Raydale Park

Raydale Park is a football stadium in Gretna, a small town in Dumfries and Galloway. It sits beside the Solway Firth, close to the border with England. The ground has a single stand with bench seating along one side of the pitch. Behind the goals there are grass banks for spectators. An artificial pitch was laid in 2021. The stadium was once home to Gretna F.C., which played in the Scottish Football League before financial problems ended its run. The ground has a colourful past. During the 2007–08 season Gretna played many home matches at Fir Park, 150 miles away, because Raydale did not meet top-flight requirements. The club also lost a UEFA Cup tie at Fir Park because Raydale was too small for European football. After Gretna folded, supporters formed Gretna 2008 and moved back to Raydale in 2009. A community group bought the stadium in 2011 for £250,000 to keep it for local sport. Visitors find a modest football ground with a single covered stand. The pitch is surrounded by open terraces where fans can stand. The stadium shares its site with a social club and a small market. The greyhound track that once circled the pitch has gone, replaced by extra playing space. On match days the ground is quiet, but the setting beside the firth gives it a wide, open feel.