NEHL - The Chilton Colliery Recreation Grounds opened around 1921, with a cricket ground and football ground first featuring on West Chilton Terrace. The grounds were managed by the Chilton Colliery Recreation Association for the betterment of pitmen and families in their area to improve recreational offering and wellbeing in the growing settlement. Within a couple of years tennis courts and bowling greens were opened as well as indoor amusements. A new pavilion was also erected just after 1922 around the tennis courts and greens.

The football ground was home to Chilton Colliery Recreation Athletic, formed at the same time as the opening of the park. The team played in the Palatine League and finished in the top half in the 21/22 season as well as winning the Wingate Charity Cup. The team played in the FA Cup in later years, though this caused dispute due to the state of the ground. Rochdale were due to play there, but disputed the size of the pitch arguing it was too large in 1925. 558 sq yards larger than that required by the FA in fact.

The team however went into a low ebb. By 1931 they experienced their worst ever season, finished last but one in the league. The closing of the local collieries and bad weather were the causes attributed to the failures, and made a loss of £11 9s. 2d. It appears they did continue however, competing in the North League against teams such as Trimdon Grange Colliery. They again competed in the FA in 1935 in the extra preliminary rounds against Stanley United.

The team appear to have gone defunct after the war. Reference is made in 1940, but no other activity is reported on. Given the scale of recruitment, especially amongst pitmen, it's possible to assume there simply were not enough men to carry on and that the demographic landscape of Chilton changed after the closure of the colliery.

The recreation ground remained despite the closure of the pit, and partly still does. However, road developments have driven right through the park. Though a casual football ground still remains in the park, it is not the same ground as that featured upon opening. A bowling green and tennis courts do still remain.