Elm Park was a football stadium in the West Reading district of Reading, Berkshire, England. It served as the home ground of Reading Football Club from 1896 to 1998, when the club relocated to the newly built Madejski Stadium.
Location and Specifications
Elm Park was located in West Reading, approximately 1.1 km (0.7 mi) from Reading West railway station. The stadium's coordinates were 51°27′12″N 1°00′09″W. The surface was natural grass. Historically, the stadium's capacity was approximately 33,000, though by the time of its closure in 1998, safety regulations had reduced this to around 14,800. The record attendance was 33,042, set on 19 February 1927 for an FA Cup match against Brentford.
History
Opening and Early Years
The site was a former gravel pit in West Reading, leased from Councillor Jesse. Funding for the ground was raised through donations, including £20 from J.C. Fidler on the condition that "no liquors were to be sold" on site. The first match at Elm Park took place on 5 September 1896 between Reading and the A. Roston Bourke XI, a scratch team from Holloway College. The match was abandoned due to torrential weather with Reading leading 7–1. Approximately 2,500 spectators attended, and £44 was taken at the gate. Reading was subsequently fined £5 and suspended for playing against an unregistered team.
Redevelopment (1926–1957)
Following Reading's promotion to the Second Division in 1926, a new grandstand holding approximately 4,000 people was opened on 13 November 1926 and remained until the ground's demolition. The Town End terrace was improved in 1931, and the central section of the South Bank was roofed in 1936. Floodlights were installed and first used on 6 October 1954 in a friendly against Racing Club de Paris, with the second half broadcast live on the BBC. The Tilehurst End was rebuilt in 1957, replacing rotten railway sleepers with concrete steps.
Later Years and Decay
In the 1970s, football hooliganism led to the erection of fencing and the separation of the four stands. In the early 1980s, club chairman Frank Waller negotiated a potential merger with Oxford United, which would have led to Elm Park's closure. This merger was averted. Following the 1985 Bradford City stadium fire, the Popplewell Report led to safety changes at Elm Park, including the banning of smoking in seated areas, widening of gangways, and the replacement of unusable seats with twelve executive boxes. The capacity was initially reduced to 8,000 for the 1985–86 season.
Closure and Demolition
The Taylor Report (following the 1989 Hillsborough disaster) mandated all-seater stadia for clubs in the top two divisions. Converting Elm Park to an all-seater stadium was deemed impractical, as a fully seated version would have held only around 9,000 spectators. A new stadium was built in the Smallmead area of Reading on a former council landfill site purchased for £1. The last competitive match at Elm Park was played on 3 May 1998 against Norwich City, with Reading losing 1–0 to a goal by Craig Bellamy. Demolition of Elm Park began in October 1998. The site was redeveloped for 128 dwellings, though the Royals Rendezvous bar was retained.
Structure and Facilities
Elm Park consisted of four stands:
- North (Norfolk Road): Seated stand, capacity 4,000 (covered)
- South (Tilehurst Terrace / South Bank): Standing terrace, capacity 6,000 (covered)
- West (Tilehurst End): Uncovered terrace
- East (Reading End / Town End): Uncovered terrace, designated for away supporters
Records
- Highest attendance: 33,042 (Reading vs. Brentford, 19 February 1927, FA Cup)
- Lowest attendance: 801 (Reading vs. Watford, 26 October 1938, Division 3 Cup)
- Highest ticket revenue: £110,741 (Reading vs. Manchester United, 27 January 1996, FA Cup fourth round)
