished and work quickly began on a new stand,[37] to be ready in time for Old Trafford to host three group games, a quarter-final and a semi-final at Euro 96. The club purchased the Trafford Park trading estate, a 20-acre (81,000 m2) site on the other site of United Road, for £9.2 million in March 1995. Construction began in June 1995 and was completed by May 1996, with the first two of the three phases of the stand opening during the season. Designed by Atherden Fuller, with Hilstone Laurie as project and construction managers and Campbell Reith Hill as structural engineers, the new three-tiered stand cost a total of £18.65 million to build and had a capacity of about 25,500, raising the capacity of the entire ground to more than 55,000. The cantilever roof would also be the largest in Europe, measuring 58.5 m (192 ft) from the back wall to the front edge.[38] Further success over the next few years guaranteed yet more development. First, a second tier was added to the East Stand. Opened in January 2000, the stadium's capacity was temporarily increased to about 61,000 until the opening of the West Stand's second tier, which added yet another 7,000 seats, bringing the capacity to 68,217. It was now not only the biggest club stadium in England but the biggest in all of the United Kingdom.[39] Old Trafford hosted its first major European final three years later, playing host to the 2003 UEFA Champions League Final between Milan and Juventus.
From 2001 to 2007, following the demolition of the old Wembley Stadium, the England national football team was forced to play its games elsewhere. During that time, the team toured the country, playing their matches at various grounds from Villa Park in Birmingham to St James' Park in Newcastle. From 2003 to 2007, Old Trafford hosted 12 of England's 23 home matches, more than any other stadium. The latest international to be held at Old Trafford was England's 1–0 loss to Spain on 7 February 2007.[40] The match was played in front of a crowd of 58,207.[41]
[edit]2006 expansion
Old Trafford's most recent expansion, which took place between July 2005 and May 2006, saw an increase of around 8,000 seats with the addition of second tiers to both the north-west and north-east quadrants of the ground.[3] Part of the new seating was used for the first time on 26 March 2006, when an attendance of 69,070 became a new Premier League record.[42] The record continued to be pushed upwards before reaching its current peak on 31 March 2007, when 76,098 spectators saw United beat Blackburn Rovers 4–1, meaning that just 114 seats (0.15% of the total capacity of 76,212) were left unoccupied.[43] In 2009, a reorganisation of the seating in the stadium resulted in a reduction of the capacity by 255 to 75,957, meaning that the club's home attendance record would stand at least until the next expansion.[44][45]
Peter Oldfield-Edwards' scale model of Old Trafford on display in the club museum in March 2010
Old Trafford celebrated its 100th anniversary on 19 February 2010. In recognition of the occasion, Manchester United's official website ran a feature in which a memorable moment from the stadium's history was highlighted on each of the 100 days leading up to the anniversary.[46] From these 100 moments, the top 10 were chosen by a panel including club statistician Cliff Butler, journalist David Meek, and former players Pat Crerand and Wilf McGuinness.[47] At Old Trafford itself, an art competition was run for pupils from three local schools to create their own depictions of the stadium in the past, present and future.[48] Winning paintings were put on permanent display on the concourse of the Old Trafford family stand, and the winners will be presented with awards by artist Harold Riley on 22 February.[49] An exhibition about the stadium at the club museum was opened by former goalkeeper Jack Crompton and chief executive David Gill on 19 February.[49] The exhibition highlights the history of the stadium and features memorabilia from its past, including a programme from the inaugural match and a 1:220 scale model hand-built by model artist Peter Oldfield-Edwards.[50] Finally, at Manchester United's home match against Fulham on 14 March, fans at the game received a replica copy of the programme from the first Old Trafford match, and half-time saw relatives of the players who took part in the first game – as well as those of the club chairman John Henry Davies and stadium architect Archibald Leitch – taking part in the burial of a time capsule of Manchester United memorabilia near the centre tunnel.[51] Only relatives of winger Billy Meredith, wing half Dick Duckworth and club secretary Ernest Mangnall could not be found.[52]
Old Trafford is scheduled to be used as a venue for several matches in the football competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[53]
[edit]Structure and facilities
See also: Stretford End
A plan of the layout of Old Trafford. The shaded area indicates the section designated for away fans.
The Old Trafford pitch is surrounded by four covered all-seater stands, officially known as the Sir Alex Ferguson (North), East, South and West Stands. Each stand has at least two tiers,[54] with the exception of the South Stand, which only has one tier due to construction restrictions. The lower tier of each stand is split into Lower and Upper sections, the Lower sections having been converted from terracing in the early 1990s.
The Sir Alex Ferguson Stand, formerly known as the United Road stand and the North Stand, runs over the top of United Road. The stand is three tiers tall, and can hold about 26,000 spectators, the most of the four stands. It can also accommodate a few fans in executive boxes and hospitality suites.[55] It opened in its current state in 1996, having previously been a single-tiered stand. As the ground's main stand, it houses many of the ground's more popular facilities, including the Red Café (a Manchester United theme restaurant/bar) and the Manchester United museum and trophy room. Originally opened in 1986 as the first of its kind in the world,[56] the Manchester United museum was in the south-east corner of the ground until it moved to the redeveloped North Stand in 1998. The museum was opened by Pelé on 11 April 1998, since when numbers of visitors have jumped from 192,000 in 1998 to more than 300,000 visitors in 2009.[57][58] The North Stand was renamed as the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand on 5 November 2011, in honour of Alex Ferguson's 25 years as manager of the club.[59]
Opposite the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand is the South Stand, formerly Old Trafford's main stand. Although only a single-tiered stand, the South Stand contains most of the ground's executive suites,[60] and also plays host to any VIPs who may come to watch the match. Members of the media are seated in the middle of the Upper South Stand to give them the best view of the match. The television gantry is also in the South Stand, so the South Stand is the one that gets shown on television least often.[25] Television studios are located at either end of the South Stand, with the club's in-house television station, MUTV, in the East studio and other television stations, such as the BBC and Sky, in the West studio.
The dugout is in the centre of the South Stand, raised above pitch level to give the manager and his coaches an elevated view of the game. Each team's dugout flanks the old players' tunnel, which was used until 1993. The old tunnel is the only remaining part of the original 1910 stadium, having survived the bombing that destroyed much of the stadium during the Second World War.[61] On 6 February 2008, the tunnel was renamed the Munich Tunnel, as a memorial for the 50th anniversary of the 1958 Munich air disaster.[62] The current tunnel is in the South-West corner of the ground, and doubles as an entrance for the emergency services. In the event that large vehicles require access, the seating above the tunnel can be raised by up to 25 feet (7.6 m).[63] The tunnel leads up to the players' dressing room, via the television interview area, and the players' lounge.
The West Stand, with its mosaic of seats displaying the stand's colloquial name
Perhaps the best-known stand at Old Trafford is the West Stand, also known as the Stretford End. Traditionally, the stand is where the hard-core United fans are located, and also the ones who make the most noise.[64] Originally designed to hold 20,000 fans, the Stretford End was the last stand to be covered and also the last remaining all-terraced stand at the ground before the forced upgrade to seating in the early 1990s. The reconstruction of the Stretford End, which took place during the 1992–93 season, was carried out by Alfred McAlpine.[65] When the second tier was added to the Stretford End in 2000, many fans from the old "K Stand" moved there, and decided to hang banners and flags from the barrier at the front of the tier. So ingrained in Manchester United culture is the Stretford End, that Denis Law was given the nickname "King of the Stretford End", and there is now a statue of Law on the concourse of the stand's upper tier.[66]
The Manchester United club shop has had six different locations since it was first opened. Originally, the shop was a small hut near to the railway line that runs alongside the ground. The shop was then moved along the length of the South Stand, stopping first opposite where away fans enter the ground, and then residing in the building that would later become the club's merchandising office. A surge in the club's popularity in the early 1990s led to another move, this time to the forecourt of the West Stand. With this move came a great expansion and the conversion from a small shop to a "megastore". Alex Ferguson opened the new megastore on 3 December 1994.[67] The most recent moves came in the late 1990s, as the West Stand required room to expand to a second tier, and that meant the demolition of the megastore. The store was moved to a temporary site opposite the East Stand, before taking up a 17,000 square feet (1,600 m2) permanent residence in the ground floor of the expanded East Stand in 2000.[68] The floor space of the current megastore is actually owned by United's kit sponsors, Nike, who operate the store.
A plaque at Old Trafford commemorating the Munich air disaster
The East Stand at Old Trafford was the second to be converted to a cantilever roof, following the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand. It is also commonly referred to as the Scoreboard End, as it was the location of the scoreboard. The East Stand can currently hold nearly 12,000 fans,[3] and is the location of both the disabled fans section and the away section. The disabled section provides for up to 170 fans, with free seats for carers. Old Trafford was formerly divided into sections, with each section sequentially assigned a letter of the alphabet. Although every section had a letter, it is the K Stand that is the most commonly referred to today. The K Stand fans were renowned for their vocal support for the club, and a large array of chants and songs, though many of them have relocated to the second tier of the West Stand.[69] The East Stand has a tinted glass façade, behind which the club's administrative centre is located. These offices are the home to the staff of Inside United, the official Manchester United magazine, the club's official website, and its other administrative departments. Images and advertisements are often emblazoned on the front of the East Stand, most often advertising Nike products, though a tribute to the Busby Babes was displayed in February 2008 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster. Above the megastore is a statue of Sir Matt Busby, Manchester United's longest-serving manager to date. There is also a plaque dedicated to the victims of the Munich air disaster on the south end of the East Stand, while the Munich Clock is at the junction of the East and South Stands.[15] On 29 May 2008, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Manchester United's first European Cup title, a statue of the club's "holy trinity" of George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton, entitled "The United Trinity", was unveiled across Sir Matt Busby Way from the East Stand, directly opposite the statue of Busby.[70][71]
The United Trinity, a statue of Manchester United's "holy trinity" of Best, Law and Charlton
The pitch at the ground measures approximately 105 metres (115 yd) long by 68 metres (74 yd) wide,[2] with a few metres of run-off space on each side. The centre of the pitch is about nine inches higher than the edges, allowing surface water to run off more easily. As at many modern grounds, 10 inches (25 cm) under the pitch is an underground heating system, composed of 23 miles (37 km) of plastic pipes.[72] Club manager Alex Ferguson often requests that the pitch be relaid,[73][74] most notably half way through the 1998–99 season, when the team won the Treble, at a cost of about £250,000 each time. The grass at Old Trafford is watered regularly, though less on wet days, and mowed three times a week between April and November, and once a week from November to March.[72]
The Hublot clock tower in Old Trafford's car park E1
In the mid-1980s, when Manchester United Football Club owned the Manchester Giants, Manchester's basketball franchise, there were plans to build a 9,000-seater indoor arena on the site of what is now Car Park E1. However, the chairman at the time, Martin Edwards, did not have the funds to take on such a project, and the basketball franchise was eventually sold.[75] In August 2009, the car park became home to the Hublot clock tower, a 10-metre (32 ft 10 in)-tall tower in the shape of the Hublot logo, which houses four 2-metre (6 ft 7 in)-diameter clock faces, the largest ever made by the company.[76]
The east side of the stadium is also set to become the site for a new fan base to be funded by former Manchester United captain Gary Neville. The building will be located on the east side of Sir Matt Busby Way and on the opposite side of the Manchester Ship Canal from the stadium, and will accommodate up to 1,500 supporters. It is scheduled to open for the start of the 2013–14 season. The venture is being conducted separately from the club and will be paid for in part by proceeds from Neville's testimonial match.[77]
[edit]
The ground, nicknamed the Theatre of Dreams by Bobby Charlton, has been United's permanent residence since 1910, with the exception of an eight-year absence from 1941 to 1949, following the bombing of the stadium during the Second World War. During this period, the club shared Maine Road with local rivals Manchester City. The ground underwent several expansions in the 1990s and 2000s, including the addition of extra tiers to the North, West and East Stands, which served to return the ground almost to its original capacity of 80,000. Future expansion is likely to involve the addition of a second tier to the South Stand, which would raise the capacity to over 90,000.[3] The stadium's record attendance was recorded in 1939, when 76,962 spectators watched the FA Cup semi-final between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Grimsby Town.
The ground has frequently hosted FA Cup semi-final matches as a neutral venue and several England international fixtures while the new Wembley Stadium was under construction. It also hosted matches at the 1966 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 1996, as well as the 2003 UEFA Champions League Final. Aside from football-related uses, Old Trafford has hosted rugby league's Super League Grand Final since the league's adoption of playoffs in 1998 and the final of the 2000 Rugby League World Cup.Construction and early years
The statue of Sir Matt Busby, overlooking the East Stand forecourt
Before 1902, Manchester United were known as Newton Heath, during which time they first played their football matches at North Road and then Bank Street in Clayton. However, both grounds were blighted by wretched conditions, the pitches ranging from gravel to marsh, while Bank Street suffered from clouds of fumes from its neighbouring factories.[4] Therefore, following the club's rescue from near-bankruptcy and renaming, the new chairman John Henry Davies decided in 1909 that the Bank Street ground was not fit for a team that had recently won the First Division and FA Cup, so he donated funds for the construction of a new stadium.[5] Not one to spend money frivolously, Davies scouted around Manchester for an appropriate site, before settling on a patch of land adjacent to the Bridgewater Canal, just off the north end of the Warwick Road in Old Trafford.[6]
Designed by Scottish architect Archibald Leitch, who designed several other stadia, the ground was originally designed with a capacity of 100,000 spectators and featured seating in the south stand under cover, while the remaining three stands were left as terraces and uncovered.[7] Including the purchase of the land, the construction of the stadium was originally to have cost £60,000 all told. However, as costs began to rise, to reach the intended capacity would have cost an extra £30,000 over the original estimate and, at the suggestion of club secretary J. J. Bentley, the capacity was reduced to approximately 80,000.[8][9] Nevertheless, at a time when transfer fees were still around the £1,000 mark, the cost of construction only served to reinforce the club's "Moneybags United" epithet, with which they had been tarred since Davies had taken over as chairman.[10]
In May 1908, Archibald Leitch wrote to the Cheshire Lines Committee (CLC) – who had a rail depot adjacent to the proposed site for the football ground – in an attempt to persuade them to subsidise construction of the grandstand alongside the railway line. The subsidy would have come to the sum of £10,000, to be paid back at the rate of £2,000 per annum for five years or half of the gate receipts for the grandstand each year until the loan was repaid. However, despite guarantees for the loan coming from the club itself and two local breweries, both chaired by club chairman John Henry Davies, the Cheshire Lines Committee turned the proposal down.[11] The CLC had planned to build a new station adjacent to the new stadium, with the promise of an anticipated £2,750 per annum in fares offsetting the £9,800 cost of building the station. The station – Trafford Park – was eventually built, but further down the line than originally planned.[6] The CLC later constructed a modest station with one timber-built platform immediately adjacent to the stadium and this opened on 21 August 1935. It was initially named United Football Ground,[12] but was renamed Old Trafford Football Ground in early 1936. It was served on match days only by a shuttle service of steam trains from Manchester Central railway station.[13] It is currently known as Manchester United Football Ground.[14]
Construction was carried out by Messrs Brameld and Smith of Manchester[15] and development was completed in late 1909. The stadium hosted its inaugural game on 19 February 1910, with United playing host to Liverpool. However, the home side were unable to provide their fans with a win to mark the occasion, as Liverpool won 4–3. A journalist at the game reported the stadium as "the most handsomest [sic], the most spacious and the most remarkable arena I have ever seen. As a football ground it is unrivalled in the world, it is an honour to Manchester and the home of a team who can do wonders when they are so disposed".[16]
Before the construction of Wembley Stadium in 1923, the FA Cup Final was hosted by a number of different grounds around England including Old Trafford.[17] The first of these was the 1911 FA Cup Final replay between Bradford City and Newcastle United, after the original tie at Crystal Palace finished as a no-score draw after extra time. Bradford won 1–0, the goal scored by Jimmy Speirs, in a match watched by 58,000 people.[18] The ground's second FA Cup Final was the 1915 final between Sheffield United and Chelsea. Sheffield United won the match 3–0 in front of nearly 50,000 spectators, most of whom were in the military, leading to the final being nicknamed "the Khaki Cup Final".[19] On 27 December 1920, Old Trafford played host to its largest pre-Second World War attendance for a United league match, as 70,504 spectators watched the Red Devils lose 3–1 to Aston Villa.[20] The ground hosted its first international football match later that decade, when England lost 1–0 to Scotland in front of 49,429 spectators on 17 April 1926.[21][22] Unusually, the record attendance at Old Trafford is not for a Manchester United home game. Instead, on 25 March 1939, 76,962 people watched an FA Cup semi-final between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Grimsby Town.[23]
[edit]Wartime bombing
In 1936, as part of a £35,000 refurbishment, an 80-yard-long roof was added to the United Road stand (now the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand) for the first time,[24] while roofs were added to the south corners in 1938.[25] Upon the outbreak of the Second World War, Old Trafford was requisitioned by the military to be used as a depot.[26] Football continued to be played at the stadium, but a German bombing raid on Trafford Park on 22 December 1940 damaged the stadium to the extent that a Christmas day fixture against Stockport County had to be switched to Stockport's ground.[26] Football resumed at Old Trafford on 8 March 1941, but another German raid on 11 March 1941 destroyed much of the stadium, notably the main stand (now the South Stand), forcing the club's operations to move to Cornbrook Cold Storage, owned by United chairman James W. Gibson.[26] After pressure from Gibson, the War Damage Commission granted Manchester United £4,800 to remove the debris and £17,478 to rebuild the stands.[24] During the reconstruction of the stadium, Manchester United played their "home" games at Maine Road, the home of their cross-town rivals, Manchester City, at a cost of £5,000 a year plus a percentage of the gate receipts.[27] The club was now £15,000 in debt, not helped by the rental of Maine Road, and the Labour MP for Stoke, Ellis Smith, petitioned the Government to increase the club's compensation package, but it was in vain.[24] Though Old Trafford was reopened, albeit without cover, in 1949, it meant that a league game had not been played at the stadium for nearly 10 years.[28] United's first game back at Old Trafford was played on 24 August 1949, as 41,748 spectators witnessed a 3–0 victory over Bolton Wanderers.[29]
[edit]Completion of the master plan
A roof was restored to the Main Stand by 1951 and, soon after, the three remaining stands were covered, the operation culminating with the addition of a roof to the Stretford End (now the West Stand) in 1959.[25] The club also invested £40,000 in the installation of proper floodlighting, so that they would be able to use the stadium for the European games that were played in the late evening of weekdays, instead of having to play at Maine Road. In order to avoid obtrusive shadows being cast on the pitch, two sections of the Main Stand roof were cut away.[24] The first match to be played under floodlights at Old Trafford was a First Division match between Manchester United and Bolton Wanderers on 25 March 1957.[15]
However, although the spectators would now be able to see the players at night, they still suffered from the problem of obstructed views caused by the pillars that supported the roofs. With the 1966 FIFA World Cup fast approaching, this prompted the United directors to completely redesign the United Road (north) stand. The old roof pillars were replaced in 1965 with modern-style cantilevering on top of the roof, allowing every spectator a completely unobstructed view,[25] while it was also expanded to hold 20,000 spectators (10,000 seated and 10,000 standing in front) at a cost of £350,000.[30] The architects of the new stand, Mather and Nutter (now Atherden Fuller),[15] rearranged the organisation of the stand to have terracing at the front, a larger seated area towards the back, and the first private boxes at a British football ground. The east stand – the only remaining uncovered stand – was developed in the same style in 1973.[31] With the first two stands converted to cantilevers, the club's owners devised a long-term plan to do the same to the other two stands and convert the stadium into a bowl-like arena.[3] Such an undertaking would serve to increase the atmosphere within the ground by containing the crowd's noise and focusing it onto the pitch, where the players would feel the full effects of a capacity crowd.[32] Meanwhile, the stadium hosted its third FA Cup Final, hosting 62,078 spectators for the replay of the 1970 final between Chelsea and Leeds United; Chelsea won the match 2–1. The ground also hosted the second leg of the 1968 Intercontinental Cup, which saw Estudiantes de La Plata win the cup after a 1–1 draw.[33] The 1970s saw the dramatic rise of football hooliganism in Britain,[34] and a knife-throwing incident in 1971 forcing the club to erect the country's first perimeter fence, restricting fans from the Old Trafford pitch.[30]
1973 saw the completion of the roof around the circumference of the stadium, along with the addition of 5,500 seats to the Scoreboard End and the replacement of the old manual scoreboard with an electronic one in the north-east corner. Then, in 1975, a £3 million expansion was begun, starting with the addition of the Executive Suite to the Main Stand. The suite's restaurant overlooked the pitch, but the view was still obstructed by the roof pillars. Therefore, in kind with the roofs of the United Road Stand and the Scoreboard End, the Main Stand roof was replaced with a cantilever design. The Executive Suite and cantilever roof were then extended to the full length of the stand, allowing for the relocation of the club offices from the south-east corner to the Main Stand. The south-east quadrant was then removed and replaced in 1985 with a seated section bringing the total seating capacity of the stadium to 25,686 (56,385 overall). The completion of the cantilever roof around three sides of the stadium allowed for the replacement of the old floodlight pylons, and the attachment of a row of floodlights around the inner rim of the roof in 1987.
[edit]Conversion to all-seater
The Stretford End before its redevelopment in the early 1990s
With every subsequent improvement made to the ground since the Second World War, the capacity steadily declined. By the 1980s, the capacity had dropped from the original 80,000 to approximately 60,000. The capacity dropped still further in 1990, when the Taylor Report recommended, and the government demanded that all First and Second Division stadia be converted to all-seaters. This meant that £3–5 million plans to replace the Stretford End with a brand new stand with an all-standing terrace at the front and a cantilever roof to link with the rest of the ground had to be drastically altered.[15] This forced redevelopment, including the removal of the terraces at the front of the other three stands, not only increased the cost to around £10 million, but also reduced the capacity of Old Trafford to an all-time low of around 44,000.[35] In addition, the club was told in 1992 that they would only receive £1.4 million of a possible £2 million from the Football Trust to be put towards work related to the Taylor Report.[36]
The redeveloped East Stand was opened at the beginning of the 2000–01 season.
The club's resurgence in success and increase in popularity in the early 1990s ensured that further development would have to occur. In 1995, the 30-year-old North Stand was demolished and work quickly began on a new stand,[37] to be ready in time for Old Trafford to host three group games, a quarter-final and a semi-final at Euro 96. The club purchased the Trafford Park trading estate, a 20-acre (81,000 m2) site on the other site of United Road, for £9.2 million in March 1995. Construction began in June 1995 and was completed by May 1996, with the first two of the three phases of the stand opening during the season. Designed by Atherden Fuller, with Hilstone Laurie as project and construction managers and Campbell Reith Hill as structural engineers, the new three-tiered stand cost a total of £18.65 million to build and had a capacity of about 25,500, raising the capacity of the entire ground to more than 55,000. The cantilever roof would also be the largest in Europe, measuring 58.5 m (192 ft) from the back wall to the front edge.[38] Further success over the next few years guaranteed yet more development. First, a second tier was added to the East Stand. Opened in January 2000, the stadium's capacity was temporarily increased to about 61,000 until the opening of the West Stand's second tier, which added yet another 7,000 seats, bringing the capacity to 68,217. It was now not only the biggest club stadium in England but the biggest in all of the United Kingdom.[39] Old Trafford hosted its first major European final three years later, playing host to the 2003 UEFA Champions League Final between Milan and Juventus.
From 2001 to 2007, following the demolition of the old Wembley Stadium, the England national football team was forced to play its games elsewhere. During that time, the team toured the country, playing their matches at various grounds from Villa Park in Birmingham to St James' Park in Newcastle. From 2003 to 2007, Old Trafford hosted 12 of England's 23 home matches, more than any other stadium. The latest international to be held at Old Trafford was England's 1–0 loss to Spain on 7 February 2007.[40] The match was played in front of a crowd of 58,207.[41]
[edit]2006 expansion
Old Trafford's most recent expansion, which took place between July 2005 and May 2006, saw an increase of around 8,000 seats with the addition of second tiers to both the north-west and north-east quadrants of the ground.[3] Part of the new seating was used for the first time on 26 March 2006, when an attendance of 69,070 became a new Premier League record.[42] The record continued to be pushed upwards before reaching its current peak on 31 March 2007, when 76,098 spectators saw United beat Blackburn Rovers 4–1, meaning that just 114 seats (0.15% of the total capacity of 76,212) were left unoccupied.[43] In 2009, a reorganisation of the seating in the stadium resulted in a reduction of the capacity by 255 to 75,957, meaning that the club's home attendance record would stand at least until the next expansion.[44][45]
Peter Oldfield-Edwards' scale model of Old Trafford on display in the club museum in March 2010
Old Trafford celebrated its 100th anniversary on 19 February 2010. In recognition of the occasion, Manchester United's official website ran a feature in which a memorable moment from the stadium's history was highlighted on each of the 100 days leading up to the anniversary.[46] From these 100 moments, the top 10 were chosen by a panel including club statistician Cliff Butler, journalist David Meek, and former players Pat Crerand and Wilf McGuinness.[47] At Old Trafford itself, an art competition was run for pupils from three local schools to create their own depictions of the stadium in the past, present and future.[48] Winning paintings were put on permanent display on the concourse of the Old Trafford family stand, and the winners will be presented with awards by artist Harold Riley on 22 February.[49] An exhibition about the stadium at the club museum was opened by former goalkeeper Jack Crompton and chief executive David Gill on 19 February.[49] The exhibition highlights the history of the stadium and features memorabilia from its past, including a programme from the inaugural match and a 1:220 scale model hand-built by model artist Peter Oldfield-Edwards.[50] Finally, at Manchester United's home match against Fulham on 14 March, fans at the game received a replica copy of the programme from the first Old Trafford match, and half-time saw relatives of the players who took part in the first game – as well as those of the club chairman John Henry Davies and stadium architect Archibald Leitch – taking part in the burial of a time capsule of Manchester United memorabilia near the centre tunnel.[51] Only relatives of winger Billy Meredith, wing half Dick Duckworth and club secretary Ernest Mangnall could not be found.[52]
Old Trafford is scheduled to be used as a venue for several matches in the football competition at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[53]
[edit]Structure and facilities
See also: Stretford End
A plan of the layout of Old Trafford. The shaded area indicates the section designated for away fans.
The Old Trafford pitch is surrounded by four covered all-seater stands, officially known as the Sir Alex Ferguson (North), East, South and West Stands. Each stand has at least two tiers,[54] with the exception of the South Stand, which only has one tier due to construction restrictions. The lower tier of each stand is split into Lower and Upper sections, the Lower sections having been converted from terracing in the early 1990s.
The Sir Alex Ferguson Stand, formerly known as the United Road stand and the North Stand, runs over the top of United Road. The stand is three tiers tall, and can hold about 26,000 spectators, the most of the four stands. It can also accommodate a few fans in executive boxes and hospitality suites.[55] It opened in its current state in 1996, having previously been a single-tiered stand. As the ground's main stand, it houses many of the ground's more popular facilities, including the Red Café (a Manchester United theme restaurant/bar) and the Manchester United museum and trophy room. Originally opened in 1986 as the first of its kind in the world,[56] the Manchester United museum was in the south-east corner of the ground until it moved to the redeveloped North Stand in 1998. The museum was opened by Pelé on 11 April 1998, since when numbers of visitors have jumped from 192,000 in 1998 to more than 300,000 visitors in 2009.[57][58] The North Stand was renamed as the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand on 5 November 2011, in honour of Alex Ferguson's 25 years as manager of the club.[59]
Opposite the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand is the South Stand, formerly Old Trafford's main stand. Although only a single-tiered stand, the South Stand contains most of the ground's executive suites,[60] and also plays host to any VIPs who may come to watch the match. Members of the media are seated in the middle of the Upper South Stand to give them the best view of the match. The television gantry is also in the South Stand, so the South Stand is the one that gets shown on television least often.[25] Television studios are located at either end of the South Stand, with the club's in-house television station, MUTV, in the East studio and other television stations, such as the BBC and Sky, in the West studio.
The dugout is in the centre of the South Stand, raised above pitch level to give the manager and his coaches an elevated view of the game. Each team's dugout flanks the old players' tunnel, which was used until 1993. The old tunnel is the only remaining part of the original 1910 stadium, having survived the bombing that destroyed much of the stadium during the Second World War.[61] On 6 February 2008, the tunnel was renamed the Munich Tunnel, as a memorial for the 50th anniversary of the 1958 Munich air disaster.[62] The current tunnel is in the South-West corner of the ground, and doubles as an entrance for the emergency services. In the event that large vehicles require access, the seating above the tunnel can be raised by up to 25 feet (7.6 m).[63] The tunnel leads up to the players' dressing room, via the television interview area, and the players' lounge.
The West Stand, with its mosaic of seats displaying the stand's colloquial name
Perhaps the best-known stand at Old Trafford is the West Stand, also known as the Stretford End. Traditionally, the stand is where the hard-core United fans are located, and also the ones who make the most noise.[64] Originally designed to hold 20,000 fans, the Stretford End was the last stand to be covered and also the last remaining all-terraced stand at the ground before the forced upgrade to seating in the early 1990s. The reconstruction of the Stretford End, which took place during the 1992–93 season, was carried out by Alfred McAlpine.[65] When the second tier was added to the Stretford End in 2000, many fans from the old "K Stand" moved there, and decided to hang banners and flags from the barrier at the front of the tier. So ingrained in Manchester United culture is the Stretford End, that Denis Law was given the nickname "King of the Stretford End", and there is now a statue of Law on the concourse of the stand's upper tier.[66]
The Manchester United club shop has had six different locations since it was first opened. Originally, the shop was a small hut near to the railway line that runs alongside the ground. The shop was then moved along the length of the South Stand, stopping first opposite where away fans enter the ground, and then residing in the building that would later become the club's merchandising office. A surge in the club's popularity in the early 1990s led to another move, this time to the forecourt of the West Stand. With this move came a great expansion and the conversion from a small shop to a "megastore". Alex Ferguson opened the new megastore on 3 December 1994.[67] The most recent moves came in the late 1990s, as the West Stand required room to expand to a second tier, and that meant the demolition of the megastore. The store was moved to a temporary site opposite the East Stand, before taking up a 17,000 square feet (1,600 m2) permanent residence in the ground floor of the expanded East Stand in 2000.[68] The floor space of the current megastore is actually owned by United's kit sponsors, Nike, who operate the store.
A plaque at Old Trafford commemorating the Munich air disaster
The East Stand at Old Trafford was the second to be converted to a cantilever roof, following the Sir Alex Ferguson Stand. It is also commonly referred to as the Scoreboard End, as it was the location of the scoreboard. The East Stand can currently hold nearly 12,000 fans,[3] and is the location of both the disabled fans section and the away section. The disabled section provides for up to 170 fans, with free seats for carers. Old Trafford was formerly divided into sections, with each section sequentially assigned a letter of the alphabet. Although every section had a letter, it is the K Stand that is the most commonly referred to today. The K Stand fans were renowned for their vocal support for the club, and a large array of chants and songs, though many of them have relocated to the second tier of the West Stand.[69] The East Stand has a tinted glass façade, behind which the club's administrative centre is located. These offices are the home to the staff of Inside United, the official Manchester United magazine, the club's official website, and its other administrative departments. Images and advertisements are often emblazoned on the front of the East Stand, most often advertising Nike products, though a tribute to the Busby Babes was displayed in February 2008 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster. Above the megastore is a statue of Sir Matt Busby, Manchester United's longest-serving manager to date. There is also a plaque dedicated to the victims of the Munich air disaster on the south end of the East Stand, while the Munich Clock is at the junction of the East and South Stands.[15] On 29 May 2008, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Manchester United's first European Cup title, a statue of the club's "holy trinity" of George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton, entitled "The United Trinity", was unveiled across Sir Matt Busby Way from the East Stand, directly opposite the statue of Busby.[70][71]
The United Trinity, a statue of Manchester United's "holy trinity" of Best, Law and Charlton
The pitch at the ground measures approximately 105 metres (115 yd) long by 68 metres (74 yd) wide,[2] with a few metres of run-off space on each side. The centre of the pitch is about nine inches higher than the edges, allowing surface water to run off more easily. As at many modern grounds, 10 inches (25 cm) under the pitch is an underground heating system, composed of 23 miles (37 km) of plastic pipes.[72] Club manager Alex Ferguson often requests that the pitch be relaid,[73][74] most notably half way through the 1998–99 season, when the team won the Treble, at a cost of about £250,000 each time. The grass at Old Trafford is watered regularly, though less on wet days, and mowed three times a week between April and November, and once a week from November to March.[72]
The Hublot clock tower in Old Trafford's car park E1
In the mid-1980s, when Manchester United Football Club owned the Manchester Giants, Manchester's basketball franchise, there were plans to build a 9,000-seater indoor arena on the site of what is now Car Park E1. However, the chairman at the time, Martin Edwards, did not have the funds to take on such a project, and the basketball franchise was eventually sold.[75] In August 2009, the car park became home to the Hublot clock tower, a 10-metre (32 ft 10 in)-tall tower in the shape of the Hublot logo, which houses four 2-metre (6 ft 7 in)-diameter clock faces, the largest ever made by the company.[76]
The east side of the stadium is also set to become the site for a new fan base to be funded by former Manchester United captain Gary Neville. The building will be located on the east side of Sir Matt Busby Way and on the opposite side of the Manchester Ship Canal from the stadium, and will accommodate up to 1,500 supporters. It is scheduled to open for the start of the 2013–14 season. The venture is being conducted separately from the club and will be paid for in part by proceeds from Neville's testimonial match.[77]
[edit]
camp nou
Camp Nou (Catalan pronunciation: [kamˈnɔw], "New Field"), sometimes called in error as Nou Camp in English, is a football stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The stadium, located in the west of the city, has been the home of FC Barcelona since its construction in 1957.
The Camp Nou seats 99,354[1], reduced to 96,336 in matches organized by the UEFA,[2] making it the largest stadium in Europe and the eleventh largest in the world in terms of capacity. It has hosted numerous international matches at a senior level including two UEFA Champions League finals, the most recent being in 1999. It also hosted several games, including bronze- and gold-medal matches, for the football competition at the 1992 Summer Olympics hosted by Barcelona. It held UEFA five-star status until 2006, when a new rating system was introduced by UEFA.
Its official name was Estadi del FC Barcelona (FC Barcelona Stadium) until 2000, when the club members voted to formally adopt the popular nickname Camp Nou. Though opposed by current club president Sandro Rosell, FC Barcelona initially approved the sale of its former training ground Mini Estadi to remodel the stadium on its fiftieth anniversary and increase capacity to 104,000 in 2007. The plans are on hold because of the World financial crisis.
Contents [hide]
1 History
1.1 Construction
1.2 Early years
1.3 Development
2 Future
3 Other uses
4 References
5 External links
[edit]History
[edit]Construction
The construction of Camp Nou started on 28 March 1954 as Barcelona's previous stadium, Camp de Les Corts had no room for expansion. Although originally planned to be called Estadi del FC Barcelona, the more popular name Camp Nou was used. The June 1950 signing of László Kubala, regarded as one of Barcelona's greatest players provided further impetus to the construction of a larger stadium.[3][4][5]
Construction of Camp Nou began on 28 March 1954 before a crowd of 60,000 Barça fans. Civil governor of Barcelona, Felipe Acedo Colunga presided at the laying in place of the first stone, with a blessing from the Archbishop of Barcelona, Gregorio Modrego. Construction took three years, going 336% over budget for a final cost of 288 million pesetas.[5] The stadium was officially opened on 24 September 1957. Handel's Messiah was performed at the opening of the stadium.
The architects were a team made up of Francesc Mitjans, Josep Soteras and Lorenzo García-Barbón.
[edit]Early years
In May 1972, Camp Nou hosted its first European Cup Winners' Cup final between Rangers and Dynamo Moscow. Rangers won the match with a score of 3–2. The 1970s marked a turning point for FC Barcelona with the signing of new player, Johan Cruyff in 1973. Electronic scoreboards were installed in the stadium two years later.
One of the stands displaying Barcelona's motto, Més que un club, meaning "More than a club".
The stadium underwent an expansion in 1980, in anticipation of the 1982 FIFA World Cup, which added boxes, VIP lounges, a new press area, new markers and the enlargement of the third tier by 22,150 seats for a total capacity of 115,000 spectators. The club raised funds for the remodeling by inscribing thousands of supporters’ names on bricks in return for a small set donation. This later became a topic of controversy when the news media in Madrid reported that the name of long-time Real Madrid chairman and Franco supporter, Santiago Bernabéu, had been commemorated in this way.[6][7][8] The first important game played was the final of the Winners’ Cup featuring Barcelona against Standard Liège, on 12 May 1982. Barcelona won the game 2–1 in front of an audience of 80,000.
Camp Nou was one of several stadiums used throughout the 1982 World Cup, hosting the inauguration ceremony on 13 June. Before a 100,000-person crowd, Belgium upset the defending champions Argentina 1–0 in the match that followed.[9]
[edit]Development
Scale model of Camp Nou, installed since 1985 at the Catalunya en Miniatura park.
The stadium’s capacity has varied greatly over the years, opening at 106,146, but growing to 121,749 for the 1982 FIFA World Cup.
Apart from hosting FC Barcelona, Camp Nou is home turf to the Catalan national team, their latest match as of August 2010 being a 4–2 win over Argentina.[10] The stadium is frequently used for other football events. The European Cup final between A.C. Milan and Steaua Bucharest was held on 24 May 1989, with the Italian club winning 4–0.[11] Camp Nou hosted part of the football competition, including the final, in the 1992 Summer Olympics.[12] In preparation for these Games, two additional tiers of seating were installed over the previous roof-line.[13]
Camp Nou underwent little change after 1982, except for the opening of the club museum in 1984. The stadium underwent a facelift in 1993–94, in which the pitch was lowered by 2.5 m (8 ft), the security gap that separated the lawn from the galleries was removed, and standing room was eliminated in favor of individual seating. A new press box, renovation of the presidential grandstand and boxes, new parking under the main grandstand, and new lighting and sound systems were completed in time for the 1998–99 season. In 1999 the UEFA outlawed standing sections in stadiums, and Camp Nou’s capacity settled to its current level.[1] The stadium hosted the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final later that year where Manchester United played Bayern Munich. United won 2–1, coming back from 0–1 down in injury time.[14]
A view of the supporters’ side during a match, showing the FC Barcelona colours
In 2000, fans were polled concerning the stadium’s name. Of the 29,102 votes the club received, a total of 19,861 (68.25%) preferred Camp Nou to Estadi del FC Barcelona, and thus the official name was changed to the popular nickname.[15]
During 1998–99, UEFA rated Camp Nou a five-star stadium for its services and functionalities.[16] However, as per the 2010 regulations, UEFA does not publish a list of the top venues.
The facilities now include a memorabilia shop, mini-pitches for training matches, and a chapel for the players. The stadium also houses the second-most visited museum in Catalonia, FC Barcelona Museum, which receives more than 1.2 million visitors per year.[17]
[edit]Future
To celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the stadium, the club issued an international tender to remodel it. The objective was to make the facility an integrated and highly visible urban environment. The club sought to increase the seating capacity by 13,500, with at least half of the total seating to be under cover. Should these renovations be completed, the stadium will be the third largest in the world (in terms of seating capacity), after the Rungrado May Day Stadium in North Korea (150,000 capacity) and the Salt Lake Stadium in India (120,000 capacity).
On 18 September 2007 the British architect Norman Foster and his company were selected to "restructure" Camp Nou. With an estimated cost of €250 million, the plan included the addition of 10,000 seats for a maximum capacity of 106,000.[18] The board of FC Barcelona approved the sale of their former training ground Mini Estadi in order to finance the remodeling. The project was planned to begin in 2009 and to be finished for the 2011–12 season.[19] However, due to the 2008 financial crises and subsequent fall in real estate prices, the sale of the training ground was postponed and likewise the remodeling project. In May 2010 Sandro Rosell, then a candidate for president of FC Barcelona, dismissed the possibility of selling Mini Estadí, saying it would be indefensible to “sell the crown jewels”, and his election on 30 June has effectively halted the plan to remodel Camp Nou.[20][21]
[edit]Other uses
A panoramic photograph of the stadium in January 2011
Camp Nou was host when U2 played in Barcelona on their 360° Tour.
Camp Nou has been used for various purposes other than football, often hosting major concerts.
Pope John Paul II celebrated mass for a congregation of over 121,000 at Camp Nou on 17 November 1982, on the occasion being made an honorary citizen of Barcelona.[22]
In 1983 Julio Iglesias played for 60,000 people, in what was described as a "most beautifully orchestrated" concert.[23] Other high-profile performances at Camp Nou include those by Bruce Springsteen on 3 August 1988 during his Tunnel Of Love Express Tour; and again on 19 July and 20 July 2008 during his Magic Tour. On 10 September 1988, a charity concert organised by Amnesty International to support human rights featured, among others, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Youssou N'Dour, Tracy Chapman, and El Último de la Fila. A concert by the Three Tenors—Josep Carreras, Plácido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti—was held on 13 July 1997.
On 1 July 2009 the stadium held the launch of the U2 360° Tour, which was attended to the maximum capacity of 90,000 people.[24] The lead singer of U2, Bono, explained that they had started their tour in Camp Nou since “This is where we wanted to build a space station, designed by Gaudi in the capital of surrealism." The concert ended with Bono wearing an FC Barcelona jersey.[25]
On August 9, 1988, Michael Jackson appeared at the stadium in front of 95,000 fans during his Bad World Tour.
The Camp Nou seats 99,354[1], reduced to 96,336 in matches organized by the UEFA,[2] making it the largest stadium in Europe and the eleventh largest in the world in terms of capacity. It has hosted numerous international matches at a senior level including two UEFA Champions League finals, the most recent being in 1999. It also hosted several games, including bronze- and gold-medal matches, for the football competition at the 1992 Summer Olympics hosted by Barcelona. It held UEFA five-star status until 2006, when a new rating system was introduced by UEFA.
Its official name was Estadi del FC Barcelona (FC Barcelona Stadium) until 2000, when the club members voted to formally adopt the popular nickname Camp Nou. Though opposed by current club president Sandro Rosell, FC Barcelona initially approved the sale of its former training ground Mini Estadi to remodel the stadium on its fiftieth anniversary and increase capacity to 104,000 in 2007. The plans are on hold because of the World financial crisis.
Contents [hide]
1 History
1.1 Construction
1.2 Early years
1.3 Development
2 Future
3 Other uses
4 References
5 External links
[edit]History
[edit]Construction
The construction of Camp Nou started on 28 March 1954 as Barcelona's previous stadium, Camp de Les Corts had no room for expansion. Although originally planned to be called Estadi del FC Barcelona, the more popular name Camp Nou was used. The June 1950 signing of László Kubala, regarded as one of Barcelona's greatest players provided further impetus to the construction of a larger stadium.[3][4][5]
Construction of Camp Nou began on 28 March 1954 before a crowd of 60,000 Barça fans. Civil governor of Barcelona, Felipe Acedo Colunga presided at the laying in place of the first stone, with a blessing from the Archbishop of Barcelona, Gregorio Modrego. Construction took three years, going 336% over budget for a final cost of 288 million pesetas.[5] The stadium was officially opened on 24 September 1957. Handel's Messiah was performed at the opening of the stadium.
The architects were a team made up of Francesc Mitjans, Josep Soteras and Lorenzo García-Barbón.
[edit]Early years
In May 1972, Camp Nou hosted its first European Cup Winners' Cup final between Rangers and Dynamo Moscow. Rangers won the match with a score of 3–2. The 1970s marked a turning point for FC Barcelona with the signing of new player, Johan Cruyff in 1973. Electronic scoreboards were installed in the stadium two years later.
One of the stands displaying Barcelona's motto, Més que un club, meaning "More than a club".
The stadium underwent an expansion in 1980, in anticipation of the 1982 FIFA World Cup, which added boxes, VIP lounges, a new press area, new markers and the enlargement of the third tier by 22,150 seats for a total capacity of 115,000 spectators. The club raised funds for the remodeling by inscribing thousands of supporters’ names on bricks in return for a small set donation. This later became a topic of controversy when the news media in Madrid reported that the name of long-time Real Madrid chairman and Franco supporter, Santiago Bernabéu, had been commemorated in this way.[6][7][8] The first important game played was the final of the Winners’ Cup featuring Barcelona against Standard Liège, on 12 May 1982. Barcelona won the game 2–1 in front of an audience of 80,000.
Camp Nou was one of several stadiums used throughout the 1982 World Cup, hosting the inauguration ceremony on 13 June. Before a 100,000-person crowd, Belgium upset the defending champions Argentina 1–0 in the match that followed.[9]
[edit]Development
Scale model of Camp Nou, installed since 1985 at the Catalunya en Miniatura park.
The stadium’s capacity has varied greatly over the years, opening at 106,146, but growing to 121,749 for the 1982 FIFA World Cup.
Apart from hosting FC Barcelona, Camp Nou is home turf to the Catalan national team, their latest match as of August 2010 being a 4–2 win over Argentina.[10] The stadium is frequently used for other football events. The European Cup final between A.C. Milan and Steaua Bucharest was held on 24 May 1989, with the Italian club winning 4–0.[11] Camp Nou hosted part of the football competition, including the final, in the 1992 Summer Olympics.[12] In preparation for these Games, two additional tiers of seating were installed over the previous roof-line.[13]
Camp Nou underwent little change after 1982, except for the opening of the club museum in 1984. The stadium underwent a facelift in 1993–94, in which the pitch was lowered by 2.5 m (8 ft), the security gap that separated the lawn from the galleries was removed, and standing room was eliminated in favor of individual seating. A new press box, renovation of the presidential grandstand and boxes, new parking under the main grandstand, and new lighting and sound systems were completed in time for the 1998–99 season. In 1999 the UEFA outlawed standing sections in stadiums, and Camp Nou’s capacity settled to its current level.[1] The stadium hosted the 1999 UEFA Champions League Final later that year where Manchester United played Bayern Munich. United won 2–1, coming back from 0–1 down in injury time.[14]
A view of the supporters’ side during a match, showing the FC Barcelona colours
In 2000, fans were polled concerning the stadium’s name. Of the 29,102 votes the club received, a total of 19,861 (68.25%) preferred Camp Nou to Estadi del FC Barcelona, and thus the official name was changed to the popular nickname.[15]
During 1998–99, UEFA rated Camp Nou a five-star stadium for its services and functionalities.[16] However, as per the 2010 regulations, UEFA does not publish a list of the top venues.
The facilities now include a memorabilia shop, mini-pitches for training matches, and a chapel for the players. The stadium also houses the second-most visited museum in Catalonia, FC Barcelona Museum, which receives more than 1.2 million visitors per year.[17]
[edit]Future
To celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the stadium, the club issued an international tender to remodel it. The objective was to make the facility an integrated and highly visible urban environment. The club sought to increase the seating capacity by 13,500, with at least half of the total seating to be under cover. Should these renovations be completed, the stadium will be the third largest in the world (in terms of seating capacity), after the Rungrado May Day Stadium in North Korea (150,000 capacity) and the Salt Lake Stadium in India (120,000 capacity).
On 18 September 2007 the British architect Norman Foster and his company were selected to "restructure" Camp Nou. With an estimated cost of €250 million, the plan included the addition of 10,000 seats for a maximum capacity of 106,000.[18] The board of FC Barcelona approved the sale of their former training ground Mini Estadi in order to finance the remodeling. The project was planned to begin in 2009 and to be finished for the 2011–12 season.[19] However, due to the 2008 financial crises and subsequent fall in real estate prices, the sale of the training ground was postponed and likewise the remodeling project. In May 2010 Sandro Rosell, then a candidate for president of FC Barcelona, dismissed the possibility of selling Mini Estadí, saying it would be indefensible to “sell the crown jewels”, and his election on 30 June has effectively halted the plan to remodel Camp Nou.[20][21]
[edit]Other uses
A panoramic photograph of the stadium in January 2011
Camp Nou was host when U2 played in Barcelona on their 360° Tour.
Camp Nou has been used for various purposes other than football, often hosting major concerts.
Pope John Paul II celebrated mass for a congregation of over 121,000 at Camp Nou on 17 November 1982, on the occasion being made an honorary citizen of Barcelona.[22]
In 1983 Julio Iglesias played for 60,000 people, in what was described as a "most beautifully orchestrated" concert.[23] Other high-profile performances at Camp Nou include those by Bruce Springsteen on 3 August 1988 during his Tunnel Of Love Express Tour; and again on 19 July and 20 July 2008 during his Magic Tour. On 10 September 1988, a charity concert organised by Amnesty International to support human rights featured, among others, Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Peter Gabriel, Youssou N'Dour, Tracy Chapman, and El Último de la Fila. A concert by the Three Tenors—Josep Carreras, Plácido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti—was held on 13 July 1997.
On 1 July 2009 the stadium held the launch of the U2 360° Tour, which was attended to the maximum capacity of 90,000 people.[24] The lead singer of U2, Bono, explained that they had started their tour in Camp Nou since “This is where we wanted to build a space station, designed by Gaudi in the capital of surrealism." The concert ended with Bono wearing an FC Barcelona jersey.[25]
On August 9, 1988, Michael Jackson appeared at the stadium in front of 95,000 fans during his Bad World Tour.
santiago bernabue
On 22 June 1944, the Banco Mercantil e Industrial bank granted a credit to Santiago Bernabéu and Rafael Salgado for the purchase of the land adjacent to the old Estadio Chamartín. On 5 September 1944, architects Manuel Muñoz Monasterio and Luis Alemany Soler were hired and the structure on the site began to give way to the new stadium. On 27 October 1944, construction work on the stadium began.
The Nuevo Estadio Chamartín (English: New Chamartín Stadium) was inaugurated on 14 December 1947 with a match between Real Madrid and the Portuguese side Os Belenenses which resulted in a 3-1 victory for Los Blancos.[6] The stadium had an initial capacity of 75,145 spectators, 27,645 of which had seats (7,125 covered) and 47,500 for standing fans. Sabino Barinaga was the first player to score in the new stadium.
[edit]The 1950s
The first major renovation occurred in 1954. On 19 June of that year, the stadium expanded to accommodate 125,000 spectators. Thus, the Madrid coliseum became the biggest stadium of all the participants of the newly established European Cup.
On 4 January 1955, after the General Assembly of Members Compromisaros, it was decided that the stadium adopt its present name in honour of club President Santiago Bernabéu.
In May 1957, Real Madrid used electric stadium lighting in a game against Sport Recife of Brazil.
[edit]The 1980s
The next big changes did not occur until the early 1980s with the hosting of the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain. The stadium had to adapt to the changing times and with this, architects Rafael Luis Alemany and Manuel Salinas were hired for the stadium's renovation project. The brothers were sons of Luis Alemany Alemany Soler, who carried out the original construction project next to Muñoz Monasterio. The work lasted 16 months and had a cost of 704 million pesetas, of which 530 million was paid by the city of Madrid.
The improvements included a number of points. First, FIFA forced two-thirds of the seating area to be covered. For this reason, Real Madrid installed a roof covering the perimeter of the first and second tiers of seating, except the east side. Thus, the stadium's capacity was reduced from 120,000 to 90,800 spectators, 24,550 of which were covered by the new roof. The project also involved remodeling the façade, the installation of new electronic signs in the north and south ends, as well as the renovation of the press areas, lockers rooms, access, and ancillary areas.
The stadium hosted four matches in the World Cup: three second-round Group Two matches (West Germany vs. England, West Germany vs. Spain, and Spain vs. England) and the final between Italy and West Germany.
[edit]The 1990s
In the mid 1980s, UEFA introduced new safety standards due to increased violence in the stadiums of Europe. The stadium was forced to create separate shortcuts to different stadium sections and seats for all spectators. In the 1990s, the Santiago Bernabéu went through a large expansion and remodeling. The board of Ramón Mendoza awarded the project to Gines Navarro Construcciones, S.A.
The work started on 7 February 1992 and concluded on 7 May 1994 with a final cost of more than 5 billion pesetas, substantially raising the debt of the club, having no institutional support.
The work concluded with the creation of an amphitheater on the west side and in the foundations, coupled with the existing building by using hydraulic jacks.
In total, 20,200 upgraded seats were installed, with each seat having a tilt of 87 degrees, ensuring a perfect view and proximity to the pitch. In addition, to access the new ring, four entrance towers were erected on the outside, each with two staircases and a central spiral ramp.
With the new structure, the height of the stadium was increased from 22 m to 45 m. This caused problems during the winter, leaving two-thirds of the field of play in the shade. This lack of sunlight led to grass deterioration on the pitch. For this reason, a polypropylene pipe network was installed at a 20 cm depth under the pitch. At over 30 km long the pipe system circulates hot water, keeping the turf from freezing in cold temperatures.
Also, due to the height of the stand, it was necessary to improve and increase the lighting capability. A retractable protective roof was also installed to protect the fans from the elements. After the renovation, the stadium's capacity was 110,000 spectators.
Already in the summer of 1998, and chaired by Lorenzo Sanz, the Santiago Bernabéu adopted an all-seating arrangement, bringing its capacity down to 75,328 spectators.
[edit]The 2000s
View of the stadium in a Derby.
When Florentino Pérez became the president of Real Madrid, he launched a "master plan" with one goal: to improve the comfort of the Santiago Bernabéu and the quality of its facilities, and maximise revenue for the stadium.
Pérez invested €127 million in five years (2001–2006) by adding an expansion to the east side of the stadium, as well adding a new façade on Father Damien street, new costumes, new boxes and VIP areas, a new stage in honour of the east side, a new press area (also located on the east side), a new audio system, new bars, integration of heating in the stands, panoramic lifts, new restaurants, escalators in the tower access, and implementation of the multipurpose building in Father Damien street.
Following the enlargement of the lateral east side and the creation of new galleries, the capacity of the Santiago Bernabéu was 80,354, all seated. The last change was an increase of about five thousand to a capacity of 85,454, effected in 2011.[7]
West façade of the stadium
In 2007, the 1,000th game was played at the Santiago Bernabéu. In addition, the latest revision of UEFA on 27 October 2007, on the occasion of Champions League match against Olympiacos, served as a final step to give the Santiago Bernabéu elite stadium status on 14 November 2007, a month before the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the inauguration of the stadium. UEFA announced that the club will officially rename the Elite stadium.
Pérez proposed construction of a retractable roof before he resigned in 2005. In 2009, following the re-election of Pérez as the club president, it was announced that the roof construction was looking unlikely due to the financial situation of the club. According to Spanish sports newspaper Marca, however, Pérez wants to restructure Santiago Bernabéu. According to the newspaper, the architect in charge will be chosen from among a shortlist of Spanish architects Santiago Calatrava and Pritzker Prize-winner Rafael Moneo, and Chinese-American Ieoh Ming Pei, also a Pritzker winner.[8]
The Nuevo Estadio Chamartín (English: New Chamartín Stadium) was inaugurated on 14 December 1947 with a match between Real Madrid and the Portuguese side Os Belenenses which resulted in a 3-1 victory for Los Blancos.[6] The stadium had an initial capacity of 75,145 spectators, 27,645 of which had seats (7,125 covered) and 47,500 for standing fans. Sabino Barinaga was the first player to score in the new stadium.
[edit]The 1950s
The first major renovation occurred in 1954. On 19 June of that year, the stadium expanded to accommodate 125,000 spectators. Thus, the Madrid coliseum became the biggest stadium of all the participants of the newly established European Cup.
On 4 January 1955, after the General Assembly of Members Compromisaros, it was decided that the stadium adopt its present name in honour of club President Santiago Bernabéu.
In May 1957, Real Madrid used electric stadium lighting in a game against Sport Recife of Brazil.
[edit]The 1980s
The next big changes did not occur until the early 1980s with the hosting of the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain. The stadium had to adapt to the changing times and with this, architects Rafael Luis Alemany and Manuel Salinas were hired for the stadium's renovation project. The brothers were sons of Luis Alemany Alemany Soler, who carried out the original construction project next to Muñoz Monasterio. The work lasted 16 months and had a cost of 704 million pesetas, of which 530 million was paid by the city of Madrid.
The improvements included a number of points. First, FIFA forced two-thirds of the seating area to be covered. For this reason, Real Madrid installed a roof covering the perimeter of the first and second tiers of seating, except the east side. Thus, the stadium's capacity was reduced from 120,000 to 90,800 spectators, 24,550 of which were covered by the new roof. The project also involved remodeling the façade, the installation of new electronic signs in the north and south ends, as well as the renovation of the press areas, lockers rooms, access, and ancillary areas.
The stadium hosted four matches in the World Cup: three second-round Group Two matches (West Germany vs. England, West Germany vs. Spain, and Spain vs. England) and the final between Italy and West Germany.
[edit]The 1990s
In the mid 1980s, UEFA introduced new safety standards due to increased violence in the stadiums of Europe. The stadium was forced to create separate shortcuts to different stadium sections and seats for all spectators. In the 1990s, the Santiago Bernabéu went through a large expansion and remodeling. The board of Ramón Mendoza awarded the project to Gines Navarro Construcciones, S.A.
The work started on 7 February 1992 and concluded on 7 May 1994 with a final cost of more than 5 billion pesetas, substantially raising the debt of the club, having no institutional support.
The work concluded with the creation of an amphitheater on the west side and in the foundations, coupled with the existing building by using hydraulic jacks.
In total, 20,200 upgraded seats were installed, with each seat having a tilt of 87 degrees, ensuring a perfect view and proximity to the pitch. In addition, to access the new ring, four entrance towers were erected on the outside, each with two staircases and a central spiral ramp.
With the new structure, the height of the stadium was increased from 22 m to 45 m. This caused problems during the winter, leaving two-thirds of the field of play in the shade. This lack of sunlight led to grass deterioration on the pitch. For this reason, a polypropylene pipe network was installed at a 20 cm depth under the pitch. At over 30 km long the pipe system circulates hot water, keeping the turf from freezing in cold temperatures.
Also, due to the height of the stand, it was necessary to improve and increase the lighting capability. A retractable protective roof was also installed to protect the fans from the elements. After the renovation, the stadium's capacity was 110,000 spectators.
Already in the summer of 1998, and chaired by Lorenzo Sanz, the Santiago Bernabéu adopted an all-seating arrangement, bringing its capacity down to 75,328 spectators.
[edit]The 2000s
View of the stadium in a Derby.
When Florentino Pérez became the president of Real Madrid, he launched a "master plan" with one goal: to improve the comfort of the Santiago Bernabéu and the quality of its facilities, and maximise revenue for the stadium.
Pérez invested €127 million in five years (2001–2006) by adding an expansion to the east side of the stadium, as well adding a new façade on Father Damien street, new costumes, new boxes and VIP areas, a new stage in honour of the east side, a new press area (also located on the east side), a new audio system, new bars, integration of heating in the stands, panoramic lifts, new restaurants, escalators in the tower access, and implementation of the multipurpose building in Father Damien street.
Following the enlargement of the lateral east side and the creation of new galleries, the capacity of the Santiago Bernabéu was 80,354, all seated. The last change was an increase of about five thousand to a capacity of 85,454, effected in 2011.[7]
West façade of the stadium
In 2007, the 1,000th game was played at the Santiago Bernabéu. In addition, the latest revision of UEFA on 27 October 2007, on the occasion of Champions League match against Olympiacos, served as a final step to give the Santiago Bernabéu elite stadium status on 14 November 2007, a month before the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the inauguration of the stadium. UEFA announced that the club will officially rename the Elite stadium.
Pérez proposed construction of a retractable roof before he resigned in 2005. In 2009, following the re-election of Pérez as the club president, it was announced that the roof construction was looking unlikely due to the financial situation of the club. According to Spanish sports newspaper Marca, however, Pérez wants to restructure Santiago Bernabéu. According to the newspaper, the architect in charge will be chosen from among a shortlist of Spanish architects Santiago Calatrava and Pritzker Prize-winner Rafael Moneo, and Chinese-American Ieoh Ming Pei, also a Pritzker winner.[8]
7 rumah paling mewah
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Inilah rumah dengan harga paling fantastis di dunia, rumah dimiliki oleh Mukesh Ambani, beliau pengusaha dan miliuner terkemuka asal India yang juga merupakan orang yang masuk dalam daftar 10 orang terkaya di dunia. Rumah ini terdiri atas 27 lantai dengan ruangan yang sangat luas, bahkan garasinya saja bisa menampung sekitar 150 mobil. Wow !
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Hunian mewah ini milik William Randolph Hearst, memiliki 3 kolam renang, 29 kamar tidur dan dengan aula yang sangat luas. Di dalamnya juga terdapat sebuah diskotik dan sebuah mini bioskop.
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Rumah ini terletak di daerah Kensington di London Rumah ini bertingkat 5 dan memiliki 10 kamar tidur , kolam renang dalam ruangan, ruang panik, Bioskop serta ruang sauna.
4. Rumah Mewah The Penthouses at One Hyde Park ($ 160.000.000)
Rumah ini memang masih sedang dalam proses konstruksi, namun begitu fasilitas yang ada di dalam rumah ini terbilang sangat mewah, bahkan bisa dibilang lebih mirip hotel. ada kabar yang mengatakan bahwa jika bangunan ini sudah selesai seluruhnya, maka akan bisa mengalahkan harga William Randolph Hearst’s Mansion.
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Rumah ini berdiri di atas tanah yang membentang sepanjang 56.000 meter persegi tanah dan dibangun pada tahun 1991. Memiliki 123 kamar, lapangan tenis, arena skating, bowling gang dan beberapa kolam renang.
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Dimiliki oleh Pangeran Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz dari Arab Saudi, memiliki 27 kamar mandi dan 15 kamar tidur bersama dengan kolam renang dalam ruangan, jalan ski swasta, limbah pabrik pengolahan, lapangan tenis, bangunan ini dibangun di atas tanah yang membentang sepanjang 14.397 kaki persegi.
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Rumah yang dibangun oleh Suzanne dan David Saperstein ini memiliki 15 kamar tidur dan eksterior ditutupi dengan kapur Perancis sementara interior disiramkan dengan emas 24 karat. Rumah itu juga memiliki item furniture seperti pola tirai Marie Antoinette dan kursi favorit Napoleon.
Daftar rumah paling mewah di dunia di atas hanya sebagian saja yang diketahui, karena ternyata masih banyak milyarder-milyarder yang memiliki rumah-rumah di daerah yang tidak diketahui.
Inilah rumah dengan harga paling fantastis di dunia, rumah dimiliki oleh Mukesh Ambani, beliau pengusaha dan miliuner terkemuka asal India yang juga merupakan orang yang masuk dalam daftar 10 orang terkaya di dunia. Rumah ini terdiri atas 27 lantai dengan ruangan yang sangat luas, bahkan garasinya saja bisa menampung sekitar 150 mobil. Wow !
2. Rumah Mewah William Randolph Hearst’s Mansion ($165.000.000)
Hunian mewah ini milik William Randolph Hearst, memiliki 3 kolam renang, 29 kamar tidur dan dengan aula yang sangat luas. Di dalamnya juga terdapat sebuah diskotik dan sebuah mini bioskop.
3. Rumah Mewah Elena Franchuk’s Victorian Villa ($ 161.000.000)
Rumah ini terletak di daerah Kensington di London Rumah ini bertingkat 5 dan memiliki 10 kamar tidur , kolam renang dalam ruangan, ruang panik, Bioskop serta ruang sauna.
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Rumah ini memang masih sedang dalam proses konstruksi, namun begitu fasilitas yang ada di dalam rumah ini terbilang sangat mewah, bahkan bisa dibilang lebih mirip hotel. ada kabar yang mengatakan bahwa jika bangunan ini sudah selesai seluruhnya, maka akan bisa mengalahkan harga William Randolph Hearst’s Mansion.
5. Rumah Mewah Aaron Spelling’s Manor ($ 150.000.000)
Rumah ini berdiri di atas tanah yang membentang sepanjang 56.000 meter persegi tanah dan dibangun pada tahun 1991. Memiliki 123 kamar, lapangan tenis, arena skating, bowling gang dan beberapa kolam renang.
6. Rumah Mewah Hala Ranch ($ 135.000.000)
Dimiliki oleh Pangeran Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz dari Arab Saudi, memiliki 27 kamar mandi dan 15 kamar tidur bersama dengan kolam renang dalam ruangan, jalan ski swasta, limbah pabrik pengolahan, lapangan tenis, bangunan ini dibangun di atas tanah yang membentang sepanjang 14.397 kaki persegi.
7. Rumah Mewah Fleur de Lys ($ 125.000.000)
Rumah yang dibangun oleh Suzanne dan David Saperstein ini memiliki 15 kamar tidur dan eksterior ditutupi dengan kapur Perancis sementara interior disiramkan dengan emas 24 karat. Rumah itu juga memiliki item furniture seperti pola tirai Marie Antoinette dan kursi favorit Napoleon.
Daftar rumah paling mewah di dunia di atas hanya sebagian saja yang diketahui, karena ternyata masih banyak milyarder-milyarder yang memiliki rumah-rumah di daerah yang tidak diketahui.
keajaiban dunia
1.Banaue Rice Terraces di Filipina
Dari gambar ini kelihatan luar biasa, ya, sawah irigasi kuno yang berumur 2000 tahun. Terletak di gunung Ifugao Filipina, terkenal dengan sebutan Banaue Rice Terraces. Tidak muluk-muluk, tapi Filipina merasa cukup puas seandainya Banaue Rice Terraces ditempatkan sebagai “Keajaiban Dunia ke Delapan”.
Diperkirakan, sawah yang ‘diukir’ di gunung Ifugo ini, dibuat dengan peralatan yang sangat tradisional oleh nenek moyang bangsa Filipin. Sawah petak ini berada di 1.500 meter di atas permukaan laut dan mengelilingi lereng gunung sejauh 10.360 kilometer persegi.
Yang luar biasa, nenek moyang sudah mengatur sedemikian rupa pengairan sawah yang berasal dari hutan yang berada atas persawahan itu. Penduduk setempat sampai hari ini masih menanampati juga sayuran di sawah itu.
Erosi, merupakan salah satu ancaman bagi keberadaan sawah kuno ini. Karenanya, pemerintah juga warga sekitar sangat peduli hal ini, perawatan serta rekonstruksi dilakukan terus menerus, untuk menjaga kelestariannya.
2.Sigiriya di Sri Langka
Ini adalah sisa-sisa peninggalan istana kuno yang terletak di atas bukit batu. Sigiriya atau Batu Singa, begitu sebutannya. Terletak di Matale District, Sri Lanka, dikelilingi hutan, waduk, juga kebun. Letaknya yang unik, ditambah dengan pemandangan menakjubkan, membuat Sigiriya banyak dikunjungi wisatawan. Melihat dari udara, Sigiriya seperti lukisan kuno yang mengingatkan orang pada Ajanta Caves di India.
Sigiriya dibangun pada masas pemerintahan Raja Kassapa I yang memerintah dari 477-495 AD. Tempat ini adalah satu dari tujuh peninggalan kuno yang dimiliki Sri Langka. Diduga, Sirigiya didiami sejak masa pra-sejarah. Lalu, pada abad ke-5 BC, tempat ini dipakai sebagai biara.
3. Tower of Hercules di Spanyol
Menara Hercules adalah mercu suar kuno peninggalan Romawi yang terletak di semenanjung, sekitar 2,4 kilometer (1,5 mil) dari pusat Corunna, Galicia, barat laut Spanyol. Nama Corunna berasal dari kolom kuno. Tinggi tower ini 55 meter menghadap pantai Atlantik Utara, Spanyol. Mercusuar Hercules berusia 1900 tahun, peninggalan Romawi yang masih beroperasi hingga kini Konon, usia tower ini sudah mencapai 1900 tahun, direhabilitasi tahun 1791. Ini adalah mercu suar peninggalan Romawi yang hingga kini masih difungsikan.
4. Toru, Kota Kuno di Polandia Utara yang Masih Eksis
Toru adalah kota di Polandia utara, persisnya di Vistula River. Ini adalah kota kuno yang telah ada sejak 1100 BC yang sampai sekarang masih eksis. Kota ini adalah kota kelahiran Nicolaus Copernicus (Seorang astronom, matematikawan, dan ekonom. Teorinya yang terkenal adalah matahari sebagai pusat Tata Surya, menjungkirbalikkan teori geosentris tradisional —yang menempatkan Bumi di pusat alam semesta— dianggap sebagai salah satu penemuan yang terpenting sepanjang masa, dan merupakan titik mula fundamental bagi astronomi modern dan sains modern.
Teori ini menimbulkan revolusi ilmiah) Torun kota kuno di Polandia masih eksis hingga kini. Diduga kota ini sudah ada tahun 1100 BC Toru menjadi cikal bakal pemukiman pertama di daerah itu, diperkirakan telah ada sejak 1100 BC. Kota itu berkembang pada abad pertengahan, yakni abad ke 7 hingga ke 13. Kemudian Kesatria Teutonic membangun benteng di sekitar pemukiman, antara tahun 1230-31. Pada 1263, biarawan Franciscan menetap di daerah itu mengikuti Dominika pada 1239.
Kota ini semakin berkembang dengan dibangunnya kota baru di dekat Toru. Kedua kota ini berkembang menjadi pusat perdagangan penting pada abad pertengahan.
Kalau anda melihat potret ini, sungguh menarik. Tempat ini sejak dulu hingga sekarang banyak dikunjungi. Kalau dulu karena menjadi kota dagang, sedang sekarang menjadi kota wisata yang sarat dengan sejarah masa lalu.
5.Ajanta Caves di India
Goa Ajanta di Maharashtra, salah satu dari banyak peninggalan kuno yang ada di India. Yang menakjubkan di goa ini banyak terdapat lukisan juga patung-patung Buddha bernilai seni tinggi. Diperkirakan, monumen-monumen yang ada dalam goa ini mulai digarap pada abad ke 2 BC.
Tapi goa di Ajanta ini kemudian ditinggalkan. Selama 1300 tahun goa ini terbengkalai, di bagian luar, belukar tumbuh tinggi, akhirnya menjadi hutan yang otomatis menyembunyikan keberadaan goa ini. Tidak ada yang pernah tahu bahwa di sana tersimpan ‘warisan dunia’ yang luar biasa. Sampai akhirnya pada musim semi tahun 1819 seorang perwira Inggris, tanpa sengaja memasuki ngarai yang curam.
Semakin dalam dia masuk ke sana, dan dia luar biasa kaget karena ia menemukan sebuah pintu tersembunyi di salah satu gua. Inilah kunjungan pertama manusia setelah ribuan tahun. Ketika ditemukan goa itu hanyalah ‘rumah’ burung dan kalelawar serta binatang lainnya. Kapten Smith kemudian melakukan eksplorasi pertama untuk mengetahui ‘isi’ dari goa misterius itu. Nama Kapten Smith ini diketahui, karena yang bersangkutan menuliskan namanya pada dinding goa dan tahun kedatangannya. Ia menulis, “Kapten Smith, April 1819”.
6. Lembah Bunga di Himalaya
Lembah Bunga adalah lembah yang berada di ketinggian Himalaya. Para pendaki juga ahli botani menggambarkan lembah itu luar biasa indah, sudah ada sejak lebih dari seabad lebih, bahkan dalam mitologi Hindu, penggambaran keberadaan lembah ini sudah ada sejak jaman dahulu kala.
Hamparan yang lembut, padang rumput di selingi bunga-bungaan warna warni, sangat indah dan nyaris menyesakkan nafas memandangnya. Lembah bunga yang indah semakin lengkap dengan adanya background gunung dan hutan. Lembah bunga ini dinyatakan taman nasional (Nanda Devi National Park) pada 1982. Masyarakat setempat mengetahui keberadaan lembah bunga ini, mereka meyakini bahwa tempat itu dihuni oleh kawanan peri.
7. Metéora, Bangunan di Puncak Gunung Batu Athos, Yunani
Lihat gambar-gambar ini, pasti anda takjub. Bagaimana bisa sebuah castile bisa berdiri di puncak gunung batu. Terbayangkan betapa sulitnya pembangunan castle ini, padahal usianya sudah ratusan tahun. Ini adalah kompleks biara-biara ortodoks Timur paling besar dan paling penting di Yunani. Persisnya, biara-biara ini dibangun di puncak gunung batu Athos.
Ada enam biara di kompleks ini. Persisnya berada di kawasan Thessaly, dekat sunagi Pineios, pinggir baratlaut Yunani Tengah.Yang cuku menarik adalah akses menuju biara yang sangat sulit. Konon, dulunya untuk mencapai biara digunakan tanggap panjang atau semacam jala yang dipakai untuk menaikkan dan menurunkan barang, termasuk manusia. Dibutuhkan kekuatan iman untuk bisa mencapai biara ini.
8.Chichen Itza
Merupakan peninggalan arkeologi suku Maya di Meksiko yang paling lengkap serta masih terawat dengan baik. Menurut buku budaya suku Maya dari Chilam Balam, kompleks candi ini dibangun antara tahun 502-522 Masehi. Suku Maya hanya menempatinya selama 200 tahun, kemudian mereka berpindah ke daerah pantai di Campeche. Itza merupakan titik sentral kompleks bangunan lainnya seperti Piramida Kukulcan, Candi Chac Mool, dan bangunan Seribu Tiang.
9. Colosseum Italia, Roma
Adalah sebuah gedung pertunjukan yang besar/amphitheatre, terletak di Ibukota Negara Italia, Roma, bernama asli “Flavian Amphitheatre”, didirikan oleh Raja Vespasian dan terselesaikan oleh anaknya Titus. Ada yang berpendapat bahwa Colosseum dibuat pada tahun 79 SM. Asal nama Colosseum berasal dari sebuah patung setinggi 130 kaki atau 40 m yang bernama Colossus. Tempat ini di set untuk menampung 50.000 orang penonton.
10. Great Wall of China
Tembok Raksasa Cina atau Tembok Besar merupakan bangunan terpanjang yang pernah dibuat oleh manusia, terletak di Republik Rakyat Cina. Panjangnya adalah 6.400 kilometer (dari kawasan Sanhai Pass di timur hingga Lop Nur di sebelah barat) dan tingginya 8 meter dengan tujuan untuk mencegah serbuan bangsa Mongol dari Utara pada masa itu. Lebar bagian atasnya 5 m, sedangkan lebar bagian bawahnya 8 m. Setiap 180-270 m dibuat semacam menara pengintai. Tinggi menara pengintai tersebut 11-12 m. Untuk membuat tembok raksasa ini, diperlukan waktu ratusan tahun di zaman berbagai kaisar.
11. Machu Picchu di Peru
Machu Picchu (“Gunung Tua” dalam bahasa Quechua; sering juga disebut “Kota Inca yang hilang”) adalah sebuah lokasi reruntuhan Inca pra-Columbus yang terletak di wilayah pegunungan pada ketinggian sekitar 2.350 m. diatas permukaan laut. Berada di atas lembah Urubamba di Peru, sekitar 70 km barat laut Cusco. Merupakan simbol Kerajaan Inka yang paling terkenal. Dibangun pada sekitar tahun 1450, tetapi ditinggalkan seratus tahun kemudian, ketika bangsa Spanyol berhasil menaklukan Kerajaan Inka.
12. Petra di Yordania
Adalah sebuah situs arkeologikal di Yordania, terletak di dataran rendah di antara gunung-gunung yang membentuk sayap timur Wadi Araba, lembah besar yang berawal dari Laut Mati sampai Teluk Aqaba. Petra adalah kota yang didirikan dengan memahat dinding-dinding batu di Yordania. Simbol teknik dan perlindungan. Kota ini didirikan dengan mengali dan mengukir cadas setinggi 40 meter. Petra merupakan ibukota kerajaan Nabatean. Didirikan pada 9SM-40M oleh Raja Aretas IV sebagai kita yang sulit untuk ditembus musuh dan aman dari bencana alam seperti badai pasir. Nabatean membangun Petra dengan sisitem pengairan yang luar biasa rumit. Terdapat terowongan air dan bilik air yang menyalurkan air bersih ke kota, sehingga mencegah banjirmedadak. Mereka juga memiliki teknologi hidrolik untuk mengangkat air.
13. Taj Mahal di Agra, India
Adalah sebuah monumen yang terletak di Agra, India. Dibangun atas keinginan Kaisar Mughal Shah Jahan, anak Jahangir, sebagai sebuah musoleum untuk istri Persianya, Arjumand Banu Begum, juga dikenal sebagai Mumtaz-ul-Zamani atau Mumtaz Mahal. Pembangunan menghabiskan waktu 23 tahun (1630-1653) dan merupakan sebuah adi karya dari arsitektur Mughal. Shah Jahan memerintahkan Ustad Ahmad membuat bangunan ini. Ustaz Ahmad mengumpulkan 20.000 orang pekerja yang terdiri dari tukang batu, tukang emas, dan pengukir yang termasyhur dari seluruh dunia. Dengan bumbung, kubah dan menara yang buat dari marmer putih, serta seni mozak yang indah. Sebanyak 43 jenis batu permata, termasuknya yaitu berlian, jed, kristal, topaz, dan nilam telah digunakan untuk memper indah Taj Mahal.
14. Giza Pyramid – Nekropolis Giza
Adalah piramida tertua dan terbesar dari tiga piramida yang ada di Nekropolis Giza. Dibangun sebagai makam untuk firaun dinasti keempat Mesir, Khufu. Dibangun selama lebih dari 20 tahun dan diperkirakan berlangsung pada sekitar tahun 2560 SM. Tiga piramida yang lebih kecil untuk istri Khufu, dan sebuah piramida “satelit” yang lebih kecil lagi, berupa lintasan yang ditinggikan, dan makam-makam mastaba berukuran kecil di sekeliling piramida para bangsawan.
15. Acropolis of Athens – Athena
Acropolis adalah dataran tinggi berbatu setinggi 156 m, dan ada beberapa reruntuhan bangunan kuno yang dulunya adalah kuil yg menjadi pusat sejarah Athena. Mulai dibangun 1.300 tahun SM. Acropolis sebenarnya sebuah kota kecil yang permai, sampai kerajaan Persia menghancurkannya di tahun 480 SM. Setahun kemudian tentara Yunani mengalahkan Persia dan membangun ulang kuil-kuil itu. Antara tahun 467 sampai 404 SM, bangunan tersebut selesai dibangun. Pada tahun 1834 Athena menjadi ibukota Yunani, raja Otto menetapkan Acropolis sebagai bangunan arkeologi yang dilindungi. Tahun 1975 Acropolis direstorasi.
16. Alhambra – di Granada, Spanyol
Adalah nama sebuah kompleks istana sekaligus benteng yang megah dari kekhalifahan bani ummayyah di Granada, Spanyol bagian selatan (dikenal dengan sebutan Al-Andalus ketika benteng ini didirikan), yang mencakup wilayah perbukitan di batas kota Granada. Istana ini dibangun sebagai tempat tinggal khalifah beserta para pembesarnya.
17. Christ The Redeemer
Atau Patung Kristus Penebus (bahasa Portugis: Cristo Redentor) adalah patung Yesus Kristus dengan gaya arsitektur Art Deco terbesar dan terdapat di Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Patung memiliki tinggi 38 meter dan terletak di puncak dari Gunung Corcovado yang tingginya 710 m di Taman Nasional Hutan Tijuca, yang menghadap ke kota.
Dari gambar ini kelihatan luar biasa, ya, sawah irigasi kuno yang berumur 2000 tahun. Terletak di gunung Ifugao Filipina, terkenal dengan sebutan Banaue Rice Terraces. Tidak muluk-muluk, tapi Filipina merasa cukup puas seandainya Banaue Rice Terraces ditempatkan sebagai “Keajaiban Dunia ke Delapan”.
Diperkirakan, sawah yang ‘diukir’ di gunung Ifugo ini, dibuat dengan peralatan yang sangat tradisional oleh nenek moyang bangsa Filipin. Sawah petak ini berada di 1.500 meter di atas permukaan laut dan mengelilingi lereng gunung sejauh 10.360 kilometer persegi.
Yang luar biasa, nenek moyang sudah mengatur sedemikian rupa pengairan sawah yang berasal dari hutan yang berada atas persawahan itu. Penduduk setempat sampai hari ini masih menanampati juga sayuran di sawah itu.
Erosi, merupakan salah satu ancaman bagi keberadaan sawah kuno ini. Karenanya, pemerintah juga warga sekitar sangat peduli hal ini, perawatan serta rekonstruksi dilakukan terus menerus, untuk menjaga kelestariannya.
2.Sigiriya di Sri Langka
Ini adalah sisa-sisa peninggalan istana kuno yang terletak di atas bukit batu. Sigiriya atau Batu Singa, begitu sebutannya. Terletak di Matale District, Sri Lanka, dikelilingi hutan, waduk, juga kebun. Letaknya yang unik, ditambah dengan pemandangan menakjubkan, membuat Sigiriya banyak dikunjungi wisatawan. Melihat dari udara, Sigiriya seperti lukisan kuno yang mengingatkan orang pada Ajanta Caves di India.
Sigiriya dibangun pada masas pemerintahan Raja Kassapa I yang memerintah dari 477-495 AD. Tempat ini adalah satu dari tujuh peninggalan kuno yang dimiliki Sri Langka. Diduga, Sirigiya didiami sejak masa pra-sejarah. Lalu, pada abad ke-5 BC, tempat ini dipakai sebagai biara.
3. Tower of Hercules di Spanyol
Menara Hercules adalah mercu suar kuno peninggalan Romawi yang terletak di semenanjung, sekitar 2,4 kilometer (1,5 mil) dari pusat Corunna, Galicia, barat laut Spanyol. Nama Corunna berasal dari kolom kuno. Tinggi tower ini 55 meter menghadap pantai Atlantik Utara, Spanyol. Mercusuar Hercules berusia 1900 tahun, peninggalan Romawi yang masih beroperasi hingga kini Konon, usia tower ini sudah mencapai 1900 tahun, direhabilitasi tahun 1791. Ini adalah mercu suar peninggalan Romawi yang hingga kini masih difungsikan.
4. Toru, Kota Kuno di Polandia Utara yang Masih Eksis
Toru adalah kota di Polandia utara, persisnya di Vistula River. Ini adalah kota kuno yang telah ada sejak 1100 BC yang sampai sekarang masih eksis. Kota ini adalah kota kelahiran Nicolaus Copernicus (Seorang astronom, matematikawan, dan ekonom. Teorinya yang terkenal adalah matahari sebagai pusat Tata Surya, menjungkirbalikkan teori geosentris tradisional —yang menempatkan Bumi di pusat alam semesta— dianggap sebagai salah satu penemuan yang terpenting sepanjang masa, dan merupakan titik mula fundamental bagi astronomi modern dan sains modern.
Teori ini menimbulkan revolusi ilmiah) Torun kota kuno di Polandia masih eksis hingga kini. Diduga kota ini sudah ada tahun 1100 BC Toru menjadi cikal bakal pemukiman pertama di daerah itu, diperkirakan telah ada sejak 1100 BC. Kota itu berkembang pada abad pertengahan, yakni abad ke 7 hingga ke 13. Kemudian Kesatria Teutonic membangun benteng di sekitar pemukiman, antara tahun 1230-31. Pada 1263, biarawan Franciscan menetap di daerah itu mengikuti Dominika pada 1239.
Kota ini semakin berkembang dengan dibangunnya kota baru di dekat Toru. Kedua kota ini berkembang menjadi pusat perdagangan penting pada abad pertengahan.
Kalau anda melihat potret ini, sungguh menarik. Tempat ini sejak dulu hingga sekarang banyak dikunjungi. Kalau dulu karena menjadi kota dagang, sedang sekarang menjadi kota wisata yang sarat dengan sejarah masa lalu.
5.Ajanta Caves di India
Goa Ajanta di Maharashtra, salah satu dari banyak peninggalan kuno yang ada di India. Yang menakjubkan di goa ini banyak terdapat lukisan juga patung-patung Buddha bernilai seni tinggi. Diperkirakan, monumen-monumen yang ada dalam goa ini mulai digarap pada abad ke 2 BC.
Tapi goa di Ajanta ini kemudian ditinggalkan. Selama 1300 tahun goa ini terbengkalai, di bagian luar, belukar tumbuh tinggi, akhirnya menjadi hutan yang otomatis menyembunyikan keberadaan goa ini. Tidak ada yang pernah tahu bahwa di sana tersimpan ‘warisan dunia’ yang luar biasa. Sampai akhirnya pada musim semi tahun 1819 seorang perwira Inggris, tanpa sengaja memasuki ngarai yang curam.
Semakin dalam dia masuk ke sana, dan dia luar biasa kaget karena ia menemukan sebuah pintu tersembunyi di salah satu gua. Inilah kunjungan pertama manusia setelah ribuan tahun. Ketika ditemukan goa itu hanyalah ‘rumah’ burung dan kalelawar serta binatang lainnya. Kapten Smith kemudian melakukan eksplorasi pertama untuk mengetahui ‘isi’ dari goa misterius itu. Nama Kapten Smith ini diketahui, karena yang bersangkutan menuliskan namanya pada dinding goa dan tahun kedatangannya. Ia menulis, “Kapten Smith, April 1819”.
6. Lembah Bunga di Himalaya
Lembah Bunga adalah lembah yang berada di ketinggian Himalaya. Para pendaki juga ahli botani menggambarkan lembah itu luar biasa indah, sudah ada sejak lebih dari seabad lebih, bahkan dalam mitologi Hindu, penggambaran keberadaan lembah ini sudah ada sejak jaman dahulu kala.
Hamparan yang lembut, padang rumput di selingi bunga-bungaan warna warni, sangat indah dan nyaris menyesakkan nafas memandangnya. Lembah bunga yang indah semakin lengkap dengan adanya background gunung dan hutan. Lembah bunga ini dinyatakan taman nasional (Nanda Devi National Park) pada 1982. Masyarakat setempat mengetahui keberadaan lembah bunga ini, mereka meyakini bahwa tempat itu dihuni oleh kawanan peri.
7. Metéora, Bangunan di Puncak Gunung Batu Athos, Yunani
Lihat gambar-gambar ini, pasti anda takjub. Bagaimana bisa sebuah castile bisa berdiri di puncak gunung batu. Terbayangkan betapa sulitnya pembangunan castle ini, padahal usianya sudah ratusan tahun. Ini adalah kompleks biara-biara ortodoks Timur paling besar dan paling penting di Yunani. Persisnya, biara-biara ini dibangun di puncak gunung batu Athos.
Ada enam biara di kompleks ini. Persisnya berada di kawasan Thessaly, dekat sunagi Pineios, pinggir baratlaut Yunani Tengah.Yang cuku menarik adalah akses menuju biara yang sangat sulit. Konon, dulunya untuk mencapai biara digunakan tanggap panjang atau semacam jala yang dipakai untuk menaikkan dan menurunkan barang, termasuk manusia. Dibutuhkan kekuatan iman untuk bisa mencapai biara ini.
8.Chichen Itza
Merupakan peninggalan arkeologi suku Maya di Meksiko yang paling lengkap serta masih terawat dengan baik. Menurut buku budaya suku Maya dari Chilam Balam, kompleks candi ini dibangun antara tahun 502-522 Masehi. Suku Maya hanya menempatinya selama 200 tahun, kemudian mereka berpindah ke daerah pantai di Campeche. Itza merupakan titik sentral kompleks bangunan lainnya seperti Piramida Kukulcan, Candi Chac Mool, dan bangunan Seribu Tiang.
9. Colosseum Italia, Roma
Adalah sebuah gedung pertunjukan yang besar/amphitheatre, terletak di Ibukota Negara Italia, Roma, bernama asli “Flavian Amphitheatre”, didirikan oleh Raja Vespasian dan terselesaikan oleh anaknya Titus. Ada yang berpendapat bahwa Colosseum dibuat pada tahun 79 SM. Asal nama Colosseum berasal dari sebuah patung setinggi 130 kaki atau 40 m yang bernama Colossus. Tempat ini di set untuk menampung 50.000 orang penonton.
10. Great Wall of China
Tembok Raksasa Cina atau Tembok Besar merupakan bangunan terpanjang yang pernah dibuat oleh manusia, terletak di Republik Rakyat Cina. Panjangnya adalah 6.400 kilometer (dari kawasan Sanhai Pass di timur hingga Lop Nur di sebelah barat) dan tingginya 8 meter dengan tujuan untuk mencegah serbuan bangsa Mongol dari Utara pada masa itu. Lebar bagian atasnya 5 m, sedangkan lebar bagian bawahnya 8 m. Setiap 180-270 m dibuat semacam menara pengintai. Tinggi menara pengintai tersebut 11-12 m. Untuk membuat tembok raksasa ini, diperlukan waktu ratusan tahun di zaman berbagai kaisar.
11. Machu Picchu di Peru
Machu Picchu (“Gunung Tua” dalam bahasa Quechua; sering juga disebut “Kota Inca yang hilang”) adalah sebuah lokasi reruntuhan Inca pra-Columbus yang terletak di wilayah pegunungan pada ketinggian sekitar 2.350 m. diatas permukaan laut. Berada di atas lembah Urubamba di Peru, sekitar 70 km barat laut Cusco. Merupakan simbol Kerajaan Inka yang paling terkenal. Dibangun pada sekitar tahun 1450, tetapi ditinggalkan seratus tahun kemudian, ketika bangsa Spanyol berhasil menaklukan Kerajaan Inka.
12. Petra di Yordania
Adalah sebuah situs arkeologikal di Yordania, terletak di dataran rendah di antara gunung-gunung yang membentuk sayap timur Wadi Araba, lembah besar yang berawal dari Laut Mati sampai Teluk Aqaba. Petra adalah kota yang didirikan dengan memahat dinding-dinding batu di Yordania. Simbol teknik dan perlindungan. Kota ini didirikan dengan mengali dan mengukir cadas setinggi 40 meter. Petra merupakan ibukota kerajaan Nabatean. Didirikan pada 9SM-40M oleh Raja Aretas IV sebagai kita yang sulit untuk ditembus musuh dan aman dari bencana alam seperti badai pasir. Nabatean membangun Petra dengan sisitem pengairan yang luar biasa rumit. Terdapat terowongan air dan bilik air yang menyalurkan air bersih ke kota, sehingga mencegah banjirmedadak. Mereka juga memiliki teknologi hidrolik untuk mengangkat air.
13. Taj Mahal di Agra, India
Adalah sebuah monumen yang terletak di Agra, India. Dibangun atas keinginan Kaisar Mughal Shah Jahan, anak Jahangir, sebagai sebuah musoleum untuk istri Persianya, Arjumand Banu Begum, juga dikenal sebagai Mumtaz-ul-Zamani atau Mumtaz Mahal. Pembangunan menghabiskan waktu 23 tahun (1630-1653) dan merupakan sebuah adi karya dari arsitektur Mughal. Shah Jahan memerintahkan Ustad Ahmad membuat bangunan ini. Ustaz Ahmad mengumpulkan 20.000 orang pekerja yang terdiri dari tukang batu, tukang emas, dan pengukir yang termasyhur dari seluruh dunia. Dengan bumbung, kubah dan menara yang buat dari marmer putih, serta seni mozak yang indah. Sebanyak 43 jenis batu permata, termasuknya yaitu berlian, jed, kristal, topaz, dan nilam telah digunakan untuk memper indah Taj Mahal.
14. Giza Pyramid – Nekropolis Giza
Adalah piramida tertua dan terbesar dari tiga piramida yang ada di Nekropolis Giza. Dibangun sebagai makam untuk firaun dinasti keempat Mesir, Khufu. Dibangun selama lebih dari 20 tahun dan diperkirakan berlangsung pada sekitar tahun 2560 SM. Tiga piramida yang lebih kecil untuk istri Khufu, dan sebuah piramida “satelit” yang lebih kecil lagi, berupa lintasan yang ditinggikan, dan makam-makam mastaba berukuran kecil di sekeliling piramida para bangsawan.
15. Acropolis of Athens – Athena
Acropolis adalah dataran tinggi berbatu setinggi 156 m, dan ada beberapa reruntuhan bangunan kuno yang dulunya adalah kuil yg menjadi pusat sejarah Athena. Mulai dibangun 1.300 tahun SM. Acropolis sebenarnya sebuah kota kecil yang permai, sampai kerajaan Persia menghancurkannya di tahun 480 SM. Setahun kemudian tentara Yunani mengalahkan Persia dan membangun ulang kuil-kuil itu. Antara tahun 467 sampai 404 SM, bangunan tersebut selesai dibangun. Pada tahun 1834 Athena menjadi ibukota Yunani, raja Otto menetapkan Acropolis sebagai bangunan arkeologi yang dilindungi. Tahun 1975 Acropolis direstorasi.
16. Alhambra – di Granada, Spanyol
Adalah nama sebuah kompleks istana sekaligus benteng yang megah dari kekhalifahan bani ummayyah di Granada, Spanyol bagian selatan (dikenal dengan sebutan Al-Andalus ketika benteng ini didirikan), yang mencakup wilayah perbukitan di batas kota Granada. Istana ini dibangun sebagai tempat tinggal khalifah beserta para pembesarnya.
17. Christ The Redeemer
Atau Patung Kristus Penebus (bahasa Portugis: Cristo Redentor) adalah patung Yesus Kristus dengan gaya arsitektur Art Deco terbesar dan terdapat di Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Patung memiliki tinggi 38 meter dan terletak di puncak dari Gunung Corcovado yang tingginya 710 m di Taman Nasional Hutan Tijuca, yang menghadap ke kota.
peristiwa aneh saat pemakaman amrozi cs
Suasana menjelang pemakaman Amrozi Cs menyiratkan sejumlah hal gaib. Jenazah Imam Samudra mengeluarkan bau wangi semerbak saat ingin dikeluarkan dari peti mati di Polda Banten.
Lulu Jamaluddin di rumah duka, Lopang Gede, Serang, Minggu (09/11), mengatakan, "Ya Allah, jenazah kakak wangi sekali waktu dikeluarkan dari peti. Seperti minyak wangi yang sering dipakainya,".
Peristiwa bau wangi tersebut juga terjadi pada jenazah Al Ghozi, tersangka dengan tuduhan sebagai teroris yang meninggal dunia ditembak polisi Filipina, demikian kesaksian dari seorang kerabatnya tidak diketahui namanya itu. "Jenazah Al Ghozi begitu wangi, ini menunjukkan almarhum mati syahid," katanya.
Keyakinan yang sama juga datang dari Lulu, adik kandung Imam Samudra. Dia mengatakan, "Kakak saya ya pasti mendapatkan tempat yang layak di surga seperti yang dicita-citakannya.".
Wangi yang timbul dari jenazah Imam Samudra ini adalah wangi parfum yang biasa digunakan almarhum semasa hidup, bukan wangi kapur barus yang biasa digunakan bersama kain kafan.
Kejadian aneh juga terjadi di Desa Tenggulun, Lamongan, Jawa Timur, Minggu (09/11) yaitu sekitar satu jam sebelum kedatangan jenazah, muncul tiga burung belibis hitam mengitari rumah Amrozi. Kontan hal ini membuat warga yang memadati area sekitar rumah Hj.Tariyem takjub. H.Ahmad mengungkapkan, "Ini tanda jenazah mereka langsung bertemu dengan Allah. Burung itu bidadari yang menjemput,".
Kehadiran tiga burung tersebut membuat massa kafilah Syuhada serentak mengucapkan kalimat takbir berkali-kali. Mereka yakin ketiga jenazah akan masuk surga.
Sesuai permintaan, eksekusi Amrozi Cs berlangsung tanpa penutup wajah. Tak ada rasa takut yang hinggap di diri mereka. Hal ini terlihat pada wajah Imam Samudra yang tersenyum dalam damai seperti sedang tidur saja. Lulu pun mengatakan, "Wajah kakak ganteng banget, senyum, bersih, gemuk. Subhanallah. Saya senang melihat ini dan tidak percaya. Kalau dulu saya sering nonton ini di TV tapi sekarang ini saya alami sendiri,".
3 Burung Karomah Saat Pemakaman Amrozi, Ali Ghufron & Imam Samudra
iangnya ribuan orang juga meneteskan air mata saat jenazah akan sampai ke rumah Kafilah Syuhada karena mereka melihat tiga burung besar yang terbang mengitari rumah Al Akh Amrozy dan Ustad Muklas selama beberapa menit kemudian satu burung terbang ke arah barat dan dua burung lainnya terbang ke arah timur. Para pentakziah meneriakkan takbir dan menangis haru melihat para burung yang mengiringi dan menyambut jenazah Syuhada tersebut. Saya yang saat itu memegang HD camcorder pun tak kuasa menitikkan air mata dan bertakbir lirih sambil terus merekam kejadian itu pada camcorder yang kupegang.[narakushutdown] Kejadian aneh menghiasi prosesi pemakaman para Syuhada Tenggulun. Kira-kira menjelang jam sembilan pagi, tiga ekor burung berwarna hijau (Burung Karomah yang belum pernah terlihat di daerah Tenggulun sebelumnya).datang dan mengitari atas rumah keluarga Amrozi. Sontak pekikkan takbir dan suara tangis pecah. Tangis karena rasa haru yang sangat akan perjuangan ketiga Mujahid Indonesia tersebut.Inilah Karomah nyata yang diberikan Alloh kepada ketiga syuhada yang bisa disaksikan oleh ribuan masa yang hadir dengan kasat mata. Awal mula kemunculan burung (burung Karomah) tersebut bersama kedatangan helikopter pembawa syuhada 2 ekor dari arah timur,dan satu ekor dari arah barat.Kemudian mereka bergabung lalu berputar-putar tepat di atas rumah Assyahid Ust Muklas dan Amrozi. Usai berpisahnya kawanan burung karomah tersebut 2 ketimur dan 1 kebarat terlihat lafat Alloh dari awan di langit diatas rumah Amrozi. "Itulah 3 mujahidku," teriak salah satu pelayat yang berada di rumah Tenggulun. Menurut keterangan kontributor Muslimdaily.net, Rofiq, kedatangan tiga burung tersebut menambah haru suasana. Lebih dari 7 menit burung tersebut berputar-putar di atas rumah. Seakan memberikan persaksian bahwa mereka adalah syuhada. Tak berapa lama kemudian ketiga burung tersebut terbang berpisah meninggalkan rumah Hj. Tariyem. [al-jauhari] Semoga mata hati kita tidak tertutup untuk membaca Tanda-tanda dari Alloh SWT...
Diposkan oleh ID-Jihad
Lulu Jamaluddin di rumah duka, Lopang Gede, Serang, Minggu (09/11), mengatakan, "Ya Allah, jenazah kakak wangi sekali waktu dikeluarkan dari peti. Seperti minyak wangi yang sering dipakainya,".
Peristiwa bau wangi tersebut juga terjadi pada jenazah Al Ghozi, tersangka dengan tuduhan sebagai teroris yang meninggal dunia ditembak polisi Filipina, demikian kesaksian dari seorang kerabatnya tidak diketahui namanya itu. "Jenazah Al Ghozi begitu wangi, ini menunjukkan almarhum mati syahid," katanya.
Keyakinan yang sama juga datang dari Lulu, adik kandung Imam Samudra. Dia mengatakan, "Kakak saya ya pasti mendapatkan tempat yang layak di surga seperti yang dicita-citakannya.".
Wangi yang timbul dari jenazah Imam Samudra ini adalah wangi parfum yang biasa digunakan almarhum semasa hidup, bukan wangi kapur barus yang biasa digunakan bersama kain kafan.
Kejadian aneh juga terjadi di Desa Tenggulun, Lamongan, Jawa Timur, Minggu (09/11) yaitu sekitar satu jam sebelum kedatangan jenazah, muncul tiga burung belibis hitam mengitari rumah Amrozi. Kontan hal ini membuat warga yang memadati area sekitar rumah Hj.Tariyem takjub. H.Ahmad mengungkapkan, "Ini tanda jenazah mereka langsung bertemu dengan Allah. Burung itu bidadari yang menjemput,".
Kehadiran tiga burung tersebut membuat massa kafilah Syuhada serentak mengucapkan kalimat takbir berkali-kali. Mereka yakin ketiga jenazah akan masuk surga.
Sesuai permintaan, eksekusi Amrozi Cs berlangsung tanpa penutup wajah. Tak ada rasa takut yang hinggap di diri mereka. Hal ini terlihat pada wajah Imam Samudra yang tersenyum dalam damai seperti sedang tidur saja. Lulu pun mengatakan, "Wajah kakak ganteng banget, senyum, bersih, gemuk. Subhanallah. Saya senang melihat ini dan tidak percaya. Kalau dulu saya sering nonton ini di TV tapi sekarang ini saya alami sendiri,".
3 Burung Karomah Saat Pemakaman Amrozi, Ali Ghufron & Imam Samudra
iangnya ribuan orang juga meneteskan air mata saat jenazah akan sampai ke rumah Kafilah Syuhada karena mereka melihat tiga burung besar yang terbang mengitari rumah Al Akh Amrozy dan Ustad Muklas selama beberapa menit kemudian satu burung terbang ke arah barat dan dua burung lainnya terbang ke arah timur. Para pentakziah meneriakkan takbir dan menangis haru melihat para burung yang mengiringi dan menyambut jenazah Syuhada tersebut. Saya yang saat itu memegang HD camcorder pun tak kuasa menitikkan air mata dan bertakbir lirih sambil terus merekam kejadian itu pada camcorder yang kupegang.[narakushutdown] Kejadian aneh menghiasi prosesi pemakaman para Syuhada Tenggulun. Kira-kira menjelang jam sembilan pagi, tiga ekor burung berwarna hijau (Burung Karomah yang belum pernah terlihat di daerah Tenggulun sebelumnya).datang dan mengitari atas rumah keluarga Amrozi. Sontak pekikkan takbir dan suara tangis pecah. Tangis karena rasa haru yang sangat akan perjuangan ketiga Mujahid Indonesia tersebut.Inilah Karomah nyata yang diberikan Alloh kepada ketiga syuhada yang bisa disaksikan oleh ribuan masa yang hadir dengan kasat mata. Awal mula kemunculan burung (burung Karomah) tersebut bersama kedatangan helikopter pembawa syuhada 2 ekor dari arah timur,dan satu ekor dari arah barat.Kemudian mereka bergabung lalu berputar-putar tepat di atas rumah Assyahid Ust Muklas dan Amrozi. Usai berpisahnya kawanan burung karomah tersebut 2 ketimur dan 1 kebarat terlihat lafat Alloh dari awan di langit diatas rumah Amrozi. "Itulah 3 mujahidku," teriak salah satu pelayat yang berada di rumah Tenggulun. Menurut keterangan kontributor Muslimdaily.net, Rofiq, kedatangan tiga burung tersebut menambah haru suasana. Lebih dari 7 menit burung tersebut berputar-putar di atas rumah. Seakan memberikan persaksian bahwa mereka adalah syuhada. Tak berapa lama kemudian ketiga burung tersebut terbang berpisah meninggalkan rumah Hj. Tariyem. [al-jauhari] Semoga mata hati kita tidak tertutup untuk membaca Tanda-tanda dari Alloh SWT...
Diposkan oleh ID-Jihad
peristiwa tanjung morawa
Pada tahun 1953 Pemerintah RI Karesidenan Sumatera Timur merencanakan untuk mencetak sawah percontohan di bekas areal perkebunan tembakau di desa Perdamaian, Tanjung Morawa. Akan tetapi areal perkebunan itu sudah ditempati oleh penggarap liar. Di antara mereka terdapat beberapa imigran gelap Cina. Usaha pemerintah untuk memindahkan para penggarap dengan memberi ganti rugi dan menyediakan lahan pertanian, dihalang-halangi oleh Barisan Tani Indonesia (BTI), organisasi massa PKI. Oleh karena cara musyawarah gagal, maka pada tanggal 16 Maret 1953 pemerintah terpaksa mentraktor areal tersebut dengan dikawal oleh sepasukan polisi. Untuk menggagalkan usaha pentraktoran, BTI mengerahkan massa yang sudah mereka pengaruhi dari berbagai tempat di sekitar Tanjung Morawa. Mereka bertindak brutal. Polisi melepaskan tembakan peringatan ke atas, tetapi tidak dihiraukan, bahkan mereka berusaha merebut senjata polisi. Dalam suasana kacau, jatuh korban meninggal dan luka-luka.
gerard bale
Gareth Frank Bale (born 16 July 1989) is a Welsh footballer who plays for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and the Wales national team.
Bale began his professional career at Southampton, playing at left back, earning acclaim as a free kick specialist. Since transferring to Spurs in 2007, managerial and tactical shifts have seen him transform into a more offensively-oriented player. Recently, Bale has played an integral role in Tottenham's success domestically and in the Champions LeagueClub career
[edit]Southampton
On 17 April 2006, at the age of 16 years and 275 days, Bale became the second youngest player ever to play for Southampton (after Theo Walcott, who was 132 days younger) when he made his debut in the Saints' 2-0 victory against Millwall. On 6 August, Bale scored his first league goal, a free kick, to level the score at 1–1 against Derby County. The final score at Pride Park was 2–2.[14]
He scored again, at St. Mary's, against Coventry City[15] in the team's second game of the 2006–07 season with another free kick. Bale further developed his reputation as a free kick specialist when he struck the post from one against West Bromwich Albion.[16] By 16 December 2006, Bale's goal count had risen to five, thanks to a late equaliser against Sunderland[17] and free-kicks away to Hull[18] and at home to Norwich City.
In December 2006, he won the Carwyn James Award for the BBC Wales Young Sports Personality of the Year,[19] and was named the Football League Young Player of the Year on 4 March 2007.[20] This capped what was described in the local press as an "incredible" first full season as a professional footballer in which he was one of the Saints' "most creative players even (though operating) from the left-back position whilst his defending improved immeasurably as the season progressed."[21]
His final game for Southampton was in the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-final against Derby County on 12 May 2007. Bale suffered an injury during the second half, preventing him from appearing in the second leg.[22][23] In total, he made 45 appearances for Southampton, scoring five goals.
[edit]Tottenham Hotspur
On 25 May 2007, Bale signed a four-year deal with Tottenham Hotspur with Spurs paying an initial £5 million for Bale, potentially rising to £10 million based on appearances and success.[24] However, Tottenham paid Southampton an early settlement payment of £2 million in 2008 to reduce the final fee to £7 million and allow the Saints the immediate cash that they desperately needed.
[edit]2007–08
He played his first game for Spurs in a friendly against St. Patrick's Athletic on 12 July 2007, but was substituted on the 80th minute with a minor dead-leg. He made his competitive debut for Tottenham Hotspur on 26 August away against Manchester United. In just his second Spurs appearance, he scored his first goal for Tottenham in the 3–3 draw with Fulham on 1 September when he latched on to Robbie Keane's flick, charged down the left flank unopposed and coolly slotted past goalkeeper Antti Niemi.[25] Bale went on to score again against Arsenal in the North London Derby, scoring a free kick inside the near post.[26] He then scored in the League Cup home tie against Middlesbrough,[27] making it three goals in four starts for the then 18-year-old. He also set up Spurs' goal against Anorthosis Famagusta in the UEFA Cup.
Bale was substituted after sustaining an injury resulting from a tackle from Fabrice Muamba in the league fixture against Birmingham City on 2 December 2007. A scan revealed that Bale had suffered ligament damage to his right ankle, consigning him to an extended period on the sidelines. Spurs' sporting director Damien Comolli announced in February 2008 that Bale would miss the rest of the season through injury.[28]
[edit]2008–09
Bale in the Spur's line-up before a match against Chelsea
He signed a new four-year deal with the club in August 2008.[29] Bale was given the number 3 shirt for the 2008-09 season, which left previous number 3 Lee Young-Pyo without a squad number. After some poor performances, Bale was dropped in favour of Benoît Assou-Ekotto and the latter remained first-choice for most of the season.
[edit]2009–10
After playing a record 24 Premier League games for Spurs without being on the winning side,[30][31] Bale's first ever involvement in a Premier League victory came against Burnley on 26 September 2009 – more than two years after signing for Spurs – when he came on as an 85th minute substitute.[32]
In June 2009, Bale underwent surgery for a knee injury, ruling him out for over two months. He missed pre-season matches and it was projected that he would miss the first few weeks of the 2009–10 season.[33] On 26 September, he made his comeback as a substitute in the Spurs' 5–0 thrashing of Burnley. However, he endured a frustrating time on the bench as Benoît Assou-Ekotto was in good form. When Assou-Ekotto was sidelined with an injury, manager Harry Redknapp decided to give Bale a chance and he impressed in the Spurs' FA Cup third-round 4–0 win over Peterborough.[34] He finally tasted victory for the first time as a starter in a league game in the 2–0 win over London rivals Fulham on 26 January 2010.[35] His good form continued and he was named Player of the Round after helping the Spurs to a 3–1 win in the sixth round replay of the FA Cup against Fulham.[36] In April 2010, Bale scored another goal against Arsenal after a pass from Defoe he tapped the ball past the Arsenal keeper.[37] Three days later, Bale slammed in Tottenham's second with his weaker right foot in a 2–1 victory over leaders Chelsea and was named Man of the Match.[38] He was named Barclays Player of the Month for April.[39] He signed a new four-year contract at White Hart Lane on 7 May 2010 as a reward for helping the club reach the Champions League qualification place.[40]
[edit]2010–11
On 21 August, Bale scored twice in a 2–1 win at Stoke City, the second of which was a head-high volley into the top right hand corner of the goal.[41] On 25 August, Bale set up all four goals to help Spurs overcome Young Boys 4–0 (6–3 agg.) in a Champions League play-off at White Hart Lane.[42] Although Assou-Ekotto had already returned from injury, Bale continued his good form and cemented his place in the starting eleven, moving forward to left wing to accommodate Assou-Ekotto at left back. On 29 September 2010, Bale scored his first Champions League goal for Tottenham in a 4–1 home win against Dutch champions FC Twente in their second game of the group stages. In recognition, he was named Welsh Player of the Year by the FAW.[43] On 20 October, Bale scored his first senior hat trick against European champions Internazionale at the San Siro in the Champions League. Tottenham lost the match 4–3, having been 4–0 down inside the first 35 minutes and playing with ten men for over 80 minutes of the match after goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes had been sent off in the eighth minute for a professional foul on Inter's Jonathan Biabiany.[44] In the return match at White Hart Lane on 2 November, Bale provided a man of the match performance, setting up goals for Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko to earn Spurs a memorable 3–1 win.[45]
On 4 November, Bale stated that he intended to remain at Tottenham for the remainder of his recently-signed four-year contract, despite reported interest from other clubs.[46] On 19 March 2011, Tottenham announced Bale had extended his stay at the club until 2015.[47]
On 17 April 2011, Bale was honoured with the PFA Player of the Year award, as voted for by his peers.[48]. Amidst rumours linking him with Chelsea , Barcelona and a host of clubs, Bale decided to stay at White Hart Lane.
[edit]2011–12
He scored his first goal of the season on 24 September 2011, in an away game against Wigan Athletic.[49] The game ended in a 2–1 victory for Tottenham. He added his second and third goals of the season on 30 October with two goals against Queens Park Rangers in a 3–1 home win.[50] He continued his good form with the first goal in a 3–1 victory over Fulham the following week, whilst also setting up Aaron Lennon who made it 2–0 on the stroke of half time.[51] The first goal against Fulham was later ruled by the "dubious goals committee" to be an own goal by Chris Baird.[52] On 3 December, Bale scored the first goal in Tottenham's 3–0 victory over Bolton Wanderers. He marked the goal with a tribute to Gary Speed by holding up his left boot, with "R.I.P Gary Speed" stitched on it, in front of the Bolton fans.[53] On 27 December, Bale scored twice to give Tottenham a 2–0 win against Norwich City.[54] On 5 January 2012, Bale was announced as one of the players voted into the UEFA Team of the Year 2011. He scored his third brace of the season as he scored twice against Wigan on 31 January to take his tally to ten goals for the season.[55] In January 2012 he was announced as the January Premier League Player of the Month for the second time in his career, after three goals and two assists in the Premier League for the month.[56] He is also a massive cheat after diving to get a penalty in the North London Derby. It's no surprise though because the team he plays for are the Scum of the Earth with a crook in charge of them.
[edit]Style of play
Bale originally started out playing as left back, but because of his great pace and dribbling skills, he was moved forward to play as a left winger.[citation needed]
On 2 November 2010, after a Champions League group stage match against Internazionale, teammate Rafael van der Vaart said, "Everyone is scared of him [Bale]. Maicon is one of the best defenders in the world, and he's killed him."[57][58]
In a report of the same match, Spanish newspaper El Mundo said:
Bale combines the height and build of an 800-metre runner like Steve Ovett with the acceleration and directness of a rugby winger like Bryan Habana. And, when he gets to the byline, he delivers curling crosses like a Brazilian. Big words? Yes, but that's what Bale is like – easily the greatest sensation in the opening month and a half of the Champions League. Ask Maicon what he thinks after the two exhibitions Bale turned in against Inter. Yesterday he left Maicon for dead and then a wily old fox like Lúcio was left in his wake like someone trying to follow the vapour trail of an aeroplane. Three goals and two assists — against the European champions. His performances have been stunning.
Following Bale's two goals against Norwich City on 27 December 2011, manager Harry Redknapp said:
If we sell him, we've had it haven't we? It would only be a Barcelona, a Man City or a Real Madrid who would be able to pay for him. He's an amazing player. He's got everything, there's not a weakness in his make-up. He can head the ball, he's as strong as an ox, he can run, dribble and shoot. Most important of all, he's a smashing lad.
[edit]International career
Wales
Bale was selected by Wales at the end of the 2005–06 season and made his international debut on 27 May 2006.[61] He first appeared as a substitute in a 2–1 win over Trinidad and Tobago, making him the youngest ever player to play for Wales.[62] Bale, who was just 16 years and 315 days, assisted the winning goal scored by Robert Earnshaw.
Brian Flynn commented that Bale was potentially a future star of the game, comparing his technical ability to that of Ryan Giggs. On 7 October 2006, Bale became the youngest player ever to score a goal for the full Welsh national team in the Euro 2008 qualification match against Slovakia with a trademark free kick. He scored his second goal for Wales in a 3–0 win over San Marino on 28 March 2007.
Bale was eligible to play for England through his grandmother, but he stated in 2007 that:
"It is an honour to play for Wales... Nobody ever got in touch with me personally from England, only through my agent."
After a long injury lay-off, he returned and started in the World Cup qualifier against Finland on 10 October 2009. On 14 October, he played a part in Wales' final World Cup qualifier by setting up David Vaughan to score the opening goal against Liechtenstein and won the free kick that led to the second, Aaron Ramsey's first at senior level.
In December 2010, Bale was awarded the BBC Cymru Sports Personality of the Year trophy.
Bale was called up to the Wales squad for the first time under Gary Speed to play against Australia on 10 August 2011. He previously missed the last four internationals with injury
[edit]Great Britai
Bale, who meets the age criteria to play in the 2012 London Olympics, said he would "love to play in the Olympics" for the Great Britain Olympic football team, in defiance of the Welsh FA.[70] On 28 October 2011 Bale became the first player to be photographed modelling the British 2012 London Olympics football supporters' shirt. In response, Football Association of Wales chief executive Jonathan Ford said: "Our position remains unchanged. We are not for Team GB. Gareth can make his own choices and make his own decisions. But we are not going to stop anyone playing." On behalf of Gareth Bale a spokesman said "while he is 100% Welsh, he is also British".
Bale began his professional career at Southampton, playing at left back, earning acclaim as a free kick specialist. Since transferring to Spurs in 2007, managerial and tactical shifts have seen him transform into a more offensively-oriented player. Recently, Bale has played an integral role in Tottenham's success domestically and in the Champions LeagueClub career
[edit]Southampton
On 17 April 2006, at the age of 16 years and 275 days, Bale became the second youngest player ever to play for Southampton (after Theo Walcott, who was 132 days younger) when he made his debut in the Saints' 2-0 victory against Millwall. On 6 August, Bale scored his first league goal, a free kick, to level the score at 1–1 against Derby County. The final score at Pride Park was 2–2.[14]
He scored again, at St. Mary's, against Coventry City[15] in the team's second game of the 2006–07 season with another free kick. Bale further developed his reputation as a free kick specialist when he struck the post from one against West Bromwich Albion.[16] By 16 December 2006, Bale's goal count had risen to five, thanks to a late equaliser against Sunderland[17] and free-kicks away to Hull[18] and at home to Norwich City.
In December 2006, he won the Carwyn James Award for the BBC Wales Young Sports Personality of the Year,[19] and was named the Football League Young Player of the Year on 4 March 2007.[20] This capped what was described in the local press as an "incredible" first full season as a professional footballer in which he was one of the Saints' "most creative players even (though operating) from the left-back position whilst his defending improved immeasurably as the season progressed."[21]
His final game for Southampton was in the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-final against Derby County on 12 May 2007. Bale suffered an injury during the second half, preventing him from appearing in the second leg.[22][23] In total, he made 45 appearances for Southampton, scoring five goals.
[edit]Tottenham Hotspur
On 25 May 2007, Bale signed a four-year deal with Tottenham Hotspur with Spurs paying an initial £5 million for Bale, potentially rising to £10 million based on appearances and success.[24] However, Tottenham paid Southampton an early settlement payment of £2 million in 2008 to reduce the final fee to £7 million and allow the Saints the immediate cash that they desperately needed.
[edit]2007–08
He played his first game for Spurs in a friendly against St. Patrick's Athletic on 12 July 2007, but was substituted on the 80th minute with a minor dead-leg. He made his competitive debut for Tottenham Hotspur on 26 August away against Manchester United. In just his second Spurs appearance, he scored his first goal for Tottenham in the 3–3 draw with Fulham on 1 September when he latched on to Robbie Keane's flick, charged down the left flank unopposed and coolly slotted past goalkeeper Antti Niemi.[25] Bale went on to score again against Arsenal in the North London Derby, scoring a free kick inside the near post.[26] He then scored in the League Cup home tie against Middlesbrough,[27] making it three goals in four starts for the then 18-year-old. He also set up Spurs' goal against Anorthosis Famagusta in the UEFA Cup.
Bale was substituted after sustaining an injury resulting from a tackle from Fabrice Muamba in the league fixture against Birmingham City on 2 December 2007. A scan revealed that Bale had suffered ligament damage to his right ankle, consigning him to an extended period on the sidelines. Spurs' sporting director Damien Comolli announced in February 2008 that Bale would miss the rest of the season through injury.[28]
[edit]2008–09
Bale in the Spur's line-up before a match against Chelsea
He signed a new four-year deal with the club in August 2008.[29] Bale was given the number 3 shirt for the 2008-09 season, which left previous number 3 Lee Young-Pyo without a squad number. After some poor performances, Bale was dropped in favour of Benoît Assou-Ekotto and the latter remained first-choice for most of the season.
[edit]2009–10
After playing a record 24 Premier League games for Spurs without being on the winning side,[30][31] Bale's first ever involvement in a Premier League victory came against Burnley on 26 September 2009 – more than two years after signing for Spurs – when he came on as an 85th minute substitute.[32]
In June 2009, Bale underwent surgery for a knee injury, ruling him out for over two months. He missed pre-season matches and it was projected that he would miss the first few weeks of the 2009–10 season.[33] On 26 September, he made his comeback as a substitute in the Spurs' 5–0 thrashing of Burnley. However, he endured a frustrating time on the bench as Benoît Assou-Ekotto was in good form. When Assou-Ekotto was sidelined with an injury, manager Harry Redknapp decided to give Bale a chance and he impressed in the Spurs' FA Cup third-round 4–0 win over Peterborough.[34] He finally tasted victory for the first time as a starter in a league game in the 2–0 win over London rivals Fulham on 26 January 2010.[35] His good form continued and he was named Player of the Round after helping the Spurs to a 3–1 win in the sixth round replay of the FA Cup against Fulham.[36] In April 2010, Bale scored another goal against Arsenal after a pass from Defoe he tapped the ball past the Arsenal keeper.[37] Three days later, Bale slammed in Tottenham's second with his weaker right foot in a 2–1 victory over leaders Chelsea and was named Man of the Match.[38] He was named Barclays Player of the Month for April.[39] He signed a new four-year contract at White Hart Lane on 7 May 2010 as a reward for helping the club reach the Champions League qualification place.[40]
[edit]2010–11
On 21 August, Bale scored twice in a 2–1 win at Stoke City, the second of which was a head-high volley into the top right hand corner of the goal.[41] On 25 August, Bale set up all four goals to help Spurs overcome Young Boys 4–0 (6–3 agg.) in a Champions League play-off at White Hart Lane.[42] Although Assou-Ekotto had already returned from injury, Bale continued his good form and cemented his place in the starting eleven, moving forward to left wing to accommodate Assou-Ekotto at left back. On 29 September 2010, Bale scored his first Champions League goal for Tottenham in a 4–1 home win against Dutch champions FC Twente in their second game of the group stages. In recognition, he was named Welsh Player of the Year by the FAW.[43] On 20 October, Bale scored his first senior hat trick against European champions Internazionale at the San Siro in the Champions League. Tottenham lost the match 4–3, having been 4–0 down inside the first 35 minutes and playing with ten men for over 80 minutes of the match after goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes had been sent off in the eighth minute for a professional foul on Inter's Jonathan Biabiany.[44] In the return match at White Hart Lane on 2 November, Bale provided a man of the match performance, setting up goals for Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko to earn Spurs a memorable 3–1 win.[45]
On 4 November, Bale stated that he intended to remain at Tottenham for the remainder of his recently-signed four-year contract, despite reported interest from other clubs.[46] On 19 March 2011, Tottenham announced Bale had extended his stay at the club until 2015.[47]
On 17 April 2011, Bale was honoured with the PFA Player of the Year award, as voted for by his peers.[48]. Amidst rumours linking him with Chelsea , Barcelona and a host of clubs, Bale decided to stay at White Hart Lane.
[edit]2011–12
He scored his first goal of the season on 24 September 2011, in an away game against Wigan Athletic.[49] The game ended in a 2–1 victory for Tottenham. He added his second and third goals of the season on 30 October with two goals against Queens Park Rangers in a 3–1 home win.[50] He continued his good form with the first goal in a 3–1 victory over Fulham the following week, whilst also setting up Aaron Lennon who made it 2–0 on the stroke of half time.[51] The first goal against Fulham was later ruled by the "dubious goals committee" to be an own goal by Chris Baird.[52] On 3 December, Bale scored the first goal in Tottenham's 3–0 victory over Bolton Wanderers. He marked the goal with a tribute to Gary Speed by holding up his left boot, with "R.I.P Gary Speed" stitched on it, in front of the Bolton fans.[53] On 27 December, Bale scored twice to give Tottenham a 2–0 win against Norwich City.[54] On 5 January 2012, Bale was announced as one of the players voted into the UEFA Team of the Year 2011. He scored his third brace of the season as he scored twice against Wigan on 31 January to take his tally to ten goals for the season.[55] In January 2012 he was announced as the January Premier League Player of the Month for the second time in his career, after three goals and two assists in the Premier League for the month.[56] He is also a massive cheat after diving to get a penalty in the North London Derby. It's no surprise though because the team he plays for are the Scum of the Earth with a crook in charge of them.
[edit]Style of play
Bale originally started out playing as left back, but because of his great pace and dribbling skills, he was moved forward to play as a left winger.[citation needed]
On 2 November 2010, after a Champions League group stage match against Internazionale, teammate Rafael van der Vaart said, "Everyone is scared of him [Bale]. Maicon is one of the best defenders in the world, and he's killed him."[57][58]
In a report of the same match, Spanish newspaper El Mundo said:
Bale combines the height and build of an 800-metre runner like Steve Ovett with the acceleration and directness of a rugby winger like Bryan Habana. And, when he gets to the byline, he delivers curling crosses like a Brazilian. Big words? Yes, but that's what Bale is like – easily the greatest sensation in the opening month and a half of the Champions League. Ask Maicon what he thinks after the two exhibitions Bale turned in against Inter. Yesterday he left Maicon for dead and then a wily old fox like Lúcio was left in his wake like someone trying to follow the vapour trail of an aeroplane. Three goals and two assists — against the European champions. His performances have been stunning.
Following Bale's two goals against Norwich City on 27 December 2011, manager Harry Redknapp said:
If we sell him, we've had it haven't we? It would only be a Barcelona, a Man City or a Real Madrid who would be able to pay for him. He's an amazing player. He's got everything, there's not a weakness in his make-up. He can head the ball, he's as strong as an ox, he can run, dribble and shoot. Most important of all, he's a smashing lad.
[edit]International career
Wales
Bale was selected by Wales at the end of the 2005–06 season and made his international debut on 27 May 2006.[61] He first appeared as a substitute in a 2–1 win over Trinidad and Tobago, making him the youngest ever player to play for Wales.[62] Bale, who was just 16 years and 315 days, assisted the winning goal scored by Robert Earnshaw.
Brian Flynn commented that Bale was potentially a future star of the game, comparing his technical ability to that of Ryan Giggs. On 7 October 2006, Bale became the youngest player ever to score a goal for the full Welsh national team in the Euro 2008 qualification match against Slovakia with a trademark free kick. He scored his second goal for Wales in a 3–0 win over San Marino on 28 March 2007.
Bale was eligible to play for England through his grandmother, but he stated in 2007 that:
"It is an honour to play for Wales... Nobody ever got in touch with me personally from England, only through my agent."
After a long injury lay-off, he returned and started in the World Cup qualifier against Finland on 10 October 2009. On 14 October, he played a part in Wales' final World Cup qualifier by setting up David Vaughan to score the opening goal against Liechtenstein and won the free kick that led to the second, Aaron Ramsey's first at senior level.
In December 2010, Bale was awarded the BBC Cymru Sports Personality of the Year trophy.
Bale was called up to the Wales squad for the first time under Gary Speed to play against Australia on 10 August 2011. He previously missed the last four internationals with injury
[edit]Great Britai
Bale, who meets the age criteria to play in the 2012 London Olympics, said he would "love to play in the Olympics" for the Great Britain Olympic football team, in defiance of the Welsh FA.[70] On 28 October 2011 Bale became the first player to be photographed modelling the British 2012 London Olympics football supporters' shirt. In response, Football Association of Wales chief executive Jonathan Ford said: "Our position remains unchanged. We are not for Team GB. Gareth can make his own choices and make his own decisions. But we are not going to stop anyone playing." On behalf of Gareth Bale a spokesman said "while he is 100% Welsh, he is also British".
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