23 Mar 2010New stand declared open at Blackpool's Bloomfield Road

Football Clubs News | Football Technology and Stadia

Blackpool's new South Stand was finally opened before the clash with Crystal Palace on Saturday (March 20th), bringing several years of delays to an end.

Named after club legend Jimmy Armfield, the stand is thought to have cost £8.5 million to build and contains 3,500 seats, taking the capacity of the stadium beyond 10,000.

Supporters paid tribute to Armfield during an opening ceremony before the match at Bloomfield Road, which finished 2-2 after the visitors failed to hold on to a two-goal lead.

"I'd like to thank the club for this honour," the 74-year-old told the Blackpool Gazette last week.

"I could never in my wildest dreams have imagined I would have [a] stand named after me."

Armfield made his debut for the Tangerines in 1954 and went on to play over 600 times for the Lancashire club.

The former England captain cut the ribbon on the turnstiles of the new structure, which should help to boost attendances at Bloomfield Road as Ian Holloway's side continue to chase a Championship playoff spot.

Written by Paul Roberts

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