Key facts
| Address | Athlone, Co. Westmeath, Ireland |
| Capacity | 3,000 seats |
| Build Date | 1927 |
| Record Attendance | 9,000 |
Description
St Mel’s Park used to be the permanent home of Athlone Town F.C. until 2007 when the club moved to the Athlone Town Stadium, a new ground with the total capacity of 5,000 seats. The stadium was named after a nephew of Saint Patrick.
St Mel’s Park was constructed in 1929, and the last game of Athlone Town F.C. in the ground took place in 2006. There has been a range of major event held in the ground, and one of the famous sports events that it hosted was the game between AC Milan and Athlone during the 1975–1976 UEFA Cup. During this famous game, the stadium hosted around 9,000 people, which was the highest attendance of the stadium.
St Mel’s Park was used as a ground for Irish football for seventy-seven years, but since the club decided to move to a brand new ground, the era was ended.
The club even offered free admission for the very last game that they played in the ground. Unfortunately, Athlone Town F.C. did not manage to win, ending the game against Monaghan United F.C. with the score 2:2.
Program and fanzine prices
The official programme cost £1.
Admission prices
The price for an adult ticket was £8.
A student ticket cost £5.
OAP was available at £3.
FAQ
St Mel’s Park was opened in 1929, serving as the home ground for Athlone Town A.F.C. for many decades.
The stadium is named after Saint Mel, a 5th-century Irish saint who was associated with County Longford and the surrounding areas. This name reflects the local religious and cultural heritage.
St Mel’s Park has a capacity of approximately 5,000 spectators. This makes it a relatively small but intimate venue for football matches.
Yes, the stadium underwent major renovations in 2007. These improvements included the installation of floodlights, which allowed for evening matches to be played at the venue.
St Mel’s Park has hosted numerous League of Ireland matches over the years. It has been the stage for many important games in Athlone Town A.F.C.’s history, including their campaigns in European competitions during the 1970s and 1980s.
