Home of Worthing FC
Opened 1892
Capacity 4,000
★★★★★
★★★★★
I don't tend to see Worthing as much now on matchdays due to volunteering for another team, however when I have been the support is always excellent. Everyone is welcoming and friendly and it's also good to bump into people who you know go along too. Additionally, great setup, location and facilities for hire midweek/on weekends.
7 months ago
History (from Wikipedia)
Ground[edit]
A sports ground opened on the Woodside Road site as early as 1892[5] when the site was part of the parish of West Tarring, which at the time was not yet part of the borough of Worthing. Known as the Pavilion Road Sports Ground, it occupied a 13-acre site, with a Queen Anne style pavilion giving its name to Pavilion Road along the south of the site.[5] Worthing FC moved to the ground in 1903.[5] In 1937 the Sports Ground closed and it is the site's northern portion which developed into the existing stadium. The southern portion of the Sports Ground became tennis courts and then in 1948 became home to Worthing Pavilion Bowls Club.[5] Floodlights were installed in 1977.[5] At the end of 1984–85 Woodside Road's main stand burnt down.[6]
The ground has also been home to Horsham (during the 2008–09 season) and Brighton & Hove Albion's reserve team after the closure of the Goldstone Ground in 1997.
In June 2015, Worthing's new owner George Dowell released plans to improve the stadium. The plans saw an artificial 3G pitch installed to replace the turf surface, a refurbished bar open seven days a week and a refurbished main stand including new seats and rails and new paint across the whole of the stand.
In May 2020, further plans to improve the stadium were announced. The £150,000 development will see new floodlights, refurbished changing rooms, and a new block of toilets and a bar in the north east corner of the ground. The club reached its £43,000 crowdfunding target to assist the financing of these projects. They also mentioned that any extra money raised will all go into the stadium for future additions like a new scoreboard and improving accessibility in the main stand.
Continuing technical problems with the 3G artificial pitch led to the playing surface being completely renewed in November 2020, with a new base and drainage being laid, causing the club to temporarily play home matches at Horsham F.C.
A sports ground opened on the Woodside Road site as early as 1892[5] when the site was part of the parish of West Tarring, which at the time was not yet part of the borough of Worthing. Known as the Pavilion Road Sports Ground, it occupied a 13-acre site, with a Queen Anne style pavilion giving its name to Pavilion Road along the south of the site.[5] Worthing FC moved to the ground in 1903.[5] In 1937 the Sports Ground closed and it is the site's northern portion which developed into the existing stadium. The southern portion of the Sports Ground became tennis courts and then in 1948 became home to Worthing Pavilion Bowls Club.[5] Floodlights were installed in 1977.[5] At the end of 1984–85 Woodside Road's main stand burnt down.[6]
The ground has also been home to Horsham (during the 2008–09 season) and Brighton & Hove Albion's reserve team after the closure of the Goldstone Ground in 1997.
In June 2015, Worthing's new owner George Dowell released plans to improve the stadium. The plans saw an artificial 3G pitch installed to replace the turf surface, a refurbished bar open seven days a week and a refurbished main stand including new seats and rails and new paint across the whole of the stand.
In May 2020, further plans to improve the stadium were announced. The £150,000 development will see new floodlights, refurbished changing rooms, and a new block of toilets and a bar in the north east corner of the ground. The club reached its £43,000 crowdfunding target to assist the financing of these projects. They also mentioned that any extra money raised will all go into the stadium for future additions like a new scoreboard and improving accessibility in the main stand.
Continuing technical problems with the 3G artificial pitch led to the playing surface being completely renewed in November 2020, with a new base and drainage being laid, causing the club to temporarily play home matches at Horsham F.C.
Things to do nearby.