UK Stadiums: Giant Axe, Lancaster, England
Giant Axe in Lancaster, Lancashire is the home of Lancaster City in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, the seventh tier of football in England. The ground has been home to Lancaster City since their inception in 1911. The name 'Giant Axe' comes from the shape of the old exterior wall when viewed from above.
Capacity
The stadium has a capacity of around 3,500 with over 500 in the main stand.
Facilities
A new main stand was constructed in 1977, followed by further redevelopment in 1994 that included the addition of a new social club, The Dolly Blue Tavern which opened in 1995. The ground continued to be upgraded with the introduction of the West Road End Terrace in 2000, along with the installation of modern plastic seating in the main stand.
The Giant Axe features a 513-seat main stand, known as the John Bagguley Stand in honour of the club's late president. Adjacent to the main stand are the players' and officials' changing rooms, along with a supporters' bar called Netbusters, the directors' lounge, toilet facilities, and The Dolly's Diner refreshment kiosk.
Behind one goal lies the open West Road Terrace, while the opposite end houses a covered terrace formerly known as The Shed, now renamed the Neil Marshall Stand in tribute to the club's long-serving captain. Opposite the main stand is the Long Side, an open terrace that also includes a second supporters' bar, a raised sponsors' hospitality lounge, and the dugouts.
The ground has pylon style floodlighting and a natural turf pitch. There are turnstiles at three corners of the ground.
The Dolly Blue Tavern serves draught lager and bitter, pies and peas, chips and curry, tea and coffee.
Club
Nicknamed 'The Dollies' or 'The Dolly Blues' Lancaster City date from 1911 when they were known as Lancaster Town. The club took on its present name, Lancaster City FC, when the town gained city status during the coronation celebrations of King George VI in 1937. The club began life in Division Two of the Lancashire Combination before joining the Northern Premier League in 1970.
After financial trouble, administration and points deductions at the beginning of the new century The Dollies won the Northern Premier League Division One league title in 2016-17.
The team plays in all blue with yellow trimmings.
Access - Getting There
The ground is just a 6-minute walk from Lancaster Station. Lancaster Station is on the West Coast Mainline and offers regular services to London Euston in London, Carlisle and Preston. Additionally there are trains to Edinburgh Waverley, Glasgow Central, Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester Airport.
Parking spaces are available at the ground.
Address: 5 Hubert Place, Lancaster LA1 5PF
Accessibility
There is disabled access to the ground.
Nearby Hotels
Near Lancaster city center and Lancaster Station are several good places to stay. These include the Lancaster House Hotel, the Holiday Inn Lancaster and the 3-star GO2 Lancaster Centre Hotel by OYO.
See here for a complete listing of hotels in Lancaster.
More UK Stadiums
Kirklees Stadium (John Smith's Stadium)
©Soccerphile.com
Buy tickets for soccer matches around the world