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With a budget of £1,750
tenders were invited for a new stand to seat 2,000 spectators and
the directors approached Glasgow architect Archibald Leitch to
design a new stand.
Leitch produced a design that
was within budget and its impressive features were just what the
Boro directors were looking for. They gave Leitch the go-ahead and
work began on the 274ft long stand on the north side of Ayresome Park.
Keen to have a ground
befitting of their league status the directors decided that the
old main stand from the Linthorpe Road Ground should be moved to
Ayresome Park, so work began to dismantle the stand and re-erect
it on the south side of Ayresome Park.
Tons of earth was moved by
horse-drawn wagons to build embankments at the east and west ends
of Ayresome Park, providing terracing for thousands. The ends were
initially known as the Linthorpe Road End and the Workhouse End.
Work continued throughout the
summer of 1903 with the ground being enclosed by a wooden fence,
bringing the total cost of the build to £11,957, a sum that was
largely financed by loans.
Although not 100% complete the first
paying customers were admitted to Ayresome Park for a friendly
game against Glasgow Celtic on Tuesday 1st September.
The match attracted a crowd of around 7,000 spectators.
Eleven days later, on Saturday
12th September, Boro played their first league game at
Ayresome Park against local rivals Sunderland, in front of
approximately 30,000 spectators. With general admission set a 6d
and transfers to the stands an extra 9d Boro took record receipts
of around £1,000.
Boro’s
Joe Cassidy scored the first goal at Ayresome Park, but Sunderland
spoilt the party by running-out 3-2 winners on the day.
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