Bishopsgate (stadium)

{{Short description|Football stadium in Longford, Ireland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=March 2021}} {{Infobox venue | name = Bishopsgate | nickname = | logo_image = | logo_caption = | image = Lngfrdg2.jpg | caption = Main stand at the stadium | fullname = | former_names = Strokestown Road, Lissanurlan,<ref name="extratime2020">{{cite web|url = https://www.extratime.com/articles/24674/the-plane-that-didnt-arrive-the-stands-that-did---the-story-of-longford-towns-maiden-european-voyage-of-2001/ | website = extratime.com | title = The plane that didn't arrive, the stands that did - The story of Longford Town's maiden European voyage of 2001 | date = 28 March 2020 | accessdate = 29 January 2025 | quote = Lissanurlan – as it was then known as prior to its name change to Flancare Park – at the turn of the century had little more than four grass embankments [..] Fast forward to 9 August 2001 and an impressive stadium under the new name of Flancare Park had just been built }}</ref><br> Flancare Park (2001–2012)<ref name="extratimeG"/><br> City Calling Stadium (2013–2019)<ref name="extratimeG"/> | location = Strokestown Road, Longford, County Longford, Ireland | coordinates = {{Coord|53.724|-7.854|type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | broke_ground = | built = 1994<ref name="extratimeG"/> | opened =  | renovated = | expanded = | closed = | demolished = | owner = Longford Town F.C. | operator = | surface = Grass | scoreboard = Digital | cost = | architect = | project_manager = | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | general_contractor = | main_contractors = | capacity = 5,097 (4,977 seated, 120 standing){{fact|date=January 2025}} | suites = | record_attendance = | dimensions = | acreage = | volume = | tenants = Longford Town F.C. | embedded = | website = | public_transit = Longford railway station }}

'''Strokestown Road''', currently known as '''Bishopsgate''' for sponsorship purposes, is a football stadium in Longford, Ireland which is the home of League of Ireland club Longford Town.

==History== In the mid-1990s, Longford Town moved their home ground from Abbeycartron to the townland of Mullolagher just off the N5 road between Longford and Tarmonbarry. It is one of the few League of Ireland grounds which is owned by the club itself.{{fact|date=January 2025}}

The stadium underwent a significant redevelopment at the end of 2000–01 season. Previous to this, while containing a good pitch and floodlights, the ground had poor facilities along with two terraced (one uncovered) stands and a single-seater stand. The club's promotion to the Premier Division in 2000 was seen as a catalyst in the redevelopment of the ground to its present-day form. Through the receipt of government and FAI grant aid, it was fully redeveloped into an all-seater stadium by July 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.irishtimes.com/news/flancare-park-approved-to-host-euro-game-1.392596 | work = Irish Times | title = Flancare Park approved to host Euro game | date = 8 August 2001 | accessdate = 25 January 2025 }}</ref> The ground's capacity is 5,097.<ref name="Bishopgate capacity">{{cite web |title=Bishopsgate Football Stadium |url=https://www.longford.ie/en/visit/activities/bishopsgate-football-ground/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210615035439/https://www.longford.ie/en/visit/activities/bishopsgate-football-ground/ |archive-date=2021-06-15 |website=www.longford.ie |access-date=29 April 2021}}</ref>

The ground became known as Flancare Park,<ref name="extratime2020"/> after the club's then sponsor Flancare, in early 2001 until the arrangement finished at the end of 2013.<ref name="extratimeG">{{cite web|url = https://www.extratime.com/ground/1913/city-calling-stadium/ | website = extratime.com | title = City Calling Stadium | archiveurl = https://archive.today/20250129140221/https://www.extratime.com/ground/1913/city-calling-stadium/ | archivedate = 29 January 2025 }}</ref> During this time the ground held a number of international underage matches, three UEFA Cup ties and staged the 2004 League Cup final (which Longford won). It was affectionately referred to by League of Ireland fans as the 'Flan Siro';<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.extratime.com/articles/8351/finn-harps-1---3-longford-town/ | website = extratime.com | title = Finn Harps 1 - 3 Longford Town | date = 22 June 2012 | accessdate = 29 January 2025 }}</ref> a play on the name of Flancare Park and on the name of the well-known San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy.

In 2013, the ground's name changed to the City Calling Stadium.<ref name="extratimeG"/> This name change was related to the club's then newly acquired main sponsor City Calling Group, a recruitment agency. In 2018, the City Calling Stadium received the Football Association of Ireland 'Pitch of the Year' award.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.longfordleader.ie/news/soccer/347483/longford-town-fc-win-pitch-of-the-year-2018.html | work = Longford Leader | title = Longford Town FC win Pitch of the Year 2018 | date = 13 November 2018 | accessdate = 25 January 2025 }}</ref>

The stadium was selected as a venue for the 2019 UEFA European Under-17 Championship as part of Ireland's hosting of the tournament. Four group stage matches were held at the ground, including England v France on 3 May 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.longfordleader.ie/news/longford-sport/380009/memorable-evening-as-france-and-england-uefa-u17-clash-ends-in-stalemate-at-pristine-city-calling-stadium-longford.html | work = Longford Leader | title = Memorable evening as France and England UEFA U17 clash ends in stalemate at pristine City Calling Stadium, Longford | date = 4 May 2019 | accessdate = 29 January 2025 }}</ref>

In November 2019, the ground was renamed Bishopsgate after the club's main sponsor.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.longfordleader.ie/news/soccer/497699/bishopsgate-group-announced-as-official-club-sponsor-of-longford-town-fc.html | work = Longford Leader | title = Bishopsgate Group announced as official club sponsor of Longford Town FC | date = 28 November 2019 | accessdate = 29 January 2025 | quote = The new sponsorship agreement will see Bishopsgate welcomed as the new main sponsor of Longford Town FC, with [..] title rights to the stadium which will now be known as 'Bishopsgate'}}</ref> Bishopsgate is a UK-headquartered payroll administration, employment and contractor support services company.{{fact|date=January 2025}}

Damage to a stadium wall, which occurred during Storm Éowyn,<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/longford-make-fan-appeal-as-storm-damage-to-stadium-is-assessed/a235703339.html | work = Irish Independent | title = Longford make fan appeal as storm damage to stadium is assessed | date = 27 January 2025 | accessdate = 29 January 2025 }}</ref> was the subject of a fundraising campaign in 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.extratime.com/articles/36152/longford-town-supporters-club-launch-fundraiser-to-repair-stadium-damage-caused-by-storm-eowyn/ | website = extratime.com | title = Longford Town Supporters Club launch fundraiser to repair stadium damage caused by Storm Eowyn | date = 2 July 2025 | accessdate = 4 September 2025 }}</ref> The damage was repaired by October 2025.<ref>{{cite press release|url = https://ltfc.ie/2025/10/stand-tall-wall-is-built/| website = ltfc.ie | title = Stand Tall – Wall is Built! | date = 3 October 2025 | accessdate = 18 December 2025}}</ref>

==Location== The ground is located in the townland of Mullolagher on the Strokestown Road (N5) to the west of Longford town.<ref name=ltfc>{{cite web|url=http://www.ltfc.ie/stadium/|title=Stadium|work=ltfc.ie| publisher = Longford Town Football Club | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120101211004/https://ltfc.ie/stadium/| archivedate = 1 January 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = https://ltfc.ie/visiting-bishopsgate/ |work=ltfc.ie| publisher = Longford Town Football Club | title = Visiting Bishopsgate | accessdate = 29 January 2025 }}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Association football venues in the Republic of Ireland Category:Longford Town F.C. Category:Sports venues in County Longford