Celebrating 30 years of the family stand | The changing face of Glebe Road

While debate continues over the future use of the GH Display stand and the London Road End, another part of our home ground has quietly marked an important milestone. 

The Meerkat Family Stand – as it is known these days – has just celebrated its 30^th birthday, having opened to supporters for the first time on 26 March 1996. 

What better excuse for a trip down memory lane to look at the origins of the stand and the famous terrace it replaced. 

Not the first attempt 

The club decided in the middle of the 1990s it needed more seats and a new stand on Glebe Road was the answer. But this wasn’t the first time the idea had been floated. 

“In the early 1960s, they were contemplating building a double-decker stand on that side with a standing area underneath and seating area on top,” explained club statistician Mick Robinson. 

“There were lots of complaints from the people on Glebe Road, but I am not sure whether it was that or a lack of finance that meant it didn’t happen. It never got off the ground, and that’s when that terrace was built.” 

The old terrace  

While most of the current generation of Posh fans only know the family stand, the older supporters may have grown up standing exposed to the elements in the old Glebe Road terrace. 

When football first arrived at the London Road ground late in the 19^th century, there was nothing on the Glebe Road side. 

It stayed that way until the current team took over in 1934. Then there was a small, raised bank, with a much smaller capacity, only housing a crowd ten people deep at most. 

This was built up at the end of the 1950s with old rubble and bricks, with some of the players even helping with their spades. 

A wooden shelter, which was on the other side of the ground, was moved over to the Glebe Road some time between 1952 and 1955 and stayed there until the pitch was moved. It held around 250 people. 

This was followed in 1963 by proper concrete terracing, which remained in place until it was demolished in 1995. The only additions were four luxury boxes and associated seating, along with a platform for television cameras, installed in 1984. 

A big change

The old Glebe Road terrace shut on the last day of the 1994-1995 season before being demolished. But there was nearly a big change to the stand as we know it. 

Mick explained: “Initially in the concourse at the Moys Lane End, there was going to be a hostel or living area for youth team players but that never got into the final stand.” 

The £1.4 million contract to build the 5,000-capacity stand went to Lincoln contractors Linpave, who had completed similar projects for Lincoln City and Burnley. The Football Trust contributed around £900,000 towards the cost. 

Plans of the Family Stand showing the original concourse layout

Photos taken during various stages of the Family Stand build by Mick Robinson 

“There weren’t that many concerns other than the people in Glebe Road being worried about loss of light and tv reception,” Mick added. 

The Family Stand

The stand has had a few different names with sponsorship from Freemans, Thomas Cook, Norwich and Peterborough Building Society, and the BGL Group.

It has been the Meerkat Family Stand since the start of the 2022/2023 season.

30 years on, and its 4,637 seats are regularly filled by fans of all ages.

Peter Burrow's "home" is tucked away at the end of the concourse. On match days, it's full of children enjoying activities, having their faces painted and posing for photos with Peter.

From the youngest taking their seat for the first time clutching a small rabbit, to long time fans who prefer the comfortable seating, spacious concourse and many kiosks, the Family Stand still remains a popular choice.

Your Glebe Road memories

I’m not sure I can say what my dad said when they put the bars up on London Road, but that is why we moved to Glebe Road.

It was good fun running up each end to watch which half Posh were scoring at. There was no covering, so you got wet when it rained, some even put umbrellas up.

The one memory which sticks out is the Tommy Robson game, he was one of our favourites and they threw signed footballs into the crowd and my cousin caught one, then threw it away! I was fuming, which is probably why it sticks in my memory.

Teresa Underwood

I moved from London Road stand to the family stand with dear departed Roy Marshal when it first opened.  We met in the London Road stand and despite the age difference we became very close friends due to our love of Posh and football and could talk for hours on who should start.  

We bought our seats just below the executive boxes and in line with the halfway line so I can see the players down the tunnel getting ready for action.  

We don’t get wet when it rains. I still have this seat to this day. When we took our seats for the first time, it was a totally different experience watching the game from the side and getting a much better view.  

The toilets didn’t smell and you also know we didn’t have to rush to get to our viewing spot as it was there just waiting for me. The family stand has changed how I watch football for several reasons. I will never give up this seat as I think it is the best in the stand. 

Peter McKendrick

I have always been on Glebe Road, from about same time the main stand opposite was built and the pitch moved over, always to the right of the first tunnel from London Road end. There wasn’t a wall behind the top step, just a bank of mud!  

The tea bar used was usually staffed by three people but still managed to serve all the customers before the second half, not like now, but then they didn’t have a big menu! The one smelly toilet block was very basic, with a couple of cubicles and a urinal running length of building! If you were late you could bang on double doors and steward would let you in.

For the Arsenal cup game my dad took two 5-gallon oil drums and a plank and set them up on the top step; we had a great view!  

I always stood until the new stand was built, then had seats on back row in line roughly where we’ve always been but now are in same number seats but lower level.

Rob Goodwin 

I used to go with my dad and my brother, we had a crate each, and we would be carried to the front, over people's heads to stand at the wall.  

My dad stood at the back, and we wouldn't see him until the end of the game, as the Glebe was packed in them days.

Simon Paul Bosett

I remember standing upon milk floats so I could see over the wall. I went on to become a ball boy at Glebe and the Moys end.

Stuart Cave

I stood on the Glebe from my first visit with my Dad circa 1963 until it was demolished in the 1990s to be replaced by the current family stand, where I now have a season ticket and have had the same seat since it opened, so I guess I have watched Posh from the Glebe side for the last 63 years!  

Those early memories of standing on a crate to see over the wall or even sitting on the wall when we were regular cup giant killers beating the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool through the years. I stood with many friends and familiar faces ineach home game, and we shared some brilliantly funny moments.  

A couple in particular, the first was when we had a burly forward in the mid 90's named Sean Farrell (not to be confused with the legendary David!) who would often go on a rampaging run towards the opponents goal and one day a guy had bizarrely bought in a couple of coconut shells and as Sean went on a run the guy clapped the coconut shells together making the sound of a galloping horse (or donkey!) and we all fell about laughing. 

The second was when we were playing Burnley and a semi-famous player named Leighton James was in the twilight of his career and playing for Burnley and one guy shouted out to him "Is that your pension book in your back pocket? " Then a little later James proceeded to go on a mazy run and scored a bit of a worldie, and he immediately ran towards the Glebe looking for the guy who had earlier made the comment.

The memories of all of those years will stay with me forever, and there is no doubt that the Glebe Road terrace helped inspire my lasting love for our beloved club!

Tim Davison

I remember that they’d finished building it, but there was some sort of delay with the opening. As it was empty, Gary Martindale scored and the team ran over and just sat down in the front row to celebrate.

Ben Polkey

Loved the old Glebe Road. As a young lad me and my mates used to stand on a bit of raised bit of terrace when the floodlight was at the corner of London Road and Glebe Road. Great days and memories.

Adrian Travers

For the Arsenal game, 30/01/65, I sat on the wall (only 11 and small) and a steward from Arsenal, who were helping that day came and asked me to get off. My dad told him we had been coming years and I wouldn't be getting off. He disappeared  and came back with some sweets for me.

For the Swansea game, 20/02/65, dad and I stood behind one of the entrances to the Glebe side. I needed to go to the toilet and managed to fight my way though the crowd. When I came back I was met with a wall of bodies. Unable to get by them, my dad shouted to a guy and asked him to lift me up. Two men got me on their shoulders and dad and the guy next to him reached down and pulled me up.

16/08/75, First game of the season against Walsall. A young lady did a topless streak and as the police removed her from the pitch a guy who stood near us shouted, "Never mind the fine love I will pay it."

Mick Robinson

We'd like to extend our thanks to Mick Robinson for supplying the photos, plans and his incredible knowledge.