WestBrom.com : The Hawthorns - Timeline : The Independent West Bromwich Albion Website

A brief history of the Stadium developments occurring at The Hawthorns since:

1900

The ground officially opened on Monday 3 September 1900, for the First Division game between West Bromwich Albion and Derby County. At the time The Hawthorns could house 35,500 fans, and there were 20,104 present on the opening day to see Steve Bloomer (Derby) score the first goal, with 'Chippy' Simmons equalising for Albion.

1904

The old Stoney Lane stand, known as 'Noah's Ark', which had been transferred to The Hawthorns, burned down on Bonfire Night.

1905

A half-time scoreboard was installed at the ground for the first time.

1906

A new stand was constructed at the Smethwick End.

1911

Main Halfords Lane stand overhauled; banking increased on the Handsworth side.

1912

Following a mini subsidence, the Hawthorns pitch was completely re-turfed.

1913

Albion purchased the freehold of The Hawthorns for just £5,350.

1914

Halfords Lane stand extended.

1920

Concrete terracing installed and a concrete wall was constructed to replace the wooden fencing surrounding the playing area.

1923

The embankment on the Handsworth side (opposite the main stand) was extended further back and the roof heightened.

1924

Ground capacity officially put at 65,000

1931

Terracing all round ground finally completed and tip-up seats were put in the wing-stands. The nearby Hawthorns Halt railway station on the Great Western Line was opened on Christmas Day.

1934

A new stand with 750 extra seats was completed at the Smethwick / Halfords Lane corner. This brought the capacity of the Hawthorns up to nearly 66,000.

1935

A new oak-panelled tea-room was constructed.

1939

The wooden roof over the Halfords Lane stand was dismantled and replaced by asbestos sheeting which rested on five giant steel stanchions. The roof was also extended outwards to the front of the terraces.

1940 -
1945

Owing to the war, very little work was carried out on the ground.

1947

A new block of turnstiles was erected on the Handsworth side behind the Woodman Corner.

1949

The wooden terraces in front of the main Halfords Lane stand were replaced by concrete and 750 extra seats were installed in the stand itself. The first electronic turnstile aggregator to be installed on a Football League ground in Britain was housed at The Hawthorns.

1950

A new directors' box was provided and the club's offices and dressing rooms were modernised.

1951

Eight new turnstiles were introduced at the Smethwick End.

1957

Floodlights were installed at the ground for the first time at a cost of £18,000.

1958

A wing stand (at the West Bromwich / Birmingham Road End) was added to the Halfords Lane stand.

1961

A new car park for some 600 vehicles was opened off Middlemore Road (behind the Handsworth Road stand). By 1964 they were four car parks within 800 yards of the ground.

1964

The Rainbow Stand, costing £40,000 was erected on the Handsworth side. It contained over 4,000 tip-up seats and was paid for with funds from the Development Association. The 'old' Handsworth stand was transferred across to cover the terracing behind the Birmingham Road goal.

1965

The first Throstle Club (for supporters) was opened next to The Hawthorns.

1967

Buffet bars inside the ground were renovated at a cost of £20,000.

1968

The Hawthorns Halt railway station was closed down.

1969

First-ever 'Open Day' for supporters held at The Hawthorns.

1970

Floodlighting renovated four-fold to fall in line with colour TV transmissions.

1976

Fourteen executive boxes installed in front of the Rainbow Stand and an extra 750 paddock seats were also put in.

1977

Executive box complex completed. Terracing reconstructed at the Smethwick and Birmingham Road ends and new crush-barriers erected.

1979

Work started on the new £2.5 million stand to accommodate 4,500 spectators on the Halfords Land side of the ground. This was built in two phases, 1979-82, and included 26 executive boxes.

1983

The Hawthorns Throstle Club (next to ground) was closed down. A large electronic scoreboard was erected on the front of the stand at the Smethwick End (this was removed in 1985).

1985

Smethwick End stand re-roofed. New safety measures installed at the ground.

1986

Crowd control video system installed at the ground.

1989

Major safety work carried out throughout the ground following the Hillsborough disaster.

1989

Sponsors' Lounge opened in the corner of the Halfords Lane stand next to the Birmingham Road terraces.

1990

The Hawthorns pitch was completely re-turfed for only the second time in 90 years. Sods of turf were then sold to supporters as souvenirs.

1991

In February, a major pipe-burst caused thousands of pounds worth of damage in the Halfords Lane complex. In December, television pictures of Albion's away FA Cup-tie with Leyton Orient were beamed back to The Hawthorns on two giant screens which were erected in front of the main stand.

1992

The roof was removed from above the Smethwick End terracing as plans were put into motion to redevelop the ground and make it into an all-seater stadium.

1994

Birmingham Road terracing dug up as work continued on redeveloping The Hawthorns. Albion kicked-off the 1994-95 season with five away League games as the ground redevelopment came to a conclusion.

1995

Work completed on Albion's all-seater stadium (including a new set of floodlights priced at £88,000) at a combined cost of £4.15 million, of which the club received £2,097,000 from the Football Trust. The 'new' modernised Hawthorns was officially opened for the First Division League visit of Bristol City on Boxing Day (Albion won 1-0).

The Hawthorns Museum was officially opened by manager Alan Buckley and The Hawthorns railway station was re-opened after 27 years.

2000

The Hawthorns celebrates it's Centenary.

2001

The Rainbow Stand was demolished after 37 years to make way for the new East Stand. The Rainbow Stand was used for the last time in the 1-0 New Years Days victory over Barnsley. Work starts on the new £7.5 million stand shortly after and opens in time for the first home game of the 2001/02 against Grimsby Town.

2002

The club introduce a Stilecard access system in the summer of 2002 and the old Halfords Lane Stand turnstiles were replaced. Two big screens in widescreen format were also installed costing £500.000 each. In October Albion purchased the Woodman pub and surrounding land.

2003

The Jeff Astle Memorial Gates were erected with the unveiling taking place on July 11th.

2004

The Woodman pub was demolished in June 2004 enabling the club to extend the capacity of The Hawthorns to over 30,000, although the land is currently being used for car parking space.

2008

Work started on a £3million refurbishment on the Halfords Lane Stand in March which will be known as the West Stand from the start of the 2008-09 season. Work is set to be completed in time for Albion's annual home pre-season friendly in August.