Queen Elizabeth II Stadium (Enfield)

The Queen Elizabeth II Stadium is a multi-use sports venue in Enfield, London. Built initially as a venue for athletics, in 2011 a three-year refurbishment was completed to allow the stadium to be used for football.[1] The Stadium is a Grade II Listed Building.[2]

Queen Elizabeth II Stadium
Map
LocationDonkey Lane, Enfield, London, England
Coordinates51°39′33″N 00°03′50″W / 51.65917°N 0.06389°W / 51.65917; -0.06389
OwnerEnfield Council
Capacity2,500
Opened1953[1]
Tenants
Enfield Town
Enfield and Haringey
London Skolars (2014)
Enfield Borough (2016–2018)
New Salamis

History

In 1939, construction of a new sports venue for Enfield began. The centerpiece was an athletics stadium, with additional space on the site for ball sports and a swimming pool.[1] Due to the Second World War, work on the site was suspended, with the stadium not being completed until 1953.[1] The athletics stadium, named after Queen Elizabeth II for her Silver Jubilee in 1977,[3] was used as a training venue by a number of significant British athletes, including Sebastian Coe, Daley Thompson and Linford Christie, all of whom won Olympic titles.[4]

By 2008, the venue had fallen into disuse. Enfield Town F.C., which had been formed in 2001, and who had been groundsharing with Brimsdown Rovers,[5] came to an agreement with Enfield Council to refurbish the stadium for use as a multi-use venue, with the track being resurfaced and the stadium brought up to the standard required for football in the Isthmian League.[5][6] Enfield Town moved to their new stadium in 2011, with their first official game taking place against a Tottenham Hotspur XI.[7]

In 2014, during upgrades to the New River Stadium, the London Skolars played six home games at the QEII stadium during the second half of the rugby league season.[8]

In 2018, the stadium was one of the venues for the 2018 ConIFA World Football Cup, with ten games played there: six group games, and four in the knockout round, including the final on 9 June 2018.[9]

Facilities

The main element part of the stadium is the pavilion, completed in 1953. This is a Grade II listed building built in Art Deco style,[10][1] and serves as the clubhouse, main stand and changing rooms. Opposite the main stand is a second, small seated stand, while behind each goal, inside the perimeter of the running track, are two covered terraces. The running track was reduced from eight lanes to six during the refurbishment from 2008 to 2010.[11]

Queen Elizabeth II Stadium, taken from the Clubhouse, showing the covered seating, two covered end terraces and six lane track.

International football

YearDateTeam 1ResultTeam 2AttendancePart of
201831 May  Abkhazia3–0  Tibet2018 ConIFA World Football Cup Group B
201831 May  Northern Cyprus1–1 Kárpátalja2018 ConIFA World Football Cup Group B
20182 June  Abkhazia0–2 Kárpátalja2018 ConIFA World Football Cup Group B
20182 June  Northern Cyprus3–1  Tibet2018 ConIFA World Football Cup Group B
20183 June  Northern Cyprus2–2  Abkhazia2018 ConIFA World Football Cup Group B
20183 June Western Armenia4–0 Kabylie2018 ConIFA World Football Cup Group D
20185 June  Matabeleland0–0
(3–4 on penalties)
 Kabylia2018 ConIFA World Football Cup Placement Round 1
20187 June  Tibet1–8  Kabylia2018 ConIFA World Football Cup Placement Round 2
20189 June  Padania0–0
(5–4 on penalties)
 Székely Land2018 ConIFA World Football Cup Third-Place Play-Off
20189 June Kárpátalja0–0
(3–2 on penalties)
 Northern Cyprus2018 ConIFA World Football Cup Final

References