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The Hawthorns

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The Hawthorns
NameThe Hawthorns
LocationWest Bromwich, West Midlands, England
Broke ground1900
OpenedSeptember 1900
Renovated1994–2001, 2008
OwnerWest Bromwich Albion F.C.
OperatorWest Bromwich Albion F.C.
SurfaceGrass
Capacity26,688
TenantsWest Bromwich Albion F.C. (1900–present)
PublictransitThe Hawthorns railway station

The Hawthorns. It is the home of West Bromwich Albion F.C., serving as the club's permanent ground since its opening in September 1900. Located in West Bromwich, within the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell, the stadium is notable for being the highest league ground in England, sitting at 551 feet above sea level. Its distinct location and long history make it a significant venue in English football.

History

The club's relocation from Stoney Lane was driven by the need for a larger, more modern facility, with the site chosen partly for its proximity to a hawthorn hedge. Early matches at the ground were witnessed by figures like Winston Churchill, who attended a fixture in 1909. The stadium's development was gradual, with the iconic Halfords Lane Stand constructed in 1923 and further expansions, including the Birmingham Road End, occurring in the following decades. Significant redevelopment began in the 1990s, transforming it into an all-seater arena following the Taylor Report, with the Smethwick End rebuilt in 1994 and the East Stand completed in 2001. More recent upgrades include the installation of a large video screen in 2008 and a major refurbishment of the West Stand in 2015.

Structure and facilities

The stadium's current configuration comprises four distinct stands: the West Stand (housing directors' boxes and media facilities), the East Stand, the Birmingham Road End, and the Smethwick End. With a total capacity of 26,688, it is compact but modern, featuring extensive corporate hospitality suites and conference facilities. The pitch is a standard grass surface, maintained to the specifications of the Premier League and the English Football League. Notably, the ground's architecture is functional rather than ornate, with its elevated location offering clear sightlines from all seating areas.

Transport and access

The stadium is uniquely served by its own railway station, The Hawthorns railway station, on the Birmingham Snow Hill to Stourbridge Junction line, operated by West Midlands Railway. Major road links are provided by the A41 road and the M5 motorway, with several National Express West Midlands bus routes connecting the area to central Birmingham and the wider Black Country. Limited on-site parking is available, with numerous regulated parking zones in the surrounding residential streets of West Bromwich and Smethwick.

The ground has featured in several films and television programs, most notably as a filming location for the 2005 movie *Goal!*. It has also appeared in episodes of the BBC drama *Peaky Blinders*, reflecting its authentic West Midlands industrial backdrop. References to the stadium occur in football literature and fan culture, cementing its place in the regional identity.

See also

* List of football stadiums in England * History of West Bromwich Albion F.C. * West Midlands derby * All-seater stadium

Category:Football venues in the West Midlands (county) Category:West Bromwich Albion F.C. Category:Sports venues completed in 1900