Keys Park is home of Hednesford Town Football Club, and is situated on Keys Park Road in the town of Hednesford, Staffordshire. The club previously played at the Cross Keys, a ground situated behind the pub of the same name.
The stadium was completed during the summer of 1995, at a cost of £1.3 million. Its original capacity was set at 3,500; a smart main stand housing changing rooms, club offices and social facilities, a shallow uncovered terrace on the Wimblebury side of the ground and two identical covered terraces at either end of the ground.
The stadium was first used in a friendly against Walsall F.C. in July of that year. Keys Park was officially opened by the late Sir Stanley Matthews later that year, in a ceremony that included a friendly against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
In January 1997, Keys Park saw its highest attendance ever as over 3,000 people witnessed the Pitmen's 1-0 win over York City in the FA Cup Third Round. During the following season, three sides of the ground were developed; the Heath Hayes End was converted into a 1,000 capacity open terrace, whilst the Wimblebury side was turned into a large uncovered terrace. Seating was installed at the previously terraced Hednesford End to raise the ground capacity over the 6,000 needed for a grade 'A' rating by the Football League, which was granted in 1998.
Despite relegation from the Football Conference in 2001, the club proceeded with plans to make the stadium covered on all four sides, and with the help of a Football Association grant, installed roofs on each of the uncovered terraces at the Heath Hayes End and on the Wimblebury Terrace. The result is still recognised as one of non-league football's finest modern stadiums.
Coordinates: 52°41′51.36″N 1°59′19.79″W / 52.6976°N 1.9888306°W / 52.6976; -1.9888306
Famous quotes containing the words keys and/or park:
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giving up my car keys and my cash,
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the way a child holds on to a toy.
I signed myself in where a stranger
puts the inked-in X’s”
—Anne Sexton (1928–1974)
“Linnæus, setting out for Lapland, surveys his “comb” and “spare shirt,” “leathern breeches” and “gauze cap to keep off gnats,” with as much complacency as Bonaparte a park of artillery for the Russian campaign. The quiet bravery of the man is admirable.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)