Archibald Leitch stands in England.

[Owling_Wolf]

 

I found this 'X' thread fascinating. I'd no idea there were so many Leitch stands, or facets of them, surviving. It's puzzling me that Hillsborough isn't mentioned, though. Is the South Stand roof major feature not thought original, as the stand had it all lifted and a new grandstand inserted underneath in the 1990s?

[Harry Lime]

8 minutes ago, Owling_Wolf said:

 

I found this 'X' thread fascinating. I'd no idea there were so many Leitch stands, or facets of them, surviving. It's puzzling me that Hillsborough isn't mentioned, though. Is the South Stand roof major feature not thought original, as the stand had it all lifted and a new grandstand inserted underneath in the 1990s?

Brilliant stuff, all riveted as well. Stand for another 100 years as well quite easily.

[Owling_Wolf]

Just going back to my query above, I'm sure I heard nothing about that classic Leitch roofline having been replaced by a copy when the South Stand was raised and reopened before the 1996 European Nations Championship games there. (Euros.) Anybody else?

[Skamp]

Try these Owling.  Might give you what you're looking for

 

https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=761555&resourceID=19191

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-48028660

 

 

 

[Owling_Wolf]

1 hour ago, Skamp said:

Try these Owling.  Might give you what you're looking for

 

https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=761555&resourceID=19191

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-48028660

 

 

 

Thanks, Scamp.  I've just read the Beeb old article and that seems to confirm by supposition.  

I'll have a crack at the big one when I'm not tired. Thanks again.

[Kaveman]

I went in that Portsmouth south stand a couple of years ago when we played them in league one.  It's a lot like how ours was when I was a kid (but with newer seats and the 'trench' covered over, like we have).

[Owling_Wolf]

13 hours ago, Kaveman said:

I went in that Portsmouth south stand a couple of years ago when we played them in league one.  It's a lot like how ours was when I was a kid (but with newer seats and the 'trench' covered over, like we have).

"Trench" being the physical gap between the old standing terrace at the front of the South Stand and the seated stand behind it?  I didn't know it was still there: I'd simply never thought of it.  

[Kaveman]

5 hours ago, Owling_Wolf said:

"Trench" being the physical gap between the old standing terrace at the front of the South Stand and the seated stand behind it?  I didn't know it was still there: I'd simply never thought of it.  

Yep.  That's it.  You can still see ours, and look along it, if you go to the West end of the south stand, by the scoreboard.

[NorwichOwl]

This reminds me of the good old days when most of the pitch markings had been obliterated by the end of the match.

[NorwichOwl]

Just realised - I think that is Jimmy Dickinson, Portsmouth and England wing half.

[pook]

I went to Fratton Park (sat opposite the [Leitch] South Stand) for the first time when I was over last month, and I was actually talking to my mate about those balcony trusses which we could see from where we were sat.  He was polite enough to feign interest.  

Engineering Archie, the book by Simon Inglis that's referenced in one of those linked articles, is absolutely brilliant, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who has any interest in British footy grounds/architecture.  It has chapters on most of the forty-some grounds/stands that Leitch designed, including Hillsborough's South Stand - with loads of illustrations, as you'd expect.  It's excellent.  

[pook]

"The South Stand at Portsmouth's Fratton Park is rapidly approaching its 100th birthday. One of only 3 Leitch stands retaining his signature lattice balcony wall, it will be the only one left in England when Goodison Park is demolished."
 

In England, yes, but almost surely the best example remains - the South Stand at Ibrox.   

[HarrySpeakup]

17 hours ago, Kaveman said:

Yep.  That's it.  You can still see ours, and look along it, if you go to the West end of the south stand, by the scoreboard.

I took this pic of the "trench" during the pre season game with Leganes