Meadow Park Gloucester: Gloucester City AFC
Credit: Blaine Gammon-Esser
Meadow Park has had something of a soggy history, being flooded several times since it opened in 1986, but Gloucester City AFC are sticking by their waterlogged stadium regardless, having renovated it in 2020. Since this renovation, some people have taken to calling the stadium New Meadow Park, but technically, that is not its name. Situated in the Hemsted area of Gloucester, the stadium has also briefly been home to Truro FC during their 2024 campaign.
Currently known as the Tiger Turf Stadium for sponsorship reasons, Meadow Park is a very comfortable place to watch a game considering the league Gloucester City play in. With lots of seating and covered areas, plus decent facilities, it’s a favourite for home and away fans alike. The sponsor is a fitting one too, as Tiger Turf is an artificial grass and synthetic turf supplier, and Meadow Park uses their products for it’s pitch.
Stats
| Meadow Park Gloucester Stats | |
|---|---|
| Year Opened | 1986 |
| Capacity | 4000 |
| Average Attendance | 918 |
| Record Attendance | 4500 (Gloucester City v Dagenham & Redbridge, April 1997) |
| Pitch Size | 120 x 90 (10,800) |
| Nickname | New Meadow Park |
| Owner | Gloucester City AFC |
| Sponsor | Tiger Turf |
| Clubs Hosted | Gloucester City AFC, Truro City |
| Gloucester City Stats | |
|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1883 |
| Nickname | The Tigers |
| Club Mascot | Roary |
| Rivals | Cheltenham Town, Worcester City, Forest Green Rovers |
| Previous Stadiums | Co-operative Field, Llanthony Ground, Avenue Road Ground, Buddings Field, Sutgrove Park, Bon Marche Ground, The Ground at Longlevens, Horton Road Stadium, The New Lawn, The Corinium Stadium |
| Kit | Orange & Yellow (Home) / Green & White (Away) |
| Shirt Sponsor | Malvern Tyres |
| Team Owner | Eamonn McGurk |
| Record Goalscorer | Reg Weaver (103) |
| Record Appearances | Tom Webb (573) |
Meadow Park Gloucester Photos
Meadow Park Gloucester Seating Plan and Where to Sit
762 of the 4,000 capacity at Meadow Park is seated, with those seats being split between two covered stands spanning the width of the pitch to the South East. The opposite side is an open standing area where fans can move around, as well as a digital score board.
There are also two covered terraces at either end of the pitch, behind both of the goals.
Gloucester City Ticket Prices
This is arguably the easiest section of the guide to write. Tickets cost £12 for adults and £9 for concessions, with children Under-18 admitted for free.
If you don’t book in advance though, you will pay £14 as an adult on the day. Concessions can still stroll up and get their £9 tickets though.
How To Get Gloucester City Tickets
Gloucester City tickets can be bought most easily via their website. You can get them on the day, but they could cost a little more.
Where to Buy
Getting To Meadow Park Gloucester
Train – The train station in Gloucester is about a 25 minute walk from the stadium. You go through town and pass the Museum of Gloucester if you fancy taking in some culture en route. There are plenty of pubs too if not.
Bus – You have a few options here. Stagecoach buses 8 and 11 stop just a minute or two walk from the stadium and both leave from the City Centre. They shouldn’t cost more than a few pounds.
Car – Coming from the North you will need to find your way onto the M5 and follow it down, joining from the M6 if heading from the North West or the M1 if heading from the North East. You can use the A40 if coming in from the general direction of London, and any Welsh natives can use the same road from the opposite direction.
By Air – You must be some sort of super fan if you are flying in to see Gloucester City AFC. There is a small airport in Gloucestershire, but you need a private plane to land there, and the next closest is Birmingham which is 65 miles away, so you will probably need a train regardless.
Taxi – You shouldn’t struggle for a taxi service in Gloucester. From the train station it’s only a 10 minute ride and should cost no more than £7 or £8.
Parking Near Meadow Park Gloucester
Parking at the stadium itself is limited, reserved for officials, guests, and blue badge holders. There are some public car parks nearby though, namely the Sainsbury’s on St Ann Way which is free for 2 hours and only 5 minutes away on foot. Otherwise, look for Castlemeads Car Park or Gloucester Quays Car Park, both of which are 10 minutes away on foot.
Useful Resources
- Parking - Just Park
Pubs and Bars Near Meadow Park Gloucester
High Orchard
Brewhouse and Kitchen - Gloucester Quays
The Lord High Constable of England
About Gloucester City
Gloucester City Association Football Club was formed in 1883 under the simple name of Gloucester. They changed that to Gloucester City in 1902 but between 1910 and 1925 the club was known as Gloucester YMCA. Between 1939 and 2009 The Tigers spent a record seventy years in the Southern Football League.
The club has led a nomadic existence, often staying in the same ground for only a couple of years or so at any one time. They have enjoyed a couple of relatively successful runs in the FA Cup, most notably in 1989-1990 when they beat several higher teams, such as Folkestone and Dorchester Town, before losing to Cardiff City in a replay despite being 2-0 up at Ninian Park with only five minutes remaining.
Meadow Park Gloucester History
Meadow Park has been home to Gloucester City AFC since 1986, but before that, they played at Horton Road. The stadium had a greyhound track next door too, but both were redeveloped for housing, forcing Gloucester to find a new home.
Meadow Park served them well for all of 4 years, before a very heavy snow in 1990 covered the pitch, then melted, causing 4 feet of water to flood the place, rendering the stadium useless for over a month. Ten years later in 2000, the River Severn burst its banks and the stadium was flooded once again, this time in more than 7 feet of water. Due to that and the contamination issues caused by the water once it had dispersed, the ground was out of use for more than 6 weeks. Disaster struck again in 2007, when more flooding submerged the stadium in more than 8 feet of water, ruining pretty much everything on the site. Worse still, the club had been unable to obtain insurance due to… previous flooding… and the club did not have the money for repairs.
The stadium lay empty from this point, with Gloucester City AFC doing the football club equivalent of couch surfing for 13 years.
At this point, you might think the club would see sense and find somewhere else to play their football. But no. After many meetings, it was decided that rebuilding on Meadow Park was “the most viable option” (would have loved to see the other options if that was the case). In 2020 the new Meadow Park stadium was opened on exactly the same site as the old one – the one that was constantly flooded and nearly ruined the club.
I have written to Gloucester City AFC suggesting they change the name from Meadow Park to Deep Lake Park in preparation for their next flooding incident, but so far, have heard nothing back.