[essexspireman]

Interesting article on BBC about the architect of the main stand at Saltergate

https://www.bbc.co.u...otland-48028660

[bifocart]

essexspireman, on 25 April 2019 - 02:54 PM, said:

Interesting article on BBC about the architect of the main stand at Saltergate

https://www.bbc.co.u...otland-48028660

A great read, that, thanks.
Excuse me while I mount my hobby horse..

Simon Inglis' book is still unsurpassed on the subject of the gradual evolution of British grounds up to the time of the Taylor Report.
For many reasons its an emotional read for anyone of a certain age, purely from an aesthetic p.o.v its sad to see how much beauty and continuity has been lost in the moves to out-of- town sites for anonymous new builds.

Many of the 80's grounds in Inglis's book were themselves unrecognisable from their 1930's selves. For all the talk at the time about antiquated stadia etc the process of evolution was still going on, new stands etc were always being built. And although things changed it all seemed perfectly ok, because the changes took place around the same pitch. Continuity and tradition could co exist with progress.

With Taylor a government that hated football capitalised on tragedy to demand that football grounds be easier to police. Countless Football chairmen took the opportunity on offer and sold, uprooted , erased and re-drew the clubs and grounds in their keeping.

The Ibrox story is equally tragic, and Leitch is implicated. His legacy is partly founded on his response to a disaster he may have helped to cause. Leitch had his signature touches, and some of his lower budget efforts are/were less than spectacular but his later work was always thoughtful and appropriate to need. As we know.
He should be seen alongside the great municipal architects of the 19th and early 20thc, the builders of city art galleries, libraries and railway stations; People's Palaces.

This post has been edited by bifocart: 25 April 2019 - 04:46 PM

[Westbars Spireite]

Was the Saltergate stand anything more than a back of fag packet Leitch approved design?

[Nerima Spireite]

Simon Inglis’ book “Football Grounds Of Great Britain” - a true classic. Wish I had it here now.

[Wooden Spoon]

Westbars Spireite said:

1556209655[/url]' post='1464612']
Was the Saltergate stand anything more than a back of fag packet Leitch approved design?

The stand was from his blue and white striped value range.


I believe that the terracing at saltergate was the last football ground project his company did before being wound up.

[bifocart]

Westbars Spireite, on 25 April 2019 - 04:27 PM, said:

Was the Saltergate stand anything more than a back of fag packet Leitch approved design?

Lesser Leitch for sure.

[bifocart]

Nerima Spireite, on 25 April 2019 - 04:33 PM, said:

Simon Inglis’ book “Football Grounds Of Great Britain” - a true classic. Wish I had it here now.

I do..there's a disappointingly small photo of Saltergate, and mentions of the floodlights saga, the Asbestos roof and the orange running track..."the Recreation Ground is a neat, unfussy place..Not a barrier or step is out of place...all is quiet and orderly, the small town Third Division spirit perfectly encapsulated."


Fantastic picture of The Shay too.

This post has been edited by bifocart: 25 April 2019 - 04:59 PM

[Westbars Spireite]

I had a hardback version of the 80s edition (possibly still do somewhere) and remember as a teenager buying the 1996 version the day it came out.

Both wonderful books.

Thinking back I had loads of those aerial photo books of grounds too. Innocent days before I got bad habits and grew up 😁

[chesterfield 461]

Some great photos there.The portsmouth pitch looks like it has just been ploughed at kick off time,Goodison Park and the surrounding area looks so calm and spot the car.!.Tottenham v Man city 1913 every one looks happy.For some of them it would probably have been the last game they ever went to.

[ronpowellsbutler]

I recall someone telling me that Saltergate was built to the exact same specification as another league club at the time - was it Stockport ?

[Westbars Spireite]

ronpowellsbutler, on 25 April 2019 - 10:19 PM, said:

I recall someone telling me that Saltergate was built to the exact same specification as another league club at the time - was it Stockport ?

The stand? The ground ground was never built as one. The stand was near identical, at least when viewed from inside the ground, to the main or ABC stand at the Baseball Ground.

This post has been edited by Westbars Spireite: 25 April 2019 - 10:50 PM

[moondog]

Westbars Spireite, on 25 April 2019 - 10:37 PM, said:

The stand? The ground ground was never built as one. The stand was near identical, at least when viewed from inside the ground, to the main or ABC stand at the Baseball Ground.

Hence the filming of Damned United

[Mr Mercury]

Westbars Spireite, on 25 April 2019 - 05:37 PM, said:

I had a hardback version of the 80s edition (possibly still do somewhere) and remember as a teenager buying the 1996 version the day it came out.

Both wonderful books.

Thinking back I had loads of those aerial photo books of grounds too. Innocent days before I got bad habits and grew up 😁

I had the original version I a white cover then the reprint from the mid 90s with the more colourful cover. Both sadly long lost and now very difficult to find to buy as new. Surely time for a brand new version?

[ronpowellsbutler]

moondog, on 26 April 2019 - 04:47 AM, said:

Hence the filming of Damned United

I was told the whole ground. Must be wrong then. I thought they used the ground for the film as it still looked like one from the old days.

[Mr Mercury]

moondog, on 26 April 2019 - 04:47 AM, said:

Hence the filming of Damned United

Isnt one of the crash barriers from under the Kop/Compton Street floodlight in the National Football Museum as an example of a Leitch barrier?

[Westbars Spireite]

Mr Mercury, on 26 April 2019 - 07:09 AM, said:

Isnt one of the crash barriers from under the Kop/Compton Street floodlight in the National Football Museum as an example of a Leitch barrier?

I’ve not been but I believe there at least was one there.

[Wooden Spoon]

Westbars Spireite said:

1556231822[/url]' post='1464662']
The stand? The ground ground was never built as one. The stand was near identical, at least when viewed from inside the ground, to the main or ABC stand at the Baseball Ground.

https://www.com/leagues/old-british-football-grounds-and-stands/lost-grounds/recreation-ground-saltergate-chesterfield.html

https://www.football...unty/index.html

[moondog]

ronpowellsbutler, on 26 April 2019 - 07:05 AM, said:

I was told the whole ground. Must be wrong then. I thought they used the ground for the film as it still looked like one from the old days.

It was a close as they could get to replica of the Baseball Ground, although at one point in the film it doubled up as Wembley!

[60s 70s Spireite]

moondog, on 26 April 2019 - 10:30 AM, said:

It was a close as they could get to replica of the Baseball Ground, although at one point in the film it doubled up as Wembley!

For comparison.
https://www.football...unty/index.html

[moondog]

60s 70s Spireite, on 26 April 2019 - 11:20 AM, said:

For comparison.
https://www.football...unty/index.html

Certainly some similarities in the first 4 photo's