History
The stadium was opened, in 1990, by Stanley Matthews. The first game was played on 25 August 1990, the opening day of the 1990-91 Football League Fourth Division campaign. 5,219 spectators watched Walsall draw 2-2 with Torquay United, with the stadium's first goal being an own goal scored by Walsall defender Matt Bryant after 65 seconds. The first goal scored for Walsall, at the stadium, was from Stuart Rimmer.
Originally both ends of the ground were standing areas, and the capacity of the ground was around 9,400. The away supporters end was filled with seats later in the 1990s. Following an extension to the Tile Choice Stand (formerly known as the Gilbert Alsop Stand), during the 2002-03 season, it is now an all-seater stadium, with a capacity of 11,300.
The stadium has been host to England under-21 and under-19 international matches, Aston Villa reserve matches (winter fixtures only) and England women's international matches.
Read more about this topic: Bescot Stadium
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“The thing that struck me forcefully was the feeling of great age about the place. Standing on that old parade ground, which is now a cricket field, I could feel the dead generations crowding me. Here was the oldest settlement of freedmen in the Western world, no doubt. Men who had thrown off the bands of slavery by their own courage and ingenuity. The courage and daring of the Maroons strike like a purple beam across the history of Jamaica.”
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