The North Bank was originally an earthen mound. Terraced concrete steps were laid in the 1920's and a roof was added in 1961. The north-east corner was rebuilt and opened in 1974 with room for 11,070 standing spectators. Under new guidelines this was reduced to 8,580.

A meeting of Newham Council's planning committee on 21st April 1994, duly granted West Ham United permission to build a new two-tier North Stand to replacethe old North Bank terrace. McAlpine began construction work in the summer of 1994 - although they were temporarily halted for unexpected reasons. Contractors were excavating the levelled area when they hit highly toxic earth. A chemical analysis revealed that the contamination resulted from the use , in the 1920's of material from the old Beckton Gas Works, as fin-fill when Upton Park's North Bank - then simply of earth - was replaced by concrete terracing.

The new North Stand - very similar to the Bobby Moore South Stand, although with no provision for executive boxes and standing slightly shorter - will accommodate approximately 5,900 spectators, with 1,900 on the upper tier and 4,000 on the lower tier. An inter-linked disabled enclosure, with ramped access and viewing on two levels for 30 people in the south-west corner.

Floodlights will be the same design frame as those above the South Stand, having an angled support structure which will ensure the height is the same at both ends. The upper tier will become the new Family Enclosure with visiting fans allocated seats starting in the north-west corner of the lower tier, number of seats allocated dependant on the level of away support.

If the away side cannot sell all their tickets, they are returned and re-sold to home supporters, as there is big demand from West Ham fans to purchase seats in the lower seating area. Home fans in the lower area generally prefer to stand during games and sing throughout. It is known as one of the more atmospheric sections of the stadium, especially with the two sets of supporters next to each other (separated by stewards and police). There is also one of two large LCD screens situated in the corner between the Centenary Stand and the East Stand.

Lower Tier opened: Ipswich Town 1-1 26th December 1994

Top Tier opened: Tottenham Hotspur 1-2 14th January 1995

THE NEW NORTH STAND

West Ham United announced that from Saturday 8th August, the start of the 2009/10 Premier League Season, 'The Centenary Stand' at Upton Park would be named 'The Sir Trevor Brooking Stand' in his honour.

THE SIR TREVOR BROOKING STAND

Contstruction of the North Bank roof in the summer of 1961

The new North Stand was opened in January 1995 costing £2.3m and named the Centenary Stand which marked the club's 100th season. The stand completed the £11.5 million rebuilding of Upton Park to establish an all-seater stadium.

CENTENARY STAND

Centenary Stand

Sir Trevor Brooking Stand

Bobby Moore Stand

Dr Martens Stand

Alpari Stand

Betway Stand

Commemorative certificate given to those supporters who returned their application form which was given to every supporters who stood for the last time on the North Bank at the match against Southampton on 7th May 1994.

THE NORTH BANK TERRACE COMMEMORATIVE CERTIFICATE

NORTH STAND FACT FILE:

Height: 20m

Length: 72m

Width: 20m

McAlpine used 350 tonnes of structural steelwork, 60,000 facing bricks, 35,000 blocks and 800 cubic metres of concrete.

Image courtesy of Terry Connelly

North Bank circa. 1991

View from the South Bank terrace

North Bank shelf

Image courtesy of Terry Connelly