New Douglas Park

New Douglas Park stands in the north of Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, near Burnbank and Whitehill. It is the home ground of Hamilton Academical and Clyde football clubs. The stadium replaced Douglas Park, the former ground of Hamilton Academical just to the south. Construction finished in 2001 by Ballast Nedam, originally intended to be called Ballast Stadium. The pitch was first covered with artificial FieldTurf in 2004 to allow extra use without damaging the playing surface. The stadium’s history includes several surface changes and naming rights deals. After promotion to the Scottish Premier League in 2008, the surface was replaced with grass at a cost of £850,000. In 2013 it returned to artificial turf, later voted the worst in a 2018 SPFL players’ survey. A new Greenfields surface costing £750,000 was installed before the 2018–19 season. Clyde moved here in 2022 after leaving Broadwood Stadium in Cumbernauld. Visitors find a modern all-seater stadium with a record attendance of 6,007 set in a 2015 Premiership match against Celtic. The ground shares its name with the local community and offers a clear view from the single-tier main stand. The pitch is now a high-quality artificial surface meeting SPFL standards. The surroundings include nearby railway stations and residential areas. The stadium reflects Hamilton’s football traditions while adapting to changing needs.