Stair Park

Stair Park is a public park and football stadium in Stranraer, a town in Dumfries and Galloway. It sits beside the London Road and the railway line, with the Earl of Stair donating the land long ago. The park includes a bandstand, all-weather tennis and netball courts, a skatepark, football pitches and the stadium. Stranraer F.C. plays its home games here. The stadium’s name honours the Earl, whose bequest made the park possible. The ground has a long football history. A stand was built in 1932, and in 1948 a Scottish Cup tie against Rangers drew a record crowd of 6,000. When Stranraer joined the Scottish Football League in 1955, the Shed terrace cover appeared. Floodlights arrived in 1981, making it the last league ground in England or Scotland to gain them. In the 1990s the stadium was modernised with seats added and a new main stand built. Visitors find a mix of sports and leisure. The bandstand hosts summer concerts, while the tennis and netball courts are busy year-round. The skatepark attracts skaters of all ages, and the pitches cater for local clubs. The stadium itself has a main stand with 1,524 seats and the Shed terrace, which can hold 2,000 away fans when segregation is needed. The Coo Shed is where visiting supporters gather when there is no segregation.