My Dander Round The Oval Home of Glentoran Football Club

The Oval is a football stadium in East Belfast, Northern Ireland. it has been home to Glentoran Football Club since 1892.
In 1941, the stadium was severely damaged by aerial bombing during the Belfast blitz of World War II and was unusable until 1949. A new main stand was constructed in 1953.
The stadium was refurbished with a new stand built in 2000, but requires consistent maintenance to fulfill health and safety requirements and its total capacity is currently restricted to 6,050. The Oval has occasionally hosted the final of the Irish Cup as well as hosting the final of the County Antrim Shield and the Setanta Cup.
The Oval is located near the Port of Belfast, and Harland and Wolff's Samson and Goliath cranes are visible from inside the stadium. It is viewed as a historic ground by football fans because of its concrete terraces and steel fencing. This limits its capacity in UEFA-sanctioned matches to the 3,000 seats in the two main stands as terracing has not been permitted in UEFA matches since 1998.
The stadium's capacity is 26,556, but was estimated in 2010 by the Northern Ireland Assembly to have a safe capacity of 5,056 under safety legislation. However, since 2011, the safe capacity permitted by Health and Safety authorities is 5,300; before 2010 the stadium could hold more than 8,000. Linfield's manager David Jeffrey criticised these restrictions and said that they were "murdering local football." The main stand holds 2,720 and the Railway stand holds 2,070. The Oval's record attendance is 55,000 for a European Cup Winners Cup match against Rangers on 27 September 1966.
I am interested in all aspects of the history of Belfast and beyond. Things often happen totally unexpectedly. Yesterday I got to walk in round the Oval in East Belfast. I got to see and walk round the pitch and the stands. I also got to have a wee look at the WW2 Type 24 pill box that overlooks the pitch. A rare building that reminds us all of darker days.
I am not a football fan but I do appreciate the passion that lies behind a love for any team or sport. I also realize the important weekly role of game of football in the lives of the people of Belfast.
I have passed by the Glens grounds at the Oval in East Belfast. I always wanted to get into it and have a look round. I know the Oval means so much to so many. Grandfathers, fathers and wee lads all came on a Saturday. To some, this place, just round the corner, became a place of pilgrimage and 'hallowed', ground. Others came after a hard weeks work in the Yard to simply enjoy the atmosphere, the banter and watch the Glens scoring goals and winning the game.
** I would like to thank Glentoran Football Club for allowing me to make this video. **
****I apologise in advance for anything in these video notes or my commentary that is incorrect. I am NOT a football fan, ( I do enjoy watching the goals) and at 71 year old, I do get things wrong. -I do realize how important football is to supporters. If pointed out i will amend the notes. Please do not be too harsh on me. *****