ANNFIELD - Survey Findings

by Scott McLean

Many fans including myself still crave for Annfield. Who can forget, the Cow Shed End, the derelict East Stand with only the Directors box remaining and the many other memories we all have for that place. It was a football purists nightmare when the decision to move out of Annfield was announced and the reality of football away from Annfield began to sink in. 

In September 1989, before the final decision was made on the future of Annfield a survey by John Arnott Associates was carried out on Annfield, so lets look at the findings.

Remember at this time in 1989, Stirling were playing on the Artificial Playing Surface and ground improvements works at Annfield were carried out in 1987.

Here is a list of the main points found:-

1- The playing surface was to be monitored and it was causing concern that so many patches were appearing on the surface after only a few years.

2- It was recommended that all the "old style" barriers be upgraded to match those previously done.

3- A new stand was proposed at the dug out side, and the dug out's themselves were to be re-roofed along with a new semi enclosed press box.

4- All access road around Annfield were to be re surfaced with tarmac.

5- At the hospital end terracing, there were concerns over areas of terracing which were sloping due to subsidence.  General patching of the terracing was required in places.

6- The Perimeter walls at Livilands Lane required repair.

7- It was proposed that behind the West Stand the turnstyles be replaced due to them being in "very poor condition". In the same area, the timber programme stall was recommended to be replaced by a mobile unit.

8- The back wall of the West Stand needing strengthening, new roof slates were needed and a better drainage system was proposed.

9- The Cow Shed end terracing was said to need infilling of cracks and holes with settlement the reason given for these faults. 

10- The turnstyles at that corner of the ground were needed to be refurbished with new guttering.

11- A main concern was the area around the floodlight in that part of the ground ( to the right of the cow shed as people stood on the terracing).  The floodlight base was undermined due to subsidence and requires underpinning. Surrounding walls around that area had moved and required serious monitoring. And the safety rails around that area had to be replaced.

12- But one good point was our beloved Cow Shed End Roof, which was described to be in "a fair condition"

So that was the basic points brought up in the standard survey, so the question is - could Annfield have survived. Could we have redeveloped Annfield and maintained football in the town centre, instead of an out of town industrial estate.

What do you think send your comments to website@stirlingalbionfc.co.uk