Shamrock Park
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2024) |
 The main home stand (left) and the Chalet end stand (far end) | |
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| Location | Brownstown Road, Portadown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 54°24′47″N 6°27′28″W / 54.41306°N 6.45778°W |
| Owner | Portadown Football Club |
| Capacity | 2,770[1] |
| Record attendance | 16,000 Vs Manchester City |
| Surface | Grass |
| Tenants | |
| Portadown Football Club | |
Shamrock Park is a football stadium in Portadown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is the home ground of Portadown F.C. Shamrock Park was previously used for stock-car racing, but this has since been discontinued. The stadium is classed as an all-seater stadium but has only two seated stands around the pitch totaling 2,770 seats, with one side containing a training pitch and the other having an older seated stand which is no longer in use. When grant aid is available, the older stand will be demolished and replaced with a brand new seated stand.
Ground redevelopment
[edit]A£1.8-million 1,840-seater stand was built at the unreserved end of the ground, replacing the "shed" and opened in late 2008. It was named "The MET Steel Stand" after Portadown's long-serving sponsors. At the same time, the pitch was moved closer to the Chalet end of the stadium allowing supporters from every angle to have a better view of the football. In early February 2009 the old floodlights were replaced with new 800 lux floodlights at each corner of the pitch.
International matches
[edit]Due to the extensive redevelopment of the stadium, the Irish Football Association has recognised that Shamrock Park is a venue that can be used for under-age Northern Ireland matches. Shamrock Park was chosen for the under-21 friendly between Northern Ireland and Ukraine on 31 March 2009.[citation needed]
On 24 November 2009 Shamrock Park staged its second international fixture, an under-23 match between Northern Ireland and Wales in the International Challenge Trophy.[citation needed]
In April 2014 the Sweden women's national football team beat Northern Ireland 4–0 at Shamrock Park. Swedish team manager Marika Domanski-Lyfors ridiculed the sloping pitch and inadequate facilities, saying they were wholly unfit for international matches and like a return to the 1980s.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ "SHAMROCK PARK". Portadown FC. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
- ^ Hur kunde Shamrock Park godkännas för VM-kval? Damfotboll.com, 6 April 2014