Bob Lucas Stadium

The Bob Lucas Stadium (formerly named the Wessex Stadium) is a football stadium in Weymouth, England. It has been the home ground of Weymouth F.C. since 1987. It was formerly a greyhound racing and speedway stadium.

Bob Lucas Stadium
Full nameThe Bob Lucas Stadium
LocationWeymouth, England
OwnerWeymouth F.C.
Capacity6,600 (900 seated)
SurfaceGrass
Construction
BuiltOriginally (1950s)
Rebuilt (1986-1987)
OpenedSpeedway & greyhound racing (1954)
Football (21 October 1987)
Tenants
Weymouth F.C.

Football

The ground, which was built to hold 10,000 with 900 seated in the stand, first saw a football kicked with the visit of Taunton Town in the Western Counties Floodlight Cup final on 18 August 1987 in front of 1,023 spectators. The league season opened on 26 August with a visit from Lincoln City – who had just suffered relegation from the Football League – and the official attendance was 3,500.

Ron Greenwood performed the official opening of the ground on 21 October 1987, prior to an exhibition match against Manchester United - which the Terras won 1–0. The attendance for this fixture was given as 4,904.

In July 2010, the name of the stadium was changed from the Wessex Stadium in homage to the long-serving club president Bob Lucas, during his fight against cancer.[1] He died a month later, aged 85.[2]

Origins

The Wessex Stadium was built on the west side of the East Chickerell Court Lane opposite the East Chickerell Race Course in the early 1950s.[3]

Greyhound racing

Greyhound racing first took place at the stadium on 5 August 1954. The racing was independent (not affiliated to the sports governing body the National Greyhound Racing Club).[4] Racing was held on Thursday and Saturday evenings.

The track was described as a fast galloping grass track with an inside Sumner hare system and race distances of 300, 525, 765 and 990 yards.[5] The racing ended in 1985.[4]

Speedway

Speedway took place between 1954 and 1985.[6]

Main article: Weymouth Wildcats

References
  1. Hendy, Arron (31 July 2010). "Weymouth's Bob Lucas Stadium is welcomed". Dorset Echo. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  2. "Weymouth Football Club president Bob Lucas dies". BBC Sport. 13 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
  3. "OS Plan (partial) 1957-1959". old-maps.co.uk.
  4. Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
  5. Furby, R (1968). Independent Greyhound Racing. New Dominion House. p. 88.
  6. "Weymouth Speedway". Defunct Speedway Tracks.

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