Re: Coventry United away game

By Armchair vulture25/5 20:33Sun May 25 20:33:43 2025In response to Re: Coventry United away game

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The club faced liquidation in 1991/92 because Boro did not pay contractors who helped rebuild the main stand - part of the reason anyway.
Football ground health and safety did exist prior to Bradford but it was not all encompassing - the Popplewell report post Bradford fire saw the designation of many Lowe league clubs previously excluded/ many football league chairmen tare opposed to the designation due to obvious cost constraints.
25 non -league grounds were designated by Popplewell due to having a capacity of 10’000 or more - Manor park was one leading to the closure of the main stand as unsafe together with the Cabal side stand and lower cock and bear end. The Beaumont rd end was reduced in capacity due to the poor terracing and inadequate crush barriers. Boro could not support the costs of remediation works. The Carr team was a few years too early - Kidderminster grew not long after - Alners team and no cost restrictions due to Aggborough not being designated.
Reading the town to town project will tell you that many Boro fans were very unhappy at the faculties at Manor Park and that the club had grandiose plans to improve it which were never implemented.
Remember the designation under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act made it compulsory for an ambulance to be provided at each game - with a cost to the club - another cost lesser clubs did not have to pay.
Manor Park was using 1920s agricultural roof stands in the 1980s and other areas were either grass/mud banks or poorly laid uneven terracing. It never had a chance.