Wikipedia

Stade de la Croix du Prince

The Stade de la Croix du Prince, officially named as Stade Albert-Cazenave since 1982, served as Pau's primary stadium until the early 1990s. It was the home of Section Paloise from 1910 to 1990 and remains an iconic venue in French rugby history. Designed in an English style, with wooden stands inaugurated on 2 October 1913, the stadium was famed for its passionate atmosphere and close proximity to supporters.

Stade de la Croix du Prince
Stade de la Croix du Prince in 1913.
Map
Former namesStade Albert-Cazenave
Address78 Rue du 14 Juillet
Pau
France
Location
Coordinates43°17′17″N 0°22′54″W / 43.28806°N 0.38167°W / 43.28806; -0.38167
OwnerSection Paloise (1910-1993)
City of Pau (since 1993)
TypeMultiuse stadium
Capacity1,000
Record attendance16,000 (football, rugby)
Field size120 m × 70 m (131.2 yd × 76.6 yd)
Construction
Broke ground1 July 1910; 114 years ago (1910-07-01)
Built1910–1913
Opened16 October 1910; 114 years ago (1910-10-16)
Expanded1952
ArchitectJules Noutary
Tenants
  • Section Paloise (1910–90)

Owned by Section Paloise until 1993, the stadium has since been reduced in capacity but continues to host youth matches. Due to safety concerns and financial difficulties, La Section moved to the Stade du Hameau in the 1990s and ultimately sold the Croix du Prince to the local council.

Despite its decline in the 1990s and the stands' demolition in March 2019, the Stade de la Croix du Prince remains a cherished landmark in Pau, reflecting the rich history and passion for rugby in the region.

History

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The Section Paloise began its journey at Champ Bourda, [1] which later became the 'Pelouse des Jeux' or 'Ground of the Girondine League', inaugurated in 1906. The Champ Bourda was located in the area that is now Square Mazoyer, west of the Rue du 14 Juillet. It hosted polo matches in the 1890s and was used for rugby from the early 1900s.[2]

Opening

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On 16 October 1910, the Stade de la Croix du Prince was inaugurated during a match against Bergerac, with over 3,000 spectators attending.[3] Section won 13-0. By 1913, the stadium had to undergo renovations to increase its capacity and comfort.[4]

The construction of the stands began in 1913 when Section Paloise decided to enhance its infrastructure in response to increasing attendance. To finance these improvements, the general assembly approved a loan, and within a week, 20,000 francs were secured. The work, overseen by the Lalaserre company and architect Jules-Antoine Noutary, started in the summer and was completed before 10 September 1910. The stadium was inaugurated on 5 October 1913, during a match against CA Périgueux, which ended in a decisive victory for Section Paloise, 35-6.

On 23 November 1913, Section Paloise achieved a memorable feat by defeating the reigning French champion, Aviron Bayonnais, 10-0 in front of a crowd of 8,000 spectators.[5] This match was seen as a pivotal moment in the history of rugby in Pau, highlighting the club's potential just a few years after it had decided to fully commit to Rugby Union, leaving behind its previous focus on barrette.

Following this, the stadium became the venue for several important rugby encounters. On 7 December 1913, it hosted a selection from the French national rugby team, drawing 10,000 spectators. The press praised the quality of the facilities and the stadium's accessibility thanks to the tram service.[6]

Another historic moment occurred on 4 May 1919, when the stadium was chosen to host a match against the All Blacks, a New Zealand military team touring Europe.[7] This match pitted a regional selection from Béarn & Gascony against the All Blacks, who emerged victorious with a score of 16-6.[8] This event drew media attention and marked a significant moment in the history of rugby in Pau.

In 1923, the stadium was the site of a major national selection match that determined the final composition of the French team.[9] Despite inclement weather, the match attracted over 10,000 spectators.[10] In 1925, Section Paloise faced off against the players from the University of Oxford, further solidifying its reputation on the international stage. In 1926, the stadium welcomed the Māori All Blacks, who played against a selection from Gascony, winning the match 11-6 during a highly anticipated European tour.[11] In 1928, Section Paloise claimed its first title of French champion, cementing its place in French rugby history.[12]

On 20 December 1932, the stadium hosted a friendly match between Section Paloise and FC Barcelona, the champions of Spain, which the sectionnistes won with a score of 36-27.[13]

In the 1950s, the stadium experienced record attendance, with over 14,000 spectators during derbies against FC Lourdes.[14] In 1960, a preparatory match between France A and France B drew over 16,000 people.[14] The Australian Wallabies also faced a regional selection at the stadium in 1958, winning the match 17-14.[15] In 1964, to celebrate the French championship title, 30,000 people gathered there to welcome the players.

In 1965, the France national rugby union team hosted Italy at La Croix du Prince . The French team won 21 to 0.[16]

Demolition

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However, starting in the 1980s, the stadium began to suffer from a lack of maintenance and non-compliance with safety standards. Section Paloise moved to the Stade du Hameau in October 1990.[17] In 1993, the stadium was purchased by the city of Pau and became a center for youth teams and occasional rugby matches. In 2002, access to the stands was prohibited, and the stands were finally demolished in March 2019. Although it has closed its doors, its legacy continues to influence Béarn and South West France rugby culture.

References

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  1. ^ "Inauguration de la pelouse". L'Indépendant des Basses-Pyrénées (in French). 23 October 1906. ISSN 0996-1267. Retrieved 30 September 2024 – via Gallica.
  2. ^ "Postes et Télégraphes". L'Indépendant des Basses-Pyrénées (in French). Gallica. 2 January 1892. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Section Paloise : une centenaire alerte". LaRepubliqueDesPyrenees (in French). 16 May 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Rugby - Section Paloise : naissance d'un mythe". LaRepubliqueDesPyrenees (in French). 29 March 2022. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Autour du match de Pau". L'Aéro : organe hebdomadaire de la locomotion aérienne. Gallica. 26 November 1913. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Le Sud affirme sa haute valeur". L'Auto (in French). Gallica. 8 December 1913. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  7. ^ Sallenave, Louis (2000). Un siècle à Pau et en Béarn (in French). Presse et éditions de l'Adour. ISBN 978-2-84394-328-7.
  8. ^ "Les Néo-Zélandais battent la sélection française". L'Indépendant des Basses-Pyrénées (in French). Gallica. 10 May 1919. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  9. ^ "La France battue par son reste!". Le Petit Parisien (in French). Gallica. 10 December 1923. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Les Sports illustrés". Le Monde illustré (in French). Gallica. 15 December 1923. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Les Maoris à Pau". L'Auto (in French). Gallica. 15 December 1926. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  12. ^ Barran, Robert (1 January 1971). Du rugby et des hommes (in French). (Albin Michel) réédition numérique FeniXX. ISBN 978-2-7050-0284-8.
  13. ^ "Match international Pau - Barcelone". L'Indépendant des Basses-Pyrénées (in French). Gallica. 20 December 1932. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  14. ^ a b "L'ÉQUIPE DE FRANCE DE RUGBY ne manquera pas de trois-quarts" (in French). 20 December 1955. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  15. ^ Lemon, Eric; Haar, Teejay (12 April 2024). They Played Rugby for Australia 2023 edition. Eric Lemon. ISBN 978-0-6453626-3-3.
  16. ^ "France vs Italy". Fédération Française de Rugby (in French). Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Sud Ouest : actualités du jour et info locale en continu". SudOuest.fr (in French). 30 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
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