Pennypit Park

Pennypit Park is a sports complex located in the town of Prestonpans, East Lothian in Scotland. It consists of two sports fields, one for association football and the other rugby union. It is the home of East of Scotland Football League club Preston Athletic F.C. and rugby union club Preston Lodge RFC.[2] It has a capacity of 1,500 with 313 seats.[3]

Pennypit Park
Pennypit Park
Location in East Lothian
LocationPrestonpans, East Lothian, Scotland
Coordinates55°57′26.25″N 2°59′10.97″W
Capacity1,500 (313 seated)
SurfaceGrass[1]
Tenants
Preston Athletic F.C.
Preston Lodge RFC

History

Pennypit Park was constructed after Preston Links Park was bought by the South of Scotland Electricity Board in order to build Cockenzie power station. In return, Pennypit Park was constructed over an old coal pit dating to 1202.[4] The name came from miners in the area who were earning a penny a shift working there so it became known as "The Penny Pit".[2] The pitch was planted in the 1950s. In the 1970s, Preston Lodge RFC and East Lothian District Council paid for a new pavilion and rugby pitch to be constructed. [2] In 1992, with Pennypit Park in need of renovations, the Pennypit Community Trust was set up and raised £500,000 for redevelopment. The redevelopment was completed in 1994.[5][6][7] The ground has been used to host the Scotland Development XV rugby team[8] and Rugby tens.[9]

Preston Lodge used to have their clubhouse at Pennypit Park following the sale of their old clubhouse at Rope Walk. In 2013, they moved their social space from Pennypit Park to Prestongrange Bowling Club after purchasing their clubhouse.[10] In 2013, a Scottish Cup match between Preston Athletic and Queen's Park was abandoned by fans throwing smoke bombs.[11] In 2016, the stadium was vandalised with graffiti on the stand and beer bottles thrown on the pitch.[12]

References
  1. Pennypit Park, soccerway.com. Retrieved 2013-08-11.
  2. Details for Pennypit Park, Prestonpans Archived 2012-07-24 at the Wayback Machine, worldstadia.com. Retrieved 2013-08-11.
  3. Preston Athletic, nonleaguescotland.org.uk. Retrieved 2013-08-11.
  4. "The Stadium". Preston Athletic. 1994-04-09. Retrieved 2020-03-19.
  5. Update Report on East Lothian Trust and Development Company (Report). East Lothian Council. 13 December 2005. Retrieved 2020-03-19.
  6. "Diesel car scrappage scheme expected for pollution hotspots". The Scotsman. Retrieved 2020-03-19.
  7. "Smith visit". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 2020-03-19.
  8. "Telfer aims to encourage specialists in new squad. Broughton in, Flockhart out of Development XV". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 2020-03-19.
  9. "Northampton lodge claim to title". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 2020-03-19.
  10. "Rugby club has its own home again". East Lothian Courier. 2013-03-29. Retrieved 2020-03-19.
  11. "Man held over Preston Athletic pitch invastion". The Scotsman. 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2020-03-19.
  12. "Football ground trashed by vandals". East Lothian Courier. 2016-07-21. Retrieved 2020-03-19.
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