ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
Left and Above: Two views of Fisher’s St Paul’s Stadium, showing Canary Wharf to the east
Whilst in the vicinity, it would be remiss of us not to include the ground that once stood on
the other side of Salter Road, the SURREY DOCKS STADIUM. Home to Fisher Athletic from
1981 to 2004, the ground was developed as part of the LDDC's regeneration of the former
docks on both north and south sides of the river. The ground won great praise for its individuality, with an unusual raised club building sporting a clock tower and a neat main
stand complete with a propped and cantilevered roof. A long low cover on the opposite
side provided the only other protection from the elements. It seems hard to comprehend
now, but this ground hosted Conference (now National League) football for four seasons
from 1987/88 to 1990/91, as well as an FA Cup First Round tie against Bristol City in 1984.
Salter Road also boasted a fine
view of the Canary Wharf towers, with the view from the
covered area opposite the
main stand providing a particularly good vista of the five most
prominent buildings on the
other side of the river. After
Athletic moved, out the Surrey
Docks Stadium remained in
situ, slowly decaying over the
next decade as various plans to
redevelop it came and went. It
Surrey Docks Stadium, with towers visible
was finally bulldozed earlier
behind the stand, in March 2003
this year in readiness for a Photo: Paul Claydon
housing development.
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