Hampden Park

Capacity: 52,500 (all seated)
Address: Letherby Drive, Glasgow, G42 9BA
Scottish Football Association (SFA):
Telephone No: 0141 616 6000
Fax No: 0141 616 6001
Year Ground Opened: 1903
Undersoil Heating: Yes
Pitch Size: 115 x 75 yards
Official Stadium Web Site: Hampdenpark.co.uk
SFA Website:
Scottishfa.co.uk


 

Map

Contents

What's The Stadium Like?
Rear Of The South Stand (photo)
What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?
North & East Stands (photo)
Where To Drink?

How To Get There By Car & Where To Park
By Train
On Matchday (photo)
International Matches

Layout Of The Ground

Scottish Football Museum
Stadium Tours
Other Places Of Interest
Record Attendance
Hotel Accommodation
Feedback

Return To The Main Menu

What's The Stadium Like?

Hampden has been completely re-developed in recent years and the predominantly old terraced ground has now been transformed into a modern all seated stadium. Although not particularly large for a national stadium, it still retains its charm and individual character, enhanced by its completely enclosed oval shape. Three sides are single tiered, but the South Stand on one side has a small second tier, which slightly overhangs the lower one. Normally this creates an unbalanced look,  but it has integrated well with the oval stadium roof rising gently towards this stand. There are two electric scoreboards suspended underneath the roofs at each end. One unusual aspect of the stadium is that the team dugouts are actually situated six rows up on the South Stand, allowing team managers to get a better view of the game. The roof of the stadium is adorned with a number of flagpoles and flags, adding to the overall occasion.

With Rangers & Celtic both contesting a number of finals at the stadium, it has now become traditional for each team to be allotted the same ends. So Celtic are allocated the East End of the stadium and Rangers the West End.

The stadium is also the home of Queens Park FC, who are the only amateur club to compete in the Scottish Football League. Up to 1950 it was the largest stadium in the World.

Top Of Page

Rear Of South Stand Stand


Rear Of The South Stand

Top Of Page

What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters?

The facilities are pretty good. The concourse is spacious and there is a good selection of food on offer including the 'Hampden Steak Pie' (�1.90), burgers, chips and hot dogs. There are televisions next to the serving areas showing the game being played inside, so that you don't have to miss a kick. There are also Ladbrokes betting facilities available. One tip, if the queues for programmes are quite big outside the stadium, then you can purchase them from programme sellers on the concourse inside. 

Fans are set well back from the playing action as there is a quite a gap between the first rows of seats and the pitch. If you are at the back of the ends then this is even more noticeable as you are quite far from the pitch, meaning that you may struggle to see the action at the opposite end. This is not helped by the shallow incline of the stands, which may mean that your view is less than perfect. If possible, it is probably best to obtain tickets in either the North or South Stands, where the views are better. However, the leg room between rows is good, plus the atmosphere generated within the stadium and the colourful display by the supporters can be superb.

David Tennant a visiting St Mirren supporter adds; 'the selection of grub available inside the stadium was impressive. The pies were great and I loved the hamburgers they sold. There are also betting facilities available which is good if you fancy a late wee flutter. The atmosphere generated by the place was, despite it's very wide bowl shape, very impressive too'.

Top Of Page

North & East Stands


North & East Stands

Top Of Page

Where To Eat & Drink?
There are not a great number of bars in the immediate vicinity of the stadium. What ones there are get over crowded. It is therefore probably best to drink in the City Centre or on route before the game. There are though a number of chippies/kebab shops locally. If you do get there early then my favourite bar in the area is the Clockwork Beer Company on Cathcart Road (going away from the city centre). This spacious pub brews its own varied selection of beers and also stocks a wide range of whiskies; or more affectionately known as the 'water of life'.

Top Of Page

How To Get There By Car & Where To Park

Leave the M74 at Junction 1 and turn left at the roundabout into Fullarton Road, following the signs for Rutherglen. Go straight across the  next roundabout and at the following roundabout turn right into Cambuslang Road. You will cross over the River Clyde and then continue to the end of this road. At the traffic lights turn right and continue along Main Street Rutherglen and then on towards Mount Florida. Continue straight along this road until you reach the large Asda Store at which you turn left into Aikenhead Road. The stadium is up this road on the right hand side.

David Tennant adds 'It is not straightforward to get to by road and it's not easy to get parked for a big match. So allow plenty of time for your journey'. Parking spaces can typically be found in the area around the Victoria Infirmary'. For a map showing the location of the ground click here
(to take you to the Street Map website).

Top Of Page

By Train
The nearest stations to the stadium are Mount Florida & Kings Park. Both are served by trains from Glasgow Central (journey time around 10-15 minutes) and are around a five minute walk away from the stadium.

Top Of Page

On Matchday


Hampden On Matchday

Top Of Page

International Matches
For International Matches visiting supporters are housed in the South West corner of the stadium (including a small portion of the upper tier of the South Stand) where around 3,000 supporters can be accommodated. Please note that in common with other Scottish Grounds, alcohol is not available inside the stadium, nor is smoking permitted within the stadium. The 'Tartan Army of Scottish supporters' are renown for their friendliness and hospitality, which normally makes for a great visit.

Top Of Page

Ground Layout


Layout

Top Of Page

Scottish Football Museum
The stadium is also the home of the Scottish Football Museum, which opened its doors in May 2001. I was thoroughly impressed not only with the standard of museum, but also the vast array of items that can be seen. From a ticket from the first ever Football International held in Glasgow in 1872, to an exhibition of football related 'toys'. The current Scottish Cup is also available to view within the museum.

Cup

What I particularly liked was the emphasis on the fans involvement in the Clubs, from the first fanzines to the Tartan Army. The museum is a must for any true football supporter.

The museum is open daily from 10.00am to 5pm (Sunday's 11am-5pm, Last admittance all days - 4.15pm). Entrance costs �5.50 for adults and �2.75 for concessions. If you have an enquiry you can ring the museum on 0141-616-6139. A visit to the museum can also be combined with a tour of the stadium (see below).

Top Of Page

Stadium Tours
Stadium tours are available each day (except matchdays) for the bargain price of �3 adults and �1.75 for concessions, if booked in conjunction with an entrance ticket to the museum. If you just want to book the stadium tour only then this costs �6 for adults and �3 for concessions. Family tickets are also available, giving further discounts. The tour lasts about 40 minutes and includes the Presentation Area, Dressing Rooms, Warm Up Area and a walk at pitch side. I found it quite entertaining, interesting and would recommend it. Tours can be booked in advance on 0141-616-6139.

Top Of Page

Other Places Of Interest
For all those ground enthusiasts out there, then make sure you take a peek at the lesser Hampden, behind the West Stand. This is a small old ground with a quaint looking stand at one side of the pitch. In the past it has been used by Queens Park reserves, as well as for the odd first team outing. 

Of equal if not more interest are the remnants of another ground, called Cathkin Park, home to Third Lanark until 1967, when they unfortunately went out of business. The ground was originally built in 1872 and once hosted an international match in 1884, between Scotland and England. There is plenty of terracing still remaining of the old ground, in a picturesque setting and it is only a ten minute walk away from the present Hampden. The entrance to the park is in Cathcart Road click here for map
(to take you to the Street Map website - First Locate Mount Florida railway station and then Hampden Park is the open space to the right of this area and Cathcart Road can then be found running to the North).

Top Of Page

Record Attendance
149,415 - Scotland v England, 1937.
This is the record for the largest attendance at a football match in Britain.

Top Of Page

Hotel Accommodation
If you require hotel accommodation in the area then first try a hotel booking service provided by Football Hotels who are powered by Activehotels, who specialise in locating accommodation near or within a short travelling distance of the football ground. They also have the added advantage over some other hotel booking services that you pay on departure. Yes this site will earn a small commission if you book through them, but it will go to help with the running costs of keeping the Guide going. To access their Glasgow page click here.

Top Of Page

Feedback
If anything is incorrect or you have something to add, please e-mail me and I'll update the guide.



Return To The Main Menu

 


Copyright � Duncan Adams 2008. All rights reserved.
Last Revised: 07 January, 2008