Christie Park, Huntly

Football ground in Huntly, Scotland

57°26′56.66″N 2°46′59.02″W / 57.4490722°N 2.7830611°W / 57.4490722; -2.7830611OwnerHuntly F.C.Capacity2,200 (270 seated)^[2]Record attendance4,500 v Dundee United
18 February 1995^[2]Field size105 x 72 yards^[2]SurfacegrassOpened1921^[1]TenantsHuntly F.C.

Christie Park is a football ground in the town of Huntly in the north-east of Scotland. It is the home ground of Highland Football League side Huntly F.C. It is located on East Park Street^[1] in the north-east of the town and has a capacity of 2,200 with 270 seated.^[2]^[3]

History

The ground was previously known as Strathbogie Park from 1921 when it opened, until 1926 when it was renamed Christie Park.^[1] The ground takes its name from former Provost Christie who acquired the ground and donated it to the football club on the condition that they remained amateur. This was agreed by the club, who subsequently renamed the ground in Christie's honour.^[1]

In 1975, an incident at the end of a match where fans crossing the pitch to exit the stadium allegedly pushed the match referee to the ground. As a result, it was ordered by the Referee's Committee on 18 December that the ground be closed for the first two months of 1976. The club was fined £100 and it was ordered that police officers be present at every home game in the future. This type of punishment was unprecedented in Scottish football as it was the first time a club's stadium had been closed down.^[4]

Huntly's record attendance at Christie Park came in February 1995 when 4,500 spectators watched the club take on Dundee United in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup.^[3] The home side lost 3–1.^[5]

Transport

The nearest railway station to the ground is Huntly railway station^[2] which is located half a mile south-east of Christie Park, roughly a 10-minute walk.^[1]^[6] The station is located on the Aberdeen to Inverness Line.

Access by road is served by the A96 between Inverness and Aberdeen, which passes to the south and west of the town.^[6]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f World Stadia – Harmsworth Christie Park, worldstadia.com. 14 January 2006. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Clubs – Huntly FC, Scottish Highland Football League. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
^ ^a ^b Club Info – Contact & General Details, Huntly FC Online. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
^ Club History – A Look Back – HFL History made for the wrong reasons Archived 21 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Huntly Football Club. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
^ Scottish FA Cup 1994-1995 : Results, statto.com. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
^ ^a ^b Highland Premier – Huntly – Christie Park, fanzine.co.uk. Retrieved 29 May 2012.