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In the summer of 2003 work began to repair the Town End terrace, to replace the old seating in the Main Stand and to extend the
Rossington terrace. In the summer of 2004 the Popular Stand terrace was also extended and executive boxes were built at the Town End of the stadium. New club offices, a new
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Following the explosion, demolition of the stadium was rapidly sped up. For a long time after its demolition, areas of terrace were still identifiable and large sections of the pitch remained. Floodlights, executive boxes, turnstiles, snack bars and offices were all removed or destroyed, along with
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In the early hours of 7 February 2007, local residents near the stadium described a sound "like a bomb going off", later determined to be a gas explosion. The impact of the blast left more than half of the Main Stand obliterated and much of the roof in pieces. Two people at the scene received
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In the later years of the 20th century, as the club's fortunes began to decline and finances became tighter, the capacity of Belle Vue was cut dramatically, falling as low as 4,859 in May 1987 when mining subsidence was found underground beneath the
Popular Stand terrace.
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was for 7,000 spectators, which was extended year-on-year as finances allowed. In 1927 the main stand at
Doncaster's former ground in the suburb of Bennetthorpe was lifted and moved on rollers to Belle Vue to form the family stand, where it remained until 1985 when the
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hospital treatment for injuries sustained in the explosion, one of whom had to be transferred to a specialist burns unit in
Nottingham, while one lane of Bawtry Road had to be closed for two hours because of scattered debris and the risk of further explosions.
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A new stadium had long been mooted for
Doncaster Rovers. This finally started to become a reality when planning permission was granted. Construction started on 17 October 2005 of a 15,000 all-seater community stadium complex. The new ground was named the
368:. He was found guilty of conspiracy to commit arson and sentenced to four years' imprisonment. The actual arsonist, Alan Kristiansen, received a one-year prison sentence; it was revealed that Kristiansen, a former
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A fire in the Main Stand one night in June 1995 caused extensive damage and nine months later chairman Ken
Richardson was arrested following an evening match against
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supporters bar and the application of tarmac to the car park completed a much-needed facelift. In a move that angered some fans Belle Vue was renamed the
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soldier, had been paid £10,000 by
Richardson to start the fire. His accomplices both received nine-month prison sentences, suspended for two years.
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In 1938 the capacity of Belle Vue was increased to 40,000 and it was in 1948 that the stadium recorded its highest attendance of 37,099 against
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from 1922 to 2007. The ground was affectionately known as "Old Belle Vue" (OBV) by fans and at its peak had a total capacity of 40,000.
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The whole area has now been redeveloped as a housing estate with virtually all traces of the old stadium now removed.
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The site was patrolled by security following the explosion and was fenced off whilst demolition work was undertaken.
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507:"ON THIS DAY: 2007: Doncaster Rovers' Belle Vue ground blown up in gas explosion – PICTURES"
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413:. Doncaster Rovers finished their time at the stadium with a win, with a goal from
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389:-based finance company Earth Finance. The capacity reached the region of 11,500.
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Home of
English professional football club Doncaster Rovers from 1922 to 2007
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meant that the old wooden structure was condemned and was demolished.
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The last game at Belle Vue was on 23 December 2006 against
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The ground was opened by
Charles E. Sutcliffe from the
455:"Ex-owner of Doncaster Rovers jailed for arson plot"
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328:on Saturday 26 August 1922. The opposition was
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430:the ground's club house, the Rovers' Return.
312:, England, that served as the home ground of
58:introducing citations to additional sources
816:Defunct football venues in South Yorkshire
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48:Relevant discussion may be found on the
612:2008 Football League One play-off final
602:2003 Football Conference play-off final
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811:Defunct rugby league venues in England
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393:Keepmoat Stadium and Belle Vue closes
142:The Main Stand of the ground in 1983.
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385:as part of a sponsorship deal with
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796:Defunct football venues in England
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657:Players with over 100 appearances
607:2007 Football League Trophy final
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41:relies largely or entirely on a
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826:Sports venues completed in 1922
836:Doncaster Rovers Belles L.F.C.
831:English Football League venues
561:Doncaster Rovers Football Club
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453:Davison, John (6 March 1999).
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481:"Doncaster 1–0 Nottm Forest"
421:Gas explosion and demolition
356:Rovers decline and 1995 fire
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69:"Belle Vue" Doncaster
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194:53.5168639°N 1.1047000°W
19:Not to be confused with
586:Doncaster Rovers Belles
293:Doncaster Belles L.F.C.
667:Records and statistics
199:53.5168639; -1.1047000
801:Doncaster Rovers F.C.
283:Doncaster Rovers F.C.
224:Doncaster Rovers F.C.
214:Doncaster Rovers F.C.
511:Doncaster Free Press
330:Gainsborough Trinity
290:(1995–96, 1998–2006)
54:improve this article
632:Bennetthorpe Ground
235:11,500 (at closure)
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821:Doncaster R.L.F.C.
513:. 28 February 2017
487:. 23 December 2006
339:Valley Parade fire
288:Doncaster R.L.F.C.
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662:Players 1879–1918
411:Nottingham Forest
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264:23 December 2006
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52:. Please help
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182:53°31′00.71″N
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71: –
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65:Find sources:
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43:single source
39:This article
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515:. Retrieved
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463:. Retrieved
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415:Theo Streete
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240:Construction
185:1°06′16.92″W
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491:24 December
295:(1991–1997)
285:(1922–2006)
197: /
172:Coordinates
790:Categories
517:19 October
440:References
407:League One
269:Demolished
80:newspapers
650:Personnel
636:Belle Vue
409:leaders,
387:Rotherham
350:Hull City
306:Doncaster
302:Belle Vue
165:Doncaster
155:Belle Vue
152:Full name
124:Belle Vue
110:June 2008
50:talk page
672:Managers
485:BBC News
461:. London
343:Bradford
334:capacity
231:Capacity
220:Operator
160:Location
775:2023–24
770:2022–23
765:2021–22
760:2020–21
755:2019–20
750:2018–19
745:2017–18
740:2016–17
735:2015–16
730:2014–15
725:2013–14
720:2012–13
715:2011–12
710:2010–11
705:2009–10
700:2008–09
695:2007–08
690:1997–98
682:Seasons
621:Grounds
595:Matches
465:2 April
320:History
277:Tenants
94:scholar
366:Fulham
261:Closed
253:Opened
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245:Built
210:Owner
101:JSTOR
87:books
569:Club
519:2023
493:2006
467:2011
272:2007
248:1922
73:news
370:SAS
341:in
56:by
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
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