Historic Scottish football club older than Celtic unveil plans to revamp century-old stadium
A fifth division team in Scotland are reinventing a stadium first used in 1919.
Albion Rovers, a semi-professional team from North Lanarkshire, have planned to transform The Reigart Stadium, also known as Cliftonhill.
The club’s Board of Directors have provided an update to move the club into the 21st century.
New facilities include the grass pitch being replaced by an artificial turf which will allow community sports teams to use the grounds.
Director Ben Kearney has said they will install changing facilities specifically for women and girl’s sports to take place at the venue.
Adding floodlights and an interior to the main stand will make sure the historic ground with sporting significance will be futureproof.
Also known as the Wee Rovers, they are trying to establish themselves as a business before they play in the newly-formed Lowland League West next season.
The club released a statement and director Ben Kearney said: “I’d like to personally thank all of those involved for the countless hours of free time and expertise that have been afforded to the Project Board.
“The level of interest from our supporters regarding our primary mission has also heartened me.
“We now have Albion Rovers Community Club as part of our family.
“The Community Club is an addition to the work our fantastic Community Trust and Supporters Trust do, and we can now provide strong evidence of the need for a community sports facility at Cliftonhill.”
The sporting significance of Cliftonhill
Success did not come easy to Albion Rovers, even when they formed in 1882, as they reached six finals in their first nine years and lost them all.
Albion Rovers created their own talent, with players like Jimmy Conlin – who transferred to Manchester City for £1000 (most expensive football player in the world at the time).
The club made deals with Everton for their player Johnny Mclhatton in 1946, in return for the two teams to play a friendly match at Goodison Park.
The Toffees won 6-3, but nowadays despite the difference in status, the two teams are going through similar transitions of leaving behind tradition and entering new stadiums.
The Wee Rovers have become known for their innovation after a sponsorship deal with Tunnock’s.
Their shirt appeared to look like a biscuit wrapper after it mimicked the golden wrapper with red diagonal stripes like the ‘Caramel Wafer Bar’.
A rivalry with Rangers spread over the course of their history means Cliftonhill’s highest recorded attendance was against The Gers of 27,381.
After taking the highly successful team to a replay in the Scottish Cup in 2014 when Ally McCoist managed the side, it meant the Wee Rovers could play them at home, but they could not use their own ground and instead had to use a local side’s stadium, New Douglas Park.
This shows the importance of the upgrades the board have proposed to be able to get the stadium in use.
Who are the Wee Rovers?
Albion Rovers are a football club founded in Coatbridge, Scotland in 1882 and play in the Scottish fifth division, in the Lowland League.
The club have played against many iconic teams such as Celtic and Rangers.
Famous players that have played against the Wee Rovers include Kiernan Tierney, Ryan Christie and Moussa Dembele.
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