History of Onchan
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Wembley Arena for the Rec

Work started in the School Road Recreation Ground on 23rd July in connection with the construction of a Wembley Arena. This is a trade name for a tarmacadam play area set within safety fencing and is marked out for football, netball and basketball.

The manufacturers of the Wembley Stadium is SMP who supplied much of the playground equipment in the Taverners Playground in Onchan Park several years ago. The contractors are Sharkey Construction of Laxey.

To start the job the contractor has made a temporary site access road from the Youth and Community Centre car park. The ground will be restored upon the completion of the works.

The size of the arena is indicated by the concrete kerb which is being installed. A goal mouth is to be seen on the left hand side. In the background the crane on the Bounty House site in Main Road where new apartments are being constructed.

Hardcore has been spread over most of the site ready for the tarmacadam finish to the play surface. The goal mouths and basket/netball hoops have been partially erected as has some of the perimeter fencing. The concrete kerb edging to contain the tarmacadam surfacing appears in the foreground with its concrete haunching which will be covered with soil and grassed over at the end of the job.

On Monday 20th August work started on applying the tarmacadam finish to the already well rolled hardcore base.

Employees from Colas tackle the spread of tarmac at the Nursery Avenue end of the Wembley Arena. In the background is the workshop erected in the 1930s by Fred Hodson an Onchan builder. During the Second World War it was the decontamination centre in the event of chemical warfare. A screen was erected down the centre of the building and the Onchan population were to walk naked alongside it (males one side, females the other) whilst volunteers from the Civil Defence hosed them down with a garden hose.

Another view of the tarmacadam work in progress shows part of the goal mouth area on the left. In the background on the right is the Onchan Youth and Community Centre which backs on to School Road.

On Saturday 8th September 2007 the official opening took place. The guest opener was Tony Mepham a member of the Isle of Man Football Association for 20 years, Vice-President for 8 years and now a life member. He previously lived in Onchan for 25 years and at Onchan School was captain of the football team. His playing career finished in 1995 when he became a part time football commentator on Manx Radio.

The morning started with a welcome from Chairman of the Commissioners, Tim Norton. Mrs Wendy Megson, Chairman of the Leisure and Amenities Committee then introduced Tony Mepham and invited him to cut the tape and declare the arena open. Pictured left to right Mrs Karen Norton, Tim Norton JP, Tony Mepham and Mrs Wendy Megson.

During his speech Tony Mepham encouraged the youths of Onchan to "use" the facility and not to "abuse" it. The official party is pictured here with some of the youngsters who were attending the Onchan AFC Juniors' training session on the adjoining grassed area at the time of the opening.