Survey backs remaining at Hampden Park

A SURVEY of more than 800 local residents has shown overwhelming support for retaining Hampden as the home of Scottish football as the SFA board prepares to make a decision on the future of the stadium.

The board will meet today to hear pitches from both Hampden Park Ltd and the Scottish Rugby Union, who are bidding to host internationals, cup finals and semi-finals at Murrayfield in Edinburgh.

Architects Keppie Design, who have enlisted the help of entrepreneur and former Kilmarnock shareholder Marie Macklin, will also put forward a proposal to rejuvenate Hampden by attracting public and private investment.

An announcement could be made tomorrow – but a further delay is also a possibility. But the results of a survey carried out by Hampden Roar, a pressure group that has been set up to save the stadium, has shown emphatic backing for retaining Hampden among the community.

Of the 847 people polled A total of 74 per cent felt that Hampden should remain as the home of Scottish football while 66 per cent called for Greater Hampden to be designated as an area of historical sporting significance.

Hampden Roar have sent the survey to SFA president Allan McRae as well as other key stakeholders to show the strength of feeling for keeping Scottish football in its spiritual home.

Hampden Roar spokesman John McHugh said: “After the tragedy of the Art School, Glasgow cannot lose another iconic building. We should make Hampden a priority for Scotland to celebrate our culture, history, people and national sport and you will attract investment for improvements to the stadium and infrastructure.

“Instead of walking away from the community who have housed them for a century, we’re asking the SFA to share our vision.”