Happy Birthday Pride Park

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR PRIDE PARK, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU”.

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Yes Pride Park Stadium is officially 5 years old today. Opened by The Queen on July 18^th 1997.

I was unfortunate enough to be on holiday when the opening ceremony took place but have several snaps of the day courtesy of a friend of mine who was there.

Many things have taken place since the opening with the new Pirelli stand filling in the South West corner and more recently the relaying of the red perimeter track around the pitch. There was also the first full International to be played at the stadium between England and Mexico, which I was privileged enough to see.

England under21 matches have also featured on three occasions at the ground.

It is unfortunate that Derby County will not be in the Premiership as was the case the last time The Queen visited Pride Park. However it should make quite a spectacle as 20,000+ wish The Queen well on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee on August 1^st.