Haig Avenue/Pure Stadium (Southport)

Haig Avenue is a football stadium in Blowick, Southport, Merseyside, England, that holds 6,008 people (1,660 seated, 4,164 standing) Since its opening in 1905, it has been the home ground of Southport F.C. Everton Reserves also use the stadium for home games.

General information

Arena capacity: 6,008 spectators

Address: Haig Ave, Southport PR8 6JZ, UK

GPS coordinates for the navigator: 53°38′17.12″N 2°58′43.88″W

Year of construction: 1905

Field: grass lawn with dimensions of 115 × 78 yards

Seating plan of Haig Avenue

The Pure Stadium is a fairly open ground and is at long last seeing some investment. During 2018, the Grandstand on one side of the ground was refurbished, including a new roof, replacement of the existing seating and other facilities such as Directors and Press Boxes. It has a capacity of 1,840 seats and now looks quite smart. It doesn’t run the full length of the pitch and straddles the halfway line, with the spaces on either side, unused for spectators. It is not totally free of supporting pillars, with one large pillar, situated towards the middle. There are also windshields to either side. The Grandstand was first opened in 1968.

The rest of the stadium is comprised of terrace, with only the Jack Carr terrace (named after a former Director of the Club) at one end being covered. This terrace, which is also known as the Scarisbrick End, is the home end and can house just over 900 fans. The roof has no supporting pillars to hinder the view but only runs for around half the width of the playing area. Opposite is the Blowick End, a small open terrace, which is allocated to away fans. On the remaining side of the ground is the Popular Side, another open terrace, which is unusual in the respect that it is comprised of five separate blocks. There is an electronic scoreboard situated in one corner of the ground in-between the Main Stand and The Jack Carr Stand. The ground is completed with a set of four modern floodlights, one in each corner.

Away fans are predominantly housed in the Blowick terrace at one end of the ground, where just under 1,200 supporters can be housed. This small terrace is set back from the pitch and is open to the elements, so hope it does not rain. A better bet maybe to head for one of the 300 seats made available to visiting supporters in the Grandstand, as this is covered and generally gives a better view.

Where to buy tickets?

Tickets for Southport matches are cheaper if you buy them in advance, and as would be expected it is cheaper to watch from the terraces than it is from a seat.

The club’s official website is always the best place to head to buy tickets, but you can also call them directly or pick them up in person from the reception of the stadium.

How to get there?

Leave the M6 at Junction 26 and take the M58 towards Southport. Leave the M58 at Junction 3 and take the A570 towards Ormskirk. Follow the A570 around Ormskirk Town Centre towards Southport. On entering Southport, you will come to a large roundabout with Tesco’s & McDonalds outlets. Take the 3rd exit onto Scarisbrick New Road (A570). You should now be able to catch sight of the ground over on your right. Pass the Richmond pub on your left and then turn right into Haig Avenue. The ground is down on the right. There is no car park at the ground as such. There is though plenty of street parking available in the surrounding streets; however, in some streets there are some parking restrictions so check for any warning signs.

By Train

The nearest railway station to the ground is Meols Cop, which is about a mile away away from the ground. It is served by trains from Manchester Piccadilly. As you come out of the station, turn left and proceed down Norwood Road. After about half a mile, turn right into Haig Avenue and the stadium is located down on the left.

Southport station is located a mile and a half away from the ground. It costs around £5 for a taxi. The best way to get to Haig Avenue from the station is by the number 44 Arriva bus, which runs every 20 minutes from Eastbank Street (at 02, 22 and 42 past the hour). Go left out of the station onto Chapel St and then Turn left into Eastbank Street and the bus stop is on that side of the road opposite the Bright House store. In the evenings, the 44a goes from the same stop but is only every half hour, at 17 and 47 past the hour.

Head out of the station via the Chapel Street exit, turn left and walk through the pedestrianized shopping centre, passing shops such as WH Smiths & Marks & Spencers. Turn left at the end of the pedestrianized shopping centre onto Eastbank Street. At the roundabout, take the second exit onto Scarisbrick New Road, passing a Total garage on the left. Continue through one set of traffic lights and at the second set of traffic lights, turn left onto Haig Avenue and the ground is down on the right. It took me around 25-30 minutes to walk.

For a quicker alternative walking route, exit the station by the side entrance leading to the car park and turn right into London Street. At the top of London Street take the Victoria Footbridge over the railway line then turn left into Virginia Street, continue straight into Forest Road then right into Haig Avenue for the ground.

Where to eat and sleep?

There is a bar at the ground, which is situated behind the Grandstand, aptly called the Grandstand Bar. This shows Sky Sports matches and even serves its own real ale called ‘Grand Stand Gold’. Otherwise, there is the ‘Thatch & Thistle’ pub, which also serves food. This is located near to the bottom of Haig Avenue, at the junction of Butts Road and Meols Cop Road. As its name suggests the pub has a thatched roof, as is part of the ‘Two for one’ chain. Also coming from the M58 on the Scrisbrick New Road is the Richmond pub, which is also in walking distance of the stadium.

If you have a bit more time on your hands, then just over a mile away is Southport town centre, where there are plenty of good pubs to be found. Worth mentioning are the Sir Henry Segrave, Wetherspoon outlet and the Scarisbrick hotel. Both of which are located in Lord Street.

History

The grandstand that now stands at Haig Avenue was opened in August 1968, 2 years after the original main stand had burnt down. The wooden structure, which had been purchased from the Southport Flower Show, burnt down the day after a 1-0 victory game against Wrexham on Boxing Day in 1966, destroying the stand, dressing rooms and offices. Following the fire, the club appealed for donations to help towards the £70,000 restoration costs. A temporary main stand was put up instead during the season Billy Bingham’s side won promotion to the third division. Eric Morecambe presented the club with a trophy to commemorate their achievement.

In April 1973, following his first Grand National victory, Red Rum was presented to the crowd at half time during a match against Lincoln City.