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 Interactive map of Bob Lucas Stadium | |
| Full name | The Bob Lucas Stadium |
|---|---|
| Location | Weymouth,England |
| Owner | Weymouth F.C. (1987-present) |
| Capacity | 6,600 (900 seated) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Built | Originally (1950s) Rebuilt (1986-1987) |
| Opened | Speedway & greyhound racing (1954) Football (21 October 1987) |
| Tenants | |
| Weymouth F.C. (1987-present) | |
TheBob Lucas Stadium (formerly named theWessex Stadium) is a football stadium inWeymouth,England. It has been the home ground ofWeymouth F.C. since 1987. It was formerly agreyhound racing andspeedway stadium.
The ground, which was built to hold 10,000 with 900 seated in the stand, first saw a football kicked with the visit ofTaunton Town in the Western Counties Floodlight Cup final on 18 August 1987 in front of 1,023 spectators. The league season opened on 26 August with a visit fromLincoln City – who had just suffered relegation fromthe Football League – and the official attendance was 3,500.
Ron Greenwood performed the official opening of the ground on 21 October 1987, prior to an exhibition match againstManchester United - which the Terras won 1–0. The attendance for this fixture was given as 4,904.
In July 2010, the name of the stadium was changed from the Wessex Stadium in homage to the long-serving club president and former goalkeeperBob Lucas, during his fight against cancer.[1] He died a month later, aged 85.[2]
The Wessex Stadium was built on the west side of the East Chickerell Court Lane opposite the East Chickerell Race Course in the early 1950s.[3]
Greyhound racing first took place at the stadium on 5 August 1954. The racing was independent (not affiliated to the sports governing body theNational Greyhound Racing Club).[4] Racing was held on Thursday and Saturday evenings.
The track was described as a fast galloping grass track with an inside Sumner hare system and race distances of 300, 525, 765 and 990 yards.[5] The racing ended in 1985.[4]
Speedway took place between 1954 and 1985.[6]
50°37′12″N2°29′07″W / 50.62000°N 2.48528°W /50.62000; -2.48528