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| Contents | |||
| What's
The Ground Like? Future Developments Solitude Football Ground (photo) What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? New Stand (photo) Where To Drink? How To Get There & Where To Park Main Stand (photo) By Train/Metro Ground Map Away Stand (photo) Programme Price The Unused North Side (photo) Local Rivals Ground Map Fixtures 2012-2013 Hotel Accommodation Google Area Map Feedback |
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| What's The Ground Like? | |||
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Solitute
is hidden amongst the residential area of
Cliftonville, two miles north of Belfast City
Centre. The main entrance and turnstiles are located
at the rear of the red bricked Main Stand, which
lies at the end of three victorian terrace streets,
Cliftonville Drive, Cliftonville Parade and
Cliftonville Street. The ground has undergone a
transformation in the last few years. The imposing
Main Stand on the south side dominates the ground, a
steep seated tier of 1,000 seats gives a good
elevated view of the pitch, however there are a
couple of columns and floodlight poles which may
impede your view. To the front of this stand that
was built in the 1950's, is a narrow standing
area in front of the stand with a limited amount of
shelter. To the right of the Main Stand, in the
south south-east corner is the two storey social
club with its sheltered viewing balcony, with the
players and official dressing rooms directly
beneath. Known to fans as the 'Whitehouse' it is a
unusual feature of the ground.
The East side of the ground was, until recently, occupied by an old fashioned terrace, with a low cover taking up the length of the penalty area. This cover had a number of columns, and a metal front to stop stray balls going into the crowd, giving the stand the name 'the cage'. However the stand was demolished in late 2007 to make way for the new stand. This impressive new structure, opened for home fans in 2008, has around 1,200 red plastic seats with 'THE REDS' spelt out in white seats, under a cantilever roof with angular screen ends. There is a stadium control box at the rear of the northern end, and a low enclosure for disabled supporters to one side of the goal line. Every seat in the stand offers an excellent unobstructed view of the pitch, though as with all new seated stands, the roof line is too high to offer rainfall shelter to the seats in the bottom few rows. Looking directly across the pitch from the Main Stand there is currently a shallow grass verge on the North side of the ground, which was originally a covered terrace until a fire closed this side of the ground. The distant view of Cliff Hill gives the ground a windswept and exposed appearance. Behind the goal to the left is the new away supporters stand on the west side of the ground. This 800 seat stand with its modern cantilever roof is much lower than the covered terrace and main stand, giving Solitude a slightly unbalanced look. The Club installed a new artificial pitch for the 2010/11 season. |
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The club can take considerable pride and credit for the re-development work that has taken place at Solitude in the last couple of years. The overall look of the ground will no doubt improve should the club make funds available for a new stand at the north end of the ground however there are no plans at present. |
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| Solitude Football Ground | |||
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| What Is It Like For Visiting Supporters? | |||
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Turnstiles
for the away supporters stand are to the far left of
the Main Stand, at the end of Cliftonville Drive.
The away supporters stand formed the first phase of
redevelopment works at the ground when it was
completed a few years ago. The stand has 800 seats
on a single tier of red plastic seats. The view over
the top of the new pitch side fencing is
unobstructed but since the cantilever roof is
pitched upwards it provides little cover in
rainfall. The atmosphere can be a little bit
strange, since at present there is considerable
distance between the home and away supporters at
either end of the ground, no doubt this will improve
hen the ground is completed.
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| Where To Drink? | |||
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Probably
best to stick to the City Centre and take Metro Bus
12A to the ground.
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| How To Get There & Where To Park | |||
| From Ballymena, Antrim
& the North: Follow the A6 Antrim Road into North Belfast. At the Belfast Royal Academy College turn right into Cliftonville Road. The ground entrance is on the right hand side at the end of Cliftonville Street. From Lisburn, Portadown & the South: Follow the M1 into South Belfast Junction 1.At the roundabout continue into the A12 Westlink road, then turn off towards the A6/A52 Junction. At the Carlisle Circle roundabout take a right turn into the A6 Antrim Road.Follow the road north, and turn left into Cliftonville Road. The ground entrance is on the right hand side at the end of Cliftonville Street. From Bangor & Newtonards: Take the A2 Sydenham Bypass into East Belfast. Follow onto the M3, as the road passes over the river Lagan, turn off into Great Georges Street. Follow the road onto the A12 West Link then turn off, taking a right turn towards the A6/A52 Junction. At the Carlisle Circle roundabout take a right turn into the A6 Antrim Road. Follow the road north, and turn left into Cliftonville Road. The ground entrance is on the right hand side at the end of Cliftonville Street. For a map showing the location of the ground see the Google map below, at the bottom of this page. |
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| By Train | |||
| The ground is approx 1.5
miles north of Yorkgate railway station, which is on
the Belfast Central to Larne line, however for those
arriving at either Belfast Central or Belfast Great
Victoria Street Railway Station and Europa Bus
Station, catch Metro bus 12A (Oldpark Road) from
Donegal Square North, opposite Belfast City
Hall.
Directions from Yorkgate station to Solitude: At the station exit
turn left into the A2 York Street. Cross over the
road and take the first right turn The ground is around
20-30 minutes walk north of the station and city
centre, however, for those For those who would
prefer a brisk 20-30 minute walk, from City Hall
walk past McDonalds up |
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| Admission Prices | |||
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Adults
£9
Under 16's £5 |
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| Programme | |||
| Official Programme: £1.50-£2 | |||
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| Local Rivals | |||
| Belfast Premier League clubs Crusaders, Linfield & Glentoran | |||
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| Fixtures 2012-2013 | |||
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Northern Ireland Premier league fixture list (takes you to the BBC Sports Website). |
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| Hotel Accommodation | |||
| If you require hotel
accommodation in the area then first try a hotel
booking service provided by Late Rooms. They offer
all types of accommodation to suit all tastes and
pockets from; Budget Hotels, Traditional Bed &
Breakfast establishments to Five Star Hotels and
Serviced Apartments. Plus their booking system is
straightforward and easy to use. Yes this site will
earn a small commission if you book through them,
but it will go to help with the running costs of
keeping the Guide going. Access their Belfast Hotels and Guest Houses page. Remember that you can use the above link or panel below to book any other hotels that you may need for business or leisure, either in the UK or abroad.
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| Google Area Map | |||
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| Feedback | |||
| If anything is incorrect
or you have something to add, please e-mail
me and I'll update the guide. |
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All Rights Reserved
