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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
World
Kris Gourlay

Edinburgh workers discover old 'ghost stadium' while digging up ground

Edinburgh workers have uncovered the remains of a former Edinburgh stadium terrace during the felling of trees in the area.

Unearthed images show part of the former Meadowbank Stadium before it was knocked down and re-built. What is now a full-size football pitch and the home ground of FC Edinburgh and Hibernian Women was formerly huge terrace and stand built for the 1970s Commonwealth Games.

In recent weeks, dozens of trees behind the outdoor race track at the back of the stadium have been cut down to make way for a new stand for spectators. The space, between the track and fence fronting Marionville Road, has revealed what remains of the historic terrace.

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As well as some of the period features re-appearing from below the shrubbery, residents on Marionville Road have also been presented with what some may say is the perfect view of the football pitch from their window.

With the current stand filling up for the majority of FC Edinburgh and Hibernian Women's games on the weekend, Meadowbank is slowly re-discovering its roots as a sporting hotspot prior to its demolition in 2019.

Plans were approved in 2022 to built a new stand at the Marionville Road end of the stadium. (Edinburgh Live)

The original Meadowbank Stadium was built for the 1970 Commonwealth Games, at a cost of £2.8million. In 1986 the games returned and Meadowbank became the first venue to host the event twice. A special railway line was also built for guests of the games and was sadly lost in time after a briefly being used for freight cargo.

An image taken 16 years ago shows the huge TV screen next to the stoned terrace which has recently re-appeared before the original structure was demolished.

The former terrace at Meadowbank before its demolition in 2019. (Geograph/Sandy Gemmill)

Among other uses for the facility was the T on the Fringe music festival held between 2005 and 2007. The stadium also housed a 10-metre airgun range and a 50-metre indoor range for smallbore rifle shooting in the 70s and 80s.

The area surrounding the stadium is also at the centre of proposals to built approximately 600 new homes, of which 35 per cent will be affordable for the council.

In addition, there will be space for a range of commercial and community uses, including the proposed location for a GP Surgery.

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