Windsor Park

:Windsor Park is also the name of a sporting ground in Norlane, Victoria, Australia.

Related Topics:
Norlane, Victoria - Australia

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Windsor Park is the home ground of the Northern Irish football (soccer) club, Linfield FC, in Belfast. It is also the home of the Northern Ireland national football team and Irish Cup Finals - except when Linfield are involved.

Related Topics:
Northern Irish - Football (soccer) - Linfield FC - Belfast - Northern Ireland national football team - Irish Cup

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Windsor Park was first opened in 1905, with a match between Linfield and Glentoran. However most of the stadium was designed and built in the 1930s, to a design made by the Scottish architetect Archibald Leitch (who also worked on Celtic Park, Ibrox Park and Hampden Park). It had one main seated stand, two sides of oval terracing and a small partically seated stand was constructed behind the eastern goal. Windsor Park's peak capacity in this format was as high as 60,000. In the 1980s, the covered terrace opposite the main stand was demolished and replaced with a modern 6800 seater stand, on tiers and with a cantilever roof. In the late 1990s, the open west terrace or "Kop" was also demolsihed and replaced with sleek 5000 seater stand.

Related Topics:
1905 - Linfield - Glentoran - Archibald Leitch - Celtic Park - Ibrox Park - Hampden Park

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The current capacity of the ground is 20,332, of which 15,000 is seated. For most Linfield home games only the main stand and Kop stands are opened. The north stand is usually given to away supporters when a bigger crowd is expected, for example when Linfield play against local rivals Glentoran. The venue usually sees its biggest crowds for Northern Ireland internationals, from which Linfield recieve 15% of the gate reciepts.

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