The Hawthorns has been the home of West Bromwich Albion Football Club for over 100 years and was one of the first Football League grounds to be built in the 20th century. It was officially opened on the 3rd September 1900 for Albion's First Division clash with Derby County after being completed within four months of laying the initial foundations.

Derby's Steve Bloomer scored the first ever goal during the first match at  The Hawthorns whilst 'Chippy' Simmons (left) became the first Baggies player to score at "The Hawthorns" when he grabbed the equalising goal. The game finished 1-1 in front of 20,104 fans.

The lease on Albion's previous ground in Stoney Lane, had expired in 1899, and the fact that Albion didn't own the ground meant the directors of the club were unwilling to spend money on improving what had become reportedly one of the worst grounds in the football league. However a one extension of the lease was required whilst the ground committee with Harry Keys, found a more suitable site to build the future Albion home ground upon.

Then on the 14th May 1900, the club officially sealed a new fourteen year lease on the ground you and I now know so affectionately as The Hawthorns.  Why the Hawthorns name, though?, Well according to the surveyors map, some reports suggest that the area surrounding the new site was referred to as the Hawthorns estate, along with many Hawthorn bushes which flourished on the site before work commenced so it became the obvious choice and nearing the end of the lease In 1913,  Albion purchased the freehold of The Hawthorns for £5,350.

With the club now owning the ground and due to the money raised through the teams success on the pitch ground improvements were carried out over a number of years taking the capacity up to around the 70,000 figure although the highest gate to assemble at the ground was some 5,000 short of that when 64,815 watched the FA Cup game with Arsenal in 1937. Over the years the capacity has gradually fallen and today stands at around the 28,003.

The Hillsborough disaster in 1989, changed the face of football grounds forever including The Hawthorns. In 1994 due to the Taylor Report both the Birmingham Road End and Smethwick End terraces were demolished and replaced by new all seated stands.

The new look Hawthorns was completed with the construction of a new East Stand in 2001.

Facts & Stats:

At 551 feet above sea level The Hawthorns is the highest league ground in the UK. Vale Park, home of Port Vale is second highest closely followed by Boundary Park, Oldham.