30,000-seat stadium on the banks of the River Tees were given the go-ahead in the spring of 1994, and construction work began that autumn, with the new stadium being ready for the 1995–96 season; when it became the first new stadium to be built by a top division club since Manchester City moved to Maine Road in 1923. The final competitive game at Ayresome Park was played against Luton Town on 30 April 1995 in a match which Boro won 2–1 to secure the Division One title and promotion to the Premier League, two years after being relegated. It was also a fine first season in management for the club's new manager Bryan Robson. John Hendrie, a key player for Boro during the first half of the 1990s, earned the honour of scoring the final competitive goal at Ayresome Park. The very last game at the ground was a sell-out testimonial match for long-serving goalkeeper Stephen Pears, who scored the ground's final goal, scoring from the penalty spot in a 3–1 win for Peter Beardsley's select XI against the Middlesbrough promotion winning side. The select XI's other goals were scored by Beardsley and Bernie Slaven; Paul Wilkinson scoring the Boro's only goal. Boro received the First Division Championship Trophy following the game. Ayresome Park was retained as a training ground for a year until a new facility was opened, and it was finally demolished in early 1997. The site of the stadium is now a housing estate. To commemorate the old ground, the gates of Ayresome Park have been erected outside the main entrance to the club's new ground, the Riverside Stadium. 1966 World Cup matches at Ayresome Park References External links Ayresome Park Remembered Website World Stadia Article Defunct football venues in England Sports venues in Middlesbrough Middlesbrough F.C. facilities 1966 FIFA World Cup stadiums Premier League venues Defunct sports venues in North Yorkshire Sports venues completed in 1903 1903 establishments in England Sports venues demolished in 1997 1997 disestablishments in England English Football League venues Demolished sports venues in the United Kingdom