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{{Short description|Former football stadium in Falkirk, Scotland}}
{{use dmy dates|date=March 2012}}▼
{{Distinguish|Fir Park}}
{{about|Firs Park, the former home of East Stirlingshire F.C.|the home of [[Motherwell F.C.]]|Fir Park}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2014}}
{{Infobox Stadium▼
▲{{useUse dmy dates|date=MarchJanuary 20122021}}
▲{{Infobox Stadiumvenue
| name = Firs Park
| nickname =
| image = [[File:eshireAbandoned Firs Park - geograph.org.uk - 1439604.jpg|250px]]
| caption image_size = Entrance to Firs Park250px
| caption = <small>Firs Park shortly after closure</small>
| fullname =
| former_names =
| pushpin_map = Scotland Falkirk
<!-- | pushpin_mapsize = 250
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Falkirk
| pushpin_label_position = left -->
| coordinates = {{Coord|56|00|18|N|3|46|44|W|region:GB_type:landmark_region:GB-FAL|display=inline,title}}
| latd = 56|latm = 00|lats = 18 |latNS = N
| longd = 3|longm = 46|longs = 44 |longEW = W
<!-- Coordinates of centre of pitch -->
| location = Firs Street, [[Falkirk]],<br />[[Stirlingshire]], [[Scotland]]
| broke_ground =
| built =
Line 22 ⟶ 24:
| expanded =
| closed = 2008
| demolished = 2012
| owner = {{fc|[[East Stirlingshire}} F.C.]]
| operator =
| surface = grassGrass
| cost =
| architect = Archibald Simpson
| capacity = 1,800 (200 seated)
| record_attendance = 12,000 v {{fc[[Partick Thistle F.C.|Partick Thistle}}]]<br /><small>21 February 1921</small>
| dimensions = 112 x 72 yards
| acreage =
| tenants = [[East Stirlingshire<br />F.C.]] 1921&ndash;1964(1921–64 and 1965&ndash;20081965–2008)
| website =
}}
'''Firs Park''' was a [[association football|football]] stadium in [[Falkirk]], Scotland, which was the home of [[East Stirlingshire F.C.]] between 1921 and 2008. It was located on Firs Street, 0.3 miles north-east of the town centre. At the time of closing the ground had a capacity of 1,800 with 200 seated.
 
==History==
'''Firs Park''' was a [[association football|football]] stadium located on Firs Street, [[Falkirk]], 0.3 miles north-east of the town centre. It was the home of [[East Stirlingshire F.C.]] from 1921 until the end of the [[2007&ndash;08 in Scottish football|2007&ndash;08 Scottish football season]].
 
===Early History years===
[[East Stirlingshire F.C.|East Stirlingshire]] was formed in 1880 andwhen ita playedgroup atof Merchistonfriends Parkfrom ina cricket team called ''Bainsford Blue Bonnets'' formed a football team under the name ''Britannia''.<ref name="History_1880-1900">[http://www.eaststirlingshirefc.com/the-club/club-history/1880-1900/ Club History - 1880-1900] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006051514/http://www.eaststirlingshirefc.com/the-club/club-history/1880-1900/ |date=6 October 2011 }}, [Bainsford[East Stirlingshire F.C.]] fromRetrieved 19076 January 2013.</ref> TheAt the end of the club's wasfirst forcedyear toof moveexistence whenit found a railwayhome at Randyford Park in the east of Falkirk. At the time, the ground's previous linetenant was builta acrosscricket Merchistonteam Parkcalled ''East Stirlingshire Cricket Club'' and in 1881, Britannia also adopted the East Stirlingshire name, which stands to this day.<ref name="HistoryHistory_1880-1900" /> FirsBy Parkthe wastime openedthe inclub 1921<refwas nameadmitted =to "inglisthe 443">{{harvnb|Inglis|1996|p=443}}</ref>[[Scottish andFootball wouldLeague]] bein 1900, the club's was playing some home forgames theat next[[Merchiston Park]] in [[Bainsford]] and from 1907 onwards it 87became yearspermanent.<ref name="HistoryHistory_1900-1940">[http://www.eaststirlingshirefc.com/the-club/club-history/1900-1940/ East StirlingshireClub History - 1900-1940] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121231214847/http://www.eaststirlingshirefc.com/the-club/club-history/1900-1940/ |date=31 December 2012 }}, [[East Stirlingshire F.C.]] Retrieved 10 June 2011.</ref> The club's first ever oppositionleague game at FirsMerchiston Park was a 3–2 defeat to [[Heart of MidlothianAirdrieonians F.C.|Hearts]].<ref name="History"/> The [[Scottish football attendance records(1878)|record attendanceAirdrieonians]] atin FirsAugust Park1900 wasin 12,000front on 21 February 1921 inof a [[Scottishcrowd Cup]]of 3rd2,500.<ref Roundname="History_1900-1940" tie against {{fc|Partick Thistle}}./><ref name="AttendanceLondon_Hearts_1900">[http://www.scottishgroundslondonhearts.co.ukcom/scores/a1900/east_stirlingshireeaststirlingshire1901.htm ScottishResults Football Ground Guide -for East Stirlingshire for 1900-01], scottishgrounds''londonhearts.co.ukcom''. Retrieved 296 JuneJanuary 20112013.</ref>
 
In 1920, the club was forced to move from Bainsford when a railway line was built across Merchiston Park.<ref name="History_1900-1940" /> The club set about looking for a new site to play its home games and a derelict factory site on Firs Street in [[Falkirk]] was chosen. The site was named ''Firs Park'' after the street in which it was located and was officially opened in 1921 and would be the club's home for the next 87 years.<ref name="History_1900-1940" /><ref name = "inglis 443">{{harvnb|Inglis|1996|p=443}}</ref> The first ever opposition at Firs Park was [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.]]<ref name="History_1900-1940" />
The board of directors merged East Stirlingshire and {{fc|Clydebank}} to create ''East Stirlingshire Clydebank'' in 1964.<ref name = "inglis 443"/> Firs Park was closed for a year as the team relocated to [[Kilbowie Park]] in [[Clydebank]],<ref name = "inglis 443"/><ref name="History"/> but the fans won a legal challenge against the move.<ref name = "inglis 443"/><ref name="History"/> East Stirlingshire was reformed and the club returned to Firs Park in 1965.<ref name = "inglis 443"/><ref name="History"/> In the meantime, however, the merged club had taken the Enclosure roof and the floodlights from Firs Park.<ref name = "inglis 443"/>▼
 
ApartShortly fromafter replacingopening, the roofclub's and[[Scottish floodlights,football thereattendance wererecords|record fewattendance]] changeswas toset Firson Park21 untilFebruary it closed.<ref name = "inglis 443"/> The Main Stand was replaced1921 in 1992,a with[[Scottish theCup]] clubthird optinground fortie aagainst neareventual replicachampions of[[Partick theThistle previous standF.<refC.]], namewhen =12,000 "inglispeople 443"/> At closure,watched the stadium had a seating capacity of 200 with room for a further 1,600 standeesmatch.<ref name="StandingAttendance">[http://www.footballgroundmapfootballgroundguide.com/groundleagues/firsscottish-parkspl-premier-and-football-league-clubs/scottish-league-two/east-stirlingshire-fc.html?expand=all FirsEast Stirlingshire F.C. | Ochilview Park -| Football Ground MapGuide], footballgroundmap''scottishgrounds.co.uk''.com Retrieved 1029 June 2011 .</ref> However,This aremained the record attendance for the club during its entire tenure at Firs Park as crowds became smaller due to crowd regulation. In 2007, a limit of 750 was set by police during a [[2007–08 Scottish Challenge Cup #Quarter-finals|Challenge Cup]] tie with [[Greenock Morton F.C.|Morton]] in September 2007. This was due to the small number of turnstiles[[turnstile]]s and there only being one main exit gate.
 
===Merger with Clydebank Juniors F.C.===
[[File:Firs Park.JPG|thumb|The last ever game played at Firs Park|250px|left|alt=A football game with players and a referee. A stand full of people in the background]]▼
▲TheIn 1964, the board of directors at the club controversially merged East Stirlingshire and {{fc|junior club [[Clydebank}} Juniors F.C.]] to create ''East Stirlingshire Clydebank'' in 1964.<ref name = "inglis 443"/><ref Firsname="History_1940-1970">[http://www.eaststirlingshirefc.com/the-club/club-history/1940-1970/ ParkClub wasHistory closed- for1940-1970] a{{webarchive year|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325012812/http://www.eaststirlingshirefc.com/the-club/club-history/1940-1970/ as|date=25 March 2013 }}, [[East Stirlingshire F.C.]] Retrieved 6 January 2013.</ref> As a result, the teamnew club relocated to [[Kilbowie Park]] in [[Clydebank]], and Firs Park was closed.<ref name = "inglis 443"/><ref name="HistoryHistory_1940-1970" /> butHowever, the fans won a legal challenge against the move.<ref nameand =the "inglisclub 443"/><refreturned name="History"/>to EastFirs StirlingshirePark wasand reformedE.S. andClydebank thewas clubdisbanded. returnedEast toStirlingshire FirsF.C. Parkwas reformed in 1965.<ref name = "inglis 443"/><ref name="HistoryHistory_1940-1970" /> In the meantime, however, the merged club had taken the Enclosureenclosure roof and the floodlights from Firs Park.<ref name = "inglis 443"/>
Due to the prohibitive costs of improving facilities to meet regulations set by the [[Scottish Football Association]],<ref name="Move">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/e/east_stirlingshire/7376220.stm |title=Shire explain Firs Park Departure|work=[[BBC Sport]]|publisher=BBC|date=30 April 2008|accessdate=11 June 2011}}</ref> the club decided to leave Firs Park at the end of the [[2007–08 Scottish Third Division|2007–08 season]]. The last ever game to be played at Firs Park was a 3&ndash;1 victory for the Shire against {{fc|Montrose}}, which meant the club avoided finishing bottom of the [[Scottish Football League]] for a sixth consecutive season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/e/east_stirlingshire/7374559.stm|title=McInally looks forward for Shire |work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=29 April 2008|accessdate=7 November 2011}}</ref>▼
 
Apart from replacing the roof and floodlights, there were few changes to Firs Park until it closed.<ref name = "inglis 443"/> The Main Stand was replaced in 1992, with the club opting for a near replica of the previous stand.<ref name = "inglis 443"/> At closure, the stadium had a seating capacity of 200 with room for a further 1,600 standees.<ref name="Standing">[http://www.footballgroundmap.com/ground/firs-park/east-stirlingshire Firs Park - Football Ground Map], ''footballgroundmap.com''. Retrieved 10 June 2011</ref>
The club currently [[groundshare]] with neighbours {{fc|Stenhousemuir}} at their [[Ochilview Park]] home. The move will be for a period of five years<ref name="Move"/> during which Shire plan to develop a new venue in Falkirk.<ref name="Move"/> Firs Park was demolished in January 2012.▼
 
▲[[File:Firs Park.JPG|thumb|The last everfinal game played at Firs Park|250px200px|left|alt=A football game with players and a referee. A stand full of people in the background]]
== References ==▼
 
===Final match and closure===
{{Reflist}}▼
▲Due to the prohibitive costs of improving facilities to meet regulations set by the [[Scottish Football Association]],<ref name="MoveBBC_departure">{{cite news|url=[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/e/east_stirlingshire/7376220.stm |title=Shire explain Firs Park Departure|work=], [[BBC Sport]]|publisher=BBC|date=. 30 April 2008|accessdate=. Retrieved 11 June 2011}}.</ref> the club decided to leave Firs Park at the end of the [[2007–08 Scottish Third Division|2007–08 season]]. The last everleague game to be played at Firs Park was a 3&ndash;13–1 victory for the Shire against {{fc|[[Montrose}} F.C.]], which meant the club avoided finishing bottom of the [[Scottish Football League]] for a sixth consecutive season.<ref>{{cite news|urlname="BBC_McInally">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/e/east_stirlingshire/7374559.stm|title= McInally looks forward for Shire], |work=[[BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=]]. 29 April 2008|accessdate=. Retrieved 7 November 2011}}.</ref>
 
East Stirlingshire did subsequently play one last game at Firs Park, a "closed doors" pre-season friendly vs St Johnstone on Tuesday 15 July 2008, losing 1–3.<ref name="Last ever game">[http://www.perthstjohnstonefc.co.uk/newsitemsdetail.php?param=69 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211085334/http://www.perthstjohnstonefc.co.uk/newsitemsdetail.php?param=69 |date=11 December 2013 }}, [[St Johnstone F.C.]] 18 July 2008. Retrieved 6 December 2013.</ref>
 
===Relocation===
▲The club currently [[groundshare]]groundshared with neighbours {{fc[[Stenhousemuir F.C.|Stenhousemuir}}]] at their [[Ochilview Park]] home. The move willwas originally intended be for a period of five years<ref name="Move"/> during which Shirethe club planplanned to develop a new venue in Falkirk.<ref name="MoveBBC_departure" /> After lying unused and derelict for almost four years, Firs Park was demolished in January 2012.
In March 2018, it was announced The Shire had secured a groundshare at [[Falkirk Stadium]]. The first game in their new home was on 5 July 2018; a 3-1 pre-season friendly win over [[Frickley Athletic]].
 
==Greyhound racing==
Greyhound racing took place from 29 October 1930 until 13 May 1933.<ref>{{cite book|last=Barnes|first=Julia|title=Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File|page =414|year=1988|publisher=Ringpress Books|isbn=0-948955-15-5}}</ref> The racing was independent (unlicensed) and ended due to the fact that two other circuits opened at nearby [[Diamond Stadium]] (Brockville Greyhound Racecourse) and [[Brockville Park]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/Map/288522/680411/10/101759|title=OS County Series Stirlingshire 1938-1947|publisher=old-maps.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/Map/288975/680293/12/100735|title=OS County Series Stirlingshire 1944|publisher=old-maps.co.uk}}</ref>
 
==See also==
*[[Stadium relocations in Scottish football]]
 
▲== References ==
▲{{Reflist}}
; Sources
*{{cite book| ref = harv | first = Simon | last = Inglis | title = Football Grounds of Britain | year = 1996 | publisher = Collins Willow | isbn = 0-00-218426-5 }}
 
== External links ==
{{Commons category|Firs Park}}
* [http://www.eaststirlingshirefc.com/ East Stirlingshire F.C.] the official website of the club
*[https://int.soccerway.com/venues/scotland/firs-park-falkirk/ Firs Park at soccerway.com]
 
{{East Stirlingshire F.C.}}
{{Football venues in Scotland}}
{{Scottish greyhound tracks}}
 
[[Category:Defunct football venues in Scotland]]
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[[Category:Sports venues in Falkirk (council area)]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League venues]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1921]]
 
[[Category:Sports venues demolished in 2012]]
[[no:Firs Park]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Falkirk]]
[[Category:Defunct greyhound racing venues in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Greyhound racing in Scotland]]
[[Category:Demolished sports venues in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Demolished buildings and structures in Scotland]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firs_Park"