SWVA Sports Trivia: Whose Stadium is Pictured Here?

[Liam McPoyle]

34 minutes ago, tbgfan said:

Liam you are like the Britannica Encyclopedia, a wealth of knowledge.  Go to the L-M

volume and there you are.  You've added new infusion  into digital sports in the off season.  Thanks  

Thank you...My wife refers to it as "useless knowledge" LOL 

[tbgfan]

27 minutes ago, Liam McPoyle said:

Thank you...My wife refers to it as "useless knowledge" LOL 

It may not be life altering, but it blesses our day.  Proverbs 18:22 says "He who finds a wife, finds a good thing and finds favor with God."   Can't say it any better than this. 

 

[swva_fan]

1 hour ago, Liam McPoyle said:

1inStripes got it! It's Mitchell Stadium. 

Thanks to @Bluefield researcher for providing the photo and info

It was originally named Municipal Stadium and was later renamed for Bluefield, WV City Manager, George Mitchell. He was instrumental in securing the Works Progress Administration project, discreetly donating large amounts of his money, and personally guaranteeing loans.

 

old Bluefield Municipal Airport where Municipal/Mitchell Stadium was built

https://www.airfields-freeman.com/VA/Airfields_VA_W.htm#bluefield

 

[Liam McPoyle]

2 hours ago, swva_fan said:

old Bluefield Municipal Airport where Municipal/Mitchell Stadium was built

https://www.airfields-freeman.com/VA/Airfields_VA_W.htm#bluefield

 

Fascinating stuff...Thanks for sharing

[SW_VA_boy]

Throw my hat in the ring

 

In the SWVA area, school still open

last year of use by HS in football in 1977

former Appy League stadium as well

 

[Liam McPoyle]

6 minutes ago, SW_VA_boy said:

Throw my hat in the ring

 

In the SWVA area, school still open

last year of use by HS in football in 1977

former Appy League stadium as well

 

Good one....I was actually looking at this one last night, so I won't answer just yet.

[Liam McPoyle]

Last hosted a game in 2014

Top photos are from Facebook by a cleanup crew in 2024

The bottom photo is by Rick Baker of Fourseasonsfootball.com, which I grayscaled and redacted the mascot name.

The stadium is famous for aerial attacks and mud

[tornado99]

That has to be Sandlick/Haysi.

[SW_VA_boy]

Sandlick

[Liam McPoyle]

Correct. 

3 minutes ago, tornado99 said:

That has to be Sandlick/Haysi.

 

1 minute ago, SW_VA_boy said:

Sandlick

Correct!

Sandlick, home of the Haysi Tigers

[Liam McPoyle]

Photo by Rick Baker

Photo by Jeff Williams, Giles at Haysi (1993 State Semi-Final)

[Hokiebird7]

29 minutes ago, Liam McPoyle said:

Last hosted a game in 2014

Top photos are from Facebook by a cleanup crew in 2024

The bottom photo is by Rick Baker of Fourseasonsfootball.com, which I grayscaled and redacted the mascot name.

The stadium is famous for aerial attacks and mud

Greatest atmosphere ever

[Liam McPoyle]

Since the high school closed, this stadium has mainly hosted soccer games and an impromptu Royal Rumble

[SW_VA_boy]

25 minutes ago, Liam McPoyle said:

Since the high school closed, this stadium has mainly hosted soccer games and an impromptu Royal Rumble

Appalachia

 

Really wished we got to play there instead of in Big Stone in 94.  Nothing against the Park.  It was rocking and as great a place as always but neutral sites kinda ruin it for me.  Although, probably needed it there just to have enough seating anyway.  

[Liam McPoyle]

2 minutes ago, SW_VA_boy said:

Appalachia

 

Really wished we got to play there instead of in Big Stone in 94.  Nothing against the Park.  It was rocking and as great a place as always but neutral sites kinda ruin it for me.  Although, probably needed it there just to have enough seating anyway.  

Yes, home field of the Appalachia Bulldogs.

I do wonder what Coaches Riggs and Turner would think about their field being used for soccer.

[rjhall71]

20 hours ago, Liam McPoyle said:

 

I'll do one more for tonight. 

This one's tricky.

Stadium #10

You likely wouldn't recognize the stadium or the school by looking at the picture

Hints:

-Last hosted a game in 1986

-The high school in the foreground now serves as the middle school after consolidation

-The elementary school in front of the stadium is still open

-The North Fork of the Holston River runs behind the stadium

-The school's mascot can be found on the surrounding farms

Thank you so much for sharing this. I lost all of my yearbooks a long way back, and being able to see the field brings back so many good memories. There was nothing better than Friday nights @ RVHS. 

[CPF]

Withers field  in Wytheville is the actual name.

[Gridiron60]

1 hour ago, CPF said:

Withers field  in Wytheville is the actual name.

Not sure but wouldn’t surprise me if it was renamed after Donnie Pruitt. 

[Liam McPoyle]

 

The school opened in 1960 but had to use their rival's field for six seasons. 

The stadium opened in 1966 and was built through the combined efforts of students and community patrons

[Liam McPoyle]

7 hours ago, rjhall71 said:

Thank you so much for sharing this. I lost all of my yearbooks a long way back, and being able to see the field brings back so many good memories. There was nothing better than Friday nights @ RVHS. 

I'm glad you enjoyed the pic. Rich Valley is such a special place with many wonderful people

[CPF]

4 hours ago, Liam McPoyle said:

 

The school opened in 1960 but had to use their rival's field for six seasons. 

The stadium opened in 1966 and was built through the combined efforts of students and community patrons

Fort Chiswell

[1inStripes]

Fort has one of the  more underrated setups for home fans.  Sitting back in the pines where its dark.  

[stu_bean]

17 minutes ago, 1inStripes said:

Fort has one of the  more underrated setups for home fans.  Sitting back in the pines where its dark.  

and one of the absolute worst for visitors

[Liam McPoyle]

2 hours ago, CPF said:

Fort Chiswell

CPF is correct! 

-Fort Chiswell played their "home" games at Wytheville's Withers Field from 1960 to '65

-Long-time Salem Coach Willis White won the first game at the new stadium. White led the Pioneers from 1966-'68

-In 1971 the stadium was dedicated to the memory of C. F. McKenney, a popular teacher and faithful worker in the Fort's athletic programs

 

[SW_VA_boy]

2 hours ago, stu_bean said:

and one of the absolute worst for visitors

and playing surface-wise, the MED's closest thing to Haysi for being a muddy slog in weeks 9, 10, and 11.