Queen’s Park plans submitted
GLASGOW’s Queen’s Park Football Club has submitted plans for a 1700-seater stadium at Lesser Hampden. The side, which recently voted to end their amateur status, has been using the National Stadium at Hampden as a venue for their games.
But in July next year, ownership of the main ground will change to the Scottish FA – leaving Queen’s Park left to use the smaller pitch.
Lesser Hampden, bounded by Somerville Drive and Carmunnock Road in Mount Florida, has been the home of Queen’s Park since 1999.
However, plans are now being submitted to turn it into a leaguestandard stadium.
The proposals include a brandnew 812-capacity East Stand, while also extending the current West Stand with room for 900 spectators.
It would mean seating capacity at the venue will rise from 470 to 1774.
A report from club submitted to Glasgow City Council’s planning department also reveals plans for renovations including new changing rooms, an extended clubhouse terrace, and additional toilets.
A statement from the club submitted to the council states: “Since 1999 Lesser Hampden has been the home of Queen’s Park Football Club Ltd, whilst still retaining ownership of all 33 acres of the Hampden Park campus.
“The National Stadium has only been used by Queen’s Park for competitive 1st X1 matches, approximately once per fortnight during the football season.
“Lesser Hampden is home to the vibrant and busy youth programme, over 100 children aged from nine to 18 and community projects aged from five to 93, as well as 1st X1 training and non-competitive matches.
“This means for the past 20 years the Lesser Hampden outdoor area has been utilised, for football, seven day per week, predominantly evenings and weekends.
“In July 2020 ownership of the National Stadium will change to the Scottish FA with Queen’s Park retaining ownership of Lesser Hampden, currently an unlicensed ground.
“This means Queen’s Park will no longer be able to play their 1st X1 competitive matches at the National Stadium.
“The club, therefore, plan to renovate Lesser Hampden to a licensed stadium able to host competitive League and Cup matches.”
We previously told you how Queen’s Park, Scotland’s oldest football club, ended it’s position as being the only amateur side out of the 42 SPFL clubs.
It means the club, who counts Andy Robertson and Lawrence Shankland as former players, is now permitted to offer parttime and full-time contracts to its players for the first time in its history.
It’s hoped the move will protect the team losing their top players.