Home of Dover Athletic FC
Opened 1897
Capacity 5,745
★★★★★
★★★★★
Crabble Stadium Rugby Centre in Dover is an absolute gem for rugby enthusiasts and sports fans alike. I recently had the pleasure of attending a match at this remarkable venue, and I was thoroughly impressed.
First and foremost, the stadium itself is impressive. Its modern design and well-maintained facilities provide a fantastic setting for rugby matches. The seating arrangements offer excellent views from all angles, ensuring that every spectator can enjoy the action on the field.
The atmosphere at Crabble Stadium is electric. The passionate fans, both home and away, create an unforgettable ambiance that adds to the excitement of the game. The staff are friendly and helpful, making the entire experience enjoyable from start to finish.
Moreover, the stadium's amenities are top-notch. Clean and well-equipped restrooms, a variety of food and beverage options, and ample parking make attending events here convenient and enjoyable.
One standout feature is the pitch itself, which is impeccably maintained. It provides an excellent surface for players, ensuring high-quality rugby matches. The acoustics in the stadium are also exceptional, allowing fans to fully immerse themselves in the roar of the crowd and the clash of the teams.
Whether you're a die-hard rugby fan or just looking for a memorable sporting experience, Crabble Stadium Rugby Centre in Dover delivers on all fronts. I can't wait for my next visit, and I highly recommend it to anyone seeking an unforgettable day of rugby action.
a week ago
15/19/22 Dover Athletic 3-0 Slough Town in the Vanarama National League South. Adult entry £16 (too expensive) Programme £3 (too expensive), Pin badge £3.50 (too expensive). This was my first ever visit to The Crabble. I have given 2 stars for the following reasons. It’s expensive. £16 is too much. No discount if you buy your tickets early online like other clubs. They have a beautiful new stand in one corner, but guess what? You have to pay another £2 to sit in it!! The chairs on the opposite side are also extra to sit in, £1.50!! Daylight robbery. Concessions have to pay £14. Not much of a discount is it? The programme is £3 but very thin and doesn’t contain enough pages to warrant it being that price. Another thing that annoyed me was our radio team were denied permission to cover the game for supporters who couldn’t make the journey, and for no good reason. I wrote to the club and never got a reply. I liked the ground very much. You have covered terracing at each end and then a bank of covered seats on the far side and then the new stand opposite. If I was writing about volunteers and supporters then they would both get 5 stars. They were very friendly and welcoming and added something to the visit. It’s no wonder that with the club charging such extortionate prices only 605 turned up. 50-60 of them were Slough fans. I’m glad I visited and ticked that box, but whether I come again depends on Dover changing their attitude about fleecing fans.
11 months ago
History (from Wikipedia)
Dover F.C. applied for permission to build a grandstand on the southern side of the "upper pitch" in 1947, but the application was rejected. Three years later, the club was permitted to extend the existing small stand on the opposite side and in 1951, Dover F.C. moved to the upper pitch on a permanent basis, initially paying the council rent of £300 a year.[8] The final match on the lower pitch took place on 26 March 1951, and the first on the upper pitch was held eleven days later, when Fulham were Dover's opponents in a friendly. Due to a shortage of bolts, the grandstand had not actually been completed at this time.[1] Covered terracing at the Town End, where fans had previously stood on the hillside, was added soon afterwards.[8] Floodlights were added in 1961 and inaugurated with a match against a Chelsea XI.[1]
Dover F.C folded in 1983, but the newly formed Dover Athletic took over the ground and continued to make improvements. When the team won the Southern League championship in 1990, however, promotion to the Football Conference was refused on the grounds that the stadium did not meet the standard required by the higher division.[10] Subsequently, new turnstiles were installed and two new terraces were built behind the goals. The seating in the main stand was replaced and a second grandstand was added on the opposite side of the pitch. These improvements meant that the club was able to gain promotion after its second Southern League title in 1993.[8] In the 2002–03 and 2003–04 seasons, Margate F.C. played home fixtures at the stadium while redevelopment work took place at their own Hartsdown Park ground.[11] What was originally intended to be a short-term arrangement ended up lasting for two years as the redevelopment work stalled.[12][13]
Between 2003 and 2004, the ground was known as the Hoverspeed Stadium under the terms of a sponsorship deal.[14] In 2007, the club announced that under another such arrangement, the stadium would be known as the SeaFrance Crabble Stadium, however a year later it was announced that the deal would not be renewed due to the ferry operator's financial constraints.[15][16] On 1 July 2008, the club announced local car dealership Perry's as the club's new main sponsor, with the stadium being rebranded as the Perry's Crabble Stadium.[17] In 2008 the club launched a project to replace the existing clubhouse with a new £200,000 building featuring a larger bar, better audio-visual facilities and a high quality kitchen. The club hopes the new building will become a popular venue for social and business functions.[18]
The stadium is known for its unusual location, being set into the side of a hill. It has two seated stands and two covered terraces. The Main Stand, which has been in place since 1951, occupies the length of one side of the pitch and has a roof supported by numerous columns, which obscure the view for some fans. Identical covered terraces for standing spectators are behind both goals, which also suffer from an obstructed view. The small Family Stand occupies a portion of the side opposite the Main Stand. The remainder of this side of the ground is taken up by the clubhouse, toilets and other club facilities. Unlike most football stadiums, the club directors' lounge is set atop one of the stands.[8] In December 2009 the Football Association gave the stadium's facilities an A grade, meaning that it meets the minimum standard for entry to the Football League.[19]
The stadium is approximately 1.5 miles (2 km) from Kearsney railway station, which lies on Southeastern's Chatham Main Line from London Victoria to Dover Priory.[20] Dover Priory itself is further away, but connecting bus services are available.[8] Parking is available around the perimeter of the adjacent rugby club.[21]
Dover F.C folded in 1983, but the newly formed Dover Athletic took over the ground and continued to make improvements. When the team won the Southern League championship in 1990, however, promotion to the Football Conference was refused on the grounds that the stadium did not meet the standard required by the higher division.[10] Subsequently, new turnstiles were installed and two new terraces were built behind the goals. The seating in the main stand was replaced and a second grandstand was added on the opposite side of the pitch. These improvements meant that the club was able to gain promotion after its second Southern League title in 1993.[8] In the 2002–03 and 2003–04 seasons, Margate F.C. played home fixtures at the stadium while redevelopment work took place at their own Hartsdown Park ground.[11] What was originally intended to be a short-term arrangement ended up lasting for two years as the redevelopment work stalled.[12][13]
Between 2003 and 2004, the ground was known as the Hoverspeed Stadium under the terms of a sponsorship deal.[14] In 2007, the club announced that under another such arrangement, the stadium would be known as the SeaFrance Crabble Stadium, however a year later it was announced that the deal would not be renewed due to the ferry operator's financial constraints.[15][16] On 1 July 2008, the club announced local car dealership Perry's as the club's new main sponsor, with the stadium being rebranded as the Perry's Crabble Stadium.[17] In 2008 the club launched a project to replace the existing clubhouse with a new £200,000 building featuring a larger bar, better audio-visual facilities and a high quality kitchen. The club hopes the new building will become a popular venue for social and business functions.[18]
The stadium is known for its unusual location, being set into the side of a hill. It has two seated stands and two covered terraces. The Main Stand, which has been in place since 1951, occupies the length of one side of the pitch and has a roof supported by numerous columns, which obscure the view for some fans. Identical covered terraces for standing spectators are behind both goals, which also suffer from an obstructed view. The small Family Stand occupies a portion of the side opposite the Main Stand. The remainder of this side of the ground is taken up by the clubhouse, toilets and other club facilities. Unlike most football stadiums, the club directors' lounge is set atop one of the stands.[8] In December 2009 the Football Association gave the stadium's facilities an A grade, meaning that it meets the minimum standard for entry to the Football League.[19]
The stadium is approximately 1.5 miles (2 km) from Kearsney railway station, which lies on Southeastern's Chatham Main Line from London Victoria to Dover Priory.[20] Dover Priory itself is further away, but connecting bus services are available.[8] Parking is available around the perimeter of the adjacent rugby club.[21]
Things to do in Dover.
The White Cliffs of Dover.
Famous in look (and in song), the White Cliffs of Dover are quite a unique site to see. Once in Dover you will see the chalky white cliffs, but certainly... Read More
The White Horse.
Recommended by our hotel staff, menu looks good, but we showed up after 5 pm on Sunday, and they just closed. However, owner Julian very kindly recommended... Read More