Picture Quiz (Abandoned Grounds) Pt 1

Yep... Belle Vue, the end nearest the racecourse entrance and the terrace on top of which stood their old stand from the Intake Ground which came with them when they moved here in 1922. And a ground that Merse has discussed in some detail in my previous post on this derelict ground.

Only two to go...

I meant 6, not 5 for Queens Park, but as you say "most local" I guess it's not that one.

By the way, much has been made of the antiquity of the recently closed Saltergate home of Chesterfield FC but did you know that when they first played there in 1871 they played to "Sheffield Association" rules that allowed for fourteen a side and catching of the ball?

Now to that no 6..................Queens Park ,Paignton?

SHEFFIELD RULES ~ 1858

1~ The kick off from the middle must be a place kick
2~ Kick out must not be more than 25 yards out of goal
3~ A fair catch is a catch from any player provided the ball has not touched the ground or has not been thrown from touch and is entitled to a free kick
4~ Charging is fair in place of a place kick (with the exception of a kick off as soon as a player offers to kick) but he may always draw back unless he has already touched the ball with his foot
5~ Pushing with the hands is allowed but no hacking or tripping up is fair under any circumstances whatsoever
6~ No player maybe held or pulled over
7~ It is not lawful to take the ball off the ground (except in touch) for any purpose whatsoever
8~ The ball maybe pushed or hit with the hand, but holding the ball ecept in the case of a free kick is altogether disallowed
9~ A goal must be kicked, but not from touch nor nor by a free kick from a catch
10~ A ball in touch is dead, consequently the side that touches it down must must bring it to the edge of the touch and throw it straight out from touch
11~ Each player must provide himself with a red and dark blue flannelled cap, one colour must be worn by each side.

So there you have it! ;D

Another great abandoned racecourse is Oswestry, one that has a history as colourful as any (worth Googling). Just off Offa's d**e it stands 1000 feet up on Common land and is often thought of as the peak between "the Kingdom and the Principality” as it overlooks England one side and Wales the other.

There are still visible remains of the original stand & buildings and it is possible to walk the whole of the course which was last used in 1848.


A small part of the main stand.





The finishing straight





How ridiculous is that? I can't put in an historical reference to Offa's d**e without the *** taking over!

I was at the Maer recently looking at that structure - which appears to serve no purpose whatsoever at the Sea End of the ground - and wondering what the bloody hell it was there for! Now I know.

I probably pass the site of Redheugh Park, Gateshead once-a-year and knew it was now one of those floodlit complexes. Didn't know Bishop Auckland but did look through the gates many years ago. Friends in Newcastle keep on talking about setting up a commune in Bishop when they retire - but I guess the hermitage at Warkworth would be more to my liking as a north east bolthole.