Transformation of Fratton Park

[Shr1mperBlue]

Watched this earlier today and highly recommend. Really good to see what they can do to modernise a traditional ground. Whilst we obviously won’t have this kind of budget, it’s gives some glimpses of what may be possible for us.

 

[overseas shrimper]

Watched this earlier today and highly recommend. Really good to see what they can do to modernise a traditional ground. Whilst we obviously won’t have this kind of budget, it’s gives some glimpses of what may be possible for us.

I think our very own @Sherif H appears on this video.

 

[SeaSideDoughnut]

Doesn't really show much of the transformation with the exception of that one stand.

 

[annie1954]

Spoke to a guy who worked on that development and he said there is plenty they could do to improve roots hall as they have done at Portsmouth very similar

 

[Shrimpergonzo]

I commented on this on LinkedIn and Justin replied to say that he’s visited Fratton park for a look with @Sherif H

 

[Ramsdenblue]

I have a soft spot for Portsmouth.
like Southend, they are a proper club.

I have watched quite a few various utubes videos on the ground transformation, especially the safe standing transformation to their away end as this seems very similar, steps wise to our North stand.

I think Portsmouth / Fratton Park is a good model of what can be achieved when refurbishing an exiting old ground.

 

[Sherif H]

Regrettably that is me on the video yes.
That also only shows one of the three stands we renovated.

 

[barton west]

Excellent.
Was at uni (a superior technical college then) at Portsmouth in the sixties, and would go to Gratton Park most home games. They were in the second division.
The stand featured in the video was an open terrace then, with its shallow rake that Sherif talks about, and that’s where I’d be.
Thrilling to see what a great job they’ve done there.
I think the built section at Fratton has a bigger footprint than RH, though the overall site is about the same. Would be nice to see the old girl looking like that.

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

Likewise - I have spent some time in Portsmouth & made Fratton Park ground my home for a while. Great atmosphere & part of the city - not out on some faceless retail park (with their rubbish franchise eat & drink options around about).

Note the use of the word "ground" - for me Fratton Park is just like Roots Hall - it is a football ground and not a "stadium" [sad face] - that word should be reserved for the mainly souless new builds that exist.

There are many buildings that are given listed status - why not some of the old football grounds? They have stories, tradition & people's lives in their very foundations.

 

[HertfordshireBlue]

Likewise - I have spent some time in Portsmouth & made Fratton Park ground my home for a while. Great atmosphere & part of the city - not out on some faceless retail park (with their rubbish franchise eat & drink options around about).

Note the use of the word "ground" - for me Fratton Park is just like Roots Hall - it is a football ground and not a "stadium" [sad face] - that word should be reserved for the mainly souless new builds that exist.

There are many buildings that are given listed status - why not some of the old football grounds? They have stories, tradition & people's lives in their very foundations.

Spot on!

 

[Richard Hearn]

There are many buildings that are given listed status - why not some of the old football grounds? They have stories, tradition & people's lives in their very foundations.

I thought that the "cottage" at Craven Cottage had been listed, but I may be wrong.

And, of course, the façade of the old Highbury stadium. (Arsenal's not Fleetwood's)

(* For anyone who cares I have just confirmed that "The Cottage and the Stevenage Road/Johnny Haynes Stand at Fulham are Grade II listed)

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Likewise - I have spent some time in Portsmouth & made Fratton Park ground my home for a while. Great atmosphere & part of the city - not out on some faceless retail park (with their rubbish franchise eat & drink options around about).

Note the use of the word "ground" - for me Fratton Park is just like Roots Hall - it is a football ground and not a "stadium" [sad face] - that word should be reserved for the mainly souless new builds that exist.

There are many buildings that are given listed status - why not some of the old football grounds? They have stories, tradition & people's lives in their very foundations.

Interesting distinction between stadium and ground and not one I’ve considered before. What makes Roots Hall a ground and how would you define a ground?

 

[Westcliff Shrimper]

I commented on this on LinkedIn and Justin replied to say that he’s visited Fratton park for a look with @Sherif H

YES!!! At the very least, JR will see what can be done.

Looking forward to Roots Hall being P1 asap...

 

[Tangled up in Blue]

Spot on!

I thought that the "cottage" at Craven Cottage had been listed, but I may be wrong.

And, of course, the façade of the old Highbury stadium. (Arsenal's not Fleetwood's)

(* For anyone who cares I have just confirmed that "The Cottage and the Stevenage Road/Johnny Haynes Stand at Fulham are Grade II listed)

You are quite right sir.

 

[sufc4life21]

1 thing about roots hall I never quite understand is why the north bank is for away fans, even just house 100 away fans. Gives away fans presence they shouldn't have away from home. That needs to be addressed going forward ie put the away fans in the corner bit plus couple blocks in the west stand. Need Southend passionate fans behind the goal. Been to fratton Park couple of times, 1 of the best atmosphere iv been to for away day. Fair play to pompey even in there darker times they were still getting 16/17k week in league 2. Championship club all day long.

 

[LCBB72]

1 thing about roots hall I never quite understand is why the north bank is for away fans, even just house 100 away fans. Gives away fans presence they shouldn't have away from home. That needs to be addressed going forward ie put the away fans in the corner bit plus couple blocks in the west stand. Need Southend passionate fans behind the goal. Been to franton Park couple of times, 1 of the best atmosphere iv been to for away day. Fair play to pompey even in there darker times they were still getting 16/17k week in league 2. Championship club all day long.

It was a disgusting to take The North Bank away from the Southend supporters . A packed North Bank with singing and chanting is worth a goal start to the team .

 

[sufc4life21]

It was a disgusting to take The North Bank away from the Southend supporters . A packed North Bank with singing and chanting is worth a goal start to the team .

Maybe once the new owners come in they can address this issue. Personally I feel the blue voice are wasted in the section they are currently housed.

 

[Leeboy]

Maybe once the new owners come in they can address this issue. Personally I feel the blue voice are wasted in the section they are currently housed.

Tom Lawrence confirmed at the Cliffs Consortium evening that they were looking at safe standing back in the North for home fans

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

Interesting distinction between stadium and ground and not one I’ve considered before. What makes Roots Hall a ground and how would you define a ground?

Interesting question but not one that I think I can answer - you (i.e. me) just knows when a ground is a ground & a stadium is a stadium. [shoulder shrug]

To give an example, the Victoria Park in Hartlepool is a ground. York's new gaff is a stadium for instance & as the same for Colchester.

I think it is important to differentiate between the two - I remember shaking my head in disbelief a few years ago when the announcer at Edgar Street in Hereford called it a stadium. Why throw away all that tradition & history by some sloppy use of the English language?

 

[Supershrimper]

When the did the north bank change to hold away fans? What part of the stadium where they in before this as i don't really see any easy way of segregation currently