Football Clubs

Premiership Football Clubs

Dates refer to when the advice was given and is liable to change so please contact club to get permission before organising a scattering ceremony.

In alphabetical order (wouldn’t want to show any allegiance!)

Arsenal – ashes are not interred or scattered at Emirates stadium. Also, there is no memorial plaque within the Stadium for individual memorials. The board arrived at this decision after much consultation and had investigated many different avenues. However if you visit the Arsenal website; www.arsenal.com/armourysquare you can have a personalised granite stone done in memory of your loved one which will be placed outside the Armoury Square. 14/06/10

Aston Villa  – regrettably, the club is no longer in a position to accept requests for the scattering of ashes. We no longer have areas of Villa Park that are suitable for ashes to remain, and we would not want to scatter ashes in locations that would not be fitting or appropriate. Likewise we are faced with the same issues at Bodymoor Heath.  To recognise the passing of our fans and former players, the Club is looking at other fitting ways to pay tribute to them. We will be publishing something in the near future on our website,which will provide the details of how families and friends can remember a loved one. 16/06/10

Blackburn Rovers –  ash scatterings can be arranged through the clubs Chaplin although not on the pitch, they have a lovely garden of remembrance adjacent to the ground near the river. 29/06/10

Blackpool – The club don’t actually allow scattering of ashes but we allow the ashes to be buried at the side of the pitch. 14/06/10

Birmingham City - The club organise this service through the co-op funeral service 01543 421389. They allow a ceremony on most non match days, they can provide for largish groups, it is assisted by a funeral director, refreshment and a room can be provided. Because this is arranged by a funeral director there is a small charge, but this is very reasonable, at the time of writing this was £60. 29/06/10

Bolton Wanderers - They offer a really comprehensive approach which has to be applauded – they allow the scattering of ashes, it is organised through the club’s chaplain, they produce a leaflet on the subject which you need to contact the club for. Also, fans can have there names memorialised in a walkway and book of remembrance. 29/07/10

Chelsea – the club don’t offer the service, [they] have too many games and are unable to commit to doing it. 14/06/10

Everton -  The club has for a number of years, since the eighties, allowed supporters to bury the ashes of their loved ones around the perimeter of the pitch, we would dig a hole approx. 300mm x 300mm x 300mm where the grass meets the perimeter track and they could bury the Cask or just sprinkle the ashes in, the soil and piece of Turf would then be placed on top. We also allowed the fitting of a small Plaque to the Upstand in memory if they wished. [They] did a few years ago reach the end in that we have gone all around the Pitch and can no longer offer this service, but have an arrangement with the Vicar of St. Luke’s Church which is adjacent to the Stadium and indeed if you know Goodison Park forms a prominent part of the Stadium, were he allows Ashes to be spread across his Memorial Garden, that is at the rear of the Church and backs onto the Stadium. 16/06/10

Fulham –  The club do not offer supporters the opportunity to scatter ashes at Craven Cottage and we are currently looking to an alternative. 16/06/10

Liverpool - The Club offer appointments to scatter ashes, but we now feel a responsibility to explain our pitch refurbishment procedures, which takes place during our closed season.  We remove the top layer of sand/soil, organic matter, and grass blades before resurfacing with the new sand/soil mix and grass seed.  In short, the thin top layer of the pitch is removed and replaced. If a family wishes to have a Priest, Vicar etc. in attendance to say a few prayers whilst the ashes are being scattered, then that is not a problem, a maximum of 6 people only to attend.  The groundsman scatters the ashes and advises the family as to where they will be spread. Scattering of Ashes are by appointment only, bookings are taken the beginning of August 2010 for September onwards on a first come first service, the last appointment will be at the end of April, there is no cost involved for this service. 14/06/10

Manchester City – There is a Memorial Garden available at the Stadium for families of fans to spread ashes and take time to remember. This garden is located outside Entrance S at The Colin Bell Stand. The Garden has been created by volunteers, including staff at the Club and local businesses. The Garden is maintained by staff at the Club and there is no charge for the use of the garden. To arrange a time to spread ashes or hold a short service, please call Reception on 0161 438 7601

All respect will be given to those who visit the Memorial Garden but please be aware that it is a working Stadium. Flowers and cards ONLY may be left at the garden. It is not possible for any kind of permanent memorials/plates or personal plantings. If left, they will be removed. MCFC will regularly clear the garden of faded flowers and cards etc and will as necessary, dig in ashes. We can also arrange for our Club Reverend to attend and hold a short service if he is available for your requested date. If you would be interested in this, please contact Reception and we can try to arrange this for you. The Memorial Garden is an on-going development and its layout and content will be reviewed on a regular basis. The views of those using the garden are always welcome.

There is also a Remembrance book that is located at the main reception which visitors are welcome to sign with a message of condolence. Please contact Reception if you have any questions or wish to arrange a date to use the Memorial Garden to lay ashes. 28/06/10

Manchester United -  The club have asked that we make no comment. Should you wish to pursue this, you would need to contact the Museum and Tour centre at Old Trafford. 29/06/10

Newcastle United – They do not allow families to scatter ashes at St James’ Park. 29/07/10

Tottenham Hotspur – regretfully [the club] do not permit the scattering or internment of ashes at the White Hart Lane Stadium. This is due to the chemical reaction caused with the ashes and mixture of fertilisers and pesticides used on the playing surface cause a level of burning to the polypropylene system used to strengthen the pitch and can cause disease to the playing surface. The pitch is also “scraped” clean at the end of every season, so any remains that were to be scattered would be invariably lost at this time. We do have within the plans for the new training academy at Bulls Cross, to include a Garden of Remembrance where supporters will be able to scatter ashes and visit on anniversaries or important dates. Supporters can also request a small obituary in the match programme. 16/06/10

Stoke City – Unfortunately [they] no longer allow scatterings at The Britannia Stadium. 28/06/10

Sunderland  – The club allow ashes to be buried at the stadium for SAFC supporters at certain times in the year. Dates need to be booked with the club. 16/06/10

West Bromwich Albion  – The club have a garden of remembrance at The Hawthorns which is where ashes can be scattered and small plaques left for loved ones that have passed away. The garden is situated in the corner of the East stand car park. Ashes can be scattered at any time (other than match days) and the family is welcome to have a minister or alike present if they so wish. The garden is currently being extended at present, with all works expected to be completed by the middle of July 2010. We do not permit the scattering of ashes on the pitch. 16/06/10

West Ham  – West Ham [have] stopped scattering ashes on the pitch a number of year go, [they] did bury ashes in a memorial garden at the ground but have stopped as it is full. 18/06/10

Wigan - The club do not permit scattering of ashes at the DW Stadium. 16/06/10

Wolverhampton Wanderers - are currently having work carried out on the pitch, they are making a decision at the end of September as to whether they will continue the service. 29/06/10

And finally…

Wembley Stadium – They do not offer this service. 29/07/10