County Ground (Leyland)

The County Ground is a football stadium in Leyland, Lancashire, England, which is owned and operated by Lancashire County Football Association (Lancashire FA). It is the home ground of Burnley under-21s, Blackburn Rovers under-21s, Bolton Wanderers reserves and both the Lancashire FA representative team and the Lancashire FA youth team.

The County Ground
View towards the stands
The County Ground is located in the Borough of South Ribble
The County Ground
The County Ground
Location in the Borough of South Ribble
Full nameThe County Ground
LocationThurston Road, Leyland
Lancashire PR25 2LF
Coordinates53°41′35″N 2°41′40″W
OwnerLancashire County Football Association
Capacity~2,300
SurfaceGrass
Opened19??
Tenants
Leyland Motors
Bolton Wanderers reserves
LFA representative team
LFA youth team
Blackburn Rovers F.C. Under-21s
1933–2001
200?–present
1998–present
1998–present
2016–present

History

The County Ground is located next to the Motor Vehicle Museum and was originally home to Leyland Motors FC who played in the Lancashire Combination from 1933 until 1980 when they joined the Cheshire County League, where they played for two seasons, before becoming founder members of the North West Counties Football League in 1982.[1] In 1990 they changed name to Leyland DAF-SGL and in 1992 were demoted to the West Lancashire Football League,[2] before another name change to Leyland Motors Athletic in 1993. In 2001 they left the league altogether.[3]

The Lancashire FA moved their headquarters to the County Ground in 1998 from Blackburn.[4]

The County Ground is the current home of Bolton Wanderers reserve team, who play in the Premier Reserve League and who, in the 2008-09 season, play in the North Division.[5] The club also uses the ground for all their home matches in the Manchester Senior Cup.

The County Ground is also the current home of the Blackburn Rovers Under-21s team, who play in the Premier League 2.

Both the Lancashire FA representative team and the counties youth team play their home matches at the County Ground. The Lancashire FA currently organises nineteen County Cups and the final of each competition is played at the County Ground.[6] It is also the headquarters of the Lancashire FA.[7]

Facilities

The stadium has a 500-seater covered stand with "LFA" imprinted in white lettering on the seats.[4][8] The offices of the Lancashire FA are located at the ground which also has six corporate rooms.[6] There is also an all-weather pitch, which is used for hockey matches as well as football.[9]

References
  1. "Leyland Motors". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  2. "Leyland DAF-SGL". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  3. "Leyland Motors Athletic". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  4. "Local football league chiefs move to Leyland". Lancashire Evening Telegraph. 27 August 1998. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  5. "Fixture List 2008/2009". Bolton Wanderers F.C. 23 October 2008. Archived from the original on 27 September 2008. Retrieved 1 September 2008.
  6. "Facilities". Lancashire County Football Association. Archived from the original on 15 October 2007. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  7. "About Us – A Brief History". Lancashire County Football Association. Archived from the original on 10 November 2008. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  8. "Directions". Lancashire County Football Association. Archived from the original on 13 October 2008. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
  9. "All Weather Pitch". Lancashire County Football Association. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
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