Riverside Park (Cellnet Stadium)

August 26th, 1995 saw the dawn of a new era for Middlesbrough Football Club.

The purpose-built 30,000 capacity Cellnet Riverside Stadium played host to its first ever game when Boro took on Chelsea in the FA Carling     Premiership.

In just ten short months the stadium rose from industrial wasteland to become the biggest new arena to be built in this country since before World War II.

It is a credit to the main contractors Taylor Woodrow that it was only October 1994 when they were showing to supporters their virtual reality-style computer graphics of how the stadium would be, yet the stadium was ready in August 1995. The west Stand was first to be erected and this was followed by the three remaining stands which make up the horse-shoe shape.

Fans flocked to the site throughout the construction process to view the building work from the club's visitor centre in the south east corner of the site.

There are all state of the art facilities in the spacious concourse under the stands to provide supporters with all the modern facilities they require.

TV screens are suspended from ceilings in the concourse showing football action on matchdays. Inside the stadium there are 19 executive boxes with indoor and outdoor seats, a restaraunt with seating for up to 220, and eventually a banqueting suite to seat 450 diners and a huge members lounge for the fans.

There are also development plans in the works for the Riverside and the docks area. Middlesbrough FC have recieved planning permission for another 5,000 seats to be installed at the Riverside.

Plans are also going ahead for the re-development of the area surrounding the Riverside Stadium. These plans include the building of a travelodge and a pub, and a floating nightclub called the "Tuxedo Princess" will be moored next to the stadium.