Final Edit - 4 Images & Text.

The 4 images that I have chosen as my final portray the destruction & hardships that have faced Gloucester City's Meadow Park ground for the past 7 years.

 

Built in 1986, Meadow Park became the 9th home of Gloucester City AFC, when the tigers could grace the Southern League Premier Division in front of 4,000 supporters. Located in the Hempsted area of the city, Meadow Park is just a short distance from the banks of the river Severn. During the winter of 1990, heavy snowfall had affected the upper Severn, as this thawed, the flood plains were overwhelmed, submerging the pitch of Meadow Park under four feet of water, with no football being played for over a month. There was exciting plans ahead for the ground, as new owner Keith Gardner invested into the team, their success inspired plans for the areas surrounding Meadow Park to be transformed into a footballing centre for the local community.

Once again in December 2000, the Severn burst its banks and submerged the pitch under seven feet of water, infiltrating the changing rooms, this placed the club under serious financial stress as they could not generate revenue from matches for over six weeks. Gloucester was once again the victim of county-wide flooding in July 2007, this time engulfing the Meadow Park ground under eight feet of water, with just the top of the T-End crossbar visible.  This was a massive blow to the club, who had to move out and seek exile at Forest Green Rovers’ New Lawn Stadium. Cirencester Town welcomed the Tigers into their Corinium Stadium the following season, where the team later gained promotion into the Conference North. Under FA guidelines, a final move had to be made into Whaddon Road, the home ground of fierce rivals Cheltenham Town; this ground share agreement is still in effect today.

There have been a number of attempts for the club to return to Gloucester since its exile, including failed talks with Gloucester & Stroud Rugby Clubs. A return to Meadow Park had been rejected by Gloucester City Council in September 2012, as a more detailed flood assessment was required. Finally on the 7^th October 2014, approval was given for plans to redevelop Meadow Park, demolishing the current buildings before elevating the foundations of the ground; the club is also committing £75,000 flood improvement works in Hempsted.