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Hayes Lane

Coordinates: 51°23′24″N 0°01′16″E / 51.39000°N 0.02111°E / 51.39000; 0.02111
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(Redirected from Fortress Stadium (Bromley))

Hayes Lane
Map
Former namesRELOC8 EM Community Stadium
LocationBromley, Greater London, England
Coordinates51°23′24″N 0°01′16″E / 51.39000°N 0.02111°E / 51.39000; 0.02111
Public transitNational Rail Bromley South
OwnerBromley F.C.
Capacity5,000 (1,300 seated)[2]
Record attendance10,798
SurfaceGrass
Opened1938[1]
Tenants
Bromley F.C. (1938–present)
Cray Wanderers F.C. (1998–2024)
Crystal Palace Women (2014–2023)
London City Lionesses (2024–present)

Hayes Lane is a football stadium in Bromley, Greater London, England. Located between Bromley town centre and Hayes, it is the home of Bromley Football Club and London City Lionesses. The current capacity of the ground is 5,000,[3] of which 1,300 is seated and 2,500 covered.[2]

Hayes Lane in 2018, view from "Cricket Club Side"

History

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Bromley F.C. moved to Hayes Lane in 1938 from their previous ground, also on the same road.[4] It initially featured a 2,500-seat stand on one side of the pitch, with the remainder of the pitch surrounded by banking.[4] The ground was opened by Stanley Rous on 3 September 1938, with Walthamstow Avenue winning 6–1.[5] The record attendance at the ground of 10,798 was set on 24 September 1948 for a friendly game between Bromley and a Nigeria XI.[4] Floodlights were installed in 1960, and were formally switched on for a game between Japan and an Isthmian League XI on 27 September.[4]

The banking was later replaced by concrete terracing, with both ends of the pitch later covered.[5] The original stand burned down in October 1992,[5] and was replaced by a much smaller 320-seat stand, which was opened the following year.[4] Seats obtained from the London Aquatics Centre were installed behind one goal to meet ground grading regulations after promotion to the National League.[5]

In April 2017 the club announced that work would begin on construction of a 1,450-seat stand at the south end of the ground, and that the playing surface would be converted from grass to 3G.[6] The stand was officially opened on 20 July 2019 and named in honour of former club chairman Glyn Beverly.[7] Following Bromley's promotion to League Two in 2024, the playing surface was reverted to grass in order to comply with league regulations.[8]

Crystal Palace Women played their home games at the stadium between 2014 and 2023. The stadium was also home to Cray Wanderers from 1998 until 2024.

London City Lionesses moved their home to Hayes Lane in 2024.

International football

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In June 2018, Hayes Lane hosted five games at the 2018 CONIFA World Football Cup as follows:

Year Date Team 1 Result Team 2 Attendance Part of
2018 31 May Barawa 4–0  Tamil Eelam 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup Group A
2018 5 June Turkey London Turkish Select 4–0  Tibet 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup Placement Round 1
2018 5 June  Western Armenia 0–4  Székely Land 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup Quarter-Final
2018 7 June  Abkhazia 2–0  United Koreans in Japan 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup Placement Round 2
2018 7 June  Cascadia 4–0  Western Armenia 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup Placement Round 2

References

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  1. ^ Hayes Lane Football Ground Guide
  2. ^ a b Mike Williams & Tony Williams (2013) Non-League Club Directory 2013: 35th Edition TW Publications, p273
  3. ^ Bromley, Braintree and Bristol Rovers: Who'll be hosting relegated Tranmere Rovers in the Conference National next season Liverpool Echo, 26 April 2015
  4. ^ a b c d e Bromley Archived 30 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine Pyramid Passion
  5. ^ a b c d Return of the Bromley Boy David Bauckham, 17 May 2016
  6. ^ Bromley FC announces significant investment into Hayes Lane Bromley F.C., 21 April 2017
  7. ^ Important information: Glyn Beverly stand official opening Bromley F.C.
  8. ^ "Supporters update: May 2024". Bromley Football Club. 17 May 2024. Retrieved 7 August 2024.