Liberty Way[1] is a multi-use sports stadium in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England, which is leased by Nuneaton Town F.C. but is also used by Nuneaton R.F.C., which rents the stadium from the football club. Liberty Way has been used by the rugby club since the 1990s; however, it was a mere pitch with a perimeter fence and nothing like the facilities of the current complex. The current stadium is made up of four stands.
Opening
editNuneaton Town moved into the stadium prior to the start of the 2007–08 season, and their first match at the stadium was played on Tuesday 17 July 2007, when local rivals Coventry City visited for a 2–2 draw. The first ever goal at the stadium was scored by a Brazilian trialist playing for Coventry City, whilst the first Boro player to score was defender Gavin Cowan. The stadium also played host to the Coventry Jets American football team, who beat rivals Bristol Aztecs 13–7 in the BAFL Premier Division semi final, August 2007.
Stadium
editThe stadium has four stands
Britannia Tyres Stand which can hold 1,800 supporters.
Away Stand (Loans 2 Go Stand), which can hold 1,000 visiting supporters.
Rugby Club Terrace (South Terrace) which is the only uncovered part of the stadium holds up to 500 standing.
Main Stand has 500 seats.
There is also a small complex of club offices, Sports Bar (Legends Lounge) between the Britannia Tyres Stand and the Main Stand. The ground also meets the ground grading criteria for the National League
Geography
editLiberty Way is part of the Attleborough Fields Industrial Estate and therefore the stadium is surrounded by warehouses and factories. There is a sizeable car park at the stadium, as well as other pitches for football and rugby. Nuneaton R.F.C. use one of the outfield pitches for their home games when Nuneaton Town play at the stadium
Re-naming the stadium
editIn 2014, the stadium was renamed as the JDRF James Parnell Stadium to promote juvenile diabetes and to promote the JDRF Foundation.[2] On 23 July 2015 it was renamed the A1 Gasforce Stadium.[3][4] For the 2016 to 2017 season, it was renamed as the Coombe Abbey Arena.[5] For the 2017 to 2018 season, the stadium was renamed as the LDJ Solicitors Stadium.[6]
References
edit- ^ Bridge, Bobby (4 September 2019). "Three-way battle for ownership of Nuneaton Borough's Liberty Way home". Coventry Telegraph. Coventry. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
- ^ Malyon, Mike (22 July 2014). "Nuneaton schoolboy has town's football stadium named after him". Coventry Telegraph. Coventry. Archived from the original on 11 August 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
- ^ News, Non-League (24 July 2015). "New Name for Nuneaton's Ground". Pitchero. Archived from the original on 14 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
{{cite news}}:|last1=has generic name (help) - ^ McCartney, Aiden (29 April 2016). "Coventry City announce pre-season match against Nuneaton Town". Coventry Telegraph. Coventry: Trinity Mirror Midlands. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
Boro have confirmed four friendlies to take place at the A1 Gas Force Arena, Liberty Way, that month.
- ^ Rodger, James (3 August 2016). "Nuneaton Town stadium renamed Coombe Abbey Arena for 2016/17 season". Coventry Telegraph. Coventry. Archived from the original on 20 June 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
- ^ "Welcome to The LDJ Solicitors Stadium!". LDJ Solicitors. 26 July 2017. Archived from the original on 14 August 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
52°31′14.42″N 1°26′33.12″W / 52.5206722°N 1.4425333°W
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