Gloucester City
Floodlights
Horton Road Archives
Groundtastic takes a delve into the past with the help of Bob Lilliman
When Gloucester City opened their new Horton Road ground in August 1964, it
was with the expectation that within a few years it would be one of the finest
stadiums in the West Country. Purchased from the local corporation in
1960, the wide-open spaces of the 14.5-acre site at Horton Road offered
boundless potential to the ambitious Southern League club. Though able to
accommodate 10,000, Longlevens, their home since 1935, was hampered
both by poor access and its out of town location. Closer to the city centre, the
club were optimistic that the new ground would draw in additional support. The last
match at Longlevens was played in April 1964, after which the site was developed for housing.
A crowd of nearly 6,000 curious onlookers turned up for the first match at Horton Road on August
27th 1964. Wimbledon, who were embarking on their first season as a professional club, were the
visitors for a Southern League game, and those present witnessed a 2-2 draw during which there
was an interruption while a snapped goalpost was attended to; an omen perhaps for the less than
glorious existence that lay ahead for the stadium. The imposing stone-faced entrance, the large
double gates and the row of turnstiles, would have impressed visitors as they approached the
ground. Whether they would have been impressed by what they saw when they entered the
Horton Road with greyhound track circa 1978 (Bob Lilliman)
Groundtastic
page 25
Issue 23