FC Dieppe-Stade Maurice Thoumyre;Dieppe, France

We were a season too late to see a match here, as it closed a year before. Thankfully this former home of FC Dieppe, opened in 1927, hadn't been bulldozed yet, for my visit in May 2007. The pitch appeared to be still in use, so I don't know if it was still used by a local side. But I had been told it was due for demolition, as part of an extension for one of the local companies located around there. Maurice Thoumyre was a former president of FC Dieppe, & former Mayor of the town, who died prematurely from illness, in 11937, aged only 52.

I do not know if the ground has been demolished since my visit.



These were the ticket booths outside.



we entered behind the goal, from a gap in the fence, from the road. Behind the goal were these old buildings, they looked like an old clubhouse & offices. We are going to head round anti-clockwise, going towards the main stand first.



From behind the goal we see the old wooden stand.



Looking across the pitch I attempt an arty flowery shot!



Here is the stand itslef. Note the high mesh fences in front of it.



The seats are, surprisingly to an inner city Londoner, still in place.



The players tunnel, in the middle, which is surprisingly accessible.



This is one of the changing rooms underneath.



Looking down the players tunnel.



A cartoon left behind. I have no idea what it says!



Well I suppose if the ground was closing there was no harm in leaving your team on the door!



Oh dear! How French!



Back out in the open, we look across the pitch.



Going onto the pitch we look toward the dugouts, with the tannoy box at the back.



Fellow Dulwich Hamlet fans Mark & Paul go into management mode. Although we can't be sure we beleive this may have been the very ground where Dulwich Hamlet teams played on tour in the twenties & thirties.



They're clearly enjoying themselves!



Some people never grow up! ;-)



Ooh! I would say 'good save keeper!'..but in that goal?



Time for a 'power nap' after all that exercise! This litle dugout was inbetween the main two, presumably for the fourth official?



Moving along we glance back down the stand.



Starting to be overgrown, it looks rather sad, but you can't stand in the way of progress they say.



It's open behind the goal, with a training area behind.



Now overgrown, as you can see here.



The old scoreboard remains in the corner.



From this corner we look back across the pitch.



A decent stretch of open terrace down the far side, already 'returning to nature'.



Another angle of it, from the back.



And directly opposite the main stand.



I would guess there were old barriers here.



More overgrown terracing as we continue along.



In the corner are the old, 'traditional' open urinals.



And as for the actual toilets...I hope they used to have doors on them! ;-)



Another flowery shot before we go. A poppy to remember the ghosts of footballers past who graced the turf here. We shall remember them...