View source for East End Park

{{Short description|Football stadium in Dunfermline, Scotland}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox venue |
  stadium_name      = East End Park|
  nickname          = |
  image             = Eastendpark.jpg|
  image_size        = 250|
  caption           = View of the ground
| pushpin_map      = Scotland Fife
| pushpin_mapsize  = 250
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Fife
| pushpin_label_position = left
|coordinates      = {{coord|56|04|31|N|3|26|31|W|type:landmark_region:GB-FIF|display=inline,title}}
|
  location          = [[Dunfermline]], Scotland |
  broke_ground      = |
  opened            = 1885 |
  awards            = |
  closed            = |
  demolished        = |
  owner             = East End Park Limited<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/13096080.liquidation-threat-grows-as-dunfermline-braced-for-winding-up-order-from-hmrc/|title=Liquidation threat grows as Dunfermline braced for winding up order from HMRC|website=The Herald|date=14 March 2013 |location=Glasgow}}</ref>|
  operator          = |
  surface           = [[Lawn|Grass]] |
  construction_cost = |
  architect         = |
  former_names      = |
  tenants           = [[Dunfermline Athletic F.C.]] |
  dimensions        = 105 x 64 metres (pitch) |
  seating_capacity  = {{SPFL-stadiums|dunfermline}}<ref name="capacity"/>
}}

'''East End Park''', currently named '''KDM Group East End Park'''<ref name=KDM>{{cite web |url=https://dafc.co.uk/story.php?t=DAFC_announce_major_stadium_naming_rights_partnership_with_KDM_Group&ID=13920 |title=DAFC announce major stadium naming rights partnership with KDM Group |publisher=Dunfermline Athletic FC |date=17 August 2022 |accessdate=17 August 2022}}</ref> for sponsorship purposes, is a [[Association football|football]] [[stadium]] situated in [[Dunfermline]], [[Fife]], Scotland with a [[seating capacity]] of {{SPFL-stadiums|dunfermline}}.<ref name="capacity">{{cite web |url=http://spfl.co.uk/clubs/dunfermline-athletic/ |title=Dunfermline Athletic Football Club|publisher=Scottish Professional Football League |access-date=11 November 2013}}</ref>

The stadium plays host to the home matches of {{Scottish football updater|DunfermA}} side, [[Dunfermline Athletic F.C.|Dunfermline Athletic]] The stadium currently comprises four [[Bleacher|stands]]: the East Stand (currently sponsored by SQMC), the Main Stand (currently sponsored by srj windows), the North Stand and the [[Norrie McCathie]] Stand. The stadium is all seater and has under-soil heating.

==History==
[[File:East End Park from Norrie McCathie stand.jpg|thumbnail|left|View of East End Park from the Norrie McCathie stand]]
East End Park was first used in 1885, the same year as the club was formed.<ref name = "inglis">{{harvnb|Inglis|1996|p=442}}</ref> The original stadium was situated slightly to the west. In 1920, the Board of Directors purchased {{convert|3|acre|m2}} of land from the [[North British Railway]] company for £3,500, and the present position of the ground was laid out.<ref name = "inglis"/> A wooden stand with a low roof and a pavilion were built on the southern side, backing onto Halbeath Road ([[A907 road|A907]]).<ref name = "inglis"/> Terrace banks were extended to give a capacity of 16,000 when the club was promoted to the First Division in 1926.<ref name = "inglis"/> Relegation and the effects of the [[Great Depression]] forced East End Park to be used for [[greyhound racing]] in the early 1930s.<ref name = "inglis"/> The rent from this activity helped keep the club afloat, but the dog track cut across the corners of the pitch.<ref name = "inglis"/> Dunfermline were promoted in 1934 and a roof was built over the northern terrace.<ref name = "inglis"/> One year later, the eastern terrace was improved using wood salvaged from the liner [[RMS Mauretania (1906)|''Mauretania'']], which was being broken up in the [[Rosyth Dockyard]]s.<ref name = "inglis"/> [[File:East End Park - geograph.org.uk - 309654.jpg|thumb|left|Interior of East End Park]]

Polish and British army units were stationed at East End Park during the [[Second World War]].<ref name = "inglis"/> Dunfermline received £329 in compensation, but the ground remained quite primitive.<ref name = "inglis"/> Crush barriers were not installed until 1951, after a 20,000 crowd had attended a match.<ref name = "inglis"/> East End Park was greatly developed between 1957 and 1970, a period in which the club qualified several times for [[UEFA|European]] competition.<ref name = "inglis"/> A two-tier Main Stand was constructed in 1962, funded by the club winning the [[1960–61 Scottish Cup]].<ref name = "inglis"/> The terracing was also improved, with an L-shaped roof formed over the western and northern sections.<ref name = "inglis"/> The record attendance for a Dunfermline Athletic home game of 27,816 was against [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] on 30 April 1968.<ref name = "inglis"/> There was some chaotic crowd scenes, as people scaled the stand roof and floodlight pylons to gain access.<ref name = "inglis"/> One person died from his injuries after falling.<ref name = "inglis"/>

In the late 1990s, East End Park was converted to an [[all-seater stadium]] with a capacity of 12,509. But since then, the capacity has been downgraded to the present 11,480. Since then there have been sell-outs against [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] in the Scottish Cup and against [[Raith Rovers F.C.|Raith Rovers]] in a title decider for the [[2010–11 Scottish First Division]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_div_1/9465295.stm |title=Hardie double wins thrilling comeback|work=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=23 April 2011}}</ref> An artificial playing surface was installed at East End Park in 2003, as part of an experiment by [[UEFA]].<ref name = "plastic"/> Opposing managers and players expressed reservations at the time that the surface could lead to injuries. The pitch was subsequently replaced with grass two seasons later.<ref name = "plastic">{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/4334291.stm|title=Dunfermline lose SPL pitch vote|access-date=17 January 2008 | work=BBC News | date=10 March 2005}}</ref> The [[2006–07 Scottish Junior Cup]] Final between [[Kelty Hearts F.C.|Kelty Hearts]] and [[Linlithgow Rose F.C.|Linlithgow Rose]] was held at East End Park on 3 June 2007. Dunfermline announced in November 2011 that the North Stand was to close, in order to reduce operating costs.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/15764844|title=Dunfermline to close North Stand to reduce costs|work=[[BBC Sport]]|publisher=BBC|date=16 November 2011|access-date=16 November 2011}}</ref> However, in July 2012 the club announced it planned to reopen the stand.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/sport/thepars/articles/2012/07/12/431999-pars-ditch-fake-support-and-reopen-nw-stand/|title=Pars ditch 'fake support' and re-open NW Stand|work=[[Dunfermline Press]]|date=12 July 2012|access-date=14 April 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629013540/http://www.dunfermlinepress.com/sport/thepars/articles/2012/07/12/431999-pars-ditch-fake-support-and-reopen-nw-stand/|archive-date=29 June 2013}}</ref>

In August 2022, Dunfermline made a long-term business agreement with local business KDM Group, which included renaming the stadium KDM Group East End Park.<ref name=KDM/>

==Greyhound racing==
The greyhound racing was independent (unlicensed) and started on 5 June 1931 until 1951.<ref>{{cite book|last=Barnes|first=Julia|title=Daily Mirror Greyhound Fact File|page =414|year=1988|publisher=Ringpress Books|isbn=0-948955-15-5}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

; Sources
*{{cite book| first = Simon  | last = Inglis  | title = Football Grounds of Britain  | year = 1996  | publisher = Collins Willow  | isbn = 0-00-218426-5  }}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.parsdatabase.co.uk/stadium/stadium.htm History of EEP at parsdatabase.com]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20111129023219/http://www.dafc.co.uk/page/Stadium/0,,10288,00.html Dunfermline Athletic official website]

{{Dunfermline Athletic F.C.}}
{{Football venues in Scotland}}
{{Scottish greyhound tracks}}
{{Football in Fife}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Dunfermline Athletic F.C.]]
[[Category:Football venues in Scotland]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Fife]]
[[Category:Scottish Premier League venues]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League venues]]
[[Category:Scottish Professional Football League venues]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1885]]
[[Category:Defunct greyhound racing venues in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Greyhound racing in Scotland]]
[[Category:1885 establishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Dunfermline]]