Did you know that Sheffield Wednesday's iconic North Stand was given the green light 60 years ago this week?
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In June 1960, shareholders voted 449 to 146 to build Hillsborough’s new 10,000-seater North Stand, almost doubling capacity at the ground – from 9,000 to 16,000.
Demolition of the original North Stand began in 1960 and work began on a new £150,000 replacement, which would be officially opened on August 23, 1961, by then Secretary of the Football Association Stanley Rous.
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Hide AdThe new stand, designed by Sheffield firm Husband & Co was only the second in the country, after one at Scunthorpe United, to be built with a cantilever roof - and the first to run the full length of the pitch.
And the club even prepared a special brochure to showcase the new stand - boasting “not a pillar in site” and that the development was “football’s most exciting structure in 25 years”.
The brochure states:”Since the summer of 1960 a leading topic of conversation in football circles has been Sheffiele Wednesday Football Club’s bold enterprise - the creation of a new 150,000 cantilever stand. As the old North Stand was being demolished in the early days of last season, old Wednesday followers felt a bit sad. For them the old stand, which had weathered 60 years of service, was a stand of memories.
“But very soon, old and young alike, became fascinated by the work on the new stand. And as it took shape interest steadily grew until a surge of enthusiasm and excitement developed. With good reason too.
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Hide Ad“This new grandstand marks the beginning of a new era in the history of the Sheffield Wednesday club and is one of the most dramatic stands in Britain. It is no exaggeration to say that it is the most exciting one since that build by Arsenal at Highbury 25 years ago.”
A celebration match was played on October 22 when Wednesday met Santos of Brazil with their new star Pele in the team - Pele's goal helped Santos to a 4–2 win.