Castletown Sports Stadium officially opened on May 2, 1950 with a football match between an island representative XI and a visiting side.

The original concept, proposed by club committee member Fred Faragher, was a general sports stadium on the outskirts of the town on Malew Road.

Making full use of what is an extensive area, cricket and hockey were both played for a period of time. Indoor rifle shooting still takes place in a separate building south side of the main stand.

There were regular gymkhanas in the 1950s and 1960s, plus various other social events (indoors and out).

It is a popular vantage point for the motorcycle races on the Billown Course, with extensive camping and motorhome facilities (courtesy of the football club showers, toilets and clubroom/kitchen).

But the covered stand has almost exclusively been used for football over the past 70 years and has witnessed many a major match, including several finals and international matches.

Described at its opening as the finest football ground in the island, the figure of 3,600 for the opening match remains 20th in the all-time list of biggest crowds for a local football match.

The joint highest is 6,000 for charity matches at Onchan Stadium and the King George V Park Bowl respectively in the early 1960s.

An exhibition game at Castletown in July 1955 attracted a crowd of 5,000 for the women’s match between Preston Ladies and England. This is the third highest on record in the Isle of Man.

how the venue came about

Castletown Metropolitan Football Club had experienced some difficulty over many years in finding a permanent base for its football pitch with various venues around the town.

At a committee meeting of the club on December 15, 1947 Fred Faragher made a proposal to buy a site and build a stadium.

A provisional scheme was laid before the committee on January 5, 1948 and unanimously adopted. Land was subsequently purchased at a cost of £730 and costings for the work were then sought.

It was agreed to call an Extraordinary General Meeting on January 22, 1948 and place before it the proposed scheme, which was accepted.

In respect of raising money to finance the project, one of the ideas was to have a large plan of a football pitch prepared and divided into squares representing square yards.

This was exhibited in a shop window in Malew Street and the townspeople and businesses were invited to buy any number of square yards. This was then coloured and inscribed with the name of the purchaser.

Various fund raising activities including dances were arranged. Football matches between Billown Lime Quarry Scroungers, Castletown Brewery Wanderers and Qualtrough’s Timber Yard Loafers were also held.

Progress was made with the laying of the foundation stone by the then president of the club, Captain George Woods, on August 25, 1949.

Work continued on the pitch and stadium, and the committee looked forward to a grand opening.

After negotiations, South Liverpool - a semi-professional team playing in the Cheshire County League - agreed to play an island team chosen by the readers of the Green Final, the island’s sports newspaper of the day.

The match was played on Tuesday, May 2, 1950 with the Lieutenant Governor, Air-Vice Marshal Sir Geoffrey Rhodes Bromet, performing the kick-off.

It resulted in a 2-2 draw with Ken Gilbertson of DHSOB and Billy Corris of the home club scoring for the island team in front of a huge crowd in excess of 3,000.

The match was refereed by English Football League and international official W. H. E. Evans.

Admission was 1s 6d (to the ground), an additional 1s 6d for the covered grandstand, or 1/- (5p in new money) for the open grandstand and enclosure. Special buses were laid on from Port Erin, Peel and Douglas, while a ’Grand Dance’ followed the match at the pavilion, Janet’s Corner with the Steve Lahmers’ Band performing.

The players and officials attended a celebration dinner at the Derbyhaven Hotel.

The official toast to the club was given by Green Final editor Curwen Clague, with George ’Butcher’ Craine, president IoM Football Association responding.

J. Radcliffe, news editor of the Green Final, gave the toast to the club and Police Inspector Fred Faragher responded on behalf of the committee.

The venue was described in the finest football ground in the island at the time.

Castletown MFC was the last club to be relegated to the Second Division. Unfortunately the club has experienced mixed fortunes in recent years.

current club president

attended opening game

Thanks to current club president, Ron Ronan, for his assistance in compiling this article and providing the images from his extensive collection of Castletown memorabilia.

Born at the former Plough Inn, close to the current Southern 100 headquarters, Ron attended the opening of the new stadium as a seven-year-old with his father Sam.

He has no real memories of the opening ceremony, but was aware that a huge crowd attended.

A talented all-round sportsman, Ron made almost 500 appearances for Castletown over a 20-year period, mostly in the first team.

He played in no fewer than 10 finals between 1960 and 1976, the last an Association Cup Final replay that town lost to St John’s.

He was appointed club president in 2006.