Meadowbank Stadium started life as 'Old Meadowbank' in 1934 as a multi-purpose sports facility, mainly used as a football stadium by Leith Athletic between the 1930s and 1950s and as a motorcycle speedway track. The original stadium was demolished in the late 1960s to make way for the new Meadowbank Stadium which was built to host the 1970 Commonwealth Games. In the early months of 2019 the stadium was demolished and work begun on construction of its replacement, a much smaller more compact facility, which opened in 2022. Pictured above is a youth athletics meeting in 2004.placeholder image
Meadowbank Stadium started life as 'Old Meadowbank' in 1934 as a multi-purpose sports facility, mainly used as a football stadium by Leith Athletic between the 1930s and 1950s and as a motorcycle speedway track. The original stadium was demolished in the late 1960s to make way for the new Meadowbank Stadium which was built to host the 1970 Commonwealth Games. In the early months of 2019 the stadium was demolished and work begun on construction of its replacement, a much smaller more compact facility, which opened in 2022. Pictured above is a youth athletics meeting in 2004.

Edinburgh's Meadowbank Stadium: 29 great photos showing the changing face of Meadowbank over the years

Kevin Quinn
By Kevin Quinn

Reporter

Published 16th Sep 2023, 04:45 GMT

The changing face of Edinburgh’s premier athletics stadium

We’ve taken a look back in our photo archive to see the changing face of Edinburgh’s Meadowbank Stadium over the years.

Edinburgh’s top athletics stadium has seen many top athletics events over the years including the Commonwealth Games in 1970 and 1986, as well non-athletics events like Edinburgh Rugby matches and football matches involving home sides Spartans, Edinburgh City and Meadowbank Thistle, having previously been a popular speedway track for many years.

Speedway at Meadowbank in the 1960s - Sunderland Saints in action against Edinburgh. Speedway was not incorporated in the new stadium which opened in 1970 as the Government of the day would not fund stadiums which would be used by professional sports. Edinburgh Monarchs raced at Cliftonhill in Coatbridge for two seasons before they closed. Speedway was revived in Edinburgh at Powderhall Stadium which operated 1977 to 1995. The Monarchs are now based at the Armadale Stadium, on the eastern outskirts of Armadale in West Lothian.

21. Close to the action

Speedway at Meadowbank in the 1960s - Sunderland Saints in action against Edinburgh. Speedway was not incorporated in the new stadium which opened in 1970 as the Government of the day would not fund stadiums which would be used by professional sports. Edinburgh Monarchs raced at Cliftonhill in Coatbridge for two seasons before they closed. Speedway was revived in Edinburgh at Powderhall Stadium which operated 1977 to 1995. The Monarchs are now based at the Armadale Stadium, on the eastern outskirts of Armadale in West Lothian. Photo: Archives

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An aerial photo of the 1970 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.

22. Bird's eye view

An aerial photo of the 1970 Commonwealth Games opening ceremony. Photo: Archives

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George McNeill wins the final of the New Year sprint at Meadowbank in January 1970.

23. Winner

George McNeill wins the final of the New Year sprint at Meadowbank in January 1970. Photo: Alex Brown

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The iconic main stand at Meadowbank Stadium, pictured in 2013, when plans were approved by the council to redevelop the site.

24. Gone but not forgotten

The iconic main stand at Meadowbank Stadium, pictured in 2013, when plans were approved by the council to redevelop the site. Photo: Cate Gillon

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