 View of the ground | |
  East End Park Location in Fife | |
| Location | Dunfermline, Scotland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 56°04′31″N3°26′31″W / 56.07528°N 3.44194°W /56.07528; -3.44194 |
| Owner | East End Park Limited[1] |
| Capacity | 11,480[2] |
| Field size | 105 x 64 metres (pitch) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1885 |
| Tenants | |
| Dunfermline Athletic F.C. | |
East End Park, currently namedKDM Group East End Park[3] for sponsorship purposes, is afootballstadium situated inDunfermline,Fife, Scotland with aseating capacity of 11,480.[2]
The stadium plays host to the home matches ofScottish Championship side,Dunfermline Athletic The stadium currently comprises fourstands: the East Stand (currently sponsored by SQMC), the Main Stand (currently sponsored by srj windows), the North Stand and theNorrie McCathie Stand. The stadium is all seater and has under-soil heating.
East End Park was first used in 1885, the same year as the club was formed.[4] The original stadium was situated slightly to the west. In 1920, the Board of Directors purchased 3 acres (12,000 m2) of land from theNorth British Railway company for £3,500, and the present position of the ground was laid out.[4] A wooden stand with a low roof and a pavilion were built on the southern side, backing onto Halbeath Road (A907).[4] Terrace banks were extended to give a capacity of 16,000 when the club was promoted to the First Division in 1926.[4] Relegation and the effects of theGreat Depression forced East End Park to be used forgreyhound racing in the early 1930s.[4] The rent from this activity helped keep the club afloat, but the dog track cut across the corners of the pitch.[4] Dunfermline were promoted in 1934 and a roof was built over the northern terrace.[4] One year later, the eastern terrace was improved using wood salvaged from the linerMauretania, which was being broken up in theRosyth Dockyards.[4]
Polish and British army units were stationed at East End Park during theSecond World War.[4] Dunfermline received £329 in compensation, but the ground remained quite primitive.[4] Crush barriers were not installed until 1951, after a 20,000 crowd had attended a match.[4] East End Park was greatly developed between 1957 and 1970, a period in which the club qualified several times forEuropean competition.[4] A two-tier Main Stand was constructed in 1962, funded by the club winning the1960–61 Scottish Cup.[4] The terracing was also improved, with an L-shaped roof formed over the western and northern sections.[4] The record attendance for a Dunfermline Athletic home game of 27,816 was againstCeltic on 30 April 1968.[4] There was some chaotic crowd scenes, as people scaled the stand roof and floodlight pylons to gain access.[4] One person died from his injuries after falling.[4]
In the late 1990s, East End Park was converted to anall-seater stadium with a capacity of 12,509. But since then, the capacity has been downgraded to the present 11,480. Since then there have been sell-outs againstRangers in the Scottish Cup and againstRaith Rovers in a title decider for the2010–11 Scottish First Division.[5] An artificial playing surface was installed at East End Park in 2003, as part of an experiment byUEFA.[6] Opposing managers and players expressed reservations at the time that the surface could lead to injuries. The pitch was subsequently replaced with grass two seasons later.[6] The2006–07 Scottish Junior Cup Final betweenKelty Hearts andLinlithgow Rose was held at East End Park on 3 June 2007. Dunfermline announced in November 2011 that the North Stand was to close, in order to reduce operating costs.[7] However, in July 2012 the club announced it planned to reopen the stand.[8]
In August 2022, Dunfermline made a long-term business agreement with local business KDM Group, which included renaming the stadium KDM Group East End Park.[3]
The greyhound racing was independent (unlicensed) and started on 5 June 1931 until 1951.[9]
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