Geograph - photograph every grid square

Windsor Park football ground, home to Linfield FC, first opened in 1905. It’s also the ground used by the Northern Ireland international team. It has been modernised twice since opening. The latest (and most ambitious) scheme was announced on 20 February 2013. The following is an excerpt from the press release issued by the Irish Football Association on that date:
“Thanks to DCAL [Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure] support the Irish FA intends to reconstruct Windsor Park so that up to 18,000 fans can be accommodated. This will cost in the region of £29.2m with £25.2m coming from government funds. It is planned that work on the project will begin in September 2013.
The Stadium Redevelopment will comprise:
• Provision of an 18,000 seated stadium;
• Demolition of the south stand;
• Replacement of the south and east stands with newly constructed stands to provide greater enclosure;
• Refurbishment of the west and north stands;
• Replacement of high mast flood lights with lower level lighting, integrated at stadium roof height;
• Creation of a temporary construction access onto Boucher Road to avoid construction impact on local residents;
• Development of ancillary office accommodation to provide a new headquarters for the Irish Football Association; and
• Development of an appropriate level of conference and community facilities”.
The photographs submitted by me appear as a matter of geographical and historical record only. I have minimal knowledge of football grounds. If I have used the wrong names for any of the stands please let me know. For further reading see Link and Link.

Description amended on 29 April 2015 to record that, towards the end of March 2015, large cracks were noted in the West Stand following an international against Finland. A report commissioned by the Irish Football Association recommended that the stand should be demolished. It was due for refurbishment as part of the improvements being recorded in this shared description. It would not be appropriate for a laymen, with no access to any technical information, to comment on the reason for the damage.

Created: Thu, 21 Feb 2013, Updated: Wed, 29 Apr 2015