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A guide to Oakwell Stadium - Part 2

 

 Contents

UK mapThe Ground
Stadium Plan
The West Stand
The East Stand
The Pontefract Road End
The North Stand
The Corner Stand
Future Development
Disabled Facilities
Carparking/Getting to Oakwell
The Academy
Stadium Facilities
Away Fans Guide

 

 

 The West Stand

West StandAs the only original stand at Oakwell, the West Stand is looked upon fondly by lots of Barnsley supporters that remember 'the good old days'.

The stand, which runs the length of the pitch, is split into two tiers with the upper covered by a pitched roof supported by 8 steel columns. The majority of the seats in the upper tier are originals from the early 1900's and are made from wood although a few seats have been replaced and are made of plastic. The lower tier of the stand is uncovered and was originally open terracing but was made all-seater following the Taylor Report into the Hillsborough Disaster.

The West Stand houses the club's boardroom and director's box as well as the dugout's and a tunnel which, since the redevelopment of the North Stand in 1999, isn't used by players anymore, though occasionally injured players will disappear up it to receive stitches.

Being one of the oldest stands around, the West Stand undoubtedly has a few features that make it unique, one of these is a television gantry that sits atop the stand in front of what was once an attractive gable (as can be seen in a few old photographs). The gantry is accessed via a ladder behind the stand which the operator must climb. A job not for the feint hearted.

The West Stand toilets are very basic and in desperate need of renovation with some supporters claiming they cannot meet health and safety regulations. Amongst the issues is the fact that there is no roof to protect you from the elements whilst using the toilets and that for men, the 'urinal' is simply a piece of guttering along a wall that has moss growing on it.

 

 The East Stand

East StandSitting opposite the West stand is the 7,492 seater East Stand which is the main stand seen from the Television cameras.

Opened in 1993 and funded in part by the football trust, the redevelopment of the East Stand marked the beginning of a new Oakwell, incorporating executive boxes for the first time, not only in Barnsley but in Yorkshire.

The East Stand upper tier houses the 'Barnsley Chronicle Family Stand' which is located in the corner towards the away stand and is, as the name suggests, the designated area for families at Oakwell.

Inside the stand there is a small club shop which sells small items of merchandise before games and at half time as well as a bookmaker and refreshment stands and bars. There are also a number of TV's throughout the concourses that show 'TykesTV', a match day TV station showing the game live and occasionally screening the lunchtime match from sky sports before Barnsley games.

The executive boxes sit between the upper and lower tiers and can be accessed either by stairs or by lifts and include the main suite called 'The Legend's Suite'. When The Legends Suite was first opened in 2006 the club had a different Barnsley legend attend each home game although this no longer happens. During the week the executive area doubles up as conference facilities that businesses can hire.

 The Pontefract Road End (CK Beckett Stand)

Ponty EndThe Pontefract Road End, or The Ponty End as it is commonly known, was built in 1995 as a new home for Barnsley supporters behind the goals.

Originally sponsored by the then main club sponsor ORA Electronics, the stand has also been named after a couple of other companies, Van Damme and Enterprise PLC. In June of this year (2008) the club announced a six figure sponsorship deal with local Electrical and Industrial Dismantlers, CK Beckett to name the stand after their company until the end of the 2010/2011 season.

Positioned at the south side of the stadium, The Ponty End is a covered, single tiered stand with a capacity of 4,508 including disabled supporters that have a choice between sitting on the front row or around halfway up the stand.

The rear of the stand houses the club's main reception as well as the box office, club shop, lotteries office and supporters trust office which fans have access to. Inside the stand are other general administration offices.

When built, The Ponty End was designed in such a way that if attendances increase and the need arise then a second tier can be added on top of the first without having to completely knock the stand down.

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