On this day in Yorkshire: August 31st 1946: Boothferry Park is finally opened

It was sixteen years in the making, fraught with problems ranging from financial difficulties to the German Luftwaffe, but finally on August 31st 1946, the new home for Hull City, Boothferry Park was opened. The amber stadium, painted in the club’s traditional colours had been cobbled together in a race against time to open it for the resumption of the football league. On opening day, a home match against local rivals, Lincoln City the ground only had one completed stand, along with part of the Northern Terrace. In the pouring rain, the Lord Mayor of Hall officially declared the stadium open in front of 20,000 fans and the two teams played out a 0-0 draw. In just three years time, the now completed Boothferry Park would host 55,019 fans when Manchester United came to town for an FA Cup tie; still a club record. The more dilapidated stadium (as pictured) was demolished in 2008, after the club moved to the KC Stadium and is now a housing estate.

Picture credit:(not from 1946) ROOSTER wikipedia creative commons.