Gander Green Lane

Gander Green Lane stands in the London Borough of Sutton as a football stadium. It is the home ground of Sutton United Football Club and Crystal Palace Women. The record attendance at the ground reached 14,000 during an FA Cup match in 1970. The site was once allotments and open fields in the 19th century. It was developed as a football ground during the Edwardian period, with a small pavilion and turnstile entrance. The ground was bounded by trees on three sides and a large residential building to the west. By 1937, the original pavilions had been replaced or demolished. The stadium has hosted notable matches and events over the years. Sutton United played their first match at the ground in 1912 against Guards Depot F.C. in the FA Cup. In 1989, Sutton United defeated top division Coventry City in an FA Cup upset in front of a sell-out crowd of approximately 8,000. The ground has also hosted international football, including six games during the 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup. Crystal Palace Women signed a long-term agreement to play their home games at Gander Green Lane in 2024. Visitors to Gander Green Lane find a modern stadium with a hybrid grass pitch. The Main Stand, built in 1951, features red and blue seats donated by Chelsea. The Rec Terrace, a covered standing terrace, overlooks the Collingwood Recreation Ground side of the pitch. The ground has been refurbished with new dugouts, player tunnels, and covered standing terraces. The oval curvature of the open standing terraces reflects the ground's former use for athletics. The MBA Lounge serves as a music venue, hosting the Boom Boom Club. A new Fanzone beyond the Collingwood Road Stand offers activities, refreshments, and music on match days.