St John's Lane was a

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

ground in

Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...

, England. It was the home ground of

Bristol City Bristol City Football Club is a professional football club based in Bristol, England. The team compete in the , the second level of the English football league system. Founded in 1894, the club competed in the Southern League and Western L ...

between 1894 and 1904.

History

The ground began to be used in 1894 by Bristol South End (later Bristol City). A 500-seat stand was built on the western touchline and embankments raised at each end of the pitch. As the ground was overlooked by a hill, a system of screening was created that involved raising canvas sheets on tall poles using pulleys whilst the football club were playing.Paul Smith & Shirley Smith (2005) ''The Ultimate Directory of English & Scottish Football League Grounds Second Edition 1888–2005'', Yore Publications, p116, Bristol City were elected to the Second Division of

the Football League The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, it is the oldest football league in the world, and was the top-level football league in England from ...

in 1901, and the first Football League match at St John's Lane was played on 14 September 1901, with City beating

Stockport County Stockport County Football Club is a professional association football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester, England. The team competes in EFL League One, the third tier of the English football league system. Formed in 1883 as Heaton ...

3–0 in front of 7,000 spectators. The record attendance of 17,909 as set on 6 February 1904 for an

FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, more commonly known as the FA Cup, is an annual Single-elimination tournament, knockout association football, football competition in domestic Football in England, English football. First played during ...

first round match against

Sheffield United Sheffield United Football Club is a professional football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. The club competes in the Championship, the second tier of English football. They are nicknamed "the Blades" due to Sheffield's history ...

. At the end of the 1903–04 season Bristol City moved to Ashton Gate. The final League match at St John's Lane was played on 23 April 1904, with 4,000 watching City defeat Burslem Port Vale 2–1. St John's Lane remained in use as a sports ground with the sports and social club associated with E. S. & A. Robinson being based there until its closure. It later became the home of Broad Plain Rugby Club, alongside a housing estate that was built on part of the site. The main road through the estate was named Bristol South End.

References

{{Bristol City F.C. Defunct football venues in England Bristol City F.C. Defunct sports venues in Bristol Sports venues completed in 1894 English Football League venues Football venues in Bristol