Central Park, Cowdenbeath

Stadium in Cowdenbeath, Scotland

Central Park

Main Stand and Alex Menzies Stand

Central Park

Location in Fife

Location| Cowdenbeath, Fife
KY4 9QQ
Coordinates| 56°06′31.46″N 3°20′49.55″W﻿ / ﻿56.1087389°N 3.3470972°W﻿ / 56.1087389; -3.3470972
Owner| Cowdenbeath F.C.
Capacity| 4,309[1]
Surface| Grass
Construction
Opened| 1917
Renovated| 1995 (Alex Menzies Stand)
Tenants
Cowdenbeath F.C.

Central Park is a multi-use stadium in Cowdenbeath, Fife, Scotland, used for football and stock car racing.[2] It is situated in the centre of the town, just off the High Street,[2] and has a capacity of 4,309.[1] The pitch size is 107 x 66 yards. Central Park has been the home ground of Lowland League team Cowdenbeath F.C. since it opened in 1917. Stock car racing has taken place at the ground since 1970, and takes place on a tarmac racetrack surrounding the football pitch. Central Park was also previously a venue for greyhound racing between 1928 and 1965.

## History

[edit]

Cowdenbeath F.C. played at Jubilee Park until 1888, and then at North End Park. The club moved to Central Park when it was opened in 1917.[3] A main stand was built in 1921.[3] A record crowd of 25,586 attended a Scottish League Cup tie against Rangers in 1949.[2][3] Floodlights were first used in 1968, in a match against Celtic.[3] Central Park was also used for greyhound racing and speedway.[3] It became a stock car racing track in 1970, and has since hosted several world championships.[3]

Half of the main stand was destroyed by a fire in 1992.[3] The surviving section of this stand is called the West Stand, or the Old Stand. Beside this the 'Alex Menzies Stand' (or New Stand) was opened in March 1995,[3] giving a total seated capacity of 1,622. Along with this the club built new dressing rooms, a board room, function suite, and office facilities. Both stands have a row of floodlight pylons in front of them, which can obstruct supporters views.[2] Three sides of the ground are uncovered terraces.[3]

## Greyhound racing

[edit]

Greyhound racing around Central Park started on 7 July 1928. A 400-yard circumference track had an inside hare and both handicap and level start racing took place. It was an all grass track and distances raced were 289 and 489 yards. Greyhound racing ceased in 1965.[4]

## Speedway

[edit]

The stadium hosted motorcycle speedway during 1965 and 1966, and most notably held a preliminary round of the Speedway World Championship on 26 May 1965.[5][6]

## Future

[edit]

In 2011, there were plans for Cowdenbeath to move to a new stadium, to be located on the outskirts of Cowdenbeath.[7]

## Transport

[edit]

Cowdenbeath railway station is five minutes' walk from Central Park.[2] The M90 motorway passes near Cowdenbeath, with Central Park reached by leaving the motorway at junction 3, taking the A92 for Kirkcaldy.[2] The A909 road then leads into Cowdenbeath and free car parking is provided at the ground.[2]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Cowdenbeath Football Club". Scottish Professional Football League. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
2. ^ a b c d e f g "Cowdenbeath". Scottish Ground Guide. Duncan Adams. Retrieved 11 June 2013.
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Inglis 1996, p. 437
4. ^ Barnes, Julia (1988). Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File. Ringpress Books. p. 413\. ISBN 0-948955-15-5.
5. ^ "1966 results" (PDF). Speedway Researcher. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
6. ^ "Cowdenbeath Speedway". Defunct Speedway. Retrieved 26 January 2024.
7. ^ "Cowdenbeath take step towards new stadium". BBC Sport. 9 April 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2024.

Sources

* Inglis, Simon (1996). Football Grounds of Britain. Collins Willow. ISBN 0-00-218426-5.

* v
* t
* e

Cowdenbeath Football Club

Club|

* Players
* Managers

Ground|

* North End Park
* Central Park

Rivalries|

* Fife derby
* Fife Cup

Seasons|

* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13

* v
* t
* e

Football venues in Scotland

National Stadium|

* Hampden Park

2024–25 Premiership|

* Celtic Park
* Dens Park
* Easter Road
* Fir Park
* Ibrox Stadium
* McDiarmid Park
* Pittodrie Stadium
* Rugby Park
* St Mirren Park
* Tannadice Park
* Tynecastle Park
* Victoria Park

2024–25 Championship|

* Almondvale Stadium
* Cappielow
* East End Park
* Excelsior Stadium
* Falkirk Stadium
* Firhill Stadium
* Hampden Park
* New Douglas Park
* Somerset Park
* Stark's Park

2024–25 League One|

* Balmoral Stadium
* Caledonian Stadium
* Dumbarton Football Stadium
* Galabank
* Gayfield Park
* Links Park
* New Central Park
* Ochilview Park
* Palmerston Park
* Recreation Park

2024–25 League Two|

* Ainslie Park
* Balmoor
* Bayview Stadium
* Borough Briggs
* Forthbank Stadium
* Meadowbank Stadium
* New Douglas Park
* New Dundas Park
* Stair Park
* Station Park

2024–25 Highland Football League|

* Bellslea Park
* Christie Park
* Glebe Park
* Harmsworth Park
* Kynoch Park
* Mosset Park
* Princess Royal Park
* Victoria Park (Buckie)

2024–25 Lowland Football League|

* Netherdale
* Broadwood Stadium
* Central Park
* Cliftonhill
* Dumbarton Football Stadium
* Excelsior Stadium
* Falkirk Stadium
* Islecroft Stadium
* K-Park
* Newtown Park
* Raydale Park
* Recreation Park (Alloa)
* Shielfield Park

East of Scotland Football League|

* Albert Park
* Creamery Park
* Humbug Park
* Meggetland Sports Complex
* Pennypit Park
* Prestonfield
* Volunteer Park
* Whitestone Park

South of Scotland Football League|

* Stair Park

West of Scotland Football League|

* Bellsdale Park
* Beltane Park
* Dunterlie Park
* Excelsior Stadium
* Lochburn Park
* Millburn Park
* Newlandsfield Park
* Petershill Park
* Ravenscraig Stadium
* Saracen Park

North Caledonian Football Association|

* Claggan Park
* The Pickaquoy Centre

Junior football|

* Aberdeen Sports Village
* Hillhead Centre
* Lister Park
* Links Park

Other|

* Cathkin Park (second)
* Lesser Hampden
* Oriam
* Parkside
* Ravenscraig Regional Sports Facility
* Toryglen Regional Football Centre

Defunct stadiums, closed before 1914|

* Barrowfield Park
* Beechwood Park
* Braehead Park
* Burnbank Park
* Carolina Port
* Cathkin Park (first)
* Celtic Park (first)
* Dalziel Park
* Dunterlie Park (first)
* East Dock Street
* Govandale Park
* Hamilton Crescent
* Hampden Park (first)
* Hawkhill
* Hibernian Park
* Hyde Park
* Ibrox Park (first)
* Inchview
* Kinning Park
* Meadowside
* New Logie Green
* Old Ralston Park
* Springvale Park
* Underwood Park
* Titwood
* West Craigie Park
* Westmarch
* Whitefield Park

Defunct stadiums, closed 1914–1945|

* Ardencaple Park
* Beresford Park
* Chancelot Park
* Clune Park
* Clydeholm
* Dunterlie Park (second)
* Forthbank Park
* Kimmeter Park Green
* Kintail Park
* Marine Gardens
* Meadow Park (Coatbridge)
* Merchiston Park
* Mill Park
* North End Park
* New Powderhall
* New Ralston Park
* Newfield Park
* Old Logie Green
* Portland Park
* Recreation Grounds
* Recreation Park (Lochgelly)
* Royal Gymnasium Ground
* Sports Park
* Tontine Park

Defunct stadiums, closed since 1945|

* Adamslie Park
* Allan Park
* Annfield Stadium
* Bayview Park
* Boghead Park
* Brockville Park
* Broomfield Park
* Chapelhill Park
* City Park
* Crawick Holm
* Douglas Park
* Duckburn Park
* Firs Park
* Kilbowie Park
* Kingsmills Park
* Love Street
* Meadow Park (Dumbarton)
* Meadowbank Stadium
* Muirton Park
* New Meadowbank
* Old Meadowbank
* Raploch Park
* Rosebery Park
* Shawfield Stadium
* Telford Street Park
* Voluntary Park

Proposed stadiums|

* Proposed Aberdeen stadium

* v
* t
* e

Scottish greyhound tracks

Licensed tracks

* Aberdeen (Holburn)
* Dundee (Dens Park)
* Edinburgh (Marine Gardens)
* Edinburgh (Powderhall)
* Edinburgh (Stenhouse)
* Falkirk (Brockville Park)
* Falkirk (Diamond)
* Glasgow (Albion)
* Glasgow (Carntyne)
* Glasgow (Firhill)
* Glasgow (Shawfield)
* Glasgow (White City)

Unlicensed tracks (independent/flapping)

* Aberdeen (Regent Park)
* Allanton
* Armadale (Bathgate Road)
* Armadale (Volunteer Park)
* Auchinleck
* Ayr (Voluntary Park)
* Ayr (Tams Brig)
* Barrhead
* Berwick
* Blantyre
* Carfin
* Corbiewood
* Cowdenbeath (Central Park)
* Cowdenbeath (North End Park)
* Crossgates
* Denny
* Dumbarton
* Dumfries
* Dundee (Tannadice Park)
* Dunfermline (East End Park)
* Dunfermline (Milesmark)
* Edinburgh (Royal Gymnasium)
* Falkirk (Firs Park)
* Galston
* Glasgow (Ashfield)
* Glasgow (Clydeholm)
* Glasgow (Coatbridge)
* Glasgow (Mount Vernon)
* Glasgow (Nelson)
* Greenock (Cappielow)
* Gretna (Halcrow)
* Gretna (Raydale Park)
* Hawick (Albert Park)
* Hawick (Target Hill)
* Irvine (Caledonian)
* Irvine (Townhead)
* Kilmarnock
* Kincardine
* Kirkcaldy
* Larkhall
* Linlithgow
* Methil
* Motherwell (Clyde Valley)
* Motherwell (Milton Street)
* Paisley
* Shotts (Gasworks)
* Shotts (Stadium)
* Stevenston
* Stirling (Forthbank Park)
* Thornton
* Tranent
* Wallyford
* Wishaw

* v
* t
* e

Football in Fife

SPFL teams|

* Championship: Dunfermline Athletic
* Raith Rovers
* League One: Kelty Hearts
* League Two: East Fife

Lowland League teams|

Cowdenbeath

East of Scotland League teams|

* Premier Division: Dundonald Bluebell
* Hill of Beath Hawthorn
* Glenrothes
* St Andrews United

* First Division: Crossgates Primrose
* Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts
* Kirkcaldy & Dysart
* Lochore Welfare
* Thornton Hibs

* Second Division: Burntisland Shipyard
* Kennoway Star Hearts
* Oakley United

* Third Division: Lochgelly Albert
* Newburgh

Junior / Midlands League teams|

* Tayport

Amateur teams|

* See: Kingdom of Fife AFA

Women's teams|

* East Fife

Defunct clubs|

* Senior: Kirkcaldy
* Kirkcaldy United
* Lassodie
* Lochgelly Amateurs
* Lochgelly United
* Rosyth
* Rosyth Dockyard Recreation
* Townhill
* Junior: Ballingry Rovers
* Hearts of Beath
* Inverkeithing United
* Steelend Victoria

Venues|

* Bayview Stadium
* Central Park
* East End Park
* Humbug Park
* Stark's Park
* Current
* Bayview Park
* North End Park
* Recreation Park, Lochgelly
* Historic

Other topics|

* Fife derby
* Fife Cup
* Fife Junior Football League
* SJFA East Region Central Division

* v
* t
* e

Motorcycle speedway tracks

Australia|

* Adelaide
* Brompton
* Camden
* Gillman
* Kilburn
* North Arm
* Virginia
* Wayville
* Wingfield
* Alice Springs
* Ayr
* Bathurst
* Bendigo
* Bowen
* Brisbane
* Banyo
* Showgrounds
* West End
* Broadford
* Broken Hill
* Bundaberg
* Collie
* Cowra
* Darwin
* Geelong
* Gold Coast
* Gosford
* Ipswich
* Showgrounds
* Willowbank
* Loxford
* Mackay
* Maitland
* Maryborough
* Melbourne
* Brooklyn
* Docklands
* Exhibition
* Motordrome
* Maribyrnong
* Mildura
* Mount Gambier
* Murray Bridge
* Myrtleford
* Newcastle
* Broadmeadow
* Tomago
* Perth
* Bibra
* Claremont
* Kwinana Beach
* Pinjar
* WACA
* Renmark
* Rockhampton
* Richmond
* Sydney
* Giants
* Liverpool
* Nepean
* Parramatta
* Showground
* Sports Ground
* Tamworth
* Tennant Creek
* Toowoomba
* Townsville
* Undera
* Whyalla
* Wodonga
* Wollongong

Austria|

* Graz
* Linz
* Mureck
* Natschbach-Loipersbach
* St.Johann/Pg
* Vienna
* Stadion
* ASKÖ Platz
* Wiener Neustadt
* Eggendorf
* Felixdorf
* Stadion

Czech Republic|

* Břeclav
* Březolupy
* Brno
* České Budějovice
* Chabařovice
* Cheb
* Chomutov
* Chrudim
* Divišov
* Dolní Čermná
* Hradec Králové
* Kopřivnice
* Krupka
* Liberec
* Mariánské Lázně
* Mšeno
* Olomouc
* Ostrava
* Pardubice
* Plzeň
* Polepy
* Prague
* Čakovice
* Letná
* Markéta
* Spořilov
* Strahov
* Žižkov
* Přerov
* Slaný
* Svitavy
* Ústí nad Labem
* Žatec

Denmark|

* Brovst
* Copenhagen
* Amager
* Parken
* Esbjerg
* Athletic
* Granly
* Fredericia
* Grindsted
* Harndrup
* Hillerød
* Holbæk
* Holsted
* Center
* Gørklint
* Holstebro
* Horsens
* Forum
* Frederikslyst
* Karup
* Munkebo
* Næstved
* Odense
* Athletic
* Fangel
* Outrup
* Randers
* Saeby
* Slangerup
* Vojens

Finland|

* Haapajärvi
* Helsinki
* Hyvinkää
* Karhula
* Kuusankoski
* Lahti (Kärpänen)
* Lahti (Pippo)
* Oulu
* Pori
* Seinäjoki
* Tampere
* Eteläpuisto
* Kaanaa
* Ratinan
* Turku
* Varkaus

Germany|

* Abensberg
* Berghaupten
* Berlin
* FLJ Sportpark
* Wolfslake
* Bopfingen
* Bremen
* Brokstedt
* Cloppenburg
* Friesoyther
* MSC Arena
* Diedenbergen
* Gelsenkirchen
* Güstrow
* Herxheim
* Kempten
* Krumbach
* Landshut
* Leipzig
* Ludwigslust
* Lübbenau
* Meissen
* Munich
* BBM
* Olympic
* Neubrandenburg
* Neumünster
* Neustadt Donau
* Norden
* Oberhausen
* Olching
* Parchim
* Petershagen
* Pfaffenhofen
* Pocking
* Rodenbach
* Rostock
* Ruhpolding
* Senftenberg
* Stralsund
* Teterow
* Wittstock

Great Britain &
Ireland|

* Aldershot
* Boxalls
* Oxenden
* Ashington
* Aycliffe
* Barnsley
* Barrow
* Holker
* Little Park
* Park Road
* Belfast
* Berwick
* Berrington
* Shielfield
* Birmingham
* Hall Green
* Perry Barr
* old Perry Barr
* Wheels Park
* Blantyre
* Craighead
* Greyhound stadium
* Bolton
* Boston
* Bradford
* Greenfield
* Odsal
* Brafield
* Bristol
* Eastville
* Knowle
* Brownhills
* Burnley
* Buxton
* Caerphilly
* Canterbury
* Cardiff
* Millennium
* Penarth
* White City
* Castleford
* Chesterton
* Coatbridge
* Coventry
* Brandon
* Lythalls
* Cowdenbeath
* Cradley Heath
* Crayford and Bexleyheath
* Crewe
* Doncaster
* Sprotbrough
* Stainforth
* Dublin
* Chapelizod
* Shelbourne
* Earls Barton
* Eastbourne
* Edinburgh
* Armadale
* Marine Gardens
* Old Meadowbank
* Powderhall
* Ellesmere Port
* Exeter
* County
* Marsh Barton
* Fleetwood
* Glasgow
* Carntyne
* Celtic Park
* Hampden Park
* Nelson
* Saracen
* Shawfield
* White City
* Halifax
* Shay
* Thrum
* Hastings
* Highbridge
* Hull
* Boulevard
* Craven
* Hedon
* Ipswich
* Isle of Wight
* King's Lynn
* Leeds
* Leicester
* Beaumont)
* Stadium)
* Linlithgow
* Liverpool
* Seaforth
* Stanley
* London
* Catford
* Dagenham
* Greenford
* Hackney
* Harringay
* Lea Bridge
* New Cross
* Romford
* Stamford Bridge
* Walthamstow
* Wembley
* West Ham
* White City
* Wimbledon
* Long Eaton
* Luton
* Manchester
* Audenshaw
* Belle Vue
* Hyde Rd
* National
* White City
* Mansfield
* Melton Mowbray
* Middlesbrough
* Cleveland
* South Tees
* Mildenhall
* Milton Keynes
* Motherwell
* Neath
* Nelson
* New Brighton
* Newcastle
* Brough Pk
* Gosforth
* Newport
* Hayley
* Somerton
* Northampton
* Norwich
* Nottingham
* Oxford
* Paisley
* Peterborough
* Plymouth
* Coliseum
* Pennycross
* Pontypridd
* Poole
* Portsmouth
* Preston
* Purfleet
* Rayleigh Weir
* Reading
* Oxford Rd
* Smallmead
* Ringwood
* Rochdale
* Rochester
* Rye House
* St Austell
* Salford
* Scunthorpe
* Ashby V
* E Wright
* Quibell
* Sheffield
* Sittingbourne
* Central Park
* Iwade
* Skegness
* Southampton
* Stockport
* Stoke-on-Trent
* Sunderland
* Swindon
* Syston
* Tamworth
* Tredegar
* Warrington
* Weybridge
* Weymouth
* Wigan
* Poolstock
* Woodhouse
* Wolverhampton
* Wombwell
* Workington
* Derwent
* Lonsdale
* Northside
* Yarmouth

Hungary|

* Cserénfa
* Debrecen
* Gyula
* Mórahalom
* Miskolc
* Nagyhalász
* Nyíregyháza
* Szeged (Napos)
* Szeged (SZEAC)

Italy|

* Badia Polesine
* Castiglione Olona
* Civitanova Marche
* Lonigo
* Monticello di Fara
* Terenzano
* Treviso
* Udine

New Zealand|

* Auckland
* Onehunga
* Rosebank
* W Springs
* Christchurch
* Gisborne
* Invercargill
* Kihikihi
* Masterton
* Napier
* Palmerston North
* Stratford
* Tauranga
* Wellington
* West Melton

Norway|

* Bergen
* Brumunddal
* Drammen
* Hamar
* Idrettsplassen
* Utstillingsplassen
* Vikingskipet
* Hokksund
* Hommersåk
* Kongsberg
* Basserudåsen
* Idrettsparken
* Kristiansand
* Idda
* Sørlandsparken
* Stadion
* Nærbø
* Oslo
* Bislett
* Dælenenga
* Frogner
* Lunner
* Sandefjord
* Sandnes
* Sandvika
* Skien
* Trondheim
* Lerkendal
* Tempebanen
* Tønsberg
* Varhaug

Poland|

* Bydgoszcz
* Chorzów
* Częstochowa
* Gdańsk
* Gniezno
* Gorzów Wielkopolski
* Grudziądz
* Kraków
* Krosno
* Leszno
* Łódź
* Lublin
* Opole
* Ostrów Wielkopolski
* Piła
* Poznań
* Rawicz
* Rybnik
* Rzeszów
* Świętochłowice (Hasiok)
* Świętochłowice (Skalka)
* Tarnów
* Toruń
* Apator
* M.Rose
* Warsaw
* Army
* Gwardia
* National Stadium
* Skra
* Wrocław
* Zielona Góra

Russia|

* Balakovo
* Cherkessk
* Elista
* Kemerovo
* Moscow
* Novosibirsk
* Oktyabrsky
* Saint Petersburg
* Salavat
* Sterlitamak
* Tolyatti
* Ufa
* Stroitel
* Trud
* Ussuriysk
* Vladivostok

Slovakia|

* Banská Bystrica
* Bratislava
* Ružinov
* Slobod
* Zohor
* Partizánske
* Žarnovica

Sweden|

* Avesta
* Avestavallen
* Brovalla
* Borås
* Eskilstuna
* Smedstadion
* Snälltorpet
* Eslöv
* Falköping
* Gislaved
* Gothenburg
* Hagfors
* Hallstavik
* Huddinge
* Karlstad
* Kumla
* Lindesberg
* Linköping
* Ryd
* Sviestad
* Målilla
* Motorbana
* Skrotfrag
* Malmö
* Arlövs
* Motorstadion
* Stadion
* Mariestad
* Motala
* Nässjö
* Norrköping
* Dagsbergsfältet
* Kråkvilan
* Nyköping
* Örebro
* Adolfsberg
* Täby
* Trängens
* Stockholm
* Friends
* Gubbängens
* Hammarby
* Olympic
* Västervik
* Växjö
* Vetlanda
* Visby

United States|

* Anaheim
* Beltsville
* Carter Lake
* Costa Mesa
* Gardena
* Greenville
* Long Beach
* Pineville
* Los Angeles (Coliseum)
* Los Angeles (Legion)
* Sacramento
* Santa Ana
* San Jose
* Ventura

Rest of the World|

* Bahía Blanca
* Amsterdam
* Blijham
* Chervonohrad
* Crikvenica
* Daugavpils
* Goričan
* Heusden-Zolder
* Jagodina
* Kranj
* Krško
* Lendava
* Ljubljana
* Lviv
* Mâcon
* Maribor
* Marmande
* Morizès
* Osijek
* Paris
* Prelog
* Riga
* Rivne
* Santarém
* Shumen
* Tabasalu
* Targovishte
* Veenord
* Zagreb

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template