Could the first international football stadium become flats?

The positioning of the world’s first worldwide soccer stadium may change into flats or a carpark except motion is taken, campaigners have warned.

The primary Hampden Park in Glasgow’s southside – described because the “blueprint” for soccer stadiums since then – is presently the house of a bowling membership dealing with monetary difficulties.

Ought to it shut, the grounds would change into free for industrial use and doable redevelopment.

Soccer fanatics advised BBC Scotland the positioning ought to be “protected and celebrated”. It was the house of Queen’s Park from 1873-1883 and hosted Scottish Cup finals and Scotland internationals.

A unprecedented common assembly for Hampden Bowling Membership on Sunday noticed the choice made to dissolve the membership in in February 2026, with the membership’s present committee standing down at that time.

If no-one takes over working the membership by that point then will probably be wound down and the land returned to Land Property Glasgow – the arms-length physique of Glasgow Metropolis Council that handles land for the native authority.

David Coutts, a trustee on the bowling membership, advised BBC Scotland: “There is no grand constructing there and you must use creativeness – however there is a social historical past there, and a working class historical past there.

“It is from this website and this inexperienced that the most important sport on this planet developed.”

An archaeological excavation befell on the website in 2021, and located stays of the unique soccer stadium – the place Scotland famously thrashed England 5-1 in 1882.

When Queen’s Park constructed the stadium, Scottish groups often performed on transformed cricket pitches, such because the West of Scotland floor in Partick the place Scotland and England performed the world’s first worldwide in 1872.

Lindsay Hamilton runs a strolling tour firm and takes clients across the three totally different Hampden Park websites constructed over the a long time.

She believes the unique set the template for soccer venues since then.

She mentioned: “This floor is the blueprint for each soccer stadium that was constructed. Queen’s Park constructed grandstands, bathrooms, turnstiles for it and it was the primary objective constructed worldwide soccer stadium on this planet.

“It was the primary place the place season tickets had been first used, or members books as they known as it then.

“How we expertise soccer right this moment was all constructed at first on that website – it is of giant significance to soccer.”

Regardless of that significance, the longer term is murky for the positioning.

Queen’s Park left the bottom to maneuver to a different purpose-built stadium close to Crosshill in 1884, utilizing the Hampden identify for his or her new dwelling.

Hampden Bowling Membership have used the realm since 1905, however a declining membership roll has left them with solely round 50 folks – a state of affairs Mr Coutts says may “depart it on its final legs.”

The membership has a rolling month-to-month lease for the positioning, however has by no means been in a position to safe an extended settlement with Metropolis Property.

“We will not get any funding as a result of we want a for much longer lease than what we’ve got, and the lease provided appears to be a regular industrial lease – we’re not a industrial organisation.

“We have seen different bowling golf equipment change into industrial websites after closing and that often means blocks of flats or automotive parks.”

Membership members are hoping the local people would possibly categorical curiosity in taking up the positioning, maybe utilizing it as a neighborhood hub for occasions and movie screenings.

That’s the reason they determined to carry an EGM slightly than anticipate the membership’s common AGM subsequent yr, with the hope it is going to entice extra native folks to attend and get entangled.

For Ms Hamilton, what’s necessary is guaranteeing the positioning stays someplace you’ll be able to expertise.

She says that whether or not somebody is strolling by or having a drink on the membership, they’re nonetheless being linked to the early days of soccer, a far cry from the worldwide business that adopted.

“Plenty of early soccer landmarks in different cities have change into grocery store automotive parks or issues like that, however right here you’ll be able to nonetheless step on it – it is tangible.

“For those who lose that, you lose the magic and the spark, as a result of having the inexperienced there brings it to life. Having the ability to ask if you need a pint on the grounds of the unique Hampden Park is one thing particular.

“It does not seem like a pitch now, however the foundations of the unique stadium are there – what else can we uncover? If this was in London or Rio de Janeiro or Buenos Aires it will have its personal museum there.

“It must be protected, and celebrated.”