Bulldozers move in as derelict stadium makes way for school

The historic West Hull stadium, the Boulevard, will be bulldozed to allow a new academy to be built under the city's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

The ground had been home to the Airlie Birds for 107 years until the club moved to the KC Stadium in West Park in 2003.

But it has since fallen into disrepair and become a target for vandals.

Pete Allen, Chairman of FC Voices, the communications arm of the fans of Hull FC, said: "It will be a sad day for every fan of our club when the bulldozers move in, for they will be removing what had been, since 1895, the home of the Airlie Birds and the spiritual home of hundreds of thousands of Hull FC supporters.

"Progress is inevitable, but it is important that in the future the heritage, location and origins of the famous club, are remembered. The creation of a fitting memorial as part of the new development will put down a marker for future generations, and in the coming months FC Voices will continue to work closely with the council to ensure this objective is realised."

Officials say the ground's turf will not be disturbed as the ashes of many supporters have been scattered over the pitch. It will be moved at a later date when the right spot is found.

The original foundation stones from the stadium, which were laid by councillors when the Boulevard was built, have been salvaged and put in store.

They may eventually incorporated into a memorial.

The rugby posts have been taken down and stored at West Hull FC Rugby Club, where they may be reused.

The stadium has been used for amateur and youth rugby teams and until summer 2009 was used for greyhound racing. The East Stand was demolished four years ago due to health and safety fears, leaving just the famous Threepenny Stand, which was rebuilt in 1995.

The new school will replace Endeavour High on Beverley Road, opened nine years ago at a cost of 15m, which the council now says was in the wrong place.

Demolition manager Richard Hall, from contractor DJ Broady, is a season pass holder and has been going to games since the age of six.

He said: "There's very little that appertains to what it was – it is derelict and quite unsafe.

"The demolition will be done with care and respect because it is my own club. But it is progress."

A spokesman for BSF said the work should take around five weeks: "There's been pressure from a health and safety perspective. Vandals have got in and done an awful lot of damage.

"People who live adjacent have become concerned about their own boundaries not being secure. During the demolition there will be security 24/7."

The new school will be the fourth academy built in the city under the controversial Building Schools for the Future programme. A 400m investment will see every secondary and special school in the city rebuilt or remodelled by 2015 in 23 separate projects.

Education officials hope the newly-remodelled schools provide the step change needed to improve the city's educational standing.

The city is now ranked second bottom in a table of England's 149 education authorities, having climbed up a place from the previous year.

Although Hull was reprieved the Government has scrapped more than 80 projects in the region worth almost 1bn.

Education Secretary Michael Gove said the BSF scheme had been beset by "massive overspends, tragic delays, botched construction projects and needless bureaucracy."