Boundary Park

Oldham Athletic Boundary Park Stadium

About Boundary Park

 
Boundary Park was originally know as the Athletic Ground when it was opened in 1898 and was the home stadium of Oldham County FC. Pine Villa took over the stadium when Oldham County folded in 1899, before changing their nake to Oldham Athletic A.F.C.

Boundary Park had two stands in its early days. On Sheepfoot Lane stood a pitch-roofed stand with a mock Tudor viewing gallery mounted on the roof, which was replaced by the current Main Stand in 1913 after only seven years' use. Opposite was the Flat or Broadway Stand, built in 1907 when Oldham Athletic were elected to the Football League. In 1928 a cover was erected over the Chadderton Road End of the ground whilst in 1971 the Broadway Stand was replaced by a remarkably similar modern version. Boundary Park could once hold around 50,000 people, with the highest crowd ever recorded being 47,671 for an FA Cup tie between Oldham Athletic and Sheffield Wednesday

Boundary Park saw the installation of an Artificial pitch in 1986 which saw Athletic promoted to the First Division in 1990/91. In 1991 the Chadderton Road Stand was reprofiled, seated and re-clad whilst in the following year the Rochdale Road Stand was built on the existing banking. During this period of post-Taylor re-development seats were added to the paddock of the Broadway Stand.

Boundary Park Redevelopment

 
On February 15th 2006, Oldham Athletic announced plans for the redevelopment of the stadium, which would see the redevelopment of every stand but the Rochdale Road End. This redevelopment is set to cost approximatly £80 million, and will see the all-seated capacity of Boundary Park rise to 16,000. Demolition of the Broadway Stand started immediatley after then end of the 2007/2008 capaign with the new Main Stand set to be built in December 2008 and take 16 months to complete.

On 5 September, 2008 Simon Blitz told podcast World Soccer Daily that although Oldham still plan to continue the development of Boundary Park and the surrounding areas, the plans are on hold for now because of the financial climate and the subsequent downturn in the UK property market. He also stated that even though the demolition of the Broadway Stand had been completed, they could not secure a loan to even build the Main Stand let alone the rest of the project. He stated that the work will continue as soon as the economic climate looks brighter.

Boundary Park Redevelopment website

Accessing Boundary Park

Accessing Boundary Park from the M62:

Leave motorway at junction 20 (signposted Rochdale, Oldham). Follow A627(M) towards Oldham, and leave motorway at second junction with PC World on your left(signposted A627). Boundary Park is clearly visible from the roundabout.

Accessing Boundary Park from the M60:

Leave motorway at junction 21, then follow signs for Oldham and pass McDonald's on your left. Continue through several sets of traffic lights and down Broadway (40mph limit enforced by static speed cameras) before branching left up the slip road just before the start of the A627(M).

Then take the third exit at the roundabout for the official Boundary Park car park.

Boundary Park Facilities

Boundary Park Fan Allocation:

Usually on most matchdays the home support is situated in all areas of Boundary park stadium. The Main Stand has a bar underneath the main concourse, and alcohol is also available in the Leesfield Development Rochdale Road End. The Chaddy Road End is now mainly a family stand. Away supporters are located in the small section of the Leesfield Development Rochdale Road End.

Boundary Park Car Parking:

Boundary Park has one of the largest Official Car Parks in the football league and the cost on matchday is just £3.