Gone, But Not Forgotten...

No, this isn't about people; it is about sporting venues.  I know it happens, and I know it's often done in the name of "progress", but I'm not really sure I agree with that statement.  The same as in the US, so many British stadia have in recent years been destroyed, some to make way for ugly and/or dull replacements, and  some to make way for housing or industrial parks.  Others are still sitting there, just waiting to be redeveloped.

This is the first in a series, focusing on different sports.  Going back only 40 years - to 1974 - here is a list of speedway stadia that are no more.


Speedway

A total of thirty-six teams completed the 1974 British speedway season.  Of those venues used that season, here are the ones that no longer exist.

Belle Vue (Manchester)
Zoological Gardens, Hyde Rd - Now the site of British Car Auctions Ltd.

Boston
New Hammond Beck Rd - The site was sold for redevelopment in 1988.

Canterbury
Kingsmead - Now a housing estate.

Cradley Heath
Dudley Wood - Now a housing estate.

Crewe
Earle St - Redeveloped in 1993, it is now a retail park

Exeter
County Ground - Another housing estate.

Hackney
Waterden Rd - Along with many other buildings in the area, demolished to make way for London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.  The London Aquatics Centre is situated where the track was.

Leicester
Blackbird Rd - Guess what?  A housing estate.

Long Eaton
Station Rd - And another housing estate.

Newport
Somerton Park - By 1993, the site (also home to the original Newport F.C.) had been redeveloped as a - housing estate.  The team later raced at the purpose-built Hayley Stadium - which was demolished in 2012.

Weymouth
Wessex Stadium - Now an Asda supermarket.  A second stadium, built a short distance away in 2004 - has also been knocked down.

In addition to the above, there are a number of tracks that have come and gone since 1974.  These include :

Bristol
Eastville - Also the home of Bristol Rovers F.C., the stadium is now the site of an IKEA superstore.

Milton Keynes
Elfield Park - Another purpose-built facility (after the team left Groveway Stadium), the stadium was subject to much vandalism.  The team folded, and the stadium was demolished.

Reading
Smallmead - The stadium was demolished five years ago (hopefully to make way for a new one), but the site is still awaiting redevelopment.

Trelawny
Clay Country Moto Parc - After a short history at the disused china clay pit, the team were forced out, and the stadium was demolished.

White City, London
Wood Lane - An impressive facility built for the 1908 Olympics, the stadium was used for speedway from 1976 to 1983.  It was later sold to the BBC who now use the site for offices.