Address: Grounsell Park, Newton Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE7 7RZ
Capacity: 2500 (100 seated)
Pitch Type: Grass
Year Opened: 1935
Record Attendance: 2107 (vWest Auckland Town, 2024)

 

The club had a number of previous grounds including Miller Lane, Paddy Freeman’s and, until 1935, the Coast Road ground between Chillingham Road and the current Benfield Road which had seen a changing hut extension built in 1933. In 1934, what was to become the Stan’s new ground on Newton Road was still the site of the former Newton stone quarry. In May 1910, there had been calls in the local press for the pond in the quarry to fenced off and a ‘Danger’ board erected after a boy was recused from drowning. The late Stoddart Gilroy, a former Stan club member, often recalled swimming in the quarry pool as a child. In 1934 the club wrote to the owner LordArmstrong about the quarry’s availability. Originally the solicitor involved, Vincent Thompson, ‘did not fancy football’ & would have preferred another sports club to make use of the site such as for tennis. By August 1934 the Stan had agreed to rent Newton Park for 10 years & keys were handed over. At this stage the site was still a 70 foot deep quarry & arrangements were made to fill it in with earth and ashes from the new Benton Hall estate development and be levelled out with over 8000 square yards of turf. The lease stated that if there were complaints during 1935-36 that playing football ‘disturbs the amenities of the locality then the agreement shall be void.’ Gates were installed which cost 14/10.

The Stan’s last home match at the Coast road ground took place on 21 September 1935 in ‘heavy rain’ & saw the Stan beat Seghill Colliery 5-1. The Newton Park ground was supposed to have been ready for August, but delays meant that the first match did not take place until 12 October 1935. The opening of the ground was at 2.30 in the afternoon by Club President and ex-player C.H.P. Reay. The Northern Amateur League (NAL) division one match against Swan Hunters kicked off at 3pm and the Stan won 5-1 (half time 3-0) with the Stan scorers Ranson (3), Young & Thompson. The Journal report stated that ‘Heaton were worthy winners but the score flattered them.’ The 2^nd match saw the Stan beat Byker Brotherhood 7-3 (half time 2-2) & at the end of the season the Stan won their 1^st major trophy (NAL Challenge Cup) & the following season won their 1^st league title.

For the 1939-40 season, the Stan joined the prestigious Northern League and were the 1st team from north of the Tyne to do so for over 20 years. After only 1 season, the league was suspended from 1940 until end of World War 2. From 1940 until 1946, the ground was used by the military and for a while, Italian prisoners of war were located there. On the night of 16-17 September 1940, German bombs missed Newton Park by about 200 yards but destroyed houses around the corner in Cleveland Gardens. Because Newton Park was still being used by the military, the Stan were non-playing members of the Northern League 45-46 and rejoined 46-52. In 1948, Newton Park was sold to the club and held by trustees. £1300 of the £2000 cost was borrowed from the Football Association. In the 1950s, a wooden stand was built at the ground. In 1968, Heaton Stannington Sports Club Ltd was formed which was meant to benefit the club & the club house was built. A year later the ground was conveyed to the new company & the football team now had to pay rent. 1969 also saw the end of the covenant prohibiting alcohol sales.

In 1972, Heaton Stannington stepped up to the Wearside League where they remained for 10 years. In 1982, the annual rental increased from £400 to £1500 & the additional financial burden forced the team to resign from the Wearside League. A property company, Ladylaw Holdings, placed a planning application to build a supermarket on Newton Park with the Sports Club agreeing to sell it. The football club opposed the application & were given 3 months’ notice to quit the ground. The application was dismissed by the Council despite going to appeal & this led to court action by the trustees and developers. A number of club members used their homes as security to cover the potential legal costs of opposing the development. On the 26 of May 1983, the sale was stopped by a High Court injunction. The High Court eventually ruled that the ground belonged to the football club & the sports club company had to relinquish ownership. The new constitution prohibited individuals from benefiting from the ground’s sale. The original landlord offered to buy Newton Park & offered the club a new ground in Coach Lane but this was turned down. In 1988 Newton Park ownership was sorted out completely which allowed the redevelopment of the ground to be considered.

In the early 1990s, former Newcastle United portacabins were installed as the new changing rooms. Prior to this the changing rooms were two wooden huts. One had an old-fashioned bath in the middle of the room which had to be hand filled with hot water & each player had to wait their turn. In 1999 the new clubhouse, which was built by volunteer club members, was opened allowing the original bar ro become a function room. In 2006 new changing rooms and a garage for the club tractor were built. In 2007, Newton Park was renamed Grounsell Park in memory of the late Bob Grounsell whose roles had included player, groundsman & club official & in practice he was ‘Mr Heaton Stannington’. One of the most memorable matches played there took place on 22 July 2012 when Heaton Stannington were beaten 4-0 by the Gabon national side. This warm-up match for the Olympics included an appearance by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. In 2012-13 the team had their most successful season to date when they won a treble of trophies and rejoined the Northern League. During 2013, ground Improvements were undertaken including a hard surround, a turnstile and new dugouts. On 28 December 2013, after construction delays, the floodlights were turned on for the first time in a match against Willington. On 14 January 2014, the Stan played their first ever evening floodlit match at Grounsell Park against Brandon. On 1 March 2014, the first 50 seat stand was opened for first time for a match against Esh Winning. In 2015, FA Cup football returned to the ground after 39 years.

This quirky little ground is a key part of the local community & its bar and pool room is usually open six nights a week & has been voted the Campaign for Real Ale Tyneside Club of the year 2018 & 2020.There are allotments round the edge of the pitch and car park spaces are rented by employees of the Freeman Hospital and civil servants. The ground is used for lower league cup finals and the club house is rented out for functions and for meetings by various local organisations.

 

Opening times
Our match day opening times are as follows:

• Saturdays – Gates open 13:30, Kick off 15:00
• Evenings – Gates open 18:00, Kick off 19:30

Entry Prices
Our admission prices are as follows (payment accepted in cash or card):

• Adults – £9
• Over 65s – £6 (ID may be required)
• Under 16s – FREE (ID may be required)
• Dogs with well behaved owners are always welcome!

Matchday Programme
We sell a printed programme at every match. A copy of “The Stan” costs £2 and is available at the turnstile upon entry.

Matchday Raffle
We operate a match day raffle. Tickets are available for £1 each just after you enter the ground. The prize varies match by match.

 

 

Spectating Areas
We currently have 2 x 50 seater stands, which are located on the Clubhouse side of the pitch. As you enter the ground, walk ahead to the pitch, turn left an walk past the terrace to find the stands. No standing in front of the stands is allowed.

Clubhouse
Our Clubhouse is the hub of the ground on a matchday. We have a bar area, serving a range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and seating for approx 40. Payment accepted in cash or card. Next door is the Lounge which has further seating for approx 80 people. Our bar has won CAMRA awards several years running and is renowned for the quality of its real ales.

Club Shop
Inside the Lounge on the stage you will find our Club Shop, selling a range of merchandise. Payment accepted in cash or card.

Stan Can Van
In the car park, just past the changing rooms, you will see the Stan Can Van. This is an additional refreshments outlet which sells cans of alcohol, soft drinks and hot drinks. It is sponsored by Overkill Brewery and we will their fine ales in cans. Payment accepted in cash or card.

Stan Scran
As you face the green changing room block, on the right side of it you will see Stan Scran. This is where you can purchase a range of hot food (burgers, chips, hot dogs, etc), hot drinks, cold drinks and snacks. No alcohol is sold here. Payment accepted in cash or card.

Guest Catering Vans
At some fixtures we will have a guest catering van/stand in attendance. We will normally advertise this ahead of time. When we do this, they will be pitched right next to the Stan Can Van. Please support any guest caterers by paying them a visit!

Matchday Hospitality
We operate matchday hospitality upstairs in the Clubhouse. This area is not open to the general public. If you are interested in a hospitality package please contact us for more details.

Toilets
We have male, female and disabled toilets available inside the Clubhouse. We also have family baby changing facilities inside the new disabled toilet. Free sanitary products are supplied in the female toilets. There are further toilets next to Stan Scran.

 

Driving directions
We are based in the High Heaton area of Newcastle upon Tyne. The post code for your Sat Nav is NE7 7HP. Please ensure this is taking you to the Newton Road side of the ground, some older Sat Nav’s direct to the Cotswold Gardens side which has no access to the ground.

If you are coming from the South, it is likely you will come via one of two routes:

– Over the Tyne bridge: this will bring you off the Central Motorway at Jesmond and along Jesmond Road. After you go under the underpass at The Cradlewell, you will see the Corner Pub house on the right. Turn left at these lights and head up Newton Road. When you reach the roundabout, take a left and the ground is on your right side between the takeaway and florists. See below info for parking as you cannot drive into the ground on a matchday.

– Through the Tyne tunnel: this will bring you on to the Coast Road (A1058) heading towards Newcastle. You will leave this at the Exit for Chillingham Road/Benton Road and take a right turn at the large roundabout, taking third exit. You will drive past a large Sainsburys on the right side and at the next mini roundabout turn left into Cragside. At the next roundabout head straight over and the ground is on your right side between the takeaway and florists. See below info for parking as you cannot drive into the ground on a matchday.

If you are coming from the North, it is likley you will come via one of two routes:

– From South Gosforth: you will drive up Freeman Road and past the Freeman Hospital on your left. At the roundabout after this, turn left and the ground is on your left side between the takeaway and florists. See below info for parking as you cannot drive into the ground on a matchday.

– From Four Lane Ends: you will drive along Benton Road passing The Newton Park pub. Go straight over the first small roundabout and at the next small roundabout, turn right on to Cragside. At the next roundabout head straight over and the ground is on your right side between the takeaway and florists. See below info for parking as you cannot drive into the ground on a matchday.

Matchday Parking
IMPORTANT – Parking within the ground on a matchday is for players and officials only. There is no spectator parking inside the ground and our gate team will be positioned at the entry gate to check all who are entering. Please do not try and turn into the ground.

Parking in the surrounding area is plentiful and at times we play fixtures, there are no permit schemes in operating. We enjoy a good relationship with our neighbours and community and we ask that all spectators park considerately. Do NOT block driveways, park on pavements or use any other methods of parking which are deemed inconsiderate. If you prefer to park in a proper car park, there are two pay & display car parks at Paddy Freemans Park a few minutes walk away.

Public Transport
Grounsell Park is easy to reach via public transport:

Train – Newcastle Central is the nearest mainline train station in the city centre.

Metro – South Gosforth, Longbenton and Four Lane Ends are all in walking distance of the ground with the first two slightly closer. All of them are within a 20 minute walk.

Bus – Stagecoach number 38 is the most convenient and stops right outside our ground in both directions. You can get this from several places in the City Centre including near Central Station (next to the Mile Castle pub), John Dobson street and Haymarket. We are close to the Freeman Hospital so any bus coming from other directions which stops there is suitable.