Young people in Bristol will see junction two of the M32 and think of IKEA. The massive Swedish superstore, which dominates the view from the bridge, has become synonymous with the Eastville area.
But IKEA was not the original feature of Eastville, there was the Eastville Stadium. Plenty of Bristolians would have memories of the former Bristol Rovers stadium, who used the site until 1986.
But the stadium, which was constructed in 1897, was used for more than just a football match. Plenty of different sports and events would grace the ground until the eventual closure in 1997 and demolition.
The stadium was used for greyhound racing, having started in the late 1920s. The racing would remain at the stadium until the 1990s, outlasting the speedway which took place during the 1970s. In 1986, it also became home to the short-lived Bristol Bombers team, an American football team which would fold in the same year.
Eastville Stadium had at one-time a capacity of 38,000 people and was the location of a fire in the South Stand in 1980. Due to financial difficulties, Rovers, unofficially nicknamed the Gasheads due to the stadium being built near a gas holder, played in Bath for ten years before moving to the Memorial Stadium.
As the demolition date inched closer in 1997, seats from the stadium were sold to fans of the football club. A Bristol Post article, dated September 26, 1997, said: “Supporters of all ages turned up at the stadium to pick up their seats for £5 each. Some even arranged to buy the seat they used to sit in to watch Rovers.”
In October that year, thousands of people attended the last-ever greyhound meeting within the stadium, before all activity switched to Swindon. An article dated October 20, 1997, added: “Greyhound racing fans turned out in force on Saturday to mark the end of 65 years of racing at the former Bristol Rovers ground. Cars queued back on to the nearby M32 as fans made their way to the stadium.
“Many had to be turned away from the packed ground. They stood and watched the races from the car parks.
“The night ended with an enormous roar when the greyhounds came out of their traps for the final race. The bar crowd gave a rendering of the Rovers’ song Goodnight Irene.”
By the end of November, the final grandstand was demolished and the stadium became a memory to many. Whilst many residents opposed plans for the IKEA store to be built, the furniture warehouse would be built and define the M32 junction.
There is, however, one remaining piece of history which can be found on the site of the former stadium. The Eastville Club, located at the back corner of the IKEA car park, was the local for fans of Rovers to have a pint before and after the match.
Now a members-club with a range of facilities, the club is a reminder that the home of Rovers was located in a prime venue so close to the M32. It holds a place in the heart for many.
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