Richmond Park (football ground)

Coordinates: 53°20′27″N 06°19′0″W / 53.34083°N 6.31667°W / 53.34083; -6.31667
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Richmond Park
Richer
Richmond Park is located in Dublin
Richmond Park
Richmond Park
Location within Dublin
Full nameRichmond Park
Public transitGoldenbridge Luas stop (Red Line)
Emmet Road bus stop (Dublin Bus 13, 40)
OwnerSt Patrick's Athletic F.C.
OperatorSt Patrick's Athletic F.C.
Capacity5,340 (2,800 seated)
Field size108 x 64 m
Construction
Built1925; 99 years ago (1925)
Opened1925; 99 years ago (1925)
Tenants
St Patrick's Athletic F.C. (1939–present)

53°20′27″N 06°19′0″W / 53.34083°N 6.31667°W / 53.34083; -6.31667

Richmond Park is a football stadium in Dublin, Ireland. Situated in the Dublin suburb of Inchicore, it is the home ground of League of Ireland side St Patrick's Athletic (also known as St Pat's). The area where the ground now stands was formerly used as a recreational area by the British Army, who were stationed at the nearby Richmond Barracks, both named after Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond the barracks having since been demolished.

History[edit]

After the creation of the Irish Free State, and therefore the removal of the British Army, the ground lay idle for 3 years before League of Ireland club Brideville began using the ground in 1925. In 1930 Brideville were forced to move to Harolds Cross Greyhound Stadium to accommodate St Patrick's Athletic moving in. St. Pats continue to use and develop the ground until 1951 when they entered the League of Ireland. The league deemed the ground unsuitable and St. Pats were forced to use a variety of grounds in Dublin as they fought to upgrade Richmond Park. In 1960, after serious development, the ground played host to St Pat's first home league game in Inchicore. The ground closed for redevelopment in May 1989, however, due to St Pats hitting financially difficulties they did not return until 5 December 1993.

The ground lies behind a row of terraced housing in a natural valley and is often used for Republic of Ireland underage and women's teams. It staged the League of Ireland Cup final in 1982 and 2003. It has played host to two Leinster Senior Cup finals, as well as many junior and intermediate finals. In 2001, 2002, 2003 and part of 2004 Shamrock Rovers played their home games in Richmond Park as tenants of St. Pats. In 2005, Dublin City played the first 10 games of their season in the ground, under a similar arrangement. Richmond Park is usually used by non-league clubs in surrounding areas when they qualify for the FAI Cup.

It staged its first European game in July 1996 when Slovan Bratislava visited in a 1996-97 UEFA Cup tie.[1]

In 2005, the board of St. Patrick's Athletic F.C. spoke to their fans about a potential move to a new municipal stadium in Tallaght where they would share with Shamrock Rovers. Outraged by this, the club's fans revolted and a pressure group called 'Pats for Richmond' was set up to mobilise and organise opposition to the plan. In July 2006, the St. Pat's board of directors gave a clear indication of staying put by purchasing local pub Richmond House (also known as McDowells) in order to give the club's fans a social base.

In 2006 the club qualified for Europe for the first time since 2002 via the 2006 FAI Cup Final and with the club needing a bigger seating capacity to play in the UEFA Cup, the grass bank behind the Inchicore End goal was dug up and levelled out with concrete and a new temporary stand was built made up of a metal frame and wooden boards. In 2011, at the UEFA Europa League clash between Pats and ÍBV of Iceland, a supporter fell through one of the wooden boards while celebrating a goal. This led to the top half of the stand being closed for the next round against Shakhter Karagandy from Kazakhstan and the stand being closed entirely for the remainder of the 2011 season. Before the start of the 2012 season, any wooden boards that were deemed dangerous were swapped with safe ones from the top half of the stand that remained closed, and the bottom half of the stand was reopened for the Saints 5-1 hammering of Shamrock Rovers and remained open for the rest of the season. There was only two games that were an exception to the stand being open, the Europa League game, once again against ÍBV, when the UEFA delegate deemed the stand unsafe to use for supporters and the next round of the Europa League against Bosnian side Široki Brijeg when once again the UEFA delegate deemed the stand unsafe, but his decision was overruled by the Garda Síochána due to overcrowding in the Main Stand as a result of the tickets being oversold. Midway through the 2013 season, the St.Pat's Supporters Club, the Patron Saints, donated €50,000 to the club for the stand to be dismantled and rebuilt using metal flooring instead of wooden. The first time the new stand was used was a sold-out fixture against Lithuanian side Žalgiris in the UEFA Europa League on 11 July 2013. the stand was officially opened on 27 July 2013 in front of Supporters, Players and Management and given the official name of 'The Patrons' Stand'.[2]

In April 2018, St Patrick's Athletic proposed a plan to leave their Richmond Park home in favour of a move across the road to the St Michael's Estate site where it was speculated that a 12,000 seater stadium and shopping facility, the Richmond Arena, could be built.[3][4] However, the proposed site was owned by Dublin City Council and the council did not agree to the proposal and progressed its own plans to develop housing on the site instead.[5]

In 2020, Richmond Park played host to the SSE Airtricity League Relegation/Promotion Playoff final between Shelbourne and Longford Town behind closed doors due to Covid-19, Longford ended up winning 1-0 via a Rob Manley Goal.

Facilities[edit]

The main stand seats 1,800 people. Behind one goal, at the Inchicore end, space was constructed into a new uncovered stand in time for the 2007 UEFA Cup campaign of St Patrick's Athletic F.C. This stand seats 1,000 and is known as the West (or 'New') Stand. The hardcore St. Pat's supporters have traditionally gathered at the other end, in the 'Shed End', though in more recent times the Shed has housed the away supporters while the more vocal Pat's fans have moved to the main stand. Although known locally as the "Shed End" the official name is the John Minnock stand, as it was financed with money received from his transfer to Charlton Athletic. It was originally a fully covered terrace before half the roof was removed in the early 2000s and the other half in early 2020, leaving it as an uncovered terrace.[6][7] The Camac terrace, across from the main stand, is used by home fans, and named after the river that runs behind it. The Camac holds the ground's TV gantry.

Richmond Park during a Association football game between St Patrick's Athletic F.C. and University College Dublin A.F.C.

Other uses[edit]

Richmond Park hosted Ireland's first-ever outdoor rock festival on 4 September 1970. Headlined by Mungo Jerry, the lineup also featured one of the earliest performances of the then recently formed Thin Lizzy. A crowd of several thousand had been expected but, in the event, widespread rumours of a Garda drugs bust and poor weather kept the attendance to an estimated 800.[8]

Notable players[edit]

List of players that have been included in squads at senior international tournaments to have played at Richmond Park, in order of their first appearance at the ground.

Player National Team Tournament squad(s) First appearance First fixture (player's club in bold)
Nando Pijnaker  New Zealand 2020 Olympics 25 February 2022, League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic 1–2 Sligo Rovers
Andre Burley  Saint Kitts and Nevis 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup 14 February 2020, League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 Waterford
Willy Caballero  Argentina 2004 Olympics (1st), 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup (2nd), 2018 FIFA World Cup 13 July 2019, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea
Michy Batshuayi  Belgium UEFA Euro 2016, 2018 FIFA World Cup (3rd), UEFA Euro 2020, 2022 FIFA World Cup 13 July 2019, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea
David Luiz  Brazil 2011 Copa América, 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup (1st), 2014 FIFA World Cup (4th), 2015 Copa América 13 July 2019, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea
Mateo Kovačić  Croatia 2014 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2016, 2018 FIFA World Cup (2nd), UEFA Euro 2020, 2022 FIFA World Cup (3rd) 13 July 2019, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea
Andreas Christensen  Denmark UEFA Euro 2020, 2022 FIFA World Cup 13 July 2019, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea
Ross Barkley  England 2014 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2016 13 July 2019, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea
Mason Mount  England UEFA Euro 2020 (2nd), 2022 FIFA World Cup 13 July 2019, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea
Olivier Giroud  France UEFA Euro 2012, 2014 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2016 (2nd), 2018 FIFA World Cup (1st), UEFA Euro 2020, 2022 FIFA World Cup (2nd) 13 July 2019, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea
Kurt Zouma  France UEFA Euro 2020 13 July 2019, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea
Emerson  Italy UEFA Euro 2020 (1st) 13 July 2019, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea
Jorginho  Italy UEFA Euro 2020 (1st) 13 July 2019, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea
Billy Gilmour  Scotland UEFA Euro 2020 13 July 2019, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea
César Azpilicueta  Spain 2012 Olympics, 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup (2nd), 2014 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2016, 2018 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2020 (4th), 2022 FIFA World Cup 13 July 2019, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea
Pedro  Spain 2010 FIFA World Cup (1st), UEFA Euro 2012 (1st), 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup (2nd), 2014 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2016 13 July 2019, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea
Alexander Fransson  Sweden 2016 Olympics 11 July 2019, UEFA Europa League St Patrick's Athletic 0–2 Norrköping
Jordan Larsson  Sweden UEFA Euro 2020 11 July 2019, UEFA Europa League St Patrick's Athletic 0–2 Norrköping
Dante Leverock  Bermuda 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup 19 April 2019, League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic 2–1 Sligo Rovers
Romeo Parkes  Jamaica 2015 Copa América 19 April 2019, League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic 2–1 Sligo Rovers
Federico Fernández  Argentina 2014 FIFA World Cup (2nd) 17 July 2018, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–2 Newcastle United
Christian Atsu  Ghana 2013 African Cup of Nations (4th), 2014 FIFA World Cup, 2015 African Cup of Nations (2nd), 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (4th), 2019 Africa Cup of Nations 17 July 2018, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–2 Newcastle United
Ciaran Clark  Republic of Ireland UEFA Euro 2016 17 July 2018, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–2 Newcastle United
Mohamed Diamé  Senegal 2012 African Cup of Nations, 2012 Olympics, 2017 Africa Cup of Nations 17 July 2018, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–2 Newcastle United
DeAndre Yedlin  United States 2014 FIFA World Cup, 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup (4th), 2016 Copa América (4th), 2022 FIFA World Cup, 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup (4th) 17 July 2018, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–2 Newcastle United
Kyle Lafferty  Northern Ireland UEFA Euro 2016 5 July 2017, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 1–0 Heart of Midlothian
Aaron Hughes  Northern Ireland UEFA Euro 2016 5 July 2017, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 1–0 Heart of Midlothian
Mohamed El Monir  Libya 2012 African Cup of Nations 21 July 2016, UEFA Europa League St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 Dinamo Minsk
Jorginho  Guinea-Bissau 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, 2021 Africa Cup of Nations 29 July 2015, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 3–2 Manchester City
Ayman Ben Mohamed  Tunisia 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (4th) 14 March 2014, League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic 3–2 UCD
Pascal Millien  Haiti 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, 2016 Copa América 19 April 2013, League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic 2–0 Sligo Rovers
Roberto Lopes  Cape Verde 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, 2023 Africa Cup of Nations 22 August 2011, League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic 1–1 Bohemians
Tony Mawejje  Uganda 2017 Africa Cup of Nations 7 July 2011, UEFA Europa League St Patrick's Athletic 2–0 ÍBV
Ryan Thompson  Jamaica 2015 Copa América, 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup (2nd), 2016 Copa América 25 April 2011, League of Ireland Cup St Patrick's Athletic 1–1 (3–1 pens) Shamrock Rovers
Michael Hector  Jamaica 2015 Copa América, 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup (2nd), 2016 Copa América, 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup, 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup 25 March 2011, League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic 3–2 Dundalk
Alan Mannus  Northern Ireland UEFA Euro 2016 6 November 2009, League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic 1–0 Shamrock Rovers
Robbie Brady  Republic of Ireland UEFA Euro 2016 6 September 2009, friendly Republic of Ireland U19 2–0 Turkey U19
Oleg Ivanov  Russia UEFA Euro 2008, UEFA Euro 2016 30 July 2009, UEFA Europa League St Patrick's Athletic 1–0 Krylia Sovetov
Roman Shishkin  Russia UEFA Euro 2016, 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup 30 July 2009, UEFA Europa League St Patrick's Athletic 1–0 Krylia Sovetov
Jordi Cruyff  Netherlands UEFA Euro 1996 16 July 2009, UEFA Europa League St Patrick's Athletic 1–1 Valletta
James McClean  Republic of Ireland UEFA Euro 2012, UEFA Euro 2016 7 April 2009, League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic 0–3 Derry City
Paulo Ferreira  Portugal UEFA Euro 2004 (2nd), 2006 FIFA World Cup (4th), UEFA Euro 2008, 2010 FIFA World Cup 18 February 2009, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 2–2 Chelsea
Niall McGinn  Northern Ireland UEFA Euro 2016 10 November 2008, League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic 2–1 Derry City
Anders Svensson  Sweden 2002 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2004, 2006 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2008, UEFA Euro 2012 28 August 2008, UEFA Cup St Patrick's Athletic 2–1 Elfsborg
Teddy Lučić  Sweden 1998 FIFA World Cup (3rd), UEFA Euro 2000, 2002 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2004, 2006 FIFA World Cup 28 August 2008, UEFA Cup St Patrick's Athletic 2–1 Elfsborg
Johan Wiland  Sweden UEFA Euro 2008, UEFA Euro 2012 28 August 2008, UEFA Cup St Patrick's Athletic 2–1 Elfsborg
Emir Bajrami  Sweden UEFA Euro 2012 28 August 2008, UEFA Cup St Patrick's Athletic 2–1 Elfsborg
Séamus Coleman  Republic of Ireland UEFA Euro 2016 24 August 2008, League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic 1–0 Sligo Rovers
Romauld Boco  Benin 2004 African Cup of Nations, 2008 African Cup of Nations, 2010 African Cup of Nations 7 March 2008, League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic 3–1 Sligo Rovers
Arkadiusz Głowacki  Poland 2002 FIFA World Cup 13 November 2007, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 1–1 Wisła Kraków
Krzysztof Mączyński  Poland UEFA Euro 2016 13 November 2007, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 1–1 Wisła Kraków
Michael Thwaite  Australia 2007 AFC Asian Cup 13 November 2007, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 1–1 Wisła Kraków
Christian Bolaños  Costa Rica 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup, 2006 FIFA World Cup, 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup, 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, 2014 FIFA World Cup, 2016 Copa América, 2018 FIFA World Cup, 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup 19 July 2007, UEFA Cup St Patrick's Athletic 0–0 Odense Boldklub
Arkadiusz Onyszko  Poland 1992 Olympics 19 July 2007, UEFA Cup St Patrick's Athletic 0–0 Odense Boldklub
Robbie Keane  Republic of Ireland 2002 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2012, UEFA Euro 2016 12 July 2007, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 Tottenham Hotspur
Gareth Bale  Wales UEFA Euro 2016, UEFA Euro 2020, 2022 FIFA World Cup 12 July 2007, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 Tottenham Hotspur
Jacques Maghoma  DR Congo 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, 2019 Africa Cup of Nations 12 July 2007, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 Tottenham Hotspur
Adel Taarabt  Morocco 2012 African Cup of Nations 12 July 2007, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 Tottenham Hotspur
Didier Zokora  Ivory Coast 2002 African Cup of Nations, 2006 African Cup of Nations (2nd), 2006 FIFA World Cup, 2008 African Cup of Nations (4th), 2010 African Cup of Nations, 2010 FIFA World Cup, 2012 African Cup of Nations (2nd), 2013 African Cup of Nations, 2014 FIFA World Cup 12 July 2007, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 Tottenham Hotspur
Stephen Ward  Republic of Ireland UEFA Euro 2012, UEFA Euro 2016 12 September 2004, League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic 1–2 Bohemians
Stephen Quinn  Republic of Ireland UEFA Euro 2016 23 April 2004, League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic 1–2 Shamrock Rovers
Frank Sinclair  Jamaica 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup (4th), 1998 FIFA World Cup, 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup 13 February 2004, friendly St Patrick's Athletic ?–? Leicester City
Steffen Freund  Germany UEFA Euro 1996 (1st), 1998 FIFA World Cup 13 February 2004, friendly St Patrick's Athletic ?–? Leicester City
Joseph N'Do  Cameroon 1998 FIFA World Cup, 2000 African Cup of Nations (1st), 2002 African Cup of Nations (1st), 2002 FIFA World Cup 2003, League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic ?–? ???
Kevin Doyle  Republic of Ireland UEFA Euro 2012 2001, League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic ?–? ???
David Forde  Republic of Ireland UEFA Euro 2012 1 December 2000, League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic 3–0 Galway United
Stig Inge Bjørnebye  Norway 1994 FIFA World Cup, 1998 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2000 5 August 2000, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–2 Blackburn Rovers
Alan Kelly, Jr.  Republic of Ireland 1994 FIFA World Cup, 2002 FIFA World Cup 5 August 2000, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–2 Blackburn Rovers
Damien Duff  Republic of Ireland 2002 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2012 5 August 2000, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–2 Blackburn Rovers
Christian Dailly  Scotland 1998 FIFA World Cup 5 August 2000, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–2 Blackburn Rovers
John Filan  Australia 1992 Olympics 5 August 2000, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–2 Blackburn Rovers
Frank Lampard  England UEFA Euro 2004, 2006 FIFA World Cup, 2010 FIFA World Cup, 2014 FIFA World Cup 23 July 2000, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 West Ham United
Rio Ferdinand  England 1998 FIFA World Cup, 2002 FIFA World Cup, 2006 FIFA World Cup 23 July 2000, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 West Ham United
Michael Carrick  England 2006 FIFA World Cup, 2010 FIFA World Cup 23 July 2000, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 West Ham United
Trevor Sinclair  England 2002 FIFA World Cup 23 July 2000, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 West Ham United
Michael Dawson  England 2010 FIFA World Cup 23 July 2000, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 West Ham United
Frédéric Kanouté  Mali 2004 African Cup of Nations, 2008 African Cup of Nations, 2010 African Cup of Nations 23 July 2000, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 West Ham United
Hayden Foxe  Australia 1996 Olympics, 2000 Olympics, 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup (3rd) 23 July 2000, friendly St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 West Ham United
Dominic Iorfa  Nigeria 1988 Olympics, 1995 FIFA Confederations Cup 7 October 1999, League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic 1–0 Waterford United
Jeff Clarke  Canada 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup (1st), 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup 2 October 1998, League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic 1–0 UCD
Heremaia Ngata  New Zealand 1998 OFC Nations Cup (1st), 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup, 2000 OFC Nations Cup (2nd) 18 September 1998, League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic 3–0 Bohemians
Raf de Gregorio  New Zealand 2000 OFC Nations Cup (2nd), 2002 OFC Nations Cup (1st), 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup, 2004 OFC Nations Cup (3rd) 18 September 1998, League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic 3–0 Bohemians
Billy Hamilton  Northern Ireland 1982 FIFA World Cup, 1986 FIFA World Cup 1984, League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic ?–? Limerick
Paul McGrath  Republic of Ireland UEFA Euro 1988, 1990 FIFA World Cup, 1994 FIFA World Cup 30 August 1981, League of Ireland Cup St Patrick's Athletic 1–0 Shamrock Rovers
Gordon Banks  England 1966 FIFA World Cup (1st), UEFA Euro 1968 (3rd), 1970 FIFA World Cup 2 October 1977, League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic 1–0 Shamrock Rovers
Jimmy Johnstone  Scotland 1974 FIFA World Cup 1977, League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic ?–? Shelbourne
Felix Healy  Northern Ireland 1982 FIFA World Cup 1974, League of Ireland St Patrick's Athletic ?–? Sligo Rovers

Gallery[edit]

Richmond Park during St Patrick's Athletic vs Shamrock Rovers, 3 June 2016.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "The Irish Times - Friday, July 19, 1996 - Page 19".
  2. ^ Club News : Patrons' Stand Open!
  3. ^ "St Patrick's Athletic Announce Plans for New Stadium".
  4. ^ "St Pat's unveil proposal for new 12,000-seater stadium". RTÉ.ie. 11 April 2018.
  5. ^ "New stadium for St Patrick's Athletic ditched - 500 homes to be built instead". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  6. ^ "The Shed is dead. Long live the Shed".
  7. ^ "St. Pat's 'Shed End' is no more as club tear roof down". 5 February 2020.
  8. ^ From Thin Lizzy Guide

External links[edit]