The Hawthorns

The Hawthorns is a football stadium in West Bromwich, part of the Black Country in the West Midlands. It stands on a site once covered in hawthorn bushes, which gave the ground its name. Since 1900 it has been the home of West Bromwich Albion, who moved there after playing at five smaller grounds around the town. The stadium is the highest above sea level of all Football League clubs, reaching 168 metres. The ground has hosted England internationals and two FA Cup semi-finals. Its record attendance of 64,815 came in 1937 when Albion beat Arsenal in the FA Cup. Earlier, in 1925, more than 64,000 watched a cup tie with Aston Villa. The first match in 1900 drew 20,104 spectators, while the smallest league crowd was just 1,050 in 1901. Visitors find an all-seater stadium with four stands named after local areas. The East Stand replaced the Rainbow Stand in 2001 and features big widescreen screens. A statue of Tony Brown, the club’s record goalscorer, stands near the Birmingham Road entrance. The Smethwick End now includes safe standing areas, and the Jeff Astle gates mark the East Stand car park. The ground’s history is visible in its modern facilities and the stories of past crowds.