The Rugby Football Grandstand – Abertillery

The Rugby Football Grandstand – Abertillery.
On Monday 12th of November 1906, the South Wales Gazette reported – At an Abertillery District Council meeting held at the council offices at King Street, Abertillery, it was proposed to have a grandstand erected at the park. The work on its construction was to be paid for by the Abertillery Rugby Football Club. The club had asked for permission to have a grandstand erected and Mr Harris and Mr Stewart passed their application. Work was to begin as soon as possible.

As mentioned above, the new football grandstand was to be paid for by the Abertillery Rugby Football Club, though there were many objections to this by a few councillors as to the hold the club would have on its use. An agreement was reached and the council made sure the rugby football team would not have sole use of the playing fields and that the grandstand would also be used by other sports teams, spectators and the general public.

The Construction of the Grandstand.
I cannot find an exact date the Abertillery Grandstand was constructed or even the contractor that built it. Though it seems to have been built sometime between November 1906 and February 1907.
The main featured image shows the grandstand not long after its construction, circa 1908-1910.

The photograph in the main featured image was kindly supplied courtesy of Mr David Skidmore. 

Team Photograph.
In February 1907, Abertillery played Tredegar at the Park, Abertillery. After this match a photograph was taken of the home team in front of their new grandstand. This photograph, described as being 2′ foot by 2′ foot 6″ inches in size, mounted on a stretcher of black sateen draped with amber 4′ feet x 3′ feet was later exhibited at the Bon Marche Shop, Abertillery. It was stated that black and amber were the Abertillery team colours at that time.

The Second New Grandstand.
In February 1962 the South Wales Gazette reported on the construction of a new grandstand at Abertillery Park, the headlines read “The Council and Abertillery R.F.C to share the cost of the new grandstand”. The report stated the cost of £5,000 would be shared by both council and club aided by a loan off the Welsh Rugby Union.

On Tuesday 1st of October 1963, the new grandstand at the park (as seen in the image left) was officially opened. The opening ceremony was conducted by Mr Ewart Davies, President of the Welsh Rugby Union. Among others who attended were – Councillor J. J. Owen, J.P., Chairman of the Abertillery Council and Mr Ron Jones, Chairman of the Rugby Club.

To celebrate the opening of the grandstand, Abertillery R.F.C. entertained Alan Pask’s “Star Studded XV” which included eleven international players. Some of the players of both teams named in the Gazette were as follows – Dewi Bebb, Ken Jones, Bill Morris, Bob Sully, Geoff Whitson, Graham Hodgson, David Pask, Brian Thomas, Howard Norris and Cliff Ashton, David Paul, Bob Cecil, Barry Davies, Alyn Evans, Alan Lewis, John Ellis, Ian Barnard, Haydn Morgan, Ray Gladwyn and Gary Cooper. 

The Closure of the Grandstand.
On Thursday 5th of April 1990, the Gwent Gazette reported on the closure of the Abertillery Park Grandstand due to safety issues. Mr David Nash, Director of Leisure and Amenities, stated, erosion of the river bank had weakened its foundations.

Hillsborough Safety Rules.
On Thursday 7th of May 1990, the Wales On Sunday newspaper reported the Abertillery Grandstand had now been boarded up as work to comply with post “Hillsborough Safety Rules” was being carried out. Following the report, the grandstand was found to be unfit for purpose and was demolished.

The Temporary Grandstand.
After the closure and demolition of the Abertillery Grandstand, the club supporters had nowhere to shelter while watching home games. A small temporary grandstand (as seen in the image right) was erected on the site of the old building. This new structure partly covered the cycle track, making it unusable. This temporary grandstand looked out of place on such a large ground and it became subject to ridicule amongst opposing fans and in articles in the press.  

On Thursday 11th of April 1991, the Gwent Gazette reported – Abertillery R.F.C. claimed that they are losing sponsorship because of the temporary stand and were told it could take until 1992 before a new one is provided. Reference was made to the fact that the temporary stand had Perspex side panels, which had obstructed the view of the pitch and it was stated that sponsors were withdrawing finance and a sponsorship officer for the club said that substantial financial loses had been incurred because of the loss of the grandstand.

The photograph of the temporary grandstand (as seen above) was kindly supplied courtesy of Mr John Bennett, copyright holder.

The New Grandstand.
On Thursday 14th of December 1992, the Gwent Gazette reported the new grandstand (as seen left) had been constructed and was officially opened by Mr Graham Griffiths, the Mayor of Blaenau Gwent. It was stated that the structure had cost £295.000, it would hold 750 spectators and included a press box and changing facilities. The article also mentioned £70,000 of the total cost was raised by Abertillery and the Welsh Rugby Union.

On Thursday 7th of May 1992, the Gwent Gazette reported, the new grandstand was in use. Mr Ieuan Thomas Director of Architecture, stated the new stand will comply with the latest regulations and also the Safety and Sports Grounds Act, which was amended following the Hillsborough Disaster.

The New Grandstand Bar and Function Room.
During the summer of 2021, a function room and bar was built beneath the grandstand.

The Cycle Track.
From 1904 there was a cycle track around the perimeter of the rugby ground, used by cyclists, sports and cycle track racing etc. though had long fallen into a state of disrepair. The temporary grandstand supplied in the early 1990’s was constructed upon the cycle track. Later, the new grandstand was built, which also encroached upon the track, making it obsolete. 

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