NETHERDALE’S infamous main stand has become the subject of a lengthy article in a magazine devoted to the history of football stadiums.

Vince Taylor, the editor of the British football grounds magazine Groundtastic, has written a seven page article about the stand.

And the concrete façade of the structure looms large on the cover of the publications Summer 2015 edition.

The magazine is now in its third decade and along with the review of the Fairydean Rovers stand the most recent edition includes articles on stadiums such as Heysel in Brussels, Norwich City’s Carrow Road and a look back at the terrible tragedy when fire broke out at Bradford City’s Valley Parade in 1985.

Gala’s controversial A-Listed structure was designed by renowned Borders based architect Peter Womersely and has been the subject of debate and discussion ever since it was opened in 1964.

For some, it is a brilliant example of modern design, whilst for others it is reminiscent of brutalist soviet architecture.

Historic Scotland however deemed the stand of such importance that it was awarded the status of an A-listed building in 2013. Along with Sir Archibald Leitch’s altogether more traditionally designed Main Stand at Ibrox, it is one of only two sporting structures in Scotland to receive the highest listing.

Writing in Groundtastic Vince Taylor stated: “Built 35 after the structure at Ibrox, the stand at Netherdale in Galashiels is of a different stamp entirely.

“While serving the same function of Leitch’s stand at Ibrox, it manages to be a stunning piece of concrete geometry.” Taylor added: “Ahead of its time, yet strangely of its time...half a century has lapsed since, like an alien spacecraft, Peter Womersley’s stand touched down in the tweed making town of Galashiels and despite its age, a sense of futuristic outlandishness endures.” The magazine contains a number of photographs of the wooden predecessor to Womersley’s creation, gifted to the town’s football club by the departing rugby club who moved several hundred yards up the Nether road to their present position.

Working with renowned engineering practice Ove Arup, Womersley created this shuttered concrete and brick structure at a cost of £25,000, most of which was raised through the highly successful lottery run by both Gala Fairydean and Gala Rovers.

Historic Scotland noted: “...the stand was referred to in the Architectural Review (March 1965) as a 'geometrical composition of unusual interest and subtlety’.

“The bold formalist design accentuates the essential elements of the football stand, a building type that had, up until that point, been exclusively functional in its construction.

“This approach to sports stadium design has become more common in recent times.” From his home in Gattonside, Yorkshireman Womersley designed other notable Borders buildings such as the Council Headquarters at Newtown St Boswells, The Church Square flats in Galashiels and Bernat Klein’s famous design studio on the outskirts of Selkirk.

Gala Fairydean Rovers Secretary Graeme McIver told us: “We are delighted that our stand continues to be the subject of such widespread debate, discussion and interest.

“Last year an architectural firm from Edinburgh did a presentation on the structure to an International Architectural Conference and we are often contacted by architectural students keen to find out more about its construction and design.

“The club plans to work with Historic Scotland to restore and repair aspects of the structure, which turned 50 last year, to ensure that it continues to be a source of discussion for generations to come.”