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Birthplace of Football Faces Demolition Threat
16 Feb
Summary
- The world's first football stadium, Hampden Bowling Club, is threatened.
- Poets gathered to celebrate and raise awareness for the historic site.
- Campaigners push for UNESCO status to protect the birthplace of football.
Hampden Bowling Club, the location of the world's first purpose-built football stadium and the site of the inaugural international match in 1872, is under threat of demolition. Poets recently convened at the historic Glasgow venue, which is closing after over a century of operation, to highlight its significance.
Graeme Brown of the Hampden Collection emphasized the site's importance as the birthplace of the passing game. Campaigners are actively working to secure its future, proposing a community interest company and pushing for UNESCO World Heritage status.
Concerns have been raised that Glasgow City Council might redevelop the site, potentially replacing historical structures with flats or offices. This potential loss has galvanized local residents and poets who advocate for preserving this vital piece of global football heritage.
The "Football's Square Mile" initiative aims to protect the three Hampden sites, with the bowling club being the first. Action, including community engagement and fundraising, is being taken to ensure this sacred ground is not lost to future generations.
