Meadow Lane – stadium description

The erection of Meadow Lane was a direct result of difficult ground share that Notts County had to deal with. The club was a secondary tenant and had to accept priority of cricket fixtures at its first stadium, then on the other side of Trent river. Pushed by the FA club decided to build its own ground in 1910, which was done hastily with one stand literally transported over the river.

First game of Sept 1910 was the local derby against Forest. The Nottingham clubs are since then the closest derby rivals in England with not even 300 meters between their grounds. The first Meadow Lane derby was attended by 27,000 people which may be seen as ironic. After over 100 years the stadium doesn’t offer that many seats.

Until 1923 the ground hasn’t changed. Erection of a new stand was the only major revamp to happen for the next two decades. Heavy bombings during WWII forced another changed in 1942. Main stand was replaced in 1970’s and the next decade proved to be depressing for the club with the ground deteriorating. That state had to change after the Bradford and Hillsborough disasters that prompted infrastructure improvements countrywide. Three new stands were erected with only one remaining much unchanged.

How Meadow Lane compares to other League Two venues?