The Eric Johns stand

By noibla
November 1 2013

One of the first additions to Brickfields after the initial ground improvements over the first two years was the construction of the Devonport community centre along the Western edge of the ground, this was to incorporate new changing rooms and toilets for the teams and match day officials along with various rooms for the team management and match day doctors, a massive improvement on what we had before.This building also incorporated a 1050 seat covered stand with a few seats for the press . It was named the Eric Johns after I believe the chairman, a local man, of the committee which was charged with the task of regenerating the Devonport area for the local people by way of a £50 million grant from I think Europe and some from the lottery.The Eric Johns stand was officially opened on the occasion of the Baa Baa’s game against the Royal Navy in April 2006 see the top photo.  At the time the Guinness marquee as it was known was moved from nearby the main entrance to the North Eastern corner of the ground to create the extra room needed. If only we could move the Victorian gatehouse to the Raglan Barracks to the site of the main entrance, how impressive would that be. 

By the end of that year, 2006, the North end of the ground, opposite to the clubhouse, had been developed in the form of a terrace and the scoreboard moved to the top of this terrace behind the goal, this then became known as the score board end and still is to all the regular supporters that frequented that area.

The terrace was built by the players  under the supervision of Dawsey who as you probably know spent  many hours working on various projects around the ground in addition to his coaching duties and a number of telegraph poles were erected and horizontal timbers attached to provide a framework for advertising hoardings.

The above photo shows the foundations to the community centre looking towards the main entrance from the clubhouse end.

This photo is looking back to the clubhouse showing the steelwork starting to take shape.

Looking from the temporary stand on the opposite side of the ground the steel skeleton is now complete.

The concrete steps of the grandstand are now being fitted.

The more familiar view that we have today, looking from the scoreboard end.

The year of 2006 was a busy one for the ground development of Brickfields, a wheelchair viewing platform was constructed behind the goal at the clubhouse end with the help of the Wooden Spoon charity, there was I seem to remember a collection held at the ground to go towards project.

Also in the September of that year the pitch was moved westwards by some two metres or so and with what seemed to be an acquisition of some ground on the Eastern side of the boundary between the club and the athletics club there was enough room to build the next stage of the Brickfields development.

In part 4. I will show some photo’s of this transition, and to think that we thought Dawsey had a plan to make the pitch narrower in order to suit our style of play rather than give the opposition wingers a chance to score.

The first ten years at Brickfields (part 3) 2005/2006

Discussion started by Unofficial Plymouth Albion (IP Logged), 01/11/2013 15:16

Unofficial Plymouth Albion
01/11/2013 15:16

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King Albion
02/11/2013 09:02

Good story and photos Noibla. Could this be expanded into a book for sale in club shop as to the history of Albion to date. Could do it in time for next Christmas as a stocking filler!

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lobina
02/11/2013 12:22

The book is a good idea, could be a nice stocking filler.
Who were the team in 2006?

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balion
02/11/2013 20:19

You need only to ask Dave Fuge to know any team from way back.

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