Halton Stadium

Stobart Stadium Halton
Full name	Stobart Stadium Halton
Former names	Halton Stadium (2001 - 2007) Autoquest Stadium (1999 - 2001) Naughton Park (1932 - 1999) Lowerhouse Lane (1895 - 1932)
Location	Lowerhouse Lane Widnes Cheshire WA8 7DZ
Coordinates	53°21′57″N 2°44′18″W / 53.36583°N 2.73833°W / 53.36583; -2.73833Coordinates: 53°21′57″N 2°44′18″W / 53.36583°N 2.73833°W / 53.36583; -2.73833
Opened	12 October 1895
Renovated	2 November 1997
Expanded	11 September 2005
Owner	Halton Borough Council
Surface	Grass
Scoreboard	Yes (Electronic)
Capacity	13,350
Tenants
Widnes Vikings Everton Reserves St Helens

The Stobart Stadium Halton (previously known as Naughton Park) is a rugby league stadium in Widnes, England. The Widnes Vikings play their home games there as do Everton Reserves. For the 2011 Super League Season, St Helens have played their home games at the stadium.

The stadium is all seater and has a total capacity of 13,350.

History

Widnes Football Club had a number of grounds before settling at Lowerhouse Lane in 1884/85 on a site a few hundred yards north of the current location. That land was leased on behalf of the rugby organisation by Widnes Cricket Club but, to coincide with the breakaway from the Rugby Football Union in 1895, Widnes FC obtained a lease for land on which they laid out a new ground (the Naughton Park/Stobart Stadium site). The first game on the new field was against Liversedge on 12 October 1895.

In the late 1920s it was proposed that the land would be compulsorily purchased to make way for a new council housing scheme. After much lobbying the club were finally given an option to purchase the site for the not inconsiderable sum of £3,250.

Club secretary Tom Naughton was instrumental in raising the necessary funds but before the formal completion of the purchase in 1932 he died in a car crash, leading to the ground being renamed in his honour. Naughton Park stadium was owned by Widnes FC (later Widnes RLFC Ltd) but when financial difficulties set in they sold the ground to Halton Borough Council in 1995.

Halton Borough Council in partnership with Widnes Vikings agreed to build a new stadium on the site of Naughton Park. This stadium would provide a multi-purpose complex including a social club, conference facilities, recreational facilities and catering/function facilities.

The stadium was officially opened on 2 November 1997. A new stand was built in 1998 with funding from Halton Borough Council and on 29 January 1999 the club's remaining 40% share in the ground was sold to the council.

The stadium became known as the AutoQuest Stadium in 1999 due to sponsorship.

In 2000, Runcorn FC sold their Canal Street ground and moved to the Halton Stadium. The club renamed itself Runcorn FC Halton to reflect its new location.

AutoQuest's sponsorship ended in 2001 and the stadium became known as the Halton Stadium.

In 2005 the East Stand was completed making the Halton Stadium a complete four-stand all seater stadium. Runcorn FC's precarious financial state caused them to move out of the Halton Stadium and into Valerie Park.

In December 2007 a sponsorship agreement was made with Stobart Group Limited and the stadium was renamed Stobart Stadium Halton.^[1] In Febrauary 2008 the North stand seats were changed to spell out VIKINGS, West stand seats are sponsored by STOBART and East stand seats are sponsored by HALTON Borough Council as part of the stadium sponsorship deal.

The stadium was a temporary home to St Helens during the 2011 season, as Langtree Park only opened for use in time for the 2012 season.^[2]

Notes

1. ^ "Stobart Group maps out road to success for Vikings". Halton Borough Council. http://www2.halton.gov.uk/content/newsroom/latestnews/504293?a=5441. Retrieved 2007-12-07. ^{[dead link]}
2. ^ "Saints shifting to Widnes". skysports.com. 2010-07-18. http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12206_6268665,00.html. Retrieved 2010-07-18. 

External links

• Halton Stadium
• Halton stadium on Worldstadia.com