The Hawthorns
The Hawthorns is located in West Bromwich, West Midlands, England and has been the home of West Bromwich Albion since 1900, when it became the sixth ground to be used by the club. It has a capacity of 26,688. The Hawthorns was the last Football League ground to be halt in the 19th century. At an altitude of 168meters, it is the highest ground above sea level of all Premier League and Football League clubs. During the early years of the club, West Bromwich Albion led something of a nomadic existence, playing at five different grounds in a 22-year period. Their first ground was Cooper’s Hill, which the club occupied from 1878 to 1879. From 1879 to 1881 they played at Dartmouth Park, although they may also have alternated between there and Cooper’s Hill during this period. Albion’s third ground was Bunn’s Field, also known as The Birches, where they played for a single season in 1881-82. With a capacity of 1500–2000, it was their first enclosed ground, allowing the club to charge an entrance fee for the first time. The increasing popularity of football led the well-established West Bromwich Dartmouth Cricket Club to rent their Four Acres ground to Albion from 1882 to 1885, but they quickly outgrew their new home and soon needed to move again. Albion’s tenure of Stoney Lane, from 1885 to 1900, was arguably the most successful period in the club’s history, as the club won the FA Cup twice and were runners-up three times.
Location: Halfords Lane, West Bromwich, England
Public transport: Birmingham New Street, Change for a local train or Metro to The Hawthorns from Snow Hill Station, which is a five-minute walk from Birmingham New Street.
Capacity: 26,688
